DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Starts Play in Paradise
11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 19, 2015
ST. THOMAS, USVI - DePaul returns to St. Thomas for its second appearance at the Paradise Jam in seven years. The Blue Demons finished third in the 2009 edition and open this year's event on Friday night against South Carolina.
Friday's game will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Danny Lee (play-by-play), Kevin Lehman (analyst) and Monyka Johnigan (sideline) handling the television duties. DePaul's Jeff Blanzy (play-by-play) will be handling the radio call throughout the tournament. Every game can be heard online on BlueTube at www.depaulbluedemons.com. In addition to the online coverage, the South Carolina game will be joined in progress on WSCR 670 AM at 5:45 p.m. CT.
Live stats can be found at www.paradisejamstats.com while in-game scoring updates and notes can be followed at www.twitter.com/depaulsid.
DePaul is at 1-1 while South Carolina stands at 2-0 early in the 2015-16 campaign. The Blue Demons opened the season with a 69-63 win over Western Michigan before a 68-62 loss at Penn State on Tuesday night. Head coach Dave Leitao is in his fourth season at DePaul and his first since returning to the program after leading the Blue Demons to three postseasons in three years from 2002-05. Overall, the 2015-16 campaign is Leitao's 10th as a head coach at the collegiate level. South Carolina is led by Frank Martin who is in his fourth season leading the Gamecocks.
Dates and opponents following Friday's game are to be determined as the winner of DePaul-South Carolina plays Sunday against the winner of Florida State-Hofstra. On the flip side, a Friday loss pushes DePaul to Saturday against the loser of the Florida State-Hofstra matchup. The other side of the eight-team bracket features Indiana State, Norfolk State, Ohio and Tulsa. DePaul will play one of those teams on Monday depending on results from first three days.
Paradise Jam Notebook: DePaul is making its second appearance at the Paradise Jam... the Blue Demons finished third in the 2009 event from Nov. 20-23... DePaul defeated Northern Iowa, 60-52, lost to 10th-ranked Tennessee, 57-53 and knocked off Saint Joseph's, 58-51... Will Walker was named to the All-Tournament Team... the Northern Iowa team would go on later that season to upset top-seeded Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament... DePaul assistant coach Patrick Sellers was on the Connecticut staff when the Huskies won the 2008 Paradise Jam... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao and assistant director of basketball operations Baba Diallo were both on Frank Haith's staff at Tulsa last season... DePaul and Tulsa could potentially meet on Monday.
Season-Opening Notes: DePaul is 81-12 all-time in the first game of the season... Saturday's 69-63 win against Western Michigan was the start of the 93rd recognized season of DePaul basketball (since 1923-24)... DePaul competed in basketball prior to the 1923-24 season, but season records and results are incomplete... DePaul has won eight straight season openers after a three-game losing streak in first games from 2005-08... last season saw DePaul hold off UIC, 72-71, at McGrath-Phillips Arena... the Western Michigan game was the seventh all-time season opener at McGrath-Phillips Arena for the Blue Demons.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,420-943 (.601) 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 678 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons set school records in 2014-15 with 248 three's and 705 attempts... the Blue Demons are 332-167 (.665) all-time at Allstate Arena... DePaul is 10-1 (.909) all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena... over the last five seasons, DePaul is 13-1 against Chicagoland opponents (Chicago State, UIC, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern)... in the last 10 seasons, the record against locals is 18-5... DePaul faces UIC (Dec. 2), Chicago State (Dec. 5) and Northwestern (Dec. 19) this season.
The Opponent: South Carolina enters Friday's game at 2-0 following double-figure wins over Norfolk State and Oral Roberts... the Gamecocks scored 84 points in each game and feature four players averaging in double-figures... Laimonas Chatkevicius leads the team with 20.0 points per game... Duane Notice adds 16.0 points and a team-high seven three-pointers... Mindaugas Kacinas grabs a team-best 8.5 rebounds per game with a 10.0 scoring average... the Gamecocks went 17-16 a year ago... head coach Frank Martin is in his fourth season at South Carolina.
The Series: Friday is the eighth all-time meeting between the two programs... the Blue Demons hold a 4-3 advantage in the series... the two sides are meeting for the first time since a 58-46 DePaul win on Nov. 27, 1999 at the San Juan Shootout.
