DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Host Creighton Saturday in Rosemont
2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Feb. 10, 2017
CHICAGO - The Blue Demons play two games over three days starting Saturday against Creighton. Two days later Villanova visits Rosemont for Monday night game as DePaul is in the midst of four straight games against ranked opponents. The run opened Wednesday night with a 72-61 loss at No. 24/25 Xavier.
Saturday's game will be televised on FS1 with Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Dickey Simpkins (analyst) handling the television duties. The game can also be seen online and on mobile devices through foxsportsgo.com and the FOX Sports Go app. DePaul's radio tandem of Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Laurence Holmes (analyst) can be heard on WYLL 1160 AM as well as 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.
Creighton is ranked No. 23 in both national polls this week and stands at 20-4 overall and 7-4 in the BIG EAST. The Bluejays haven't played since dropping an 82-80 decision to Xavier last Saturday. The Blue Demons are 8-16 overall and hold a 1-10 record in league play after Wednesday's 72-61 loss at No. 24/25 Xavier. 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. Creighton is led by Greg McDermott who is in his seventh season leading the Musketeers.
Following the Creighton game, DePaul hosts No. 2/2 Villanova on Monday. Start time at Allstate Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network and WSCR 670 AM.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,436-980 (.594) 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 731 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons are 342-180 (.655) all-time at Allstate Arena... DePaul is scheduled for four more regular-season game in Rosemont before moving to Wintrust Arena in 2017-18... DePaul is 12-3 (.800) all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
The Opponent - Creighton Bluejays: Creighton stands at 20-4 overall and 7-4 in the BIG EAST... the Bluejays are ranked No. 23 in both of this week's AP and coaches polls... Creighton is 2-3 in its last five games after winning 18 of its first 19 games this season... has dropped two straight to Marquette and Georgetown after winning 18 of the first 19 games of the season... Marcus Foster leads the team with 18.0 points per game and 49 three-pointers... Justin Patton adds a scoring average of 13.7 with a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game... head coach Greg McDermott is in his seventh season at Creighton... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is 0-3 all-time against Creighton... DePaul assistant coach Patrick Sellers was an assistant under McDermott for two seasons before joining Leitao's staff.
The Series: Saturday is the 32nd all-time meeting between the two programs... the Blue Demons hold a 16-15 advantage in the series... Creighton has won five straight games... a season ago, the Bluejays posted a 91-80 win at Allstate Arena on Jan. 17 before an 88-66 decision at CenturyLink Center Omaha on Feb. 6... two weeks ago, the Bluejays topped the Blue Demons, 83-66, in Omaha... DePaul's last win the series was a 70-60 victory on Jan. 7, 2015 in Omaha.
It Could Happen: With 10 points, Eli Cain records his 35th career game in double-figures... Billy Garrett Jr. (1,526 points) needs nine points to pass Terry Davis (1,534 points, 1989-93) and move into 10th on DePaul's all-time scoring list... a win for DePaul would be its first over a ranked opponent this season... DePaul has dropped games to No. 1/1 Villanova (68-65 on Dec. 28 at Villanova), No. 13/14 Butler (70-69 (OT) on Jan. 21 at Allstate Arena), No. 16/16 Creighton (83-66 on Jan. 28 in Omaha) and No. 24/25 Xavier (72-61 on Feb. 8 in Cincinnati).
Tough Stretch: DePaul is in the midst of playing four straight games against ranked opponents in No. 24/25 Xavier, No. 23/23 Creighton, No. 2/2 Villanova and No. 22/21 Butler. Since the start of the 2007-08 season, DePaul has played three consecutive ranked opponents two times. The 2008-09 schedule featured a run of seven ranked opponent in nine games with each opponent ranked in the top 12 nationally.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 72-61 loss at No. 24/25 Xavier on Wednesday:
- Brandon Cyrus reached double-figures for the third time in the last four games (seven total this season).
- Billy Garrett Jr. recorded his 85th career game in double-figures.
- The series is tied at 9-9... Xavier has won four straight against DePaul... the two teams meet again on March 4 at Allstate Arena... that game will be DePaul's final regular-season game in the facility.
