Lewis Game Facts
11/16/2000 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Lewis (0-0) at #22 DePaul (0-0)
Friday, November 17, 7:30 p.m.Allstate Arena (17,500)
Rosemont, Illinois
Records
This is the first game of the 2000-01 for both the Blue Demons and the Flyers.
Polls
DePaul is 20th in the ESPN/USA Today preseason Top 25 poll and 22nd in the latest Associated Press rankings. Lewis is not ranked.
Series
DePaul owns a perfect 8-0 record against the Flyers. The last meeting was on December 16, 1975 when the Blue Demons posted a 92-67 win. The previous five meetings have been at Alumni Hall while the first three games were at the DePaul Auditorium.
Coaches
DePaul's Pat Kennedy is in his 21st season as a head coach and his fourth with the Blue Demons. He has a 372-239 career record, including a 46-48 slate at DePaul. Kennedy has never faced Lewis. The Flyers are coached by Jim Whitesell who is in his 13th campaign as a head coach and his eighth at Lewis. His career record is 195-156, including a 131-88 ledger with the Flyers. Whitesell has never coached against DePaul.
Television
There will be no television coverage of tonight's game.
Radio
Tonight's game will be broadcast on WAUR AM 930 (a sister station of WSCR Sports Radio 670) in Chicago. Ron Gleason (play-by-play) and Gene Sullivan (color commentary) will handle the broadcast duites.
Officials
Tom Rucker, Jim Jenkins, Bill Conner
Game Notes
Here We Go Again
DePaul is opening its 78th season of men's basketball tonight against Lewis. Over the previous 77 seasons, the Blue Demons have posted a 1,226-671 (.646) record.
Reviewing The Exhibition Season
DePaul finished with a perfect 2-0 record in the exhibition season. Below is a brief summary on each game.
DePaul 98 California All-Stars 86
November 5, 2000 - DePaul Athletic Center
Joe Tulley scored 27 points (on 6-7 shooting from 3pt. range) and Andre Brown added 23 points and eight rebounds to power the Blue Demons who rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit. Imari Sawyer dished out 15 assists while Bobby Simmons had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Lance Williams added 17 points and nine boards for the Blue Demons.
DePaul 75 One World All-Stars 72
November 8, 2000 - DePaul Athletic Center
Andre Brown scored 19 points and Bobby Simmons had 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Blue Demons beat the One World All-Stars. Lance Williams chipped in with 14 points and nine boards while Imari Sawyer had 13 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
DePaul In The Polls
DePaul is currently ranked in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today preseason polls.
Date AP ESPN/USA Today Preseason 21 20 November 13 22 --Opening Night
DePaul owns a sparkling 69-8 (.896) record in season openers. The Blue Demons have won three of the last four season openers.
Home Opener
While the Blue Demons have a tremendous season-opening mark, their record in home openers is even more impressive. DePaul is 71-6 (.922) in home openers having won 12 straight and 61 of the last 62. The last time the Blue Demons lost a home opener was November 28, 1987 when Pepperdine recorded an 84-76 win at the then-Rosemont Horizon.
Opening In Rosemont
DePaul is 11-1 in home openers at the Allstate Arena (formerly Rosemont Horizon). The last time the Blue Demons opened the season in Rosemont was on November 26, 1994 when DePaul beat Eastern Illinois 96-73. DePaul's previous five home openers were at Alumni Hall.
At The Allstate Arena
Entering its 21st season of playing at the Allstate Arena, DePaul has posted a 216-63 (.774) slate in Rosemont. Last season, the Blue Demons were 10-3 at the Allstate Arena.
Early Start
Tonight is tied for the third earliest season opener in the history of the program. The 1998-99 squad opened its season on November 13 at New Mexico and the 1995-96 team played its first game on November 15 at Michigan. The 1997-98 unit also opened on November 17 against Alabama State at Alumni Hall.
Happy Anniversary
Today marks the four-year anniversary of DePaul head coach Pat Kennedy's first game and victory as the Blue Demons' coach - a 58-34 victory over Alabama State at Alumni Hall.
