Basketball Preview 2010-2011

The DePaulia

2010-2011 Basketball Preivew

ONWARD

& UPWARD

Inside

As Doug Bruno enters his 25th year coaching the DePaul women’s basketball team, new men’s Head Coach Oliver Purnell looks to turn around a school’s program for the fifth time.

Page 4

Running, defense top Purnell’s list Page 3

Women try to keep momentum Page 6

2 The DePaulia. November 8, 2010

DePaul Men’s ‘10-11 Schedule 11/14/10 vs Chicago State 01/16/10 vs Western Carolina 11/25/10 ‘76 Classic 12/02/10 vs Northern Illinois 12/05/10 vs Central Michigan 12/08/10 @ Indiana State 12/11/10 vs Ball State 12/14/10 vs UW-Milwaukee 12/18/10 vs Loyola-Chicago 12/22/10 vs Florida Atlantic 12/28/10 @ Cincinnati 01/01/11 @ Georgetown 01/04/11 vs West Virginia 01/12/11 vs Seton Hall 01/15/11 vs Connecticut 01/18/11 @ Marquette 01/22/11 vs Pittsburgh 01/27/11 @ USF 02/03/11 vs Notre Dame 02/05/11 @ Louisville 02/08/11 vs Cincinnati 02/12/11 @ West Virginia 02/19/11 vs Villanova 02/23/11 @ St. John’s 02/26/11 vs USF 03/02/11 vs Rutgers 03/05/11 @ Syracuse

The Deep East

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

The men’s side of the Big East can be described with one word: Depth. Five teams made the NCAA tournament’s Sweet Sixteen last March, and nine teams had 20+ wins.

2009 Record: 30-5 (15-3) The Orange averaged 80.9 PPG last year and led the nation in FG percentage at 51.6%

2009 Record: 20-13 (9-9) The Bulls must replace Dominique Jones’ 21.4 PPG, which left for the NBA after last season.

2009 Record: 37-7 (13-5) A Final Four berth capped a successful season for West Virginia, but they lost three big starters.

2009 Record: 19-13 (9-9) Jeremy Hazell averaged 20.4 PPG last year and will be a focus of new Head Coach Kevin WIllard.

2009 Record: 25-8 (13-5) The ever-present Scotte Reynolds is gone from a Wildcats team that is young, but experienced.

2009 Record: 19-16 (7-11) The Bearcats earned their first NIT bid since 2006, but lost key players like Lance Stephenson.

2009 Record: 25-9 (13-5) Coach Jamie Dixon leads the Panthers, who have a postseason appearance streak of nine years.

2009 Record: 18-16 (7-11) The defensive Huskies held opponents to 40.4% shooting and ranked first in shots blocked.

2009 Record: 22-12 (11-7) Stud forward Jimmy Butler comes back as the centerpiece of a strong nucleus.

2009 Record: 17-16 (6-12) 10 seniors return to help make the transition easier for new Head Coach Steve Lavin.

2009 Record: 20-13 (11-7) Rick Pitino returns after an offseason of distractions to a team without last year’s starting C.

2009 Record: 15-17 (5-13) New Head Coach Mike Rice, formerly of Robert Morris, leads a team with six scholarship players.

2009 Record: 23-11 (10-8) The departure of NBA draft pick Greg Monroe leaves a rebounding hole the Hoyas need to fill.

2009 Record: 12-19 (4-14) The Friars will rely on the development of sophomores Bilal Dixon and Vincent Council.

2009 Record: 23-12 (10-8) Luke Harangody left for the NBA, but the Fighting Irish still have senior forward Tim Abromaitis.

2009 Record: 8-23 (1-17) New Head Coach Oliver Purnell will have to get production out of a roster lacking a true weapon.

TV

TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV TV

7:30 p.m.

5 p.m.

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

1 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

Noon 8 p.m.

8 p.m.

1 p.m.

8 p.m.

3 p.m.

8 p.m.

8 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

3 p.m.

11 a.m.

6 p.m.

1 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

3 p.m.

Four must-watch games: Nov. 25 - ‘76 Classic This Thanksgiving tournament held in Anaheim, Calif., will see DePaul open against Oklahoma State at 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 - vs Loyola-Chicago The crosstown rivalry returns in 2010, with the Blue Demons taking on the Ramblers for the first time since 2003 .

