DePaul University Athletics
"Team Unity" Won't Overlook Alabama State
11/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - Seeking to enhance a chemistry that is building among his players, DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright held up a sign Monday at practice:
One Team
One Heart
One Mission
Getting contributions from across the board has been DePaul's modus operandi in its 4-1 start. We're talking the gamut here---from Ohio State transfer Eric Wallace to freshman walk-on Ryan Siggins, and all points in-between.
This is how overachievers get their start, trusting in one another in the absence of a superstar who can carry the team.
Case in point: Mac Koshwal. With their leading rebounder sidelined by a foot injury, five Blue Demons combined for 25 rebounds in last Saturday's 68-66 overtime victory over a taller Detroit ballclub.
"It's so much better for eight guys to score seven points than one guy score 30," Wainwright said. "Everything we've done has been done as a team---from going into the dorms getting students out for our games to jumping into the ocean.
"This is the most together team I've had since my second season here (2006-07) with Sammy Mejia, Draelon Burns, Marcus Heard and those guys. Everybody that year sacrificed for the team. This team is doing the same."
The Blue Demons' next test is a 7:30 p.m. matchup Wednesday against Alabama State at the Allstate Arena. Alabama State is off to a 1-2 start and played at Tulane on Monday night.
"We're not going to get complacent against anybody," said leading scorer Will Walker who is averaging 16.6 points a game. "Nobody on our team really cares what name is says across that jersey. We've got to win all the games we can.
"Last year, we would overlook a team, there would be a small crowd and we'd play with no energy. We've learned our lesson. On our trip to the Virgin Islands, we learned to bring our own energy."
Someone like 7-foot, 2-inch sophomore Kene Obi has yet to play, but in his own way he contributed to a Nov. 22 near-upset of then-No. 10 Tennessee at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. He manned the top of the simulated Volunteers' press in practice.
"Do you realize how much that helped us in the Tennessee game?" Wainwright said.
When Detroit resorted to a box-and-one zone against Walker, it was Eric Wallace (16 points, six rebounds) and freshman Tony Freeland (five rebounds) who took advantage of the gimmick defense.
"Eric got a lot of his points against it, and Tony came into the game and did well against it," said Walker, who scored a game-high 20 points that included a 25-foot three-pointer in overtime. "Ryan Siggins came through with a huge tip-in and hit a three.
"If two or three guys are doing that, it will stop teams from using that defense."
Wainwright realizes there is no defense against complacency.
"We lost games at home last year because we let the opponent bring the fight to us," Wainwright said. "I don't think that will ever happen again.
"Why? Because there is a peer pressure coming from within the team, and these guys are getting better at holding each other accountable. They are playing within themselves and concentrating on the things they can do well."
The Blue Demons are also faring well in close games.
"Last year, we failed in situations like that," Walker said. "We fell apart, and guys started going one-on-one. This year, we are learning to pull together, huddle up and keep each other poised.
"It all comes from just having better team chemistry."