Against the Southeastern Conference: DePaul is 20-37 all-time against the current membership of the Southeastern Conference... Kentucky is the most common opponent with the Wildcats owning an 18-3 advantage... the Blue Demons and Wildcats have not played since an 87-81 win for Kentucky on Nov. 20, 2006 at the Maui Invitational... in DePaul's last game against a SEC opponent, the Blue Demons won, 80-76, at Auburn on Nov. 30, 2012 in the SEC/BIG EAST Challenge... that win snapped an eight-game losing streak against the conference.
It Could Happen: A win would make DePaul 2-1 to start the season for the fifth straight year... a win would be No. 145 for Dave Leitao... he enters Tuesday's game with a career mark of 144-129 in 10 seasons as a collegiate head coach... a win would also be his 60th at DePaul... he is 59-34 in three-plus seasons with the Blue Demons... Billy Garrett Jr. (225 assists) needs three assists to pass Tyrone Corbin (227 assists, 1981-85) for 26th on DePaul's all-time list.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 68-62 loss at Penn State on Tuesday:
- DePaul trailed by as many as 10 points early in the second half... the Blue Demons moved to within three points on seven occasions in the second half, but could get no closer... Penn State answered each DePaul run and the Nittany Lions never led by more than seven until the final 30 seconds of the game.
- The Blue Demons knocked down a three-pointer for the 678th straight game.
- Tommy Hamilton IV matched his career high with 37 minutes of action... he just missed his seventh career 10-rebound game with nine boards... Myke Henry just missed his third career double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds.
- Billy Garrett Jr. recorded his 13th career game (second of season) with at least eight free throws.
- DePaul leads the series, 6-1... Tuesday was the first meeting between the two program since December 1984... the Blue Demons are 84-75 all-time against the current lineup of Big Ten programs.
On Deck: DePaul faces either Florida State or Hofstra on Saturday or Sunday... the Blue Demons hold a 3-2 advantage in the series against the Seminoles... DePaul and Hofstra have played once in the first round of the 2007 NIT.
2015 Paradise Jam
DePaul vs. South Carolina
Friday, Nov. 20 | 7 p.m. AT/5 p.m. CT
UVI Sports and Fitness Center | St. Thomas, USVI
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: WSCR 670 AM (joined in progress at 5:45 p.m. CT)
Online Audio: BlueTube
Paradise Jam Information: ParadiseJam.com
ST. THOMAS, USVI - DePaul returns to St. Thomas for its second appearance at the Paradise Jam in seven years. The Blue Demons finished third in the 2009 edition and open this year's event on Friday night against South Carolina.
Friday's game will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Danny Lee (play-by-play), Kevin Lehman (analyst) and Monyka Johnigan (sideline) handling the television duties. DePaul's Jeff Blanzy (play-by-play) will be handling the radio call throughout the tournament. Every game can be heard online on BlueTube at www.depaulbluedemons.com. In addition to the online coverage, the South Carolina game will be joined in progress on WSCR 670 AM at 5:45 p.m. CT.
Live stats can be found at www.paradisejamstats.com while in-game scoring updates and notes can be followed at www.twitter.com/depaulsid.
DePaul is at 1-1 while South Carolina stands at 2-0 early in the 2015-16 campaign. The Blue Demons opened the season with a 69-63 win over Western Michigan before a 68-62 loss at Penn State on Tuesday night. Head coach Dave Leitao is in his fourth season at DePaul and his first since returning to the program after leading the Blue Demons to three postseasons in three years from 2002-05. Overall, the 2015-16 campaign is Leitao's 10th as a head coach at the collegiate level. South Carolina is led by Frank Martin who is in his fourth season leading the Gamecocks.
Dates and opponents following Friday's game are to be determined as the winner of DePaul-South Carolina plays Sunday against the winner of Florida State-Hofstra. On the flip side, a Friday loss pushes DePaul to Saturday against the loser of the Florida State-Hofstra matchup. The other side of the eight-team bracket features Indiana State, Norfolk State, Ohio and Tulsa. DePaul will play one of those teams on Monday depending on results from first three days.
Paradise Jam Notebook: DePaul is making its second appearance at the Paradise Jam... the Blue Demons finished third in the 2009 event from Nov. 20-23... DePaul defeated Northern Iowa, 60-52, lost to 10th-ranked Tennessee, 57-53 and knocked off Saint Joseph's, 58-51... Will Walker was named to the All-Tournament Team... the Northern Iowa team would go on later that season to upset top-seeded Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament... DePaul assistant coach Patrick Sellers was on the Connecticut staff when the Huskies won the 2008 Paradise Jam... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao and assistant director of basketball operations Baba Diallo were both on Frank Haith's staff at Tulsa last season... DePaul and Tulsa could potentially meet on Monday.