Jan. 18 @ Marquette Marquette marked DePaul’s only conference win last year - A fact sure to have the Golden Eagles ready to play hard in January.

The Top Dog

Until UConn shows a weakness, every other team in the conference is stuck looking up. The Huskies are on a 78-game winning streak, and have the best player in the game, Maya Moore.

2009 Record: 38-0 (16-0) Maya Moore (18.9 PPG) returns and Coach Geno Auriemma will have his team prepared.

2009 Record: 19-15 (7-9) Coming off their first winning season since 1991, the Friars look to continue trending up.

2009 Record: 29-6 (13-3) All five starters return , including Big East defensive player of the year, Sarah Miles, G.

2009 Record: 17-16 (6-10) Six seniors and five freshmen make up most of a squad that is talented defensively.

2009 Record: 26-7 (13-3) Led Big East in steals, and return Big East freshman of the year Sugar Rodgers , G.

2009 Record: 15-16 (6-10) Only two starters return on a roster that boasts four transfers and two freshmen.

2009 Record: 29-6 (12-4) Three freshmen expected to fill hole left by three departing seniors.

2009 Record: 16-15 (5-11) A senior-heavy roster aims to make it six straight years of an NCAA tournament berth.

2009 Record: 25-7 (12-4) Shenneika Smith set school’s freshman scoring record last year with 12.9 PPG.

2009 Record: 14-18 (5-11) Trying to recapture magic of 2008, when the team reached the NCAA title game.

2009 Record: 21-12 (9-7) Deirdre Naughton returns after missing last season, adding more firepower to a good team.

2009 Record: 12-18 (4-12) Senior PG Shareese Ulis is back to help a team that shot 35.3% from behind the arc last year.

2009 Record: 19-15 (9-7) Picked to finish 7th in the preseason rakings, but led by talented G Khadijah Rushdan.

2009 Record: 14-16 (3-13) Despite a poor record, Villanova ranked third in the Big East in scoring defense (55.1 PPG).

2009 Record: 25-11 (7-9) Talented scorer Iasia Hemingway transfers over from Georgia Tech to bolster the roster.

2009 Record: 9-12 (1-15) Head Coach Anne Donovan also coached WNBA’s New York Liberty until September.

Nov. 26 Maggie Dixon Classic Games against Cal-Riverside, Morgan State and Northwestern State open up this two-day tournament being hosted by DePaul University.

Front page design by Samantha Dite

Feb. 5 @ Connecticut DePaul will try to avenge a 33 point shellacking in ‘09. Plus, the Huskies might be on a record winning streak when DePaul heads east.

Feb. 3 vs Notre Dame The Blue Demons will try to avenge last year’s 10-point loss, in which Luke Harangody scored 28 points and nabbed 11 rebounds.

DePaul Women’s ‘10-11 Schedule 11/12/10 Preseason WNIT 11/23/10 @ UIC 11/26/10 Maggie Dixon Classic 12/01/10 vs Illinois State 12/03/10 @ SIU-Edwardsville 12/07/10 @ Pittsburgh 12/09/10 @ Loyola-Chicago 12/11/10 vs Northern Illinois 12/13/10 vs Northwestern 12/16/10 vs Stanford 12/21/10 @ Arizona State 12/29/10 vs New Jersey Tech 01/05/11 vs Providence 01/08/11 @ St. John’s TV TV 01/11/11 vs USF 01/16/11 @ Villanova 01/22/11 vs Seton Hall 01/25/11 @ Cincinnati TV 01/30/11 vs West VIrginia 02/05/11 @ Connectiut 02/08/11 @ Syracuse 02/12/11 vs Marquette TV 02/15/11 vs Rutgers TV 02/20/11 vs Georgetown 02/23/11 @ Louisville 02/26/11 @ Marquette TV 02/28/11 vs Notre Dame

Feb. 15 vs Rutgers The Blue Demons should be awake after a three-point loss last year dropped them below the Scarlet Knights in the standings.

7 p.m.

Noon 7 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

5 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

3 p.m.

8 p.m.

1 p.m.

7 p.m.

TBA 3 p.m.

1 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

8 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

TBA 7 p.m.

8 p.m.

Four must-watch games: Feb. 26 @ Marquette DePaul travels north after beating the Golden Eagles by 10 points at home last season. Sam Quigley scored 20 points in that game.

