As an alumni of a Duquesne and Pitt I can say this is absolutely ridiculous. Pitt is basically doing to Duquesne what Penn State did to Pitt in football. What’s even worse is Dambrot said he’d play on their home court and Capel still doesn’t want to play DUQ. I am guessing he doesn’t want to play the game because if Pitt loses the local recruits might lose interest in the program. However, I remember Jamie Dixon embraced playing DUQ in fact I think he liked showing their superiority to the city.

Dukes412 wrote:

https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2020/05/14/pitt-backs-down-from-city-game-pledge-wont-play-duquesne-in-2020/?fbclid=IwAR0nWDMSe3lSnrbpMp2KEjWdo_EBWfpcoVqWhh-Na-4LZgCKre9m1FVh_jE

I am sure Capel believes he is making the correct corporate decision for their program. I am also sure he misunderstands the fundamental nature of the Pittsburgh sports fan. If he doesn't win big & fast, he will be ridiculed for this decision for as long as he is associated with Pitt.

KD's quote is awesome. That is damn near a perfect response.

Corporate greed started to get in the way of rivalries during the conference realignments. Now it’s not what the fans want it’s what is best for benefiting the program. If they were to lose to DUQ it might not just cost them some recruits but some local fans as well as media. Sadly this rivalry could be like Dayton vs OSU. OSU never wants to play Dayton just because their good enough to possibly beat them. Every local school rmu, Duq, and Pitt should be playing every year it is good for city bragging rights. But at the end of the day is it really about what the fans want

Next season's game would have been a good match-up that would have set the stage for a true rivalry in years to come!  Sadly, Capel doesn't appear to want this to happen.  He wants guaranteed wins, in the non-conference games, since he has struggled to compete with even the lower tier of the ACC. It is clear that Capel doesn't really have any interest in being part of the premier game in the City that would have been great for local basketball.  So be it; just move on; perhaps Bob Huggins will give us another game; although WVU will be a bear next season; much tougher game than Pitt!
 

stew wrote:

Dambrot scares Capel.KD is a great coach,period.Capel knows it and Miss Heather knows it.

Capel doesn't plan to be at Pitt long. He wants to get them rolling before Coach K retires, so that he can get the Duke job. Wojo hasn't set the world on fire at Marquette, so he probably feels that he has a shot if he can get Pitt rolling. He's looking to win as many ooc games as he can. No unnecessary risks, which is what we are.
 

Play Bobby Mo at PPG, and bill it as "The Real City Game". It's very important to now play Bobby Mo, as we will be correctly branded as hypocrites if we don't.
Capel is getting beat up pretty badly over this, even on the Pitt board, so you know it's bad.

townsonkid wrote:

If I am Harper, I never agree to play them again, even if they come at us hat in hand, down on one knee ,begging.    Bye bye.    Capel has to be afraid.   He must have learned a lesson at Duke, losing to some small school, didnt Davidson beat them one time, with a Curry?

Pitt is in the ACC. They are NEVER in a million years going to be on their knees begging us to play them!
 

Just read an ESPN article and the AD at Shitt is saying they are going to play the Dukes in 21-22 at Petersen. That's a bit of a shame as the 2020 Dukes would probably have a better shot at whuppin their can.

Wow story getting national attention. Pitt really does not look good with the casual college basketball fan both locally & nationally. Bad look Panther Nation. Go Dukes.

Mulder wrote:

I'm also an alum of both.  Pitt can shove it. 

Besides, l don 't care about those rinky-dink teams. I want to play somebody with talent.

LOL, I see someone remembers the old Jerome Lane quote!
 

So if i understand, Shitt can play Bobby mo but not the Dukes?

Article on this in the Tribune-Review today and Dambrots take.