Pregame Read: DePaul vs. Xavier

CHICAGO - Having accumulated an 8-3 record in non-conference games to open up the season, DePaul begins BIG EAST play this afternoon by welcoming the Xavier Musketeers for a 1 p.m. tip at Wintrust Arena. Here are three stats and storylines to get you ready for the game.

Swipe City: Through 11 games the Blue Demons are second in the BIG EAST in steals per game with 85 steals in 11 contests, good for 7.7 per game. As has been a theme for DePaul in the early going, this production has come from a lot of places as seven Blue Demons have at least six steals on the season. Leading the way for DePaul is Devin Gage with 18 steals and Eli Cain with 15 steals.

Sharing The Basketball: Thanks in large part to the backcourt tandem of senior Eli Cain and sophomore Devin Gage, the Blue Demons find themselves averaging the fourth most assists per game among BIG EAST teams with 15.7 assists per game. The combo of Cain (4.7 assists per game) and Gage (3.8 assists per game) gives DePaul two accomplished creators operating out of the backcourt, capable of generating offense not only for themselves but for their teammates. Max Strus, the Blue Demons top scoring option and leading rebounder, has chipped in 2.7 assists per game in his 10 games played to rank third on the team.

Reed Taking Another Step: Off to a strong start in the 2018-19 season, sophomore Paul Reed has taken his play to another level over the last three games with averages of 11 points, eight rebounds and one block over 26 minutes a game. Reed's 1.4 blocks per game (2.5 blocks per 40 minutes) ties him for fourth in the BIG EAST, as the lanky big man has found even more ways to use convert his freakish athleticism into volleyball blocks and rim shaking dunks in year two.

DePaul University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Eli Cain

Devin Gage

Paul Reed

Max Strus

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