Trendy: The Blue Demons have totaled at least nine steals in six of the last 13 games... a year ago, DePaul tallied at least nine steals in four games the entire season... Eli Cain's two 30-point games this season mark the first time since the 2012-13 season with a DePaul player recording multiple 30-point games... Cleveland Melvin scored 30 in games against Fairfield (Nov. 27, 2012) and Cincinnati (Jan. 15, 2013)... over the last 14 games, DePaul is shooting .765 (182-238) as a team from the free throw line... the Blue Demons are ranked third in the BIG EAST with a team free throw percentage of .748 (363-485) and with 10.9 offensive rebounds per game... in conference games only, the Blue Demons lead the league with 7.8 steals per game and are third with a team .757 (134-177) free throw percentage... DePaul is also third in conference play with 10.0 offensive rebounds per game... DePaul has erased double-digit deficits in the second half in five different games this season... the Blue Demons accomplished the feat in non-conference games against Missouri State, Drake and Southeast Missouri State... in BIG EAST play, the Blue Demons have overcome the deficits against Villanova and Providence... DePaul totaled a season-low seven turnovers in games at Villanova on Dec. 28 and against Marquette on Feb. 4... the seven miscues are the fewest in a game since recording seven at Milwaukee on Nov. 19, 2013... DePaul is outscoring opponents 919-885 in the second half this season... on the flip side, the Blue Demons have been outscored, 868-752 in the first half.
Last Run in Rosemont: DePaul is in its 37th and final season in 2016-17 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. The Blue Demons are 342-180 (.655) all-time in Rosemont. DePaul University 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. DePaul's final game in Rosemont is March 4 against Xavier.
DePaul's game at Allstate Arena against Chicago State on Dec. 5 was the 500th game in program history at the facility. Of the 522 games played in the arena, DePaul head coach Dave Leitao has coached in 71 games. He holds a record of 48-23 (.676) in Rosemont.
New Home on the Horizon: Wintrust Arena is set to host DePaul basketball starting in the 2017-18 season. The 10,387-seat arena near McCormick Place in the South Loop area of the city is a joint project between the City of Chicago, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, and DePaul University. For more on Wintrust Arena, go to www.depaulbluedemons.com/wintrustarena.
On Deck: DePaul hosts No. 2/2 Villanova on Monday night... the Wildcats won the first meeting, 68-65, at The Pavilion on Dec. 28... Villanova stands at 23-2 overall and 10-2 in BIG EAST action... the Wildcats play at No. 24/25 Xavier on Saturday afternoon.
DePaul vs. #23/23 Creighton
Saturday, Feb. 11 | 1 p.m.
Allstate Arena | Rosemont, Ill.
TV: FS1 | Mobile/Online: FOX Sports Go
Radio: WYLL 1160 AM | Mobile/Online: BlueTube
Buy Tickets: Online Ticket Office
CHICAGO - The Blue Demons play two games over three days starting Saturday against Creighton. Two days later Villanova visits Rosemont for Monday night game as DePaul is in the midst of four straight games against ranked opponents. The run opened Wednesday night with a 72-61 loss at No. 24/25 Xavier.
Saturday's game will be televised on FS1 with Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Dickey Simpkins (analyst) handling the television duties. The game can also be seen online and on mobile devices through foxsportsgo.com and the FOX Sports Go app. DePaul's radio tandem of Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Laurence Holmes (analyst) can be heard on WYLL 1160 AM as well as 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.
Creighton is ranked No. 23 in both national polls this week and stands at 20-4 overall and 7-4 in the BIG EAST. The Bluejays haven't played since dropping an 82-80 decision to Xavier last Saturday. The Blue Demons are 8-16 overall and hold a 1-10 record in league play after Wednesday's 72-61 loss at No. 24/25 Xavier. 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. Creighton is led by Greg McDermott who is in his seventh season leading the Musketeers.
Following the Creighton game, DePaul hosts No. 2/2 Villanova on Monday. Start time at Allstate Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network and WSCR 670 AM.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,436-980 (.594) 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 731 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the Blue Demons are 342-180 (.655) all-time at Allstate Arena... DePaul is scheduled for four more regular-season game in Rosemont before moving to Wintrust Arena in 2017-18... DePaul is 12-3 (.800) all-time in games at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
The Opponent - Creighton Bluejays: Creighton stands at 20-4 overall and 7-4 in the BIG EAST... the Bluejays are ranked No. 23 in both of this week's AP and coaches polls... Creighton is 2-3 in its last five games after winning 18 of its first 19 games this season... has dropped two straight to Marquette and Georgetown after winning 18 of the first 19 games of the season... Marcus Foster leads the team with 18.0 points per game and 49 three-pointers... Justin Patton adds a scoring average of 13.7 with a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game... head coach Greg McDermott is in his seventh season at Creighton... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is 0-3 all-time against Creighton... DePaul assistant coach Patrick Sellers was an assistant under McDermott for two seasons before joining Leitao's staff.