Basketball Preview. November 9, 2009. The DePaulia 3

The Starting Five With player analysis by Blue Demons basketball radio announcer Drew Olsen

#33 K. Faber-C “He’s going to be the anchor down low. The team doesn’t have much size, and he’s going to be guarding a team’s best post player.”

#1 M. Stovall-F

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 7.0 2.9 1.8 6’4”

“He’ll need to carry some of the scoring load. He’ll definitely be the go-to guy. He’s crafty and can put himself in position to score.”

#3 D. Hill-F

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 2.4 3.0 0.2 6’10”

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 4.8 2.9 0.4 6’9”

“He shows the potential to be a very good player. He has all the tools.

He’ll have to be more consistent and start making outside shots.”

#11 J. Kelly-G

Men’s

full court

coverage

“Young is a smart player, and he makes really good decisions. Theyclearly have high expectations for him if he’s in the starting lineup.”

“A reliable ball handler and a good on-ball defender.

He will have to carry more of the scoring load with Walker and Koshwal gone.”

#20 B. Young-G

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 5.6 2.5 2.7 6’0”

Pts Rbs Ast Ht n/a n/a n/a 6’3”

Headshots courtesy of DePaul Athletics

Off the Bench:They have a good depth at the wings. There are a lot of athletes and that fits Purnell’s system really well. The bench is going to have to provide energy. #12 C. Melvin-F

#5 J. Belcaster-G

#0 M. Bizoukas-G

#23 J. Drew-G

#22 T. Freeland-F

#15 M. Morgan-F

#10 M. Stula-F

#25 E. Wallace-F

Running, defense top Purnell’s list

By DAVID BERRY If Oliver Purnell is going to get his DePaul University men’s basketball team anywhere, there is a very good chance they will be running. The new Blue Demons’ head coach has taken the phrase “hit the ground running” and applied it literally to his new team.

“It’s way different than high school,” said freshman forward Moses Morgan when asked about the conditioning experience so far. “In high school we ran up and down, but this is another level for me.”

“It’s been real difficult,” added senior guard Mike Stovall. “This year we do a lot of running and that’s basically it, a lot of running and it’s been real hard.”

Besides getting his squad in shape physically, Purnell has to reshape the mindset of a team that finished 8-23, only winning one Big East game last season and not a game on the road last season.

Photo by Hanna Pageau

DePaul’s Cleveland Melvin calling for a pass from Jeremiah Kelly.

There is reason for excitement, even if other teams in the conference might show otherwise.

“We were picked at the bottom and it was my sense that there was a little smirking and snickering going on when our name was mentioned [at Big East media day],” said Purnell.

“I took offense to it, not only for me, but for my team. Having said that, we have an opportunity to do something about that on the court.”

One of the reasons for optimism is a style of play on offense and defense that is way different than what DePaul and the rest of the

Big East have seen on a regular basis. The up-tempo style is tough to get in condition for, but if done right, will be even tougher for other teams to prepare for.

DePaul returned 11 players this season, four of which started at least 17 games last year. The team

experienced a setback however when junior forward Eric Wallace was lost for the season due to injury.

The top returning Blue Demon from last year is Stovall, who averaged seven points per game last year. He shares the same sentiment as his coach as far as approaching this season.

“They keep going off of what happened last season so it is a big motivation to everybody on the team because as you see, we’re tired of hearing that and the coach don’t want to come in and hear that also,” said Stovall. “He wants to win and everybody else on the team wants to win. We’re going to jump on his bandwagon and do what we have to do to get the W.” The other two upperclassmen with experience are guard Jeremiah Kelly and forward Devin Hill, both juniors. They ranked fifth and sixth on the team in scoring last season, with averages of 5.6 and 4.8

points per game, respectively.

Along with the returning players, Purnell welcomes three freshmen to the team.

In addition to Morgan, 6’8” forward Cleveland Melvin and 6’3” guard Brandon Young look to add some new breath and young energy to a team that will feed off of having energy the entire season.

Young was the lone freshman to crack the starting lineup in DePaul’s first exhibition game against Northwood, but Melvin was also a key contributor as he chipped in 19 points in 18 minutes off the bench.

