DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Need Some Straight Shooting Against Illinois-Chicago
12/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - Less than 24 hours after the toughest loss of the season, DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright was all set to get right back into the fray.
"The biggest thing is not to feel sorry for yourself," Wainwright said upon returning home Friday after a 76-45 defeat to Mississippi State Thursday night in the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational in Tampa.
"You've got to move on. We have to execute better and finish off what we're doing---and it doesn't matter if we're playing Illinois-Chicago or the Los Angeles Lakers."
UIC (1-5) will provide the opposition for the Blue Demons Sunday in a 5 p.m. game at the Allstate Arena.
"Mississippi State came out attacking, punched us in the face, and we never recovered," Wainwright said. "We didn't answer back because we couldn't hit our open shots.
"They moved their defense out and would not let Will Walker beat them. At some point, other guys have to step up and finish plays at the offensive end."
With back-up support from 6-foot, 9-inch Jarvis Varnado---the nation's leading shot-blocker---the Bulldogs were able to harass Walker (12 points) into a 5-of-21 shooting night. Eric Wallace came through with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Blue Demons.
On a night when Mississippi State (6-2) hit 12-of-29 three-pointers, DePaul could only shoot 28.1 percent from the floor---including five of its first 28 shots.
"The more teams see us without Mac Koshwal, the more adjustments they are making," Wainwright said about the talented 6-10 junior who is expected to return at the end of the month from a foot injury.
"Psychologically we've done a pretty good job handling his injury. But basketball-wise, we're not doing a good job of overcoming it.
"We can't change who we are."
The Blue Demons are a grind-it-out kind of team that banks on good defense, low possessions and a paucity of turnovers.
UIC is led by guards Zavion Neely (14.2 points per game) and Robo Kreps (12.7 points) along with 6-7 forward Jeremy Buttell (10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds). Unlike hot-shooting Mississippi State, the Flames are shooting 24 percent from three-point range.
"It's always fun to play in a rivalry game," said Walker, who leads DePaul at 16.6 points per game and needs seven points on Sunday to reach 1,000 for his career. "Over the summer I'll see those UIC guys. It's great to play them---and it's even better to have bragging rights.
"No matter how the record is, teams play hard in a rivalry game. Teams like UIC seem to be scrappier. They want to beat a team from a bigger conference.
"In the past, we'd overlook teams like this and get beat."