Speaking Of Pat Kennedy
Pat Kennedy is in his fourth season at the helm of the Blue Demons and his 21st as a Division I head coach. He is 372-239 in his career, including a 46-48 ledger at DePaul. Last March Kennedy became the third coach in school history to lead the Blue Demons to the NCAA Tournament and in February he signed a seven-year contract extension.
PK By The Numbers
Pat Kennedy's DePaul teams are 2-1 in season openers, 3-0 in home openers, 8-4 in November, 2-2 on Friday and 18-12 at the Allstate Arena.
Experienced Starters
There is a chance that DePaul could start at least four players tonight who were on the 1999-2000 roster, making this Pat Kennedy's most experienced opening night starting line up since he joined the Blue Demons in 1997.
Season Starters Not On Previous Season's Team
1999-00 Steve Hunter, Paul McPherson
1998-99 Kerry Hartfield, Quentin Richardson,
Bobby Simmons, Lance Williams
1997-98 Ayinde Avery, Willie Coleman, Jermaine Watts
Still YoungWhile tonight's starting lineup could be experienced, the overall makeup of the DePaul squad is still young. DePaul's only seniors, David Bruno and Brian Cashin, have combined to play in 24 games over the last two seasons, and eight of the 12 players who will dress tonight are freshmen and sophomores.
Triple Double
DePaul's Bobby Simmons has posted a point-rebound double-double in his last three games dating back to last season and including the exhibition portion of this season. The 6-7 small forward had 14 points and 15 rebounds in the opening round of the 1999-2000 NCAA Tournament against Kansas. He opened this season with 17 points and 13 rebounds against the California All-Stars and followed that with a 17-point, 10-rebound effort against the One World All-Stars.
Tough Slate
DePaul will face another formible schedule in 2000-01. Below is a listing of how the Blue Demon opponents rank in the preseason polls.
Opponent AP ESPN/USA Today Kansas 4 6 Florida 11 11 UCLA 14 19 Cincinnati 17 14AP Votes: Missouri, Memphis, Temple, Charlotte
ESPN/USA Today Votes: Missouri, Temple, Syracuse, South Florida, Charlotte, Louisville
Welcome Aboard
DePaul's two new faces had impressive debuts during the exhibition portion of the season. Andre Brown had 23 points and eight rebounds against the California All-Stars and then posted a team-high 19 points against the One World All-Stars. Imari Sawyer had 15 assists in the win over the California All-Stars and followed that with 13 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds against the One World All-Stars.
New Coach
There is a new face on the Blue Demon bench this season in Donnie Kirksey. The Chicago native joined the DePaul staff last summer after former assistant coach Larry Harrison left to become the head coach at Hartford. Kirksey had previously been an assistant coach at Chicago State.
New Titles
Tracy Dildy was elevated to Associate Coach this past summer while Brian Kennedy moved into a recruiting coach position.
Ramsey To Redshirt
Sophomore guard Randy Ramsey will sit out the 2000-01 season as a redshirt. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining after this campaign.
Sign Here
During the November signing period, DePaul signed five prepsters and one junior college player to National Letters of Intent. Below is a listing of the players who signed with the Blue Demons.
Kenny Adeleke F 6-8 225 New York, N.Y. Eddy Curry C 6-11 290 South Holland, Ill. Drake Diener G 6-5 180 Fond du Lac, Wis. Quemont Greer F 6-7 215 Homestead, Fla. Sam Hoskin* F/C 6-9 260 Detroit, Mich. LeVar Seals G 6-4 180 Chicago, Ill. * junior college playerAt The Allstate
Tonight kicks off 13 Blue Demon games at the Allstate Arena in 2000-01. After tonight's game, the Blue Demons will be back in Rosemont on December 9 to face Chicago State at 4:30 p.m. That game is part of a doubleheader with UIC facing Southern Illinois at 2:15 p.m. in the first game.
At The UC
DePaul will play three games at the United Center this season - Kansas on December 12, Memphis on January 13 and Cincinnati on March 3.
The Fall Of The Hall
This campaign marks the first season since 1955-56 that the Blue Demons have not practiced or played exhibition games in Alumni Hall. The venerable arena was torn down over the summer and DePaul moved into the new Athletic Center last April. The Blue Demons won both exhibition games earlier this month at the 3,000-seat DePaul Athletic Center.