The big man for the Blue Demons this season figures to be 6’10” junior Krys Faber. After starting 11 games and averaging 2.4 points per game last season, Faber is going to be expected to make a much larger contribution now. He had six points, seven rebounds

Continued on Page 7

4 The DePaulia. November 9, 2009

paths destin Different

same

By SHAYMUS McLAUGHLIN and MEGHAN BOWER

Bruno talks to his players in the first preseaon game.

Photo by Hanna Pageau

The Doug Bruno File NAME: Doug Bruno AGE: 60 CAREER RECORD: 458-264 WIN PERCENTAGE: .634 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARACES: 15 COLLEGE TEAMS COACHED IN LAST 25 YEARS: 1 1988 - Doug Bruno returns to DePaul University for his second head coaching stint with the women’s basketball team. He was originally hired in 1976, but left two years later to coach for the Chicago Hustle and Loyola University.

1988 1988 - Radford University hires Oliver Purnell, who goes 15-13, 7-22, and then 22-7 as head coach over the next three years for the Highlanders.

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…and both that morning equally lay, In leaves no step had trodden black,” wrote Robert Frost long before the establishment of the DePaul University basketball program..

Yet it was two diverging roads that brought new men’s Head Coach Oliver Purnell and longtime women’s Heach Coach Doug Bruno to their current positions.

While Bruno, currently in his 25th year of coaching at Depaul, has a longstanding history in the program, Purnell has only just arrived, after four successful stints turning downtrodden basketball programs around.

When Bruno first arrived at DePaul to coach, it was an entirely different program. Title IX had just been enacted in 1972. Current Athletic Director Jean LentiPonsetto was a player on the women’s team and scholarships for female athletes were still a work in progress.

“I’ve watched the program grow from its infancy and into a mature program, but a program that still has miles to go before we sleep,” said Bruno. “And that’s a Robert Frost poem, from Death of a Hired Man – ‘miles to go before we sleep’is still a goal.”

Since Bruno dropped his anchor at DePaul, seven different coaches have led the men. Most recently was Purnell’s predecessor Jerry Wainwright, whose teams struggled more often than not, leading to an unenthusiastic fan base.

“Most any place where you haven’t been real successful over a longer time, the perception of your program is down,” said Purnell of the men’s program.

“The energy level surrounding your program is damp.

The mindset of your players, your fans, needs to be elevated.”

The situation, he said, is very similar to his previous stint at Clemson. Purnell arrived there in 2003 after the team had suffered through a 5-11 conference record the previous season. Two years later, the Tigers were in the NIT, with an NCAA tournament berth following in 2007. It all followed a blueprint that Purnell said he has for rebuilding a program.

While Purnell has been able to create a blueprint from his many experiences, which he can apply to multiple programs with some slight tweaks, Bruno has created an institutional framework that has had to be adapted with changing times and heightening expectations.

“In the seventies our goal was to get scholarships for

1993-94 - Bruno has his worst year as head coach of DePaul, when the team goes 10-20 and misses postseason play entirely.

1991 - Purnell leaves Radford for a head coaching job at Old Dominion. After going .500 in his first season and earning an NCAA tournament spot, he wins 21 games in each of the following two years.

women. We achieved that,” the goal was to make the po That was achieved with t of ‘88. The nineties, the goa tournament. We achieved th naments in the nineties. 20 become a comprehensive p great basketball, but was gre achieved that. “ The result is a program th around the league and has pr teams. Currently, a historica Connecticut team is provid biggest challenges; and also “Every year I’ve been her were not in the Big East, ou was filled with teams that w teams,” he said. “And now w Big East, just raises our leve minute, every day. So it is of the teams as well, not jus raises our level of competit about the Big East. The chal And Purnell has been se conference as well, eager to out of a tailspin. “[It’s] the challenge of rest back to prominence. The fa before,” said Purnell, addin ence, city of Chicago, DePa and “recruiting hotbed” wer DePaul.

“It’s very gratifying whe people that were responsible he said. “There’s an excitem I remember that feeling. So things that draw me. I thin people say you can’t do som At this point, a lot of peop not win much this year. But the process of reinvigorating “Well I think step one is viously that signals that ther Purnell. “And then there rea do step one through six all a meet your players and start You gotta hit the ground run recruiting. You’ve gotta get

1997 - Brun make their s Tournamen the decade, schools to a feat.

1994 - Dayton offer their head coaching he accepts, making jobs in six years.

