DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Visits Creighton Tuesday Night
2/26/2018 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - DePaul goes on the road for the final time during the regular season with a Tuesday night game at Creighton. Start time in Omaha is scheduled for 8 p.m. between the Blue Demons and Bluejays as DePaul looks for its second straight conference win following Saturday's 70-62 victory over Marquette.
Tuesday's game will be televised on FS1 with Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play) and Doug Gottlieb (analyst) handling the television duties. The game can also be seen online and on mobile devices with FOX Sports Go. DePaul's radio tandem of Zach Zaidman (play-by-play) and Dave Corzine (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 game updates and notes can be followed on Twitter via @DePaulAthletics and @DePaulSID.
Creighton is 20-9 overall this season and 9-7 in BIG EAST action following an 89-83 overtime win against No. 3/3 Villanova on Saturday. The Blue Demons stand at 11-17 overall and 4-12 in league play after the win over Marquette. DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is in his sixth season at DePaul and his third since returning to the program after leading the Blue Demons three postseasons in three years from 2002-05. Overall, the 2017-18 campaign is Leitao's 12th as a head coach at the collegiate level. Creighton is led by Greg McDermott who is in his eighth season leading the Bluejays.
Noting the Blue Demons: The men's basketball program is 1,448-1,004 (.591) all-time... the Blue Demons have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 767 straight games... DePaul's last game without a three was just over 25 years ago on Feb. 16, 1993 against UAB at Allstate Arena... the current streak started against Notre Dame on Feb. 21, 1993... DePaul is playing every home game under the same roof for the first time since the 2009-10 season... the last seven seasons have seen the Blue Demons play home games at Allstate Arena and McGrath-Phillips Arena... DePaul is 40-42 all-time in games that go to overtime... the Oregon game on Nov. 24 was the first overtime game this season... DePaul's three road wins in BIG EAST play are the most since the Blue Demons went 3-5 during the 2006-07 season... the Jan. 12 game on FS1 was the first commercial-free, all-access broadcast of a men's college basketball game... both Dave Leitao and Providence's Ed Cooley wore live microphones throughout the game and viewers were able to see halftime and postgame locker rooms without interruption.
The Opponent - Creighton Bluejays: Creighton stands at 20-9 overall and 9-7 in the BIG EAST... the Bluejays are receiving votes in this week's AP poll and ranked No. 24 in the coaches top 25... an 89-83 win over No. 3/3 Villanova on Saturday snapped a two-game losing streak... Marcus Foster leads the team with 20.0 points per game and 86 three-pointers... Khyri Thomas adds a scoring average of 15.2 while Toby Hegner averages 8.8 points per game... as a team, the Bluejays average 10.5 three's per game with five players totaling at least 25 three's this season... head coach Greg McDermott is in his eighth season at Creighton... DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is 0-5 all-time against Creighton.
The Series: Tuesday is the 34th all-time meeting between the two programs... the Bluejays leads the series, 17-16... Creighton has won seven straight games including a 76-75 decision at Wintrust Arena on Feb. 7... a season ago, the Bluejays posted an 83-66 win in Omaha and a 93-58 decision at Allstate Arena... DePaul's last win the series was a 70-60 victory on Jan. 7, 2015 in Omaha.
It Could Happen: A win would give DePaul it's fourth road win in BIG EAST play... the four conference road wins would be the most for DePaul since joining the BIG EAST... with 15 points, Eli Cain moves up to 34th on DePaul's all-time scoring list... Cain is making his 90th career start... with four three-pointers, Cain moves up to 15th on DePaul all-time three-point field goal list... Max Strus needs 11 more three's this season to set the program's new single-season record... he enters the Creighton game in second place with 75 three's this season... as a team, DePaul needs two three's to move to 11th on the season chart, eight for ninth and 12 to move up to eighth place.
Demon Doings: Notes following DePaul's 70-62 win against Marquette:
- The Blue Demons overcame its largest deficit of the season... DePaul trailed by nine late in the first half... previously, DePaul overcame an eight-point deficit against Michigan State in the PK80.
- The Blue Demons posted their first win of the season when... trailing at halftime (1-11), when shooting less than 40 percent from field (1-7) and when opponent shoots better than DePaul (1-13).
- Max Strus and Marin Maric both recorded double-doubles for the second time this season... the duo each posted a double-double at St. John's on Jan. 6.
- Eli Cain moved into a tie for 35th place on DePaul all-time scoring list... his 1,147 points are tied with Quentin Richardson (1998-00).
- Brandon Cyrus reached double-figures for the ninth time this season (16th career)... it is the second time in last four games he has scored at least 10 points in game.
- Marin Maric recorded his 70th career game in double-figures (52 at Northern Illinois/18 at DePaul).
- The game was the 122nd meeting between the two programs... Marquette holds a 75-47 advantage in the series... the two teams split the season series.
Trendy: DePaul went 0-for-1 from the free throw line at Villanova on Feb. 21... it marks the only game since start of the 2002-03 season that the Blue Demons didn't make a free throw... DePaul went 1-for-3 at Notre Dame on Feb. 2, 2008 and 1-for-6 at Connecticut on Feb. 6, 2010... DePaul's one free throw attempt is also a low in that span... the Blue Demons have placed at least four players in double-figures in 16 games including five games with five in double-figures... a year ago, at least four scored in double-figures six times (32 games)... six different players have led DePaul in scoring this season... DePaul is 4-1 this season when Tre'Darius McCallum makes the first Blue Demon bucket... Eli Cain's assist average of 4.6 per game is highest season average since Brandon Young's 4.6 assists per game in 2012-13... DePaul leads the BIG EAST with 12.5 offensive rebounds per game and is second with a .334 offensive rebound percentage... in BIG EAST games only, DePaul leads the league with 39.1 rebounds per game, 13.0 offensive rebounds per contest and a .340 offensive rebound percentage... DePaul is second with a +4.6 rebounding margin and third with a .457 defensive field goal percentage.
Game 30 - March 3 vs. Xavier: DePaul hosts Xavier in the regular-season finale on Saturday morning... start time is 11 a.m. on FOX and WSCR 670 AM... Xavier is ranked third in this week's AP poll and fourth in the coaches top 25... the game is the 22nd meeting all-time and the second of two this season between DePaul and Xavier... the Musketeers hold a 12-9 advantage in the series... Xavier defeated the Blue Demons, 77-72, on Dec. 30 at Cintas Center... the Musketeers are 25-4 overall and 13-3 in BIG EAST play... Xavier hosts Providence on Wednesday night prior to visiting Chicago on Saturday.
