Duquesne MBB's Dixon Determined To Make Lasting Impact

What is known is that Duquesne Men’s Basketball senior forward David Dixon is one of four to stay at his Atlantic 10 school for four seasons, but what has it taken to get there?

Dixon’s relationship began with assistant coach Rick McFadden regularly flying to Florida and his family’s affinity for the institution came because of its religious background considered as university of the Holy Ghost.

Adversity hit both Dixon as well as the team between injuries and a less-than-stellar season.

Admittedly Dixon had a decision to make whether he would stay at Duquesne for his senior season. Ultimately there was too much unfinished business to take care of.

Last year was Dixon’s first time having a losing season and it was a different experience for him.

“Last year was my first time having a losing season and it was really different, he reflected. “It kind of taught me to avoid certain things. When we were losing, I was kind of depressed, sad all the time, I really didn’t want to leave my house. I just stopped caring. Those are things that if you want to be a successful basketball pro or person in life, you really can’t do those things. It was a really good lesson, and I took a lot of things from that season.”

Dixon’s offseason was his most productive with Duquesne in a lot of different ways. From a health perspective, Dixon avoided any injuries. He now reflects on the knee surgery he had and that there was a scared feeling that he was not going to be the same player that he once was.

Now, that doubt is completely removed.

“I don’t have any doubt,” specified Dixon. “Going into my junior year I feel like I was scared just coming off knee surgery, I didn’t think I was going to be the same player that I once was.” I’ve talked to a lot of people and prayed about it. Nothing’s going to stop me from being me, I’ll say that for sure.”

Dixon watched film with the staff and over the summer told himself to go workout each day, lifting weights and now under a directive from coach Dru Joyce III, gained 15 pounds, reaching his goals, which makes him proud.

Now the confidence and energy that left him a season ago has returned. Usually, Dixon is the one taking blows from posts, but now, perhaps the tables can turn.

There is a good group of returners, but not many have made the NCAA Tournament. Dixon, junior Jakub Necas, Ethan Anish, Seamus McDermott and graduate student forward Alex Williams, who made the tournament with Fordham can all have that distinction.

Because of this, Dixon takes pride of being in that group which can set the standard in practice on a daily basis, being a leader in his own way.

Dixon’s way is to be a workhorse because that is what he feels it takes to achieve collaborative success. He recalled the 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship game against VCU, where he was already battling injuries, but that specific contest took everything out of him, but he still played with what he had. Heart. It was Duquesne’s heart which won on that day.

Throughout the first three seasons, Dixon has been a team player, sacrificing personal expectations and his starting spot in order to help his team win.

This season he is aiming for three things, Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team and trying to get into the top three in program history in blocks. Currently, Dixon sits at 131, with the third-place mark being at 185.

Dixon has felt disrespected by the conference throughout his career and in his own way, he desires this season to be a love letter to those he seeks to prove wrong.

“It’s going to be hard (getting third in blocks) since I’m not standing in the paint as much as I usually am but with the work I have and will put in, defense is my bread and butter, there’s a lot to learn since I am stepping out and guarding guards and switching, but it’s a challenge that will prepare me for the future,” Dixon opined. “I want to cause havoc in the A-10. “

This season does have a finality to it as Dixon’s collegiate career will come to an end after this season, but while there is still time left, he wants to make the most of it. On his terms.

“I’m trying to end it all on a bang,” wrapped up Dixon. “I want us to surpass what we did when I was a sophomore and prove it to the A-10 and myself that I can actually do those things.”