Basketball Preview. November 9, 2009. The DePaulia 5

nation

” said Bruno. “In the eighties ost-season tournament NIT. the WNIT championships al was to make the NCAA hat. We went to seven tour000-2010, the goal was to program that not only plays eat academically as well. We

hat has been well-respected produced talented, consistent ally dominant University of ding Bruno with one of his o some of his biggest thrills. re at DePaul, back when we ur non-conference schedule were great nationally ranked we’re in the Big East, it, the el of competitiveness every UConn, but it’s all the rest st UConn. The entire league tiveness. That’s what I love allenge.” seduced by the challenging o once again pull a program

storing a once great program act that it’d been done here ng that the Big East conferaul’s mission and academics re also reasons for choosing

en you are one of the main e for rebuilding a program,” ment as you’re doing it, and o I think those are the main nk the other thing is when mething.” ple are saying the men canfor Purnell, that comes with g everyone involved. s the day you’re hired. Obre has been a change,” said ally is no step one. You gotta at the same time. You gotta to establish a rapport there. nning in hiring the staff and t around and meet all your

constituents, your fans, supporters.And you’ve gotta do all those things and more at the same time.”

Bruno has been doing just that for years now. With a boisterous smile and a constantly-waving hand, every year the coach helps maintain the integrity of the program he has helped build. But he is not quite where he wants to be.

“So there’s still one more goal,” he said. “And that goal is to get this program to the top 10, year in and year out, so we can compete for a national championship year in and year out.”

One of the most recent developments he has coached through is a lack of “urban, Catholic private school” getting high rankings. “[The top 10 is] all dominated by BCS programs, football programs,” he said. “So we’re trying to make ourselves a program that puts itself in the position to be a top 10 program, to maybe be the only Catholic, urban, private team that is in the top 10, year in and year out, and fight for the national championship.”

Purnell wants his team to know that no matter what happened in the past, they can reach those same heights.

Everyone is getting a blank slate, he said. They just have to put forth the effort.

“And I think the biggest thing is to make sure guys know we have a clean slate, that we have a system of doing things,” he said. “That’s really what we expect of them is to do what’s next. It’s really all laid out for you.

You go to class and you work hard in practice, and you work hard at your conditioning and your weights and so on so forth. But you got to have both feet in. That’s the key.”

While Purnell once again enters a college basketball season with bricks in hand and mortar at his side, the challenge of rebuilding DePaul basketball looming overhead, Bruno remains content to shine, sheen and fortify his work - a quality that impresses Purnell.

“I think what he’s done is unbelievable,” said Purnell.

“You just don’t see that happening very much anymore when you think about it, where a person goes to a school and stays for a long, long time.”

And is the basketball mason ever curious what it would be like to wear Bruno’s 25-year-old DePaul shoes?

“This is an insecure profession. And there’s just a lot of things that go in to staying at a place for a long period of time,” he said. “I think everybody’s kind of got to follow in their own path.”

no and the women seventh NCAA nt appearance of one of only 38 accomplish such a

rs Purnell g job, and it three

1999 - Dayton goes 22-9 and makes the NCAA tournament before losing in the first round.

2005 - DePaul leaves Conference USA to join the Big East. The women’s team goes 27-7 against the tougher competition and makes it to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.

2003 - After making the NCAA tournament with Dayton, Purnell leaves the Flyers to become head coach of Clemson basketball. The team goes 10-18 in his first year, but does not finish below .500 for the rest of his Tigers career.

Photo by Hanna Pageau

Purnell directs from the sidelines during the game against Northwood University

The Oliver Purnell File NAME: Oliver Purnell AGE: 57 CAREER RECORD: 394-280 WIN PERCENTAGE: .585 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARACES: 6 COLLEGE TEAMS COACHED IN LAST 25 YEARS: 5 2010 - Men’s head coach Jerry Wainwright is dismissed midway through an 8-23 season.

Bruno’s women go 23-12 and make the tournament.

2007 through 2009 Purnell leads Clemson to three straight NCAA tournament appearances, all firstround exits.

2010 - Bruno enters his 25th year as head coach of the DePaul Blue Demons. The court at McGrath Arena is named in his honor.

2010

2010 - Purnell leaves Clemson for the DePaul head coaching job.