TV Time
The Blue Demons will be one of the most watched teams in America this season. Pat Kennedy's squad will have at least 20 games on television this season. Check page five of tonight's game notes for the television broadcast listings.
Loud & Clear
Tonight also marks the start of the fourth year of DePaul basketball on WSCR and its family of stations but this season will be a bit different. After being heard at 1160 AM for the past three seasons, Blue Demon fans can now catch most of the action on 670 AM. The new 50,000-watt frequency allows DePaul games to be heard in 38 states and Canada. Due to scheduling conflicts, some of DePaul's games may be broadcast on one of WSCR's sister stations.
Wait Until Next Season
Marlon London, a 6-5 guard from Broadview, Ill. who prepped at St. Joseph's in suburban Westchester, transferred to DePaul from Kansas last May. Although he's allowed to practice with the Blue Demons, London will sit out the 2000-01 campaign under NCAA transfer rules and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining starting in 2001-02.
Pat Kennedy TV Show
Once again this season, DePaul fans can follow the Blue Demons via the Orthosport Pat Kennedy Show. There will be six shows airing this season beginning on December 9, December 17, December 30, January 6, February 7 and February 14. All of the shows will be televised by Fox Sports Chicago.
C-USA Teleconference
Every Monday starting on December 11, at 10:00 a.m. (CST) all 12 of the Conference USA men's basketball coaches will be available via teleconference. DePaul head coach Pat Kennedy is scheduled to be on the call at 10:47 a.m. (CST). To participate, please call (913) 981-5508. The entire teleconference will be available on replay for the rest of the week beginning at 4:00 p.m. (CST) by calling (402) 633-6900.
Northern Exposure
After tonight's game, the Blue Demons will make their first trip ever to Alaska for the Great Alaskan Shootout. DePaul will open the tournament against Syracuse on Thanksgiving night at 11:00 p.m. (CST). That contest will be televised nationally by ESPN. The second round matchup will either be against Ohio State or Florida State depending on the outcome of the first round games. The tournament concludes on Saturday, November 25.
C-USA Wins
Over the past two seasons, DePaul has won 19 Conference USA regular season games, the third-best total in the league behind only Cincinnati and Louisville.
Demons Picked Second
In a vote of league coaches, DePaul was picked to finish second in the American Division in the annual Conference USA preseason poll.
Cincinnati was picked ahead of the Blue Demons. Below are the results of the voting.
American Division
Cincinnati
4DePaul
Charlotte
Louisville
Marquette
Saint Louis
National Division
South Florida
Memphis
UAB
Southern Miss
Houston
Tulane
A Proud History
DePaul is one of 10 programs to have made 33 postseason tournament (NCAA & NIT) appearances. Below is a listing of the programs to have made 33 appearances.
St. John's 51 Kentucky 48 Louisville 40 Villanova 37 UCLA & North Carolina 37 Temple 35 Syracuse 34 DePaul 33 Marquette 33Around DePaul
The Blue Demons women's basketball team will open their season tomorrow at second-ranked Tennessee. Head coach Doug Bruno's squad will tip-off against the Lady Vols at 6:00 p.m. (CST). The DePaul women's volleyball squad opened the Conference USA Tournament in Charlotte on Thursday against UAB. The Blue Demons are the fifth seed in the tournament.
For Tickets
Season tickets are still available for the 2000-01 season. Fans can call the DePaul Athletic Ticket Office at (773) 325-SLAM. For single-game purchases, call TicketMaster at (312) 559-1212.
Demons On-Line
You can follow the Blue Demons all season long on the world wide web. The official homepage of the Blue Demons, which is managed by TotalSports, is located at:
www.depaulbludemons.com
Game notes, press releases, player profiles and game summaries are all located on this site.
Up Next
DePaul will travel to Anchorage, Alaska for the annual Great Alaskan Shootout. The Blue Demons' opening game will be on Thanksgiving against Syracuse on ESPN. Tipoff is at 11:00 p.m. (CST). Lewis will host Rockhurst tomorrow at the Neil Carey Arena.