In the first March Madness upset of the year, the No. 11 Duquesne Dukes defeated No. 6 BYU 71-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It was Duquesne’s first NCAA Tournament win since 1969 and was celebrated by many, including Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who has a special connection to the Dukes.
Head coach Keith Dambrot, who is coaching in his final season before retiring, was James’ high school basketball coach at St. Vincent and Saint Louis University. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.
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Duquesne Dukes head coach Keith Dambrot watches a game against the Brigham Young Cougars in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at CHI Health Center on March 21, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
So when he saw the final results Thursday afternoon, James showed some love for his former coach and the Dukes on X.
“AYYYYYYEEEEEE!!! First tournament win in 55 years!” James tweeted, tagging Dambro and Duquesne’s basketball pages. “continue.”
no. 11 Duquesne upsets No. 1 opponent to earn first March Madness win since 1969 6BYU
Coach Dambro hilariously said after the upset win that his players don’t want him heading to the ‘promised land’ as everyone knows this is his last season as manager. Told.
Win or lose, James wanted to support Dambro’s program as he gifted the entire team with signature shoes before Wednesday’s game.
Duquesne Dukes head coach Keith Dambrot during the second half of a game against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first round of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at CHI Health Center on March 21, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. React with. (Brendall O’Bannon/NCAA Photo via Getty Images)
During the game, the truTV broadcast said, “During the team meeting, their crates were brought in.”
In addition to Dambro, Drew Joyce III, one of James’ longtime friends and high school teammates, is Dambro’s associate head coach at Duquesne.
Duquesne won nine straight after defeating BYU, a team many believed could make the tournament this year.
LeBron James congratulates Duquesne head coach Keith Dambrot (his former high school coach) after the Dukes’ March Madness win (Getty Images)
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They will now await the winner of No. 3 Illinois and No. 14 Morehead State in the second round.
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