Photo and headshots courtesy of DePaul Athletics

6 The DePaulia. November 9, 2009

The Starting Five With player analysis by Blue Demons basketball radio announcer Drew Olsen

#41 F. Chester-F “Chester is the anchor of the team down low. She is a very good defender, a good rebounder and shoots a high percentage from the field.”

#2 T. Pikes-G/F “Pikes does a little bit of everything for this team. She is long and athletic and can knock down shots. And she can guard multiple positions.”

“Hampton is very talented. She can handle it, shoot it, run the floor and guard multiple positions. There is a lot expected from her this year.”

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 10.0 6.9 1.6 6’3”

#24 K. Hampton-F

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 13.8 5.5 1.6 6’2”

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 2.5 3.0 1.0 6’2”

#5 A. Martin-G

Women’s

“Martin had a really good freshman season last year.

She’ll be expected to carry a lot of the scoring load and take her game to the next level.”

#22 S. Quigley-G

full court

“Bruno said she’s one of the best leaders he’s had.

Good shooter.

She’s expected to run the offense and find open shots for her teammates.”

coverage

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 10.5 3.2 2.2 5’9”

Pts Rbs Ast Ht 13.1 3.0 5.1 5’6”

Headshots courtesy of DePaul Athletics

Off the Bench: Everyone is going to have to step up, especially waiting for Deirdre. They’ll have to bring energy, knock down outside shots and rebound #32 D. Naughton-G

#51 K. Harry-F

#30 J. Juergens-G

#33 M. Mulchrone-G

#34 D. Ortiz-F

#31 J. Penny-F

#20 K. Reynolds-G

#12 C. Threatt-G

Women try to keep momentum

By DAVID BERRY Experience equals wisdom and wisdom can translate to success.

If that is the case for the DePaul University women’s basketball team, there should be plenty to look forward to.

With Head Coach Doug Bruno’s 2010-11 squad boasting five seniors — four in their fifth year of eligibility, one in her sixth — and only one freshman, expectations for this season are sky high.

The Blue Demons want to carry the momentum of a 21-12 record last season and an 11th seed in the NCAA tournament over to this season.

They were finished to pick sixth by the coaches in the Big East coaches’ preseason poll and are ranked 30th nationally in the preseason Associated Press poll.

“There’s a reason we were picked sixth, because Connecticut, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Georgetown and St. Johns beat us last year,” said Bruno. “We were picked sixth for a reason and I hope that’s a challenge to our ball club so that we can attempt to move our program higher than

sixth.”

The ball club he will be putting out on the court is no slouch even though they were picked sixth in the conference.

Junior forward Keisha Hampton was picked to the preseason All-Big East team, while senior guards Dierdre Naughton and Sam Quigley were named to the preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention.

Naughton has also been named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 and Quigley was named a candidate for the 2010-11 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Women’s Basketball Award.

Naughton also hopes to make it back onto the court to play soon as she was sidelined with a knee injury early last season.

Senior forward Felicia Chester returns as well to give the Blue Demons another solid scorer. She was fourth on the team in scoring (10 points/game) and second in rebounds (seven rebounds/game).

However, she is working on improving her scoring and said, “Coach is always pushing me to be an offensive threat.”

Rounding out the group of se-

niors are guards China Threatt and Jennifer Juergens.

Threatt is set to return from a knee injury she suffered during the 2008-09 season. Juergens looks to be an even bigger part of the team this season after starting 10 games and averaging almost five points a game last year.

The lone freshman on the team, 6’1” forward Jasmine Penny, has been thrown into the fire with such an experienced team, but her teammates think she is adjusting just fine.

“She’s a really smart player, and it helps when you’re the only one [as a freshman] and everyone else knows what they’re doing,” said Quigley.

Bruno is definitely excited about coaching this set of players, and not just because of what they bring on the court.

“They’re great people and that’s the most important thing,” said Bruno. “Sometimes you don’t want to be around people for the fifth year, but these are great peo-

Continued on Page 7

Photo by Hanna Pageau

Anna Martin and Felicia Chester dive for the ball aginst Northwood University.

Basketball Preview. November 9, 2009. The DePaulia 7

“Being a DePaul super fan” continued from back cover

A group of costumed fans cheers on the Blue Demons basketball teams during their preseason opener on Oct. 30.

Joe Anhalt, senior advertising student, have both proved their dedication to Blue Crew during their time at DePaul.

