There were over twenty books to his credit. They were mostly baseball, though he always harbored a passion for the bounce of the ball on hardwood. Then, out of the clear blue, it hit – and at hit a time he least expected.
David Finoli was at the A.J. Palumbo Center watching his alma mater Duquesne play against Saint Joseph’s a few years back. It was probably during a timeout when he gazed at the banners in the rafters. The lightbulb went off. Here was a banner commemorating Duquesne’s 1954-55 NIT championship team. As far as he knew, nothing was written about this team – the only college basketball team in Pittsburgh history to capture a national championship by virtue of winning a tournament. Most unfortunate was this reality: there was no book to tell this team’s story? Fine, Finoli would take it upon himself to see the project through and get the word out.
Kings on the Bluff was a labor of love that “took about three to four months,” Finoli noted recently. The author or co-author (along with Robert Healy) has a self proclaimed “obsession for research.” A good deal of the book centered on research. “Given the time frame of the season, a good six decades removed, there were not a lot of sources from that team available, so most of the project was research.” Mickey Winograd, a starter on that team, resides in Florida but was unavailable during the book production.
Finoli could not secure a publisher, so he published it himself. He did not mind the expense as he strongly felt this team had to be recognized. “The administration at the time did not do a lot to acknowledge that (NIT champion) team,” Finoli said. “I felt this was a fitting way to get fans and alumni to realize what this team did.”
The book is broken down into several parts. There is a section devoted to short bios of the members of that team and the coaches. A game-by-game account is also included. Naturally more time is spent on recounting the NIT in March of ‘55. Finally, there is a lengthy section , most of which is covered by Healy, of what has happened to Duquesne since then. That latter section was an interesting addition and one certain to appeal to contemporary fans making the trip to the Palumbo Center on cold winter evenings.
The response has been excellent. “We hold two or three signings a year,” Finoli said. “The book has been popular with older alumni. Having those signings has opened it up to many younger fans and students.”
The 1955 campaign was one of “cautious optimism”. The Dukes were coming off two consecutive NIT runs, an admirable achievement accompanied by an empty feeling of having come so close but still leaving the Dukes minus a championship. In 1953 they finished third in the nation’s oldest post season tournament. A year later they were runners-up to Holy Cross. Coach Donald “Dudey” Moore, ever the pessimist, had reason to believe this could be a tough season. This time many didn’t dismiss the prospectus as a result of Moore’s “half empty” outlook. Spurred on by two outstanding talents in Sihugo Green and Dave Ricketts, plus a respectable supporting cast, the Dukes proved to be a formidable group. They went on a roll the latter part of the season, finishing 22-4 and realizing their dream and goal, bringing home the NIT title. Dayton was defeated in that final contest. Green and Ricketts both were out a few games during the campaign with injuries. “With both healthy and in the lineup together,” Finoli noted, “we lost just one game.”
Speaking with Finoli, it was inevitable the subject of some more recent players would surface. Covering a few Duquesne games a season the names stood out decades later. Bruce Atkins and Doug Arnold, a solid forward combination from the early Eighties. “Atkins and Sam Clancy (who later went to play in the NFL) of Pitt had some memorable battles,” Finoli recalled. Then there was the 1980 NIT second round game where Saint Peter’s came in and defeated Duquesne 34-33 ( the author remembered the score perfectly). In the pre-shot clock days Bob Dukiet, a former Princeton assistant, in his first year at the Jesuit school literally took the air out of the ball. John Cinicola, the Duquesne mentor, was so distraught over the loss he resigned a day or two later. Shortly thereafter Cinicola had a change of heart, reapplied for his job, but did not get it as Mike Rice (Sr.) was hired. “I really liked Rice,” Finoli said. “He was a good coach and if the administration gave him some time I think he could have made Duquesne more of a factor.”
