open letter to Mr. oliver Purnell

[TheBall]

I've watched some of their games. they played no defense and chucked 3s like they didn't care. .

Exactly. Depaul should have cancelled Oliver's return ticket from hawaii

And now he is going to likely get an extension, or at least survive another year. Gross

[RedStormHoops]

I've watched some of their games. they played no defense and chucked 3s like they didn't care. I think the start of BE season and suspension of Hamilton motivated them to play harder.

there is no hate towards depaul. I'm just stating the fact. they came in to regular season with the worst tourney resume of any BE teams. them winning against BE bubble teams hurt those teams' chances of making the tourney.

'11 Uconn team had the best season anybody can have for the league as far as I'm concerned. they had the perfect OOC record and went 9-9 in BE play. of course, they topped it off with a national title. you can say depaul so far is having the opposite of that.

Well then here's novel idea, instead of blaming DePaul for playing basketball, blame those bubble teams for playing terrible and losing. When St. John's is in this position next year I'm not going to want to go 0-18 so all the other big east teams can play patty cake in the tournament., I want us to play to win.

[TheBall]

Here is a novel idea: instead of taking December off to go golfing, oliver Purnell actually coaches his team and his players actually try?

DePaul should have been playing to win in December. They were not. And that's the root of the problem. Not that they are trying now.

[ivet]

Here is a novel idea: instead of taking December off to go golfing, oliver Purnell actually coaches his team and his players actually try?

DePaul should have been playing to win in December. They were not. And that's the root of the problem. Not that they are trying now.

So you're admitting that DePaul is actually a pretty good team worthy of the BE name? They just happened to slack off in December. So their wins in BE conference play is actually legit right?

[Letsgonova]

Oh, Ball, we don't get along for so many reason that pre-date your recent fascination with our fine football program.

[TheBall]

Here is a novel idea: instead of taking December off to go golfing, oliver Purnell actually coaches his team and his players actually try?

DePaul should have been playing to win in December. They were not. And that's the root of the problem. Not that they are trying now.

So you're admitting that DePaul is actually a pretty good team worthy of the BE name? They just happened to slack off in December. So their wins in BE conference play is actually legit right?

Yes

[ivet]

Here is a novel idea: instead of taking December off to go golfing, oliver Purnell actually coaches his team and his players actually try?

DePaul should have been playing to win in December. They were not. And that's the root of the problem. Not that they are trying now.

So you're admitting that DePaul is actually a pretty good team worthy of the BE name? They just happened to slack off in December. So their wins in BE conference play is actually legit right?

Yes

[OldSchoolDemon]

After watching the team at the beginning of the season, to not watching another OOC game after the loss to Ill State because it was typical of the team to drop into a tailspin, to the first three games of the conference schedule one thing stands out to me...confidence and a lack thereof.

The talent has improved, but DPU players know one thing...losing and after Ill State and the way they lost they completely lost their confidence. I don't profess to know exactly what happened, but it was probably the "here we go again" mindset. This is where Purnell failed this team as evidenced through four losses on the west coast. However, he clearly did something between Christmas Day and December 30 because they're now playing with passion, putting effort in defensively, and seem to be playing with a different mindset in general.

I wanted Purnell gone at the end of last year and wanted him fired before getting back on the plane from Hawaii, but IF they can sustain a modicum of success over the next 15 games and finish 10-8 in conference I think all DPU fans will agree that there is no way Purnell gets fired. That would represent a 8 game turnaround in conference and no way Ponshitto gives him the boot. I can live with it provided they're winning and show real forward progress for next season and beyond.

Does it suck they slept-walked for 6 OOC games...absolutely. However, I am pleasantly surprised at the way they've responded these last three games. We're talking about DPU here folks...no prior DPU team would have had the ability to bounce back...we all expected them to go into neutral and play out the string as usual, but they may very well be ready to be the team that does indeed turn the corner. I like the BE and want to see success, but as a longtime DPU fan I like DPU winning more and the last time I checked the conference is not a democracy...it's everyone for themself and everyone has run ragged over DPU for a long time. If their success "costs" the BE additional bids then I say to bad so sad. DPU needs to start winning in order to be taken seriously by recruits. It's one of the many things holding them back and obviously the biggest.

All that being said, I won't be surprised if they revert back to their mean...disappointed that they aren't turning a corner, but not surprised.

[stever20]

here's the most amazing thing about DePaul this year...

The last 6 years- DePaul has won 3 games the entire conference regular season schedule only twice. 1 of those years win #3 was game 16 and the other was in game 18. In the 9 years they've been in the conference- before this year- they've won exactly 30 games- or an average of 3.3 per year. The last 6 years, they've won 11 games combined.

1 time DePaul has ever started 3-0 in conference play.

[stever20]

here's the most amazing thing about DePaul this year...

The last 6 years- DePaul has won 3 games the entire conference regular season schedule only twice. 1 of those years win #3 was game 16 and the other was in game 18. In the 9 years they've been in the conference- before this year- they've won exactly 30 games- or an average of 3.3 per year. The last 6 years, they've won 11 games combined.

1 time DePaul has ever started 3-0 in conference play.

Oh and 1 other factoid about DePaul-
This is DePauls 2nd 3 game winning streak in Big East conference play EVER...
other time was in 2007-
beat Notre Dame, Marquette, and USF.