DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Continue Road Swing at Xavier
1/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - DePaul wraps up a two-game road swing with a Tuesday evening contest at Xavier. The Blue Demons opened the run with a 74-63 loss at Georgetown on Saturday. The game at Xavier also represents the end of a stretch of three road games over a four-game run in the schedule.
Tuesday's game will be televised FS1 with Justin Kutcher (play-by-play) and Dickey Simpkins (analyst) handling the television duties. The broadcast can be seen on mobile devices with the FOX Sports Go app and online at www.foxsportsgo.com. DePaul's radio tandem of Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Dave Corzine (analyst) can be heard on WSCR 670 AM and online on BlueTube at www.depaulbluedemons.com. 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 is at 6-10 overall and 0-4 in BIG EAST action while Xavier - ranked No. 7 in this week's AP poll and No. 8 in the USA TODAY Coaches top 25 - stands at 14-1 and 2-1 this season. 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. Xavier is led by Chris Mack who is in his seventh season leading the Musketeers.
Following the Xavier game, the Blue Demons return to Allstate Arena to host Creighton on Sunday afternoon. The is scheduled for a Noon start on FS1 and WYLL 1160 AM and is the first of two meetings between the programs this season.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,425-952 (.600) all-time... the 82-61 win over No. 20/20 George Washington on Dec. 22 was win No. 1,425 since start of 1923-24 season... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 692 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 334-170 (.663) all-time at Allstate Arena... DePaul is 10-2 (.833) all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena... over the last five-plus seasons, DePaul is 15-2 against Chicagoland opponents (Chicago State, UIC, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern)... in the last 10-plus seasons, the record against locals is 20-6... DePaul faced UIC (Dec. 2 - W, 82-55), Chicago State (Dec. 5 - W, 92-76) and Northwestern (Dec. 19 - L, 78-70 (OT)) this season.
The Opponent: Xavier is 14-1 overall and 2-1 in BIG EAST action after a 74-66 win at St. John's on Jan. 6... the Musketeers are ranked No. 7 in this week's AP poll and No. 8 in the USA TODAY Coaches top 25... Xavier started the season 12-0 before a New Year's Eve loss at Villanova followed by consecutive wins over Butler and St. John's... five players are averaging in double-figures led by Trevon Bluiett at 14.5 points per game... others in double-figures include Edmond Sumner (11.0 ppg), Myles Davis (10.9 ppg), James Farr (10.3 ppg) and Jalen Reynolds (10.1 ppg)... Farr also pulls down a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game while Davis has a team-best 50 assists... head coach Chris Mack is in his seventh season leading the Musketeers... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is 0-2 all-time against Xavier.
The Series: Tuesday is the 16th all-time meeting between the two programs and the fifth in BIG EAST action... DePaul holds a 9-6 advantage in the series... Xavier has won three of the last four meetings... the teams split the series last season with the home team winning each time... the Blue Demons snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 71-68 win on Jan. 3 at Allstate Arena... Xavier returned the favor at Cintas Center on Jan. 24 by a score of 89-76... the first meeting was on Jan. 16, 1939 with DePaul taking a 38-30 decision on its home floor... nine of the 15 all-time games took place between Dec. 1963 and Feb. 1974.
It Could Happen: A win at No. 7/8 Xavier would be DePaul's first over a top 10 opponent since a 64-57 win against No. 5/5 Kansas on Dec. 2, 2006... Billy Garrett Jr. (1,011 points) needs five points to move into 47th and nine points for 46th on DePaul's all-time scoring list... with four three-pointers, Garrett (89 3FG) passes Rashon Burno (92 3FG, 1998-02) for 20th all-time.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 74-63 loss at Georgetown on Jan. 9:
- DePaul led by two at halftime, but was outscored by Georgetown, 46-33, in the second half... the Hoyas went 11-for-31 (.355) from three-point range... DePaul outrebounded Georgetown, 35-34, and went 20-23 (.870) from the free throw line.
- Billy Garrett Jr. became the 49th player in school history with 1,000 career points on a jumper to start the second half... he finished the game 1,011 career points and is ranked 48th all-time.
- Georgetown lead the series, 27-7... the Hoyas swept both games this season with a 70-58 decision on Dec. 30 at Allstate Arena.
Garrett Joins 1K List: DePaul junior guard Billy Garrett Jr. became the 49th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau on Jan. 9 at Georgetown. Garrett currently sits in 48th place on the all-time scoring chart and is the first 1,000-point scorer since Brandon Young on March 9, 2013.
Free Work: Throughout his career, Billy Garrett Jr. has used the free throw line like few in program history. While working his way up the career lists for free throws, free throw attempts and free throw percentage, Garrett is the only player in school history to have multiple games without a miss with at least 11 free throws.
On just 12 occasions, a DePaul player has recorded an 11-for-11 effort or better from the charity stripe with Garrett holding four of those occurrences. No other player in school history has accomplished the feat more than once. Garrett went 12-for-12 at Georgetown on Jan. 9 and also has a 13-for-13 game and two games of 11-for-11. Mark Aguirre has the most free throws without a miss with an 18-for-18 effort against Illinois State on March 1, 1980.
Against Ranked Opponents: Xavier is DePaul's third ranked opponent of the season... Butler was DePaul's second ranked opponent of the season... the five-point loss to Butler on Jan. 5 gives DePaul a 1-1 record against ranked opponents... the Blue Demons defeated No. 20/20 George Washington, 82-61, on Dec. 22 at Allstate Arena... a year ago, the Blue Demons went 1-4 against top 25 opponents... last season saw DePaul record a 64-60 win at Seton Hall while dropping two games each to Butler and Villanova.
On Deck: DePaul hosts Creighton on Sunday, Jan. 17... the game is the first of two meetings between the two programs this season... DePaul visits Omaha on Feb. 6... Creighton is 12-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play following an 82-67 win at Seton Hall on Saturday... the Bluejays host No. 12/12 Providence on Tuesday night... DePaul holds a 16-12 advantage in the series... a season ago, Creighton won two of three games... the two sides split the regular-season meetings... DePaul posted a 70-60 win at CenturyLink Center on Jan. 7 before Creighton won, 75-62, in Rosemont on Feb. 24... Creighton defeated DePaul, 78-63, in the first round of the 2015 BIG EAST Tournament.