Kristin Frost, associate director this year, began her involvement with Blue Crew her freshman year and has not been able to get enough. Frost currently works in the Athletic Department and assists with game operations as well.

“Basketball is great to watch because the teams are always scoring and they can be really aggressive on offense and defense,” said Frost. “There really isn’t any

time for fans to relax because it is so fast-paced” Anhalt finds his thrill in the close games.

“Not knowing what the outcome will be,” he answered when asked his favorite part of the game.

“It doesn’t get much better than a buzzer beater and then the crowd rushes the court.”

Anhalt claims his energy is his super fan qualifier, hard to miss at any basketball game.

“No matter if we win 20 games or two games, I still believe we are going to win the game, and I

am there front and center letting everyone know that,” he said.

While at times Anhalt may believe he is the loudest one in the arena, the DePaul Cheerleading team is quite difficult to compete with.

Natalie Randazzo, sophomore education student and DePaul cheerleader loves cheering for the Blue Demons.

“The cheer team adds enthusiasm at the games. We cheer on our players to give them confidence, and getting the crowd involved helps us do that,” said Randazzo.

“Women’s basketball” continued from page 6 ple and it’s been great to coach them.”

Among the main concerns for Bruno and his team is improving on a defense that ranked 207th in the nation and 14th in the Big East in scoring defense.

“Defense is a staple and defense is a constant,” said Bruno. “If you’re a better defensive team, if you’re a better rebounding team, then you’re going to be playing further in March. We have to defend better, we have to rebound better.”

The solution? “A lot of drills,” said Chester. Another year of experience should help the team with that as well.

Another big problem for DePaul, as well as 14 other teams in the country, resides in Storrs, Conn.

The University of Connecticut Huskies have not lost a game since George W. Bush was President.

That is the cream of the crop in a conference that sent seven teams to last year’s NCAA tournament.

“I don’t think you just preach to them [about playing hard all the time],” said Bruno. “I think it’s playing to a high level of competitiveness every single day in practice is a standard we have to establish.”

The Blue Demons also want to improve on the road, where their 6-8 record showed some signs of struggling.

“It’s just about having a lot of energy and bringing that home game mentality on the road,” said Quigley.

The team was able to go to France this past summer, something that “gave us a great chance to see what type of team we’re going to be this year,” said Quigley.

With all of that, this team, wise with experience, will say “Bonjour” to the regular season this week when they host Valparaiso for the preseason WNIT on Nov. 12.

DePaul Cheerleading creates an energetic atmosphere, even when the team is off the court.

Randazzo’s most exhilarating memory of Blue Demon basketball was of a challenging cheerleading stunt last year that had people up in the air.

“We did a sequence where every flyer was being tossed and flipped in the air,” said Randazzo.

She claims she to be a Blue Demon super fan not because the fury of Chicago weather never keeps her away, “but because I love being there,” said Randazzo.

“I love DePaul basketball...The

Photo by Hanna Pageau

basketball players at DePaul are not only great athletes, but great people to be around. Cheering for these individuals is a thrill!”

Whether it is the adrenaline rush or the simple love of the sport that attracts the attention of these Blue Demon super fans, all claim their utmost loyalty to the basketball program.

“I will always be there to support DePaul basketball, both men’s and women’s, for many years to come and I look forward to seeing how the programs evolve,” said Frost.

“Men’s basketball” continued from page 3 and three blocks against Northwood.

Coach Purnell divided his goals for this year into short-term and long-term. His short-term goals are “to become a really good defensive team, to become a dangerous running team and then beat Chicago State.”

The long-term goals for Purnell and his team are to get better every day, win as many games as possible and make postseason play.

It will take work to get there, but that is why he acknowledges them as long-term.

“You want to go from being in the bottom echelon to the top echelon [in the Big East],” said Purnell.

The Blue Demons have one more exhibition game against Lewis before opening up the regular season with far southside rivals Chicago State. Excitement is building for the season and Purnell has something for the naysayers of DePaul basketball.

“Those voices [of the doubters] are there and it’s up to us to prove them wrong,” he said.

“Inked” continued from back cover Threatt has a tattoo of the Michael Jordan quote, “Some want it to happen, some wish it to happen, I make it happen” with a basketball and stars. It gives her inspiration and “it makes me