DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
USF
USF Inside Attack Too Much for DePaul
2/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Feb. 26, 2011
Bluetube - Highlights | Postgame Interview
ROSEMONT, Ill. - What the short-handed Blue Demons needed more than anything on Saturday was another big-time performance from Jeremiah Kelly.
Going into the matinee BIG EAST Conference showdown with USF, Kelly had averaged 19 points over the last three games and shot a sizzling 58.1 percent from three-point range over the last five games.
But despite strong performances from Brandon Young, Moses Morgan and Kelly, DePaul came up short 86-76 to USF at Allstate Arena.
The Blue Demons were missing leading scorer Cleveland Melvin, who sat out with a thumb injury that the freshman forward sustained in last Wednesday's loss at St. John's.
Young scored 23 points, Morgan had a career-high 16 and Kelly added 14 in a game effort to compensate for Melvin. Tony Freeland played a tough, physical game and came away with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
But DePaul (7-21, 1-15 in the BIG EAST) was susceptible all afternoon to USF's drive-and-dish attack. Bulls guards would penetrate the lane and set up 6-foot-10 inch Augustus Gilchrist (32 points, eight rebounds) and 6-11 Jarrid Famous (15 points) for baskets down low.
"The difference was our inability to defend them inside," said DePaul coach Oliver Purnell. "There were far too many easy dunks and layups.
"In the second half, we got into more of an up-and-down game, and the guys fought valiantly. But our interior defense couldn't handle their size from two guys who are probably going to be NBA players."
USF (9-20, 3-13) led 41-28 by halftime and maintained a 56-43 advantage with 13 minutes, 55 seconds left in the second half.
That's when the Blue Demons revved up a partisan crowd with an 18-7 run. Young's layup with 9:00 to go set off the loudest ovation of the day and brought his team within 63-61.
"We just kept fighting and being aggressive," Young said about the rally. "After we cut it to two, we thought we could let up a little bit.
"We've got to keep fighting until we get the lead."
USF held on, and DePaul never got within four the rest of the way.
"We thought about playing a zone, but we really wanted to get their big guys tired by running up and down," Kelly said.
There's only so much you can do defensively when the 6-6 Freeland is giving away four inches to Gilchrist and the 6-4 Jimmy Drew is trying to defend the 6-11 Famous when 6-10 DePaul center Krys Faber ran into foul trouble.
And when the Blue Demons would foul Gilchrist---a 65.5 percent free-throw shooter---the big guy wound up making 13-of-15 from the line.
DePaul missed the 6-8 Melvin on both ends of the court.
"I knew they would miss him sorely," said USF coach Stan Heath. "He is quick and explosive and has great upside. He has my vote for Freshman of the Year.
"After we got Faber in foul trouble, it allowed our big men to be even more effective inside."
DePaul closes out its regular-season home schedule at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday against Rutgers.
