Call it a wave of social madness.
While Duquesne Dukes basketball fans have been riding the high of an NCAA Tournament first round win against Brigham Young University, Duquesne itself also has been riding a high — in terms of online reach.
Web activity has “skyrocketed” in the wake of the Dukes’ tournament bid and win on Thursday, Duquesne President Ken Gormley said.
“Now, it’s Duquesne’s moment to shine,” Gormley said Friday.
On Thursday alone, Duquesne had 62 million media and social media impressions, which is a number the university usually sees over the span of a whole month, according to Gabriel Welsch, vice president of marketing and communications.
Its official website usually gets between 10,000 and 15,000 visits during one day during this time of year, he said. On Thursday, it had more than 60,000 — an over 400% increase.
Social media was even higher, with an over 1,200% increase on Thursday, Welsch said. “Duquesne” as a search term even hit the #1 trending spot on the social media platform X.
The search term “Duquesne” peaked on Google Trends during Thursday’s 71-67 over BYU as well.
LeBron James, has been tweeting in support of the Dukes, whose coach, Keith Dambrot, coached James in high school.
AYYYYYYYEEEEE!!! First tournament win in 55 years! @CoachDambrot ???? @DuqMBB ????????????????????????????????????????. Keep it going
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 21, 2024
James sent the whole team new shoes ahead of the first matchup.
Yessir!! ???????????????????????? Best of luck guys!! https://t.co/ngxGghmCd7
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 21, 2024
Not only are people looking for basketball-related information, but people are wondering what the term itself means — and how to pronounce it.
It’s a nod to Marquis Duquesne, the Canadian governor who brought Catholicism to Western Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War period, Gormley said.
Gormley said the interest hasn’t just been rising — it’s been entering a whole new universe.
“There’s just been an off-the-charts demand for merchandise,” he said, referencing how sales have played a prominent role. “It sells out almost instantly.”
For Gormley, the atmosphere is like a “Duquesne love fest.”
The attention will be great for the basketball program moving forward, he said, as recruits and players will be able to see the Dukes’ solidified spot as a tournament team.
The last time the men’s basketball team won an NCAA Tournament matchup came in 1969.
Outside of athletics, the increased popularity will likely help boost applications and interest in the Catholic university, Gormley said. Current attendees have a bit more swagger in their step around the Uptown campus.
“People have been waiting for generations to see this kind of success in our basketball program again,” he said.
Duquesne’s student body is “on fire,” according to Gormley. The university was barely able to fit students into the Power Center’s ballroom for a watch party of the first round.
Though he was in Omaha watching the Dukes in person, people sent him videos of the students. It was “tricky” hosting the watch party alongside hosting other NCAA Tournament games inside PPG Paints Arena, he said.
“Any time you see your students swept up in the excitement of something like this, you sit back,” Gormley said. “See, that’s what a college experience is all about.”
The party extended beyond campus.
Rich Cupka, a Duquesne grad, owns of Cupka’s Cafe II on the South Side. Fans packed his bar and restaurant for Thursday’s game.
“I love it,” he said.
Cupka said he understands why so may people have been searching the term “Duquesne.”
“When I tell people I went to Duquesne, they always think I’m talking about Duke,” he said.
A video that was taken during the game at Cupka’s went viral on social media. For Saturday’s game, it should be a similar picture, he said.
@espn Local cafe in #Pittsburgh after #Duquesne beat #BYU ???? (via @cupkascafe2) #collegebasketball ♬ original sound – ESPN
Gormley said he feels lucky to be experiencing Duquesne’s moment in the spotlight.
“It’s historic,” he said. “You can just feel it.”
