DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Set for Road Game at Northwestern
12/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - DePaul goes on the road for the first time this season with a short trip to the northern suburbs to face Northwestern. Start time at Welsh-Ryan Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. as both team look to extend winning streaks. The Blue Demons have won three straight while the Wildcats are winners in their last two outings.
Saturday's game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Shon Morris (analyst) handling the television duties. DePaul's radio tandem of Laurence Holmes (play-by-play) and Jeff Blanzy (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 on Twitter at @DePaulSID.
Northwestern stands at 5-2 following a win over Wake Forest on Monday as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Blue Demons opened the 2016-17 campaign with a 78-72 win over Robert Morris at McGrath-Phillips Arena on Nov. 13 before dropping a 66-59 decision against Rutgers at Allstate Arena. DePaul bounced back with three straight wins over Milwaukee, Missouri State and Drake. Head coach Dave Leitao is in his fifth season at DePaul and his second since returning to the program after leading the Blue Demons three postseasons in three years from 2002-05. Overall, the 2016-17 campaign is Leitao's 11th as a head coach at the collegiate level. Northwestern is led by Chris Collins who is in his fourth season leading the Wildcats.
Following Saturday's game, DePaul returns to Allstate Arena to host Lamar on Tuesday night. The game can be seen on FOX Sports Networks which includes The U Too in Chicago and heard on WYLL 1160 AM. Next weekend, the Blue Demons travel to Miami to face Temple in the Hoophall Miami Invitational.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,432-965 (.597) all-time... the 82-61 win over No. 20/20 George Washington on Dec. 22, 2015 was win No. 1,425 since start of 1923-24 season... according to ESPN, DePaul's margin of victory over No. 20/20 George Washington was the largest in program history as an unranked team over a ranked opponent... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 712 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons are 338-176 (.658) all-time at Allstate Arena... DePaul is 12-2 (.857) all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena... over the last six seasons (since start of 2010-11), DePaul is 15-2 against Chicagoland opponents (Chicago State, UIC, Loyola-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Northwestern)... in the last 16 seasons (since start of 2000-01), the record against locals is 29-8... DePaul faces Northwestern (Dec. 3 in Evanston), UIC (Dec. 14 at McGrath-Phillips Arena) and Chicago State (Dec. 17 at Allstate Arena) this season.
The Opponent - Northwestern Wildcats: Northwestern enters Saturday's game at 5-2 following a 65-58 win against Wake Forest on Monday... the Wildcats have won two straight since dropping a 70-66 decision to Notre Dame on Nov. 22... Vic Law leads the team with 16.1 points per game... Scottie Lindsey holds a scoring average of 15.0 and Bryant McIntosh chips in 14.1 points per game... as a team, Northwestern is averaging 8.6 three-pointers per game led by Law's 18 three's and Lindsey's 15 three's... head coach Chris Collins is in his fourth season at Northwestern... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is 3-2 all-time against Northwestern.
The Series: Saturday is the 32nd meeting between the two programs... DePaul holds a 20-11 advantage in the series... Saturday's game is DePaul's first visit to Evanston since a 57-56 win for DePaul on Dec. 27, 2013... last season saw the Wildcats post a 78-70 overtime win at Allstate Arena on Dec. 19, 2015.
The Last Meeting - Dec. 19, 2015: DePaul dropped a 78-70 overtime decision to Northwestern at Allstate Arena on Dec. 19, 2015... Myke Henry led the Blue Demons with 24 points and eight rebounds... Aaron Simpson added 13 points, eight boards and Tommy Hamilton IV contributed 10 points and seven rebounds... Tre Demps led Northwestern with 18 points... Northwestern outscored DePaul, 17-9, in overtime... neither team led by more than seven points in regulation.
Against the Big Ten Conference: DePaul is 84-77 all-time against the current membership of the Big Ten Conference... the Blue Demons have faced every member of the league... Northwestern is DePaul's most common opponent... the Blue Demons are also 8-14 against Indiana and 9-12 against Purdue... DePaul dropped a 66-59 decision earlier this season against Rutgers on Nov. 17 in the Gavitt Tipoff Games.
It Could Happen: A win would make DePaul 5-1 for the fifth time in 15 seasons... other DePaul teams to start season 5-1 include 2014-15, 2009-10, 2003-04 and 2002-03... Billy Garrett Jr. is playing in his 99th career game... with seven points, Billy Garrett Jr. (1,216 points) passes Rob Sobieszczyk (1,222 points, 1953-56) for 27th on DePaul's all-time scoring list... Chris Harrison-Docks is playing in his 80th career collegiate game (74 at Western Kentucky/6 at DePaul).
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 77-75 win against Drake on Nov. 30:
- DePaul is 4-1 for the second time in the last three seasons.
- At McGrath-Phillips Arena, the Blue Demons are 2-0 this season and 12-2 all time... DePaul also hosts UIC in Lincoln Park on Dec. 14.
- Wednesday marked the second consecutive game the Blue Demons erased a double-figure deficit in the second half... DePaul trailed Missouri State, 58-45, with 7:29 left on Nov. 23.
- The 15-point deficit was the largest deficit overcome since DePaul trailed by 16 against USF on Feb. 9, 2008... the Blue Demons won that game, 69-61... DePaul also trailed by 15 earlier that season in a 75-73 win over Rutgers on Jan. 19.
- DePaul finishes November with a 4-1 record...
- DePaul put a season-high five players in double-figures.
- Eli Cain's 19 points ended his streak at four games with 20 or more points... dating back to last season, Cain has scored in double-figures in six straight games and nine of his last 10 games.
- Darrick Wood has scored in double-figures in three of his four games this season.
- DePaul leads the series, 7-2, against Drake... the Blue Demons are 124-46 against the current lineup of Missouri Valley Conference programs.
At the Stripe: 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 with multiple no-miss games 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. Last season, Garrett went 12-for-12 at Georgetown on Jan. 9, 2016 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.
In the exhibition game against Rockhurst on Nov. 4, Garrett went 14-for-14 from the free throw line en route to a team-high 26 points in the win over the Hawks. Through five regular-season games, Garrett is a perfect 21-for-21 from the line is one of three players tied in the NCAA rankings with George Washington's Jaren Sina (22-22) and Notre Dame's Matt Farrell (19-19) without a miss this season.
On Deck: DePaul hosts Lamar on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Allstate Arena... start time is scheduled for 8 p.m. on FOX Sports Networks and WYLL 1160 AM... Lamar and DePaul have played each other only one other time... the Blue Demons defeated the Cardinals, 61-59, on Jan. 15, 1980... Lamar is a member of the Southland Conference... the Cardinals went 11-19 last season... Lamar is currently 4-2 heading into a Friday night game at San Francisco.
