Duquesne evening rivalry with Pitt

‘ ‘ ‘ A rivalry that once split Pittsburgh has left it lopsided in recent history. ‘ ‘ ‘ The… ‘ ‘ ‘ A rivalry that once split Pittsburgh has left it lopsided in recent history. ‘ ‘ ‘ The annual City Game between Pitt and Duquesne last night at the Petersen Events Center was the 77th time the cross-city rivals have met. But even though the schools are just 2.15 miles apart, the separation has seemed much larger over the last decade, if not longer. ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt has won eight straight games against Duquesne, including 27 of the last 30, and the once-heated rivalry hasn’t seemed like much of one lately. ‘ ‘ ‘ But that could be changing. ‘ ‘ ‘ Duquesne, which at one time won nine out of 11 games against Pitt between 1966 and 1977, played Pitt within five points in a 73-68 loss at the A.J. Palumbo Center last year and kept last night’s game tight through much of the first half before the Panthers began to pull away in the second and eventually won handily, 78-51. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It means a lot to me, because I get to play down at Duquesne, too. I’ve been watching them like I was watching Pitt when I was young,’ said Pitt center DeJuan Blair, Pitt’s only player from Pittsburgh. ‘It means a lot to me. It’s a fun rivalry for the city to come out and watch us play. We come out, there’s a little talking. But I’m trying to stay undefeated in the city.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ That might be harder now than it would have been in years past. Duquesne (4-2) is 31-34 under Ron Everhart, who is in his third season as coach of the Dukes. In Everhart’s second season last year, Duquesne finished 17-13 ‘mdash; the school’s first winning record in 14 years. There aren’t many signs of regression, either. ‘ ‘ ‘ The Dukes are led this year by senior Aaron Jackson, a nominee for the Bob Cousy Award, which is given annually to college basketball’s best point guard across all divisions. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Aaron Jackson, I love that kid,’ said Pitt coach Jamie Dixon. ‘He’s a classic example of a kid getting better by how hard he played.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Jackson is the team’s only senior, and the Dukes’ other top athletes, Damian Saunders and Bill Clark, are both sophomores. Duquesne also has six freshmen on its roster. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Nobody’s going nowhere for them, I don’t think,’ said Blair. ‘It’s going to be a good rivalry from both teams. We have good players on both sides. It’s going to be a tough matchup.” ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Golden Panthers ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt wore all gold uniforms last night ‘- the first time the Panthers have worn a third jersey in the Petersen Events Center. ‘ ‘ ‘ The last time Pitt wore all gold was in a loss to Connecticut on Jan. 8, 2000, when the Panthers still played at Fitzgerald Field House. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s nice,’ said Blair. ‘We didn’t have them last year, so it’s nice to have, especially for the City Game.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt-Duke comparisons ‘ ‘ ‘ Before playing No. 3 Pitt last night, Duquesne had to travel to play at No. 4 Duke last week. Duquesne lost, 95-72, and Everhart now sees why both teams are so highly ranked, even if they differ in playing styles. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The one constant with both teams is that they’re both very well coached and they play extremely hard,’ said Everhart. ‘It’s amazing with both teams the effort you get on every play. Duke does spend a little more time in pressure defense, and Pitt’s intensity comes when the ball leaves somebody’s hand. They’re on the glass like nobody’s business.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt outrebounded Duquesne 44-31. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It really wouldn’t be surprising to see both of them in the Final Four,’ said Everhart.