2000-01 DePaul Men's Basketball Preseason Notes
11/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Blue Demons return three starters and 10 letterwinners from last season's 21-12 team that won the most games at DePaul since 1988-89 and made it's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1991-92.
Experience Returns
DePaul had sophomores and freshmen play 71.8 percent of the team's minutes during the 1999-2000 campaign. Eight of those nine players are back for the 2000-01 season.
Who Is New
There are a pair of new faces on the DePaul roster this season and they are both Chicago natives. Andre Brown, a 6-9 forward, was a McDonald's All-American after a stellar career at Chicago's Leo High School, while Imari Sawyer graduated from Chicago King High School as the state of Illinois' all-time assist leader.
Who Is Not Back
DePaul lost five players from last season's roster including Quentin Richardson (Clippers) and Paul McPherson (Suns) who departed early for the NBA. Also gone are guard Kerry Hartfield, forward Ayinde Avery and center Lamar Butler.
National Rankings
DePaul has been a Top 25 team in several preseason publications:
Publication Rank Dick Vitale's 13th Lindy's 14th ESPN/USA Today 20th Street & Smith's 21st The Sporting News 24th Basketball News 25thTough Slate
Along with the always rugged Conference USA slate, DePaul will play non-conference home games against Kansas (Dec. 12 at the United Center), Temple (Jan. 20 at the Allstate Arena) and UCLA (Feb. 10 at the Allstate Arena). The Blue Demons will also play in the Great Alaskan Shootout (opening with Syracuse on Thanksgiving night on ESPN) for the first time ever. DePaul also travels to Florida (ESPN) and Missouri (ESPN) for back-to-back non-conference road games in early December.
Head Coach 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 last February he signed a seven-year contract extension.
Individual Honors
Several members of the Blue Demons have earned preseason honors:
Rashon Burno
• The Most Underrated Player in Conference USA by Athlon
Steve Hunter
• Second Team All-Conference USA by Dick Vitale's/ESPN Preview
• Third Team All-Conference USA by The Sporting News
• The Best Player over 6-11 in Conference USA by The Sporting News
• The 11th-best center in the nation by Dick Vitale's/ESPN Preview
Imari Sawyer
• Conference USA's "Diaper Dandy" by Dick Vitale's/ESPN Preview
Bobby Simmons
• The ninth-best small forward in the nation by Dick Vitale's/ESPN Preview
• First team All-Conference USA by Dick Vitale's/ESPN Preview
• First team All-Conference USA by Lindy's
• First team All-Conference USA by Street & Smith's
• Second team All-Conference USA by Athlon
• Second team All-Conference USA by The Sporting News
• The Most Versatile Player in Conference USA by Lindy's
Lance Williams
• Ninth-best power forward in the nation by Dick Vitale's/ESPN Preview
• First Team All-Conference USA by Lindy's
• Second Team All-Conference USA by Dick Vitale's/ESPN Preview
• Third Team All-Conference USA by Athlon
Lights, Camera, Action
The Blue Demons will have at least 20 games on television this season. At right in the schedule box is the breakdown of DePaul's television appearances.
Conference USA Success
The Blue Demons have won 19 regular season Conference USA games in the past two years (the most behind Cincinnati and Louisville).
Tough Ticket
In the last two years DePaul has set single-game home attendance records in three different arenas (Alumni Hall, Allstate Arena and United Center).
Demons In The NBA
DePaul had five former players on NBA opening night rosters this season in Tyrone Corbin (Raptors), Kevin Edwards (Grizzlies), Paul McPherson (Suns), Quentin Richardson (Clippers) and Rod Strickland (Wizards).