DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Hosts Pitt on Saturday Afternoon
1/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Jan. 20, 2011
| DePaul (6-12, 0-6 BIG EAST) vs. #5/4 Pittsburgh (18-1, 6-0 BIG EAST) |
| Date & Time Saturday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. |
| Allstate Arena Information Tickets | Directions & Parking |
Gameday Promotions |
| TV: BIG EAST Network/The U Too (PbP: Lou Canellis | Analyst: Brooke Weisbrod) |
| Online Video: ESPN3.com |
| Radio: WSCR 670 AM (PbP: Zach Zaidman | Analyst: Laurence Holmes) |
| Online Audio: BlueTube |
| Live Stats: Gametracker |
| Twitter Updates: @depaulsid |
| DePaul Information Game Notes  | Media Guide | RosterSchedule | Statistics |
Pittsburgh Information |
| Next Game: Thursday, Jan. 27 at USF 9 p.m. ET at the Sun Dome (Tampa, Fla.) TV: ESPNU | Radio: WSCR 670 AM |
CHICAGO - DePaul hosts its second top 10 opponent at Allstate Arena in eight days as No. 5/4 Pittsburgh visits on Saturday afternoon. At halftime of the game, DePaul will introduce the 2011 Hall of Fame induction class that includes men's basketball alum Terry Davis. The Blue Demons and Panthers are scheduled for a 3 p.m. start in Rosemont.
The Blue Demons enter the game looking to snap a six-game losing streak and stand at 6-12 overall and 0-6 in BIG EAST play. Pittsburgh, ranked fifth in this week's AP poll and fourth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches top 25, is 18-1 and 6-0 in league action.
All of the action can be heard on WSCR 670 The Score in Chicagoland with Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Laurence Holmes (analyst). Lou Canellis (play-by-play) and Brooke Weisbrod (analyst) take care of the broadcasting duties on the BIG EAST Network. Locally in Chicago, the game can be seen on The U Too. For Chicagoland viewers watching with an antenna, the over-the-air digital position is The U Too 26.2. Chicagoland cable subscribers will see The U Too on Comcast 248, RCN 35 and WOW 170. The game is also available on ESPN's FULL COURT package and online at www.espn3.com. In-game scoring updates and notes can be followed as well at www.twitter.com/depaulsid.
Following the Pittsburgh game, the Blue Demons travel to USF on Jan. 27 before hosting Notre Dame on Feb. 3. The Blue Demons and Bulls are scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET start in Tampa on ESPNU. The game can also be heard on 670 The Score with Zaidman and Holmes.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,371-849 (.618) all-time... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 535 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Dec. 22 game against Florida Atlantic was the 430th for DePaul at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons are 307-126 (.709) all-time in Rosemont... DePaul is 3-1 all-time in games at McGrath Arena... the Blue Demons have used four different starting line-ups this season... in four games this season, DePaul has overcome a deficit of eight or more points... the Blue Demons trailed Oklahoma State (8 pts. with 5:54 left in first half), Stanford (11 pts. with 13:56 left in first half), Central Michigan (14 pts. with 8:16 left in first half) and Ball State (10 pts. with 17:54 left in second half) before regaining the lead... two players have recorded a four-point play this season... Cleveland Melvin was intentionally fouled a lay-up and made the two free throws against Ball State on Dec. 11... Jeremiah Kelly was fouled on a three-pointer and made the free throw against Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 18.
The Opponent - Pittsburgh Panthers: Pittsburgh stands at 18-1 overall and 6-0 in BIG EAST action... the Panthers are ranked fifth in this week's AP poll and fourth in the Coaches top 25... Pittsburgh is off to its best start in BIG EAST play at 6-0 and are currently on an eight-game winning streak... Ashton Gibbs leads three players in double-figures with 16.0 points per game... he is followed by Brad Wanamaker (12.9 ppg) and Gilbert Brown (11.3 ppg)... Gary McGhee pulls down a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game along with a scoring average of 7.1... as a team, the Panthers are outrebounding opponents by 13.6 boards per game... head coach Jamie Dixon is in his eighth season leading the Pittsburgh program.
The Series: Saturday is the eighth all-time meeting between the two programs... DePaul claimed the first meeting on Dec. 12, 1936 at the Chicago Armory by a 41-37 score in overtime... Pittsburgh has won all six meetings in BIG EAST play.
The Last Meeting: Pittsburgh knocked off DePaul, 65-52, on Dec. 28, 2009 in the BIG EAST opener for both teams... Pittsburgh jumped to a 15-2 lead in the first seven minutes behind Ashton Gibbs... Gibbs scored a game-high 23 points... Mac Koshwal and Will Walker scored 11 points each to lead DePaul... the Blue Demons pulled to within five points before the Panthers scored six straight for a 60-49 advantage with 3:33 left... Mario Stula scored a career-high 10 points while Eric Wallace led DePaul with eight rebounds... Jermaine Dixon added 12 for Pittsburgh.
It Could Happen: A win would end an 19-game losing streak against BIG EAST opponents (18 regular-season games/1 BIG EAST Championship game)... Tony Freeland will be playing in his 45th career game... Jeremiah Kelly needs six assists to tie Randy Ramsey (219 assists, 1974-78) for 25th all-time... Kelly also needs six steals to tie Terry Davis (104 steals, 1989-93) for 26th all-time... Cleveland Melvin needs eight blocked shots to tie Lemone Lampley (34 blocks, 1985-86) and Teddy Grubbs (34 blocks, 1980-81) for 20th on DePaul's season list.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 94-64 loss at Marquette on Jan. 18:
- DePaul lost for the 19th straight against a BIG EAST opponent... the loss was also the 26th straight on the road.
- Cleveland Melvin posted his 11th straight game in double-figures... the freshman has scored at least 20 in six of the last seven games.
- DePaul's streak increased to 535 straight games with a three-pointer.
- The 46 points allowed in the first half were the most by an opponent this season in the first 20 minutes.
- The 30-point margin of victory was the largest margin of victory by either team in the 110-game series.
- Tuesday was the 110th all-time meeting... Marquette leads the series, 66-44.
- In BIG EAST play, the Golden Eagles are 7-2 against the Blue Demons.
Three Decades in Rosemont: DePaul is in its 31st season in 2010-11 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. The Blue Demons are 307-126 (.709) all-time in Rosemont. DePaul University played its first season at the then-named Rosemont Horizon in 1980. The Blue Demons debuted in Rosemont with a 74-56 win over Gonzaga and John Stockton on Dec. 1, 1980.
