ST. THOMAS, USVI - Following Friday's 60-52 win over Northern Iowa, DePaul advances to the semifinals of the 2009 Paradise Jam to face No. 10/11 Tennessee. Tip time is scheduled for 7 p.m. AT (5 p.m. CT) and is the first of two semifinal games on Sunday evening at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. The second half of the winner's bracket doubleheader features Saint Joseph's and No. 7/7 Purdue.
With a win over the Volunteers, the Blue Demons take on the winner of the Saint Joseph's/Purdue game for the tournament championship on Monday at 9:30 p.m. AT (7:30 p.m. CT). With a loss, DePaul faces the loser of the other semifinal on Monday at 7 p.m. AT (5 p.m. CT).
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). 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.
Been Here Before: DePaul head coach Jerry Wainwright has a distinct connection to the U.S. Virgin Islands as he recruited USVI native Tim Duncan while he was an assistant coach at Wake Forest. Duncan went on to an All-American career at Wake Forest and multiple MVP honors in the NBA. In talking about Wainwright, Duncan commented, "Looking back at my career, especially in college, Coach Wainwright is one of the greatest coaches I've ever been involved with. He is a great motivator who strikes a perfect balance in his coaching and teaching. He coaches his players to be sound on the court and teaches them to grow as men away from basketball. I am so happy that we have stayed in touch over the years and I consider him a friend."
Busy On and Off the Floor: In addition to opening the season this week with four games in seven days, DePaul University is also in the midst of final exams for the Autumn quarter. DePaul's Assistant Director of Academic Advising Tracy Moss has been busy administering nine exams in the Virgin Islands between team meetings, practices and games. Following the exam period, the Blue Demons return to class the week of Jan. 4.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,359-814 (.625) all-time... dating back to last season, DePaul has won three of its last four games... the team is 2-0 to start the season for the second straight year... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 493 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... Will Walker has started 35 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. 3 - #10/11 Tennessee Volunteers: The Volunteers are off to an impressive start averaging 104.0 points, 13.0 three-pointers and 26.3 assists per game... Tennessee is 3-0 with wins over Austin Peay and UNC Asheville prior to Friday's 105-66 win over East Carolina in the first round of the Paradise Jam... all five starters and 11 players from last season's team that went 21-13... Scotty Hopson leads the team in scoring with 22.0 points per game... four players are averaging in double-figures with Cameron Tatum at 14.0, Tyler Smith at 12.0 and Bobby Maze with 10.3 points per game... Wayne Chism leads the club with 6.3 rebounds per game along with 9.7 points per contest... the Volunteers hold a staggering +47.7 average scoring margin over their three opponents this season... head coach Bruce Pearl is in his fifth season at Tennessee.
The Series: Friday is the second meeting between the two programs... Tennessee registered a 96-61 win over DePaul on Dec. 14, 1973 in Knoxville.
Against the SEC: The Volunteers are the first of three Southeastern Conference programs DePaul faces in the next three weeks... the Blue Demons travel to Vanderbilt on Dec. 5 and play Mississippi State on Dec. 10 in Tampa, Fla. as part of the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational...
DePaul is 16-30 all-time against SEC teams... DePaul's last SEC opponent was Mississippi on Dec. 20, 2007 in the San Juan Shootout... the Rebels knocked off the Blue Demons, 69-63.
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. BIG EAST programs reeled off 41 straight wins to start the 2009-10 season before Providence lost in overtime, 84-75, at Alabama on Friday night.
It Could Happen: A win would give DePaul three 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 steal to move into a tie for 22nd with Bernard Randolph (1980-83, 106 stls.)... Mac Koshwal needs 10 points to reach double-figures for the 45th time in his career.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 60-52 win over Northern Iowa on Nov. 20:
- DePaul held opponents to less than 55 points in two straight games for the first time since the end of the 2006-07 season... defeated Cincinnati, 58-45, on Feb. 24 and USF, 70-54, on Mar. 3, 2007.
- Jeremiah Kelly posted career high's in scoring and rebounding with 18 points and eight rebounds.
- Mac Koshwal registered his fifth career game with 15 or more rebounds... he now has a double-double in each of DePaul's two games... 18th career double-double... 44th career game in double-figures... 27th career game with 10 or more rebounds.
- Mike Stovall made his first collegiate start.
- Dating back to last season, DePaul has won three of its last four games.
- Tuesday was just the second meeting between the two programs... DePaul has won both meetings.
- DePaul is now 96-30 all-time against the Missouri Valley Conference.
