Men's Hoops Host Milwaukee Sunday Afternoon
12/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - DePaul concludes a busy stretch of four games in eight days with a Sunday afternoon game against Milwaukee. The Blue Demons are a perfect 3-0 so far during the four-game run with wins over Stanford on Sunday, Northern Illinois on Tuesday and Chicago State on Thursday. Start time between the Blue Demons and Panthers at Allstate Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Sunday's game will be televised on FOX Sports 1 with Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) handling the television duties. The broadcast can also be seen on the FOX Sports Go app wherever FOX Sports 1 is available. DePaul's radio tandem of Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Jeff Blanzy (analyst) can be heard on WSCR 670 AM, on BlueTube at www.depaulbluedemons.com and on DePaul's mobile app. Live stats can be found on GameTracker at www.depaulbluedemons.com while in-game scoring updates and notes can be followed at www.twitter.com/depaulsid.
DePaul stands at 5-1 early in the 2014-15 season while Milwaukee holds a 4-4 record. Head coach Oliver Purnell is in his fifth season at DePaul and his 27th as a head coach at the collegiate level. Milwaukee is led by Rob Jeter who is in his 10th season leading the Panthers. Sunday's game is the 14th meeting between the two programs.
Following the Milwaukee game, DePaul travels to George Washington for a Thursday evening contest. Thursday's game will be televised in Chicago on Comcast SportsNet Plus and can be heard on WIND 560 AM at 6 p.m CT.
Toy Drive at Upcoming Games: The DePaul athletics department is hosting a food drive and a toy drive at upcoming men's and women's basketball games.
The toy drive benefits the children of the St. Vincent de Paul Center and begins Nov. 29 at University locations in the Loop and Lincoln Park campuses. Gameday drop-off for unused and unopened toys and games is available at the men's basketball games against Milwaukee on Dec. 7 and Illinois State on Dec. 14.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,412-923 (.605) all-time... the 81-70 win over Florida Atlantic on Dec. 12, 2013 was win No. 1,400 since start of 1923-24 season... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 650 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons are 327-161 (.670) all-time at Allstate Arena... DePaul is 9-1 (.900) all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena... in Oliver Purnell's five seasons at DePaul, the Blue Demons are 13-1 against Chicagoland opponents (Chicago State, UIC, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern)... DePaul posted a 3-0 record this season with wins over UIC, Northern Illinois and Chicago State... in the Purnell era, the Blue Demons are 24-4 (3-0 in 2014-15/6-1 in 2013-14) when scoring 80 or more points... DePaul's 2014-15 roster includes nine players from the Chicagoland area.
The Opponent - Milwaukee Panthers: Milwaukee stands at 4-4 following a 65-56 win against UMKC on Dec. 3... the Panthers have two straight and three of their last four games... Steve McWhorter leads the team with 16.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game... Cody Wichmann adds 8.9 points and a team-high 18 three-pointers... head coach Rob Jeter is in his 10th season at Milwaukee... DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell is 4-1 all-time against the Panthers.
The Series: Sunday is the 14th all-time meeting... DePaul holds a 12-1 advantage in the series with two straight victories... a year ago on Nov. 19 in Milwaukee, DePaul posted an 80-71 win... 12 of the 13 meetings have occurred on DePaul's home court... Milwaukee recorded an 87-76 win at Allstate Arena on Dec. 5, 2011.
The Last Meeting: Visiting DePaul outscored Milwaukee, 48-39, in the second half for an 80-71 win at U.S. Cellular Arena on Nov. 19, 2013... Cleveland Melvin led DePaul with 20 points and nine rebounds... Brandon Young added 19 with seven boards and six assists... Jamee Crockett scored 10 points off the bench... Matt Tiby led Milwaukee with 20 points and 11 rebounds... DePaul went 20-for-23 from the free throw line.
Against the Horizon League: DePaul is 69-19 all-time against the current membership of the Horizon League... Detroit is the most common Horizon League opponent... the Blue Demons are 29-7 against the Titans.
It Could Happen: A win gives DePaul a 6-1 record to start the season for the first time in five seasons under Oliver Purnell... the potential 6-1 start would be the best start for the Blue Demons since the 1993-94 squad started at 6-1.
Trendy: After going 12-for-24 from the free throw line in the season opener, DePaul is 100-of-129 (.775) in the last five games... the Blue Demons have forced 75 turnovers in the last four games... in the last three games, DePaul is a combined 26-for-54 (.482) from three-point range... an opposing player has recorded a double-double in three of six games this season.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 84-60 win at Chicago State on Dec. 4:
- DePaul's 5-1 start is the best start since the 2009-10 squad went 5-1.
- The three-point streak extended to 650 consecutive games.
- Under Oliver Purnell, DePaul is 13-1 against Chicagoland opponents... the Blue Demons defeated UIC, Northern Illinois and Chicago State this season.
- DePaul is 24-4 (3-0 in 2014-15) under Purnell when scoring 80 or more points.
- Tommy Hamilton IV didn't miss a field goal in going 7-for-7... fourth time in school history with a player going perfect from the field with minimum of seven attempts... last occurrence was on Nov. 29, 1995 when Brian Currie went 7-for-7 against Stetson.
- The Blue Demons lead the Chicago State series by a 13-0 margin... DePaul is 19-1 all-time against the Western Athletic Conference.
Around the Area: DePaul's game at Chicago State was the 14th against Chicagoland opponents under head coach Oliver Purnell. Purnell-coached teams hold a 13-1 record against local programs that includes victories over Chicago State, Loyola, Northern Illinois and Northwestern. In four of Purnell's five seasons at DePaul, the Blue Demons have faced three Chicagoland opponents during the non-conference portion of the schedule. This season, DePaul defeated UIC (W, 72-71 on Nov. 14), Northern Illinois (W, 78-67 on Dec. 2) and Chicago State (W, 84-60 on Dec. 4).
Three Decades in Rosemont: DePaul is in its 35th season in 2014-15 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. The Blue Demons are 327-161 (.670) all-time in Rosemont. DePaul 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.
On Deck: DePaul makes the first of two regular-season trips to the Nation's Capital on Thursday for a game with George Washington... the series is tied 2-2 between the programs... Thursday is the first meeting since an 87-79 win at George Washington on Dec. 6, 1998... DePaul and George Washington could also play on Dec. 23 at the Diamond Head Classic... Thursday's game can be seen in Chicago on Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus and heard on WIND 560 AM... the Blue Demons return to Washington, D.C. later this season on Feb. 21 for a game at Georgetown.