The Series: Saturday is the 32nd all-time meeting between the two programs... the Blue Demons hold a 16-15 advantage in the series... Creighton has won five straight games... a season ago, the Bluejays posted a 91-80 win at Allstate Arena on Jan. 17 before an 88-66 decision at CenturyLink Center Omaha on Feb. 6... two weeks ago, the Bluejays topped the Blue Demons, 83-66, in Omaha... DePaul's last win the series was a 70-60 victory on Jan. 7, 2015 in Omaha.
It Could Happen: With 10 points, Eli Cain records his 35th career game in double-figures... Billy Garrett Jr. (1,526 points) needs nine points to pass Terry Davis (1,534 points, 1989-93) and move into 10th on DePaul's all-time scoring list... a win for DePaul would be its first over a ranked opponent this season... DePaul has dropped games to No. 1/1 Villanova (68-65 on Dec. 28 at Villanova), No. 13/14 Butler (70-69 (OT) on Jan. 21 at Allstate Arena), No. 16/16 Creighton (83-66 on Jan. 28 in Omaha) and No. 24/25 Xavier (72-61 on Feb. 8 in Cincinnati).
Tough Stretch: DePaul is in the midst of playing four straight games against ranked opponents in No. 24/25 Xavier, No. 23/23 Creighton, No. 2/2 Villanova and No. 22/21 Butler. Since the start of the 2007-08 season, DePaul has played three consecutive ranked opponents two times. The 2008-09 schedule featured a run of seven ranked opponent in nine games with each opponent ranked in the top 12 nationally.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 72-61 loss at No. 24/25 Xavier on Wednesday:
- Brandon Cyrus reached double-figures for the third time in the last four games (seven total this season).
- Billy Garrett Jr. recorded his 85th career game in double-figures.
- The series is tied at 9-9... Xavier has won four straight against DePaul... the two teams meet again on March 4 at Allstate Arena... that game will be DePaul's final regular-season game in the facility.
Trendy: The Blue Demons have totaled at least nine steals in six of the last 13 games... a year ago, DePaul tallied at least nine steals in four games the entire season... Eli Cain's two 30-point games this season mark the first time since the 2012-13 season with a DePaul player recording multiple 30-point games... Cleveland Melvin scored 30 in games against Fairfield (Nov. 27, 2012) and Cincinnati (Jan. 15, 2013)... over the last 14 games, DePaul is shooting .765 (182-238) as a team from the free throw line... the Blue Demons are ranked third in the BIG EAST with a team free throw percentage of .748 (363-485) and with 10.9 offensive rebounds per game... in conference games only, the Blue Demons lead the league with 7.8 steals per game and are third with a team .757 (134-177) free throw percentage... DePaul is also third in conference play with 10.0 offensive rebounds per game... DePaul has erased double-digit deficits in the second half in five different games this season... the Blue Demons accomplished the feat in non-conference games against Missouri State, Drake and Southeast Missouri State... in BIG EAST play, the Blue Demons have overcome the deficits against Villanova and Providence... DePaul totaled a season-low seven turnovers in games at Villanova on Dec. 28 and against Marquette on Feb. 4... the seven miscues are the fewest in a game since recording seven at Milwaukee on Nov. 19, 2013... DePaul is outscoring opponents 919-885 in the second half this season... on the flip side, the Blue Demons have been outscored, 868-752 in the first half.
Last Run in Rosemont: DePaul is in its 37th and final season in 2016-17 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. The Blue Demons are 342-180 (.655) all-time in Rosemont. DePaul University 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. DePaul's final game in Rosemont is March 4 against Xavier.
DePaul's game at Allstate Arena against Chicago State on Dec. 5 was the 500th game in program history at the facility. Of the 522 games played in the arena, DePaul head coach Dave Leitao has coached in 71 games. He holds a record of 48-23 (.676) in Rosemont.
New Home on the Horizon: Wintrust Arena is set to host DePaul basketball starting in the 2017-18 season. The 10,387-seat arena near McCormick Place in the South Loop area of the city is a joint project between the City of Chicago, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, and DePaul University. For more on Wintrust Arena, go to www.depaulbluedemons.com/wintrustarena.
On Deck: DePaul hosts No. 2/2 Villanova on Monday night... the Wildcats won the first meeting, 68-65, at The Pavilion on Dec. 28... Villanova stands at 23-2 overall and 10-2 in BIG EAST action... the Wildcats play at No. 24/25 Xavier on Saturday afternoon.
Players Mentioned
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