DePaul Faces Tough Test Against Missouri
12/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
DePaul (3-2) at Missouri (4-1)
Wednesday, December 6, 2000Hearns Center (13,300)
Columbia, Mo. - 8 p.m. (CST)
Records
DePaul is 3-2 after an 83-76 loss at 10th-ranked Florida on Saturday. Missouri is 4-1 after beating Texas-Pan American 78-57 on Saturday in Columbia.
Polls
DePaul and Missouri are each receiving votes in both the ESPN/USA Today and Associated Press Top 25 polls.
Series
Tonight is the third meeting between DePaul and Missouri with each team owning a victory. The Blue Demons won the first meeting, a 92-79 victory on January 2, 1980 in Columbia. The Tigers took the last meeting, 45-42 on November 24, 1997 in Maui.
Coaches
DePaul's Pat Kennedy is in his 21st season as a head coach and his fourth with the Blue Demons. He has a 375-240 career record, including a 49-50 slate at DePaul. Kennedy is 0-1 against Missouri. Quin Snyder is in his second season as a head coach. His career record is 22-14. He has never faced DePaul as a head coach.
Television
ESPN will televise today's game nationally with Ron Franklin and Jon Sunvold handling the announcing chores.
Radio
Tonight's game will be broadcast on WSCR Sports Radio 670 AM in Chicago. Ron Gleason (play-by-play and the award-winning Gene Sullivan (color commentary) will handle the broadcast duties.
Game Notes
An End To The Road Trip
Tonight DePaul concludes a five-game road trip that included three contests in Anchorage, Alaska, one in Gainesville, Florida and this evening's game in Columbia, Mo. DePaul has not played at home since November 17.
Old Friends
This is the only meeting between DePaul and Missouri, but the Blue Demons and Tigers were both participants in the Great Alaska Shootout over Thanksgiving weekend. Missouri finished second while DePaul placed fourth. Both teams went 2-1 and suffered their only losses in the tournament to 14th-ranked Syracuse.
Reviewing The Last Game
DePaul dropped a hard-faught 83-76 decision at 10th-ranked Florida on Saturday. Below is a brief the game.
Florida 83 DePaul 76
December 2, 2000 - O'Connell Center - Gainesville, Florida
DePaul fought back from early deficits in both halves, but it wasn't enough as the Gators recorded the win. The Blue Demons were led by Lance Williams' 17 points while Rashon Burno added 12. Bobby Simmons had his third double-double of the young season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. DePaul played the last 23 minutes of the game without Imari Sawyer who injured his ankle.
DePaul In The Polls
DePaul is ranked 25th in this week's ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and is receiving votes in the Associated Press poll. Below is a listing of how the Blue Demons have been ranked this season.
Date AP ESPN/USA Today Preseason 21 20 Nov. 13 22 - Nov. 21 21 22 Nov. 27 votes 25 Dec. 4 xxx votesSimmons Starts
Bobby Simmons was in the starting lineup for Saturday's game at Florida and that should come as no surprise. Simmons, a 6-7 junior, has started every game of his Blue Demon career - a span of 69 consecutive games. He is the only DePaul player to start every game in the past three years.
Lance Is Rolling
Showing no signs of the foot injury that set him back last season, Lance Williams is returning to the form that he showed as a freshman. The 6-9 junior from Chicago is DePaul's leading scorer (averaging 16.9 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (7.6 rpg). Williams has led the Blue Demons in scoring in three of the last four games.
Take Me Home
After tonight's game, DePaul will embark on a seven-game homestand. It is the longest homestand since the 1985-86 edition of the Blue Demons also played seven consecutive home contests. The longest homestand in school history came during the 1945-46 season when Ray Meyer's squad played eight straight home games.
Lucky Number 12
DePaul's Bobby Simmons went 12-for-12 from the free throw line against Syracuse on Thanksgiving night, the fifth-best single-game total in school history.
Simmons Ties Record
By going 12-for-12 from the line against Syracuse, Bobby Simmons tied a Great Alaska Shootout single-game free throw percentage record (shared with Phil Cox of Vanderbilt vs. Clemson in 1982).
Simmons Reaches 800
Bobby Simmons became the 52nd player in DePaul history to score 800 points in a career against Syracuse.
Sawyer Earns Award
Imari Sawyer was named the Conference USA Player of the Week on November 27. The 6-2 freshman dished out 30 assists in three Great Alaska Shootout games and scored 18 points against Florida State and 19 against Alaska Anchorage.
All-Tournament Honors
Both Bobby Simmons and Imari Sawyer were named to the Great Alaska Shootout's All-Tournament team.
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 374-241 in his career, including a 49-50 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 11-13 in December, 8-9 on Wednesday and 17-24 in road games.
Imari Dishes It Out
Freshman Imari Sawyer has posted some impressive numbers in his first four collegiate games. The 6-2 freshman has dished out 43 assists in the five games (8.6 apg). He has recorded a double figure assist total in three of the five games. Imari currently leads Conference USA in assists.
Imari Update
Imari Sawyer sprained his ankle late in the first half of Saturday's game at Florida. On Sunday, it was diagonsed as a grade 2 sprain on Sunday. He is day-to-day.
Sawyer Sets Record
Imari Sawyer handed out 30 assists in the three games in Alaska, setting a Great Alaska Shootout tournament record. The previous mark of 29 was set by Stanford's Brevin Knight in 1996.
Still Young
The overall makeup of the DePaul squad is young. DePaul's only seniors, David Bruno and Brian Cashin, have combined to play in 27 games over the last three seasons, and six of the 11 players who will dress today are freshmen and sophomores.
Tough Slate
DePaul will face another formable schedule in 2000-01. Below is a listing of how the Blue Demon opponents rank in this week's polls.
Opponent AP ESPN/USA Today Kansas 2 4 Florida 10 9 Temple 17 23 Syracuse 20 14 Cincinnati 22 18 AP Votes: UCLA, Missouri, Charlotte, Southern Miss ESPN/USA Today Votes: Charlotte, UCLA, Missouri, Memphis, Southern MIss, LouisvilleNew 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.
DePaul Debut
The Pat Kennedy era of DePaul basketball has seen some impressive Blue Demon debuts and this season's opener was no different. Freshmen Andre Brown (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Imari Sawyer (11 assists, 10 points) added their names to the list. Below is listing of some of the debuts during the Kennedy era.
Bobby Simmons - 17 points, six assists
Quentin Richardson - 18 pints, eight rebounds
Paul McPherson - 22 points, nine rebounds
Imari Sawyer - 11 assists, 10 points
Andre Brown - 18 points, 11 rebounds
New Titles
Tracy Dildy was elevated to Associate Coach this past summer while Brian Kennedy moved into a recruiting coach position.
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
DePaul plays 13 games at the Allstate Arena in 2000-01. The Blue Demons, who are 1-0 at the Allstate Arena this season, 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 season 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 today's game notes for the television broadcast listings.
Loud & Clear
This season 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 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 p.m. (CST) by calling (402) 633-6900.
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
DePaul
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 37 North Carolina 37 Temple 35 Syracuse 34 DePaul 33 Marquette 33Around DePaul
The Blue Demon women's basketball team (1-3) is on the road tonight as well. Doug Bruno's squad is playing at Southern Illinios.
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 DePaul Athletic Department which is managed by TotalSports, is located at:
www.depaulbluedemons.com
Game notes, press releases, player profiles, game summaries and boxscores are all located on this site.
Up Next
DePaul will play a home game for the first time since November 17 when Chicago State comes to the Allstate Arena on Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. contest. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Chicago.