Reviewing DePaul

[OmahaGuy]

Wow

What an abrupt end to the season that not any of us saw coming even a few days ago. Canceling the postseason was the right move because public health and safety is more important than basketball. But still...it's tough, man. We've never seen anything like this and couldn't imagine a March without the madness. UGH

Anyway, so for this year. I'll post a review of a team starting with the lowest seed in the Big East Tournament and I'll work my way up every couple of days or so.

We begin with the Blue Demons of DePaul

OUT
*Lyrik Shreiner
*DJ Williams
*Paul Reed
*Jalen Coleman-Lands (will grad transfer)

STAY
*Darious Hall
*Charlie Moore
*Jaylen Butz
*Romeo Weems
*Markese Jacobs

My 0.02: Wow. What happened to the Blue Demons?? They got off to such a great start. Got good wins over Iowa, BC, Texas Tech and Minnesota and then just totally went off the rails in conference play. I believed in Dave Leitao at first but I've officially had enough with him and he's gotta go. I'll be shocked if he stays. This league is tough but this DePaul team didn't lack talent and it still doesn't. They proved that early on and then they fell apart.
It's been a shame to see DePaul struggle for so long. Our league needs to have a good team in the Chicago market. Something has to be done about the AD. She's been absolutely pathetic when it comes to handling this program. Even if she does fire DL, I don't expect her to hire a touted coach to replace him.

Anyway, what say you? And if I'm missing anything, lmk!

[gtmoBlue]

Thought you were doing a review of the team. You quickly devolved into coach and AD bashing. No need for bashing either party.

Stick with the who's leaving, who staying, and the recruiting class. Do a (thorough) review. Then maybe finish with a prognosis for next season?

[OmahaGuy]

Thought you were doing a review of the team. You quickly devolved into coach and AD bashing. No need for bashing either party.

Stick with the who's leaving, who staying, and the recruiting class. Do a (thorough) review. Then maybe finish with a prognosis for next season?

Well, the coach and the AD certainly deserve criticism. DL's 2nd stint in Lincoln Park has been going on for 5 seasons and I haven't seen progress. The AD deserves criticism because she has made 3 hires and all 3 have failed miserably.

But GTMO, you are correct on a couple things. I totally forgot who's coming into DePaul for next season. Seems like just one recruit in Kobe Elvis. A 6'2 Canadian 2-guard. As far as a prognosis for next season goes? I do think DePaul will be slightly better but I don't see them getting much better than this season. They're talented but they don't play like a team. They play like a bunch of individuals. A better coach can turn them into a team. That's their big issue IMO.

[BEhomer]

they also return

Nick Ongenda
Oscar Lopez

I think one of their problem is lack of 3pt shooting. their 3pt % was next to last in big east. Interestingly, the worst 3pt shooting team is Xavier who they beat in the BET. they will need to improve on that, especially if they're losing Paul Reed.

[Demon22]

A couple of DePaul-related rumors...

- Jeff Goodman reported recently that DePaul intends to offer Dave Leitao a contract extension. He also made it sound like it was no sure thing that Jeanne Lenti-Ponsetto would be returning as AD. Her contract is up at the end of the school year. One one hand, Dave Leitao really hasn't earned an extension - there simply hasn't been enough progress made. On the other, there's something to be said for letting a new AD hire his/her choice to be the new coach rather than hiring a new coach to a guaranteed contract and then trying to hire their boss. Still can't shake the feeling that all of this should have been taken care of long ago.

- Devin Gage has already put his name in the transfer portal amid a flurry of rumors. My guess is that Flynn Cameron won't be far behind.

- You gotta feel for Markese Jacobs. If you don't know his story, he committed to Kansas out of High School, then flipped to DePaul after KU recruited over him, but was still considered a Top 100 recruit. He and Romeo Weems were supposed to be impact freshmen. He was having a tremendous senior season before he tore his ACL. He played this year, but just wasn't the same kind of explosive athlete he was in high school, and you could tell he was frustrated by it. Sadly, in garbage time of last week's 38-point loss to Providence, Jacobs tore the same ACL again. I'm sure DePaul will keep him on scholarship, but I doubt he'll play next year. And if he does, I'm not sure we'll ever see the Markese Jacobs that dominated the Chicago Public Leagues.


As for next year, I disagree - we're not that talented. Paul Reed is history. He's going to declare for the draft, and I don't blame him. Charlie Moore has some talent, but doesn't value the basketball and can't make shots. If he's back, JCL is a catch-and-shoot off guard who doesn't make a high enough percentage. Unless he takes a leap, Romeo Weems looks like a high end 3-and-D glue guy, but I'm not sure he can carry an offense. Jaylen Butz is tough, he plays hard, and he's physical, but he's also limited. Their best hope to improve might be if Nick Ongenda takes a Paul Reed-type leap in his development. But overall, they lack shot-makers, and guys who can create their own looks. Barring some unforeseen recruiting wins, I don't see how they won't be worse next season.

[XUFan09]

DePaul could not have picked a worse year to be good in the non-conference schedule. The Big East was just so tough this year.

[Jet915]

DePaul could not have picked a worse year to be good in the non-conference schedule. The Big East was just so tough this year.

We appreciate them for having a nice NET prior to Big East play however....

[NJRedman]

DePaul could not have picked a worse year to be good in the non-conference schedule. The Big East was just so tough this year.

Yeah in other years they finish closer to the middle of the pack.

[GumbyDamnit!]

DePaul doing DePaul things.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-depaul-basketball-dave-leitao-jean-lenti-ponsetto-20200317-ajpcspcmajcpphjm35pqyjm7dy-story.html

[NJRedman]

Jesus DePaul, for the love of god fire your AD!