In the latter section of the book Healy looks into what happened to the program in recent decades. Finoli echoes Healy’s sentiments and assessment. He made a number of insightful comments on the situation. “In the Sixties and Seventies the administration was supportive,” Finoli noted. “Since then you had regimes that ‘couldn’t care less’. That went from certain presidents right down to athletic directors.” It was mentioned even before that final section about Duquesne’s recruiting of the black athlete. During a time (50s and 60s) when there were ‘unofficial’ quotas or schools completely bypassing black players, Duquesne stayed true to their catholic faith and background, refusing to deny admission to a qualified student-athlete. That equal opportunity approach may have helped the Dukes position themselves among the nation’s top teams. But it wasn’t the only reason. As Finoli noted, in the book and during interviews, leadership and vision from those in charge is essential.
In the first year of the Atlantic 10 (then the EBCL, later Eastern Eight) Duquesne, powered by future LA Laker Norm Nixon, won the postseason title. The early years in conference saw the Dukes a competitive entry. In the conference finals of 1981, in the author’s estimation, more was at stake than a trip to the NCAA tournament.
Duquesne lost a tough one to rival Pitt. The Panthers went ‘dancing’, Duquesne went NIT. Of greater significance in Finoli’s estimation, was that Pitt was now ahead in the public consciousness. The Big East was looking to expand and coming off that title, Pitt was deemed more attractive. The Panthers accepted a Big East invite in Fall of 1981. In March of 1982 they bid the conference adieu by taking a second straight championship. Finoli believes a Duquesne title in 1981 might have put the school in a more favorable light when the Big East came courting.
Finoli examines a succession of coaches who were not given time and/or a serious commitment to get things turned around. Among them were Jim Satalin, John Carroll and Danny Nee. Then there was Ron Everhart. He came from Northeastern and got to the point where Duquesne appeared in the 2009 Atlantic 10 postseason championship game-losing a tough one to Fran Dunphy’s Temple, a program on quite a roll at the time. After improving on the floor and in recruiting, Everhart’s thanks was, strangely enough, a pink slip. “Everhart was fired and the recruits he had coming (to Duquesne) de-committed,” Finoli recalled. “Those ‘de-commits’ wound up starting almost immediately at other schools. That’s the job Everhart did in recruiting.” The telling by many is Everhart’s dismissal was another administrative gaffe.
At the time the book was published Duquesne was still reeling from a host of bad moves or no moves by administrators. Speaking today Finoli is encouraged by the present leadership at the school. A leadership not only on the sidelines but at the higher levels as well.
Keith Dambrot, the current head coach these days, has connected with the book in a big way. His dad Sid played for Duquesne in the early Fifties. He still follows the program, and according to Finoli, “nothing would make him happier than seeing his son Keith return Duquesne to prominence.” Keith gave his dad a copy of Kings on the Bluff for Christmas. A gift he thoroughly enjoyed, and given his affinity for basketball history, cherished.
Moving to the future, Finoli believes the program is not only in good hands, but under some strong administrative leadership. He points to a game in December of 2016 as a significant moment. Duquesne upset Pitt 64-55 at PPG Paints Arena. The Duquesne president, Kenneth G. Gormley, saw how much the alumni, young and old, connected and reveled in a moment of pride, and he was convinced that a strong athletic program, basketball in particular, could only enhance the university.
On that latter note, the author revealed an amazing stat. Since Duquesne’s 1977 NCAA basketball appearance, only one team in the entire athletic department over nearly four decades had made the NCAA tournament. “It was women’s volleyball,” Finoli recalled, “in, around 2012 (actually 2013).” Since then, a few other teams have made the breakthrough. A 36-year drought between NCAA appearances, all sports considered and not just basketball, is astounding. When the powers that be discuss improving the entire athletic program, obviously it’s not traditional “coach speak”.
Moving on, Finoli points to renewed optimism within the Duquesne community. The young talent assembled helps. Of greater significance is the bench leadership of Dambrot and and administration that finally ‘gets it’.
Down the road Finoli says there is another possible Duquesne book in the works. Nothing is settled but there is the good probability. Presently, Finoli and Healy have provided us a 257-page work of required reading. Not only for those following the fortunes of their beloved Dukes. It’s a great addition to the library of anyone with an interest and appreciation of college basketball history.
