With only 2 games in the books, Keith Dambrot knows Duquesne must 'battle and fight' to get ready

A year ago, Duquesne was 8-0 and feeling good about its prospects for a winning season.

This year, 62-year-old coach Keith Dambrot is running practice with the help of only one grad assistant while covid-19 protocols have forced some staff members into temporary quarantine.

“I’m no spring chicken anymore,” Dambrot said. “For two days, I had one grad assistant with me. I did more individual workouts than I had in five years. I woke up the next day and felt like I was 100 years old.”

Dambrot manages to maintain a good attitude.

“It’s kind of fun to be able to do some things you don’t normally do anymore. I felt like I was (coaching) back at Tiffin when I was 25 years old.”

Covid restrictions have limited the Dukes (1-1) to only two games. When they finally get to play another — the next scheduled date is 4 p. m. Monday against Southern Illinois in Indianapolis — 12 days will have passed between games.

“I really feel for our guys,” Dambrot said. “Usually, this time of year, you pretty much know where you’re headed. We’re still in the beginning of November stage.”

But Dambrot has come to peace with the weird occurrences that may surface when teams try to play college basketball in a pandemic. He pointed out Duke has lost two home games and Kentucky is 1-3, including a 76-64 loss to Richmond (Duquesne’s first Atlantic 10 opponent Dec. 19).

“It’s one those years you’re going to have to battle and fight, battle and fight, battle and fight,” he said, “and try to be the best you can be.”

Scheduling is difficult because of covid protocols, so teams have to grab any game that’s available.

“This is the year to play hard games and get ready for the A-10,” Dambrot said.

Southern Illinois (2-0) was picked to finish last in the Missouri Valley Conference last season, but ended up fifth (16-16, 10-8).

Loyola Chicago (2-0) was in the 2018 Final Four.

“They still have some guys (starters Cameron Krutwig and Lucas Williamson) from that team,” Dambrot said.

Krutwig, a 6-foot-9 center, scored 17 points against Michigan in the Final Four. He had 22 on Wednesday against Chicago State. Williamson, a 6-4 guard, played 24 minutes off the bench against Michigan.

Loyola was 32-6 in 2018, 20-13 a year later and 21-11 last season. The Ramblers are currently No. 53 in the KenPom rankings. Duquesne is 85th.