DePaul University Athletics
The Oliver Purnell Era Opens on Sunday
11/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 12, 2010
CHICAGO - Just like everyone else on his team, Mike Stovall can hardly wait for a fresh start.
It will be a new beginning in more ways than one Sunday when DePaul opens its 2010-11 basketball season with a 5 p.m. game against Chicago State at McGrath Arena.
For starters, this season-opener marks the dawning of the Oliver Purnell era as the new Blue Demon coach introduces his high-pressure, up-tempo system to the DePaul faithful.
For Stovall and his Blue Demon teammates, it's an opportunity to wipe away memories of last season's 8-23 campaign that included the Jan. 11 firing of coach Jerry Wainwright with Tracy Webster taking over as interim coach.
"Everyone is excited about the start of the season," said Purnell, who has turned around programs at Radford, Old Dominion, Dayton and Clemson. "It's my first game as DePaul's coach and I've got pre-game jitters.
"Our guys are anxious to get rolling. Let's get on with it."
Along with the more aggressive, fun-to-play style, the Blue Demons got a heaping dosage of Purnell's code of discipline.
"If you come one second late to practice, you get punished," Stovall said. "If you skip class one time, you get punished.
"If you don't do things right, there are consequences behind it. That's why this year's team is more disciplined than last year."
At the heart of Purnell's success is a pressure defense that forces turnovers which can result in easy baskets.
"The press is crazy," Stovall said. "Even if you're breaking through it, we have the other team moving so fast and thinking too fast. You gradually take the energy away from them.
"Everybody likes this style, but you have to be smart when executing it. You have to know when to trap, when to fall back and when to go for the steal.
"At first, we were pressing so hard that we'd get tired, and it was tough to think. We're getting better, and everyone is buying into it."
In Purnell's final season at Clemson before arriving in Lincoln Park, the Tigers finished with 301 steals in 32 games to rank among the nation's leaders for the sixth-straight year.
"Since everyone is new to our system, they're all in the same boat," Purnell said. "The freshmen (Brandon Young, Cleveland Melvin, Moses Morgan) are learning everything and responding to me as a head coach.
"The veterans are helping guys along. JK (junior Jeremiah Kelly) has really helped Brandon."
Blue Demon fans would like to see the trio of rookies make some early contributions.
"With Brandon, I hope the fans see a kid that plays point guard with some poise who gets into things when he is off the ball," Purnell said.
"In the running game, I hope they see a player who finishes at the rim. And, in a close game, someone who steps up and makes free throws."
Purnell said the 6-foot-8-inch Melvin is a big athlete who runs the floor well, and said the 6-6 Morgan has potential as a scorer.
"Moses is a guy who can shoot, and someone who can put the ball in the basket can be invaluable when a team isn't shooting well," said the DePaul coach.
With Purnell stressing points off turnovers and in transition, balanced scoring could become a Blue Demon trademark this season.
"If coach wants me to go out and put up 30 points, I'd do that," Stovall said. "But the style he wants us to play is that everybody gets a piece of the pie and not one person doing everything.
"Last year we had one or two guys scoring most of the points, and after a while, the team fell apart. This new style is bringing everyone closer together."
Chicago State and new coach Tracy Dildy also favor a fast pace and rely on their own brand of pressure defense.
Leading the way is former Shepard High School star, 6-7 Carl Montgomery. The senior forward is a Preseason All-Great West Conference First Team selection after averaging 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds last season.
Cougars point guard Christian Wall returns after averaging 12.8 points last season and dishing out a team-high 92 assists. He was chosen for the Preseason All-Great West Second Team
Chicago State was 9-23 a year ago.
"This is the first game of the season," said Purnell, "and if you're not ready to play, you're not a college basketball player."
