DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Recognized in Preseason National Polls
11/2/2020 12:01:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
ESPN, CBS, Lindy's Magazine place DePaul in Top 25
CHICAGO – DePaul will head into the 2020-21 women's basketball season ranked in the Top 25 of three national preseason polls.
Coming off a sparkling 28-5 season and taking home a three-peat BIG EAST tournament title, coach Doug Bruno and his team had earned the automatic berth into their 18th consecutive NCAA tournament. Then the coronavirus pandemic reared its ugly head and forced the tournament's cancellation.
Well aware of their time-honored pedigree as a perennial national power, preseason prognosticators set another high bar for Bruno & Co.
ESPN has the Blue Demons ranked at No. 19 while Lindy's Magazine starts them out at No. 21. The cbssports.com early rankings places DePaul at No. 24.
All three preseason polls tabbed South Carolina at No. 1. ESPN follows with Stanford, Baylor, Connecticut and Louisville. Lindy's also ranks Stanford at No. 2 followed by UConn, Mississippi State and Baylor. UConn is No. 2 in the cbssports.com rendition preceding Stanford, Arizona and Baylor.
The early rankings speak to the overarching respect Bruno's program has earned being held in such high esteem despite graduating honorable mention All-American Chante Stonewall and All-BIG EAST point guard Kelly Campbell who are both playing professionally overseas.
"Earning a Top 25 ranking is always a tribute to the players on that year's team and should never be taken for granted," Bruno said. "No team is ever entitled or anointed a Top 25 ranking. It must always be earned, and securing a Top 25 ranking is not easy."
That being said, this coach is quick to inject some perspective into this narrative.
"Of course it is better to be preseason-ranked than not ranked," Bruno said. 'However, in reality, preseason rankings are kind of like window dressing. No team has yet played a game. No competition exists.
"We have always preached to our team that any preseason ranking is merely prognostication and speculation. At DePaul, we play for reviews, not previews.
"Every game has a life of its own---every season has a life of its own. Once we have begun to play positive and constructive basketball to accumulate hard-earned wins against quality competition, then, and only then, can we be proud of our Top 25 ranking."
Bruno is proud of something that runs a lot deeper.
"This year's DePaul team has already prioritized a higher purpose by fighting for racial equality and social justice," he said. "Our players have attacked the adversity of 'The Big Contagion' (COVID-19). This year's team had to overcome preseason practices constantly in a state of uncontrollable chaos.
"Because our players have already 'busted it' and truly competed while being engulfed in this strange, strange world and time in which they are living, I am cautiously optimistic that our 2020-21 DePaul women's basketball team will fight and earn one of our most significant Top 25 rankings and reviews in program history."
Coming off a sparkling 28-5 season and taking home a three-peat BIG EAST tournament title, coach Doug Bruno and his team had earned the automatic berth into their 18th consecutive NCAA tournament. Then the coronavirus pandemic reared its ugly head and forced the tournament's cancellation.
Well aware of their time-honored pedigree as a perennial national power, preseason prognosticators set another high bar for Bruno & Co.
ESPN has the Blue Demons ranked at No. 19 while Lindy's Magazine starts them out at No. 21. The cbssports.com early rankings places DePaul at No. 24.
All three preseason polls tabbed South Carolina at No. 1. ESPN follows with Stanford, Baylor, Connecticut and Louisville. Lindy's also ranks Stanford at No. 2 followed by UConn, Mississippi State and Baylor. UConn is No. 2 in the cbssports.com rendition preceding Stanford, Arizona and Baylor.
The early rankings speak to the overarching respect Bruno's program has earned being held in such high esteem despite graduating honorable mention All-American Chante Stonewall and All-BIG EAST point guard Kelly Campbell who are both playing professionally overseas.
"Earning a Top 25 ranking is always a tribute to the players on that year's team and should never be taken for granted," Bruno said. "No team is ever entitled or anointed a Top 25 ranking. It must always be earned, and securing a Top 25 ranking is not easy."
That being said, this coach is quick to inject some perspective into this narrative.
"Of course it is better to be preseason-ranked than not ranked," Bruno said. 'However, in reality, preseason rankings are kind of like window dressing. No team has yet played a game. No competition exists.
"We have always preached to our team that any preseason ranking is merely prognostication and speculation. At DePaul, we play for reviews, not previews.
"Every game has a life of its own---every season has a life of its own. Once we have begun to play positive and constructive basketball to accumulate hard-earned wins against quality competition, then, and only then, can we be proud of our Top 25 ranking."
Bruno is proud of something that runs a lot deeper.
"This year's DePaul team has already prioritized a higher purpose by fighting for racial equality and social justice," he said. "Our players have attacked the adversity of 'The Big Contagion' (COVID-19). This year's team had to overcome preseason practices constantly in a state of uncontrollable chaos.
"Because our players have already 'busted it' and truly competed while being engulfed in this strange, strange world and time in which they are living, I am cautiously optimistic that our 2020-21 DePaul women's basketball team will fight and earn one of our most significant Top 25 rankings and reviews in program history."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Forward
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLDePaul Women's Basketball vs. Providence Game Highlights - 3.6.26
Friday, March 06
DePaul Women's Basketball at Georgetown Game Highlights - 3.1.26
Monday, March 02
DePaul Women’s Basketball vs. Butler Postgame Press Conference.
Thursday, February 26
DePaul Women’s Basketball Game Highlights vs. Butler - 02.25.26
Thursday, February 26