Season-Opening Notes: DePaul is 81-12 all-time in the first game of the season... Saturday's 69-63 win against Western Michigan was the start of the 93rd recognized season of DePaul basketball (since 1923-24)... DePaul competed in basketball prior to the 1923-24 season, but season records and results are incomplete... DePaul has won eight straight season openers after a three-game losing streak in first games from 2005-08... last season saw DePaul hold off UIC, 72-71, at McGrath-Phillips Arena... the Western Michigan game was the seventh all-time season opener at McGrath-Phillips Arena for the Blue Demons.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,420-943 (.601) 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 678 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons set school records in 2014-15 with 248 three's and 705 attempts... the Blue Demons are 332-167 (.665) all-time at Allstate Arena... DePaul is 10-1 (.909) all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena... over the last five seasons, DePaul is 13-1 against Chicagoland opponents (Chicago State, UIC, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern)... in the last 10 seasons, the record against locals is 18-5... DePaul faces UIC (Dec. 2), Chicago State (Dec. 5) and Northwestern (Dec. 19) this season.
The Opponent: South Carolina enters Friday's game at 2-0 following double-figure wins over Norfolk State and Oral Roberts... the Gamecocks scored 84 points in each game and feature four players averaging in double-figures... Laimonas Chatkevicius leads the team with 20.0 points per game... Duane Notice adds 16.0 points and a team-high seven three-pointers... Mindaugas Kacinas grabs a team-best 8.5 rebounds per game with a 10.0 scoring average... the Gamecocks went 17-16 a year ago... head coach Frank Martin is in his fourth season at South Carolina.
The Series: Friday is the eighth all-time meeting between the two programs... the Blue Demons hold a 4-3 advantage in the series... the two sides are meeting for the first time since a 58-46 DePaul win on Nov. 27, 1999 at the San Juan Shootout.
Against the Southeastern Conference: DePaul is 20-37 all-time against the current membership of the Southeastern Conference... Kentucky is the most common opponent with the Wildcats owning an 18-3 advantage... the Blue Demons and Wildcats have not played since an 87-81 win for Kentucky on Nov. 20, 2006 at the Maui Invitational... in DePaul's last game against a SEC opponent, the Blue Demons won, 80-76, at Auburn on Nov. 30, 2012 in the SEC/BIG EAST Challenge... that win snapped an eight-game losing streak against the conference.
It Could Happen: A win would make DePaul 2-1 to start the season for the fifth straight year... a win would be No. 145 for Dave Leitao... he enters Tuesday's game with a career mark of 144-129 in 10 seasons as a collegiate head coach... a win would also be his 60th at DePaul... he is 59-34 in three-plus seasons with the Blue Demons... Billy Garrett Jr. (225 assists) needs three assists to pass Tyrone Corbin (227 assists, 1981-85) for 26th on DePaul's all-time list.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 68-62 loss at Penn State on Tuesday:
- DePaul trailed by as many as 10 points early in the second half... the Blue Demons moved to within three points on seven occasions in the second half, but could get no closer... Penn State answered each DePaul run and the Nittany Lions never led by more than seven until the final 30 seconds of the game.
- The Blue Demons knocked down a three-pointer for the 678th straight game.
- Tommy Hamilton IV matched his career high with 37 minutes of action... he just missed his seventh career 10-rebound game with nine boards... Myke Henry just missed his third career double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds.
- Billy Garrett Jr. recorded his 13th career game (second of season) with at least eight free throws.
- DePaul leads the series, 6-1... Tuesday was the first meeting between the two program since December 1984... the Blue Demons are 84-75 all-time against the current lineup of Big Ten programs.
On Deck: DePaul faces either Florida State or Hofstra on Saturday or Sunday... the Blue Demons hold a 3-2 advantage in the series against the Seminoles... DePaul and Hofstra have played once in the first round of the 2007 NIT.
Players Mentioned
G
/ MEN'S BASKETBALL
C
/ MEN'S BASKETBALL
F
/ MEN'S BASKETBALLDeWayne Peevy and Chris Holtmann Media Availability - 7/22
Thursday, July 31
Media Availability: DeWayne Peevy and Chris Holtmann
Tuesday, July 22
Episode 22: NJ Benson, Men's Basketball
Thursday, June 05
College Basketball Crown Postgame Press Conference
Tuesday, April 01