CHICAGO - The DePaul Blue Demons return to Allstate Arena for the first of two home games over a five-day stretch. DePaul hosts the Detroit Titans on Saturday afternoon in Rosemont before Alabama State visits on Wednesday night.
The Blue Demons are 3-1 early in the season following a third-place finish at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. DePaul knocked off Northern Iowa in the first round of the tournament before a four-point loss to No. 10/11 Tennessee in the semifinals. The Blue Demons came back on Monday and defeated Saint Joseph's in the consolation game. Senior guard Will Walker was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 16.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in the three games.
Saturday's game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start and can be heard live on WSCR (670 AM) in Chicago. The broadcast will also be available on Blue Tube at www.depaulbluedemons.com. Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Laurence Holmes (analyst) call all of the action from courtside at Allstate Arena. In-game scoring updates and notes can also be found at www.twitter.com/depaulsid.
Following the Detroit game, the Blue Demons return to host Alabama State on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. to close the two-game homestand. DePaul plays its first true road game on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Vanderbilt before facing Mississippi State on Dec. 10 at the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational in Tampa, Fla.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,360-815 (.625) all-time... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 494 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... Will Walker has started 37 straight games... the win over Columbia in the season opener ended an 18-game losing streak in regular-season games... the Blue Demons have won at least three of their first four games in two straight seasons... 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. 5 - Detroit Titans: Detroit enters Saturday's action at 4-1 with four stright victories... following a season-opening loss at California, the Titans have defeated Western Michigan, Robert Morris, Albany and Alcorn State... Eli Holman leads the club with 16.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game... Xavier Keeling adds 13.4 points per game and Chase Simon contributes 13.2 points per contest... Simon has a team-high nine three-pointers and 16 assists... head coach Ray McCallum is in his second season at Detroit... DePaul is the lone BIG EAST opponents for the Titans this season.
The Series: Monday is the 36th all-time meeting between the two programs... DePaul holds a 28-7 advantage with Saturday serving as the third meeting in as many seasons... a year ago at Allstate Arena, the Blue Demons posted a 71-62 decision on Nov. 26, 2008 following a 70-64 victory at Detroit on Dec. 29, 2007... DePaul has won 11 of the last 12 meetings dating back to the 1980-81 season... since the start of the 1939-40 campaign, DePaul has won 16 of the last 18 games.
Against the Horizon League: DePaul is 101-36 all-time against the current lineup of Horizon League programs... Detroit is one of two Horizon League teams on the 2009-10 schedule... the Blue Demons host the UIC Flames at Allstate Arena on Dec. 13... the Titans were the last Horizon League opponent last season.
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 Nov. 20. Entering Friday's action, the conference is a combined 62-6 this season.
It Could Happen: Jeremiah Kelly needs 11 assists for 100 in his career... Mac Koshwal needs two rebounds for 600 in his career... Will Walker needs two three-pointers to move into a tie for fifth all-time at DePaul with Peter Patton (134 3pt. FG's - 1992-96)... Saturday's game will be the 97th in Walker's career and his 55th career start... should the Blue Demons hold Detroit to less than 60 points, it will mark the fifth straight game holding an opponent under that mark... the last time with five straight games of holding an opponent to less than 60 was from Jan. 21-Feb. 2, 1983.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 58-51 win over Saint Joseph's on Nov. 23 in the consolation game of the Paradise Jam:
- DePaul has held opponents to less than 60 points in four straight games for the first time since the end of the 1983-84 season (Ray Meyer's last season as head coach at DePaul)... the 1983-84 run featured a 65-56 win over South Carolina on Mar. 1, a 66-47 win over Detroit on Mar. 4, a 62-29 win against Pan American on Mar. 6 and a 64-49 triumph over Marquette on Mar. 10.
- Will Walker notched his 45th career game in double-figures... it was also his ninth career game of at least 20 points.
- The Blue Demons turned the ball over a season-low (second time) eight times... DePaul is averaging just 10.3 turnover per game... in the Paradise Jam, the Blue Demons totaled 26 turnovers (8.7/game)
- DePaul used its third different starting line-up of the season.
- Junior forward/center Mac Koshwal sat out the game with an injured left foot... his status is day-to-day.
- The Hawks were held to a season-low 51 points.
- Monday was the 16th meeting between the two programs... the Blue Demons now hold a 10-6 advantage in the series... DePaul is now 127-118 all-time against teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Free Tony Freeland: DePaul freshman Tony Freeland joined the team on Thanskgiving Day morning for his first practice after enrolling for the Winter Quarter at DePaul. The 6-6 forward from Los Angeles will be available for action against Detroit on Saturday afternoon. He joins the Blue Demons after averaging 21.1 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots during his senior season at Fremont High School. The two-time first team All-City honoree was also co-MVP of the Coliseum League and a McDonald's All-American nominee.
Defending and Protecting: Through four games, the DePaul defense has held four opponents to less than 60 points. A feat that hasn't been done by a DePaul team since Ray Meyer's last season as head coach of the Blue Demons. Meyer's squad posted four straight sub-60 games from Mar. 1-10, 1984.
Additionally, the Blue Demons are averaging just 10.3 turnovers per game. DePaul's three primary point guards - Michael Bizoukas, Jeremiah Kelly and Will Walker - hold a combined 2.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Kelly has totaled 13 assists to just two turnovers in 32.5 minutes per game this season. His 6.5-to-1 ratio leads the BIG EAST ahead of Notre Dame's Tory Jackson at 4.14-to-1 ratio.
Recapping the Paradise Jam: DePaul finished in third place at the 2009 Paradise Jam at the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Blue Demons knocked off Missouri Valley Conference favorite Northern Iowa in the first round by a 60-52 score before falling, 57-53, to No. 10/11 Tennessee in the semfinals. DePaul trailed by just two in the final minute against the Volunteers after trailing by as many as 12 points early in the second half. DePaul closed the tournament with a 58-51 win over Saint Joseph's in the consolation game.
Senior guard Will Walker was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 16.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in the three games. Purdue claimed the tournament title with a 73-72 win over Tennessee.
Three Decades in Rosemont: DePaul began its 30th season in 2009-10 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. The Blue Demons are 297-113 (.724) all-time in Rosemont. DePaul University played its first season in 1980-81 at the then-named Rosemont Horizon. The Blue Demons debuted in Rosemont with a 74-56 win over Gonzaga and John Stockton on Dec. 1, 1980.
