2024 Atlantic 10 Tournament Awards & Takeaways

 

It was a surprise to many as the Atlantic 10 Tournament was won by a 6-seed Duquesne team that took down 5-seed VCU. The top four teams in the A-10 all lost their first-round matchups in the quarterfinals. This is an impressive feat for head coach Keith Dambrot since taking over the Dukes in 2017 and announcing his retirement. After last year, the Duke’s brutal first-round loss to Rice in the CBI, this is only his second postseason for Duquesne. Dambrot is getting a tough draw after winning the tournament and will take on a top-20 team in BYU but will enjoy his last dance.

BELIEVED. pic.twitter.com/TvigFCnin2

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) March 17, 2024

CBB Review Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player

Dae Dae Grant, Duquesne 

Grant was the consistency needed for Duquesne. He was the lone player to hit double-digits in every Dukes’ game, the most impressive feat coming in the Championship game, where Grant was the lone Duke to hit double-digits. He had significant help from Clark, who kept just enough pressure off him. It really could have gone either way. While he isn’t the offensive talent of other players in the Atlantic 10, he was the backbone of the Dukes.

The Dukes are rolling 😤 @DuqMBB have a 15-point lead early pic.twitter.com/jSMwMLBjld

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 17, 2024

CBB Review All-Atlantic 10 Tournament First Team

• G: Dae Dae Grant, Duquesne – 4 GP (16.5 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 41.4 3P%)
• G: Gibson Jimerson, Saint Louis – 2 GP (24.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 APG)
• G: Erik Reynolds, Saint Joseph’s – 3 GP (19.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.3 SPG)
• G: Daryl Banks III, St. Bonaventure – 3 GP (15.7 PPG,  4.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG)
• G: Jhamir Brickus, La Salle – 2 GP (19.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 51.7 FG%, 66.7 3P%)

Retiring Duquesne head coach Keith Dambrot, on facing BYU tomorrow in Omaha: “The hardest thing about them is they’re mentally tough and physically tough. And everybody talks about their offense, but they’re one of the best defensive teams in the country.”

“You can tell that…

— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) March 20, 2024

Duquesne’s NCAA Tournament Prediction

Round of 64

The Dukes pulled off an impressive feat, winning four games to win the Atlantic 10. However, their first-round matchup is going to cause issues. While the team has balance and talent, it faces a very poised BYU team. Mark Pope has done some impressive work with this BYU team. The one-two punch of the Dukes in Clark and Grant are the lone players that consistently show up for the Dukes.

Meanwhile, the Cougars have four players that average double-digits and can go off at any point. The separation between these teams may not seem like much, but BYU also has a solid forward in Fousseyni Traore that will give Duquesne fits. Head Coach Dambrot will dance to his swan song. Could this team be a Cinderella? Anything can happen in March. Let’s dance.