ST. THOMAS, USVI - DePaul heads to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the 2009 Paradise Jam. The Blue Demons open the tournament Friday afternoon against the Northern Iowa Panthers. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m. AT (Noon CT) and is the first of four games on Friday at the USVI Sports and Fitness Center.
The Blue Demons face either East Carolina or Tennessee in their second game of the Paradise Jam on either Saturday or Sunday. With a win over the Panthers, the Blue Demons take on the winner of the East Carolina/Tennessee game Sunday evening. With a loss, DePaul faces the loser on Saturday afternoon. All eight teams will play again on Monday. The bottom half of the eight-team bracket features Boston College, Purdue, Saint Joseph's and South Dakota State.
Laurence Holmes (play-by-play) and Stephen Howard (analyst) will call all of the action from the Virgin Islands on www.depaulbluedemons.com with potential coverage on WSCR 670 AM in Chicago to be announced on a game-by-game basis. Additionally, the Paradise Jam semifinals on Sunday evening and Monday's third-place and championship game will be televised on Fox College Sports (FCS). Friday's preliminary games can be seen online at B2TV.com. In-game scoring updates and notes can also be found at www.twitter.com/depaulsid.
Following the Paradise Jam, the Blue Demons return to Chicago to host Detroit at Allstate Arena on Nov. 28. The Titans are the first half of a two-game homestand that ends with Alabama State visiting Rosemont on Dec. 2. DePaul plays its first true road game on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Vanderbilt.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,358-814 (.625) all-time... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 492 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... Will Walker has started 34 straight games... the win over Columbia in the season opener ended an 18-game losing streak in regular-season games... in three of Jerry Wainwright's four seasons at DePaul, the Blue Demons have defeated at least one top 25 opponent... DePaul has played its first home game on Nov. 17 in each of the last four seasons.
Opponent No. 2 - Northern Iowa Panthers: Northern Iowa sits at 1-0 following a season-opening win at Denver on Nov. 13... the Panthers knocked off the Pioneers, 71-65, with four players in double-figures... Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Adam Koch were picked as preseason All-Missouri Valley members... the Panthers were also selected as the preseason favorite to win the MVC... UNI returns all five starters from last season's NCAA Tournament team... Koch is the top returning scorer after leading the Panthers last season with 12.1 points per game... 7'1" Jordan Eglseder added 10.2 points per game and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game...head coach Ben Jacobson is in his fourth season leading the UNI program... he is 59-38 with the Panthers.
The Series: Friday is the second meeting between the two programs... DePaul registered a 96-53 win over Northern Iowa on Jan. 26, 1986 at the Rosemont Horizon.
Against the Missouri Valley: The Blue Demons are 95-30 all-time against Missouri Valley programs... the last Missouri Valley opponent was Creighton last season... Creighton topped DePaul, 83-75, in the championship game of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic on Dec. 23... DePaul also faced MVC member Bradley in a closed scrimmage on Oct. 31
BIG EAST Beast: In most prognosticators eyes, the BIG EAST Conference might not be as strong as a year ago, but the league is flexing its muscles early in the 2009-10 campaign. Heading into Thursday's college basketball action, BIG EAST Conference members hold a combined 30-0 record. The BIG EAST is the only league in the country that can make the claim of zero losses by its member institutions. Five conference schools are in action Thursday including No. 24 Syracuse facing 12th-ranked California in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden.
It Could Happen: A win would give DePaul consecutive victories for the first time since three straight wins last season in the Las Vegas Classic (Dec. 17-22, 2008)... Will Walker needs one three-point attempt to move into a tie for ninth all-time with Joe Tulley (1999-03, 346 3FGA)... he also needs one steal to move into a tie for 23rd with Kevin Holland (1986-91, 105 stls.) and two for a tie for 22nd with Bernard Randolph (1980-83, 106 stls.)... Walker will be starting his 34th straight game after starting every game last season.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 59-53 win over Columbia on Nov. 17:
- The Blue Demons are now 76-11 all-time in the season-opening game of the year... DePaul has won two straight openers.
- In home openers, the Blue Demons are 80-7 all-time... DePaul has now won 21 of the last 22 and 69 of the last 71 home openers.
- Mac Koshwal hit DePaul's first basket of the season at 18:01 of the first half.
- Koshwal recorded his 17th career double-double and 26th career game with at least 10 boards.
- Will Walker reached double-figures for the ninth straight game dating back to last season.
- The win ended an 18-game losing streak in regular season games... dating back to last season, DePaul has won two of its last three games.
- Tuesday was the first meeting between the two programs.
- DePaul is now 8-2 all-time against the Ivy League.
Shaking the Rust Off: Eric Wallace and Mike Stovall made their returns to the hardwood against Columbia on Nov. 17 after being away from NCAA Division I competition last season.
Wallace sat out last season after transferring from Ohio State. Wallace scored 10 points against Columbia with three rebounds and a blocked shot. It was his first action since Mar. 26, 2008 against Dayton in the NIT as a freshman at Ohio State.
Mike Stovall played in his first NCAA Division I game since Dec. 11, 2007 as a freshman at Oregon State. He played last year at Mineral Area CC before heading to DePaul this season. In his DePaul debut, Stovall came off the bench with seven points, five rebounds and two assists.
