DePaul University Athletics
Purnell Goes for 400 Against Florida Atlantic
12/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 21, 2010
| DePaul (5-6, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Florida Atlantic (8-5, 2-0 Sun Belt) | |
| Date & Time | Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. |
| Allstate Arena Information | Tickets | Directions & Parking |
| Radio | WSCR 670 AM (PbP: Zach Zaidman | Analyst: Laurence Holmes) |
| Online Video | BlueTube |
| Live Stats | Gametracker |
| Twitter Updates | @depaulsid |
| DePaul Information | Game Notes |
Florida Atlantic Information | Game Notes |
CHICAGO - DePaul hosts Florida Atlantic in the final non-conference game of the 2010-11 regular season. The Blue Demons and Owls are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at Allstate Arena in the first meeting between the two programs.
Wednesday's game is also head coach Oliver Purnell's first shot at career win No. 400. In each of his previous four coaching stops he has clinched a milestone victory with his most recent at Clemson with his 300th victory on Mar. 4, 2006.
The Blue Demons opened a three-game homestand to conclude the non-conference portion of the schedule with wins over Milwaukee and Loyola-Chicago last week. DePaul knocked off Milwaukee, 61-47, on Dec. 14 before an 81-74 win over Loyola on Dec. 18. DePaul enters Wednesday's game at 5-6 overall and Florida Atlantic heads to Rosemont with an 8-5 record.
All of the action can be heard on WSCR 670 The Score in Chicagoland with Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Laurence Holmes (analyst). The radio call will also be available online with a video feed on BlueTube at www.depaulbluedemons.com. In-game scoring updates and notes can be followed as well at www.twitter.com/depaulsid.
Following the Florida Atlantic game, the Blue Demons open the BIG EAST schedule at Cincinnati on Dec. 28. That game can be heard on 670 The Score with Zaidman and Holmes and seen online on ESPN3.com.
One for 400: Oliver Purnell has compiled nearly 400 victories in his 23 seasons as a NCAA Division I head coach at Radford (1988-91), Old Dominion (1991-94), Dayton (1994-03) and Clemson (2003-10). He is in his first season at DePaul with a career record of 399-282 and needs just one victory to reach the 400-win plateau. He has recorded a milestone win at each stop of his coaching career with his first victory at Radford, his 100th win at Old Dominion, his 200th victory at Dayton and win No. 300 was with Clemson.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,370-843 (.619) all-time... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 528 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Nov. 16 game against Western Carolina was the 425th for DePaul at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons are 306-123 (.713) all-time in Rosemont... DePaul is 3-1 all-time in games at McGrath Arena... DePaul has: trailed at halftime in six games, been outrebounded in nine games, allowed opponent to shoot .400 or better in nine games, and forced 20 or more turnovers in five games this season... the Blue Demons have used three different starting line-ups this season.
Opponent No. 12 - Florida Atlantic Owls: Florida Atlantic concludes a five-game road trip on Wednesday night at Allstate Arena... the Owls left Boca Raton and started the trip with a Dec. 11 game at Hosftra... FAU is 8-5 overall and 2-0 in Sun Belt Conference action... the Owls have won three of four games on the trip and five of the last six overall... Greg Gantt leads the team with 13.8 points per game and 26 three-pointers... Raymond Taylor adds a 10.7 scoring average... Brett Roysters lead the Owls inside with 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 47 blocked shots... head coach Mike Jarvis is in his third season at Florida Atlantic.
The Series: Wednesday is the first meeting between the two programs.
Against the Sun Belt Conference: DePaul is 25-5 all-time against teams from the Sun Belt Conference... Florida Atlantic is the first Sun Belt opponent since a 72-60 win over Florida International on Dec. 31, 2005 at Allstate Arena... DePaul's most common Sun Belt opponent is Western Kentucky... the Blue Demons have won 10 of 15 games against the Hilltoppers.
It Could Happen: A win would be No. 400 for head coach Oliver Purnell... a win would improve DePaul's record to 5-2 in December... the five wins would be the most in December since the 2006-07 team went posted a 7-1 record n December... last three seasons in December: 3-5 in 2009-10, 4-6 in 2008-09 and 2-5 in 2007-08... DePaul travels to Cincinnati on Dec. 28... the game will be the 430th for DePaul at Allstate Arena.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 81-74 win against Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 18:
- DePaul is now 1,370-843 all-time... the win makes the Blue Demons 4-2 in December... Blue Demons are also 4-0 when leading at halftime this season.
- In the second half of games this season, DePaul has outscored opponents by an average of 5.0 points per second half... in the first half the Blue Demons have been outscored by 3.7 points per first half.
- Krys Faber made his first career three-pointer in his first career three-point attempt... Jimmy Drew has made at least one three-pointer in three straight games... as a program, DePaul has a three-pointer in 528 straight games.
- Head coach Oliver Purnell won his 399th career game... he is 399-282 in his 23 seasons as a head coach.
- DePaul is 105-36 all-time against teams from the Horizon League... the Blue Demons went 2-0 this season with wins over Milwaukee and Loyola.
- DePaul shot a season-best .571 (4-of-7) from three point range.
- Brandon Young had a career-best nine assists... previous best was six against Chicago State.
- Jimmy Drew tied a career-high with four assists
- Faber recorded a career-high four stelas.... previous best was two against Marquette on Jan. 20, 2010... Faber also took a career-high 10 shots... previous best was nine against Syracuse on Jan. 30, 2010.
- Loyola is 68-144 all-time against BIG EAST programs... Loyola is 19-6 in November and December since start of 2009-10 season.
- Saturday was the 54th all-time meeting between the two programs... DePaul leads the series, 37-17.
- DePaul has won 10 straight in the series and 14 of the last 15.
Getting Settled: A year ago, DePaul struggled at the free throw line and ranked last in the NCAA rankings with a team free throw percentage of .582. Through the first 11 games of 2010-11, the Blue Demons are a combined 191-of-272 (.702) from the charity stripe. DePaul is 114 out of 336 ranked team in the Dec. 19 NCAA statistical rankings and fifth among the 16 schools in the BIG EAST through games of Dec. 20.
A closer look at the numbers show that the team increases its free throw percentage as the game moves into the second half. The Blue Demons are a combined 79-for-117 (.675) from the line in the first 20 minutes compared to a free throw percentage of .725 (108-149) in the second half. Individually, Brandon Young is 16-of-26 (.615) in the first half this season and 18-for-25 (.720) in the second half while Tony Freeland is 16-for-26 (.615) in the first half and 25-of-35 (.714) in the second period.
One final comparison to last season at the free throw line sees the Blue Demons increasing their trips to the line after averaging 17.1 free throw attempts last season compared to 24.7 attempts per game in 2010-11.
