DePaul University Athletics
Time for Blue Demons to Bounce Back
1/2/2012 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Jan. 2, 2012
CHICAGO - Thursday would be an ideal time for DePaul to make its biggest rebound of the season.
The Blue Demons face Pittsburgh (11-4, 0-2 in the BIG EAST) at 6 p.m. in Allstate Arena after opening the conference season with a an 87-68 loss to No. 1/1 Syracuse on Sunday.
The Panthers come into Rosemont, Ill. with a three-game losing streak after falling 66-63 at home to a Cincinnati team deploying a similar pressure defense and fast-break attack advocated by DePaul coach Oliver Purnell.
"I know Pittsburgh plays very good defense," Purnell said. "Their coach, Jamie Dixon, does a great job of having his team prepared for every game."
DePaul's best start in 12 years was interrupted by Syracuse, and the Blue Demons will look to regain their winning touch against Pittsburgh in a BIG EAST matchup that will be televised by ESPN2.
Leading the way will be Cleveland Melvin, Brandon Young and Donnavan Kirk, who played his best game as a Blue Demon against Syracuse with a season-high 14 points.
Donnavan had a good game and was effective on the boards and scoring inside," said Melvin, who had 23 points and eight rebounds against the Orange. "He kept talking to us, telling us to keep our heads in the game and never give up."
DePaul (9-4, 0-1) appears to match up size-wise with the Panthers as 6-foot, 10-inch Krys Faber and the 6-9 Kirk would take on 6-9 Dante Taylor. The 6-8 Melvin and 6-4 Jamee Crockett will square off against Pitt's 6-5 forwards Nasir Robinson (12.9 points, 6.6 rebounds a game) and Lamar Patterson.
In the backcourt, Pitt features BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Ashton Gibbs (17 points per game) and 6-4 Cameron Wright while the Blue Demons counter with Young (16. 1 points, five assists) and Jeremiah Kelly (10.2 points).
On Sunday, Cincinnati's pressure defense contributed to 17 Panther turnovers, and Pittsburgh made just 5-of-19 shots from three-point range. Robinson finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Gibbs scored 18 points.
"We're still confident," Gibbs said on Sunday. "At the end of the day, we've lost three in a row now. We need to practice harder and get back to it. We will be fine. No struggle, no rewards.
"We're going through a struggle right now and we can't hang our heads. We need to have faith. This team is capable of winning and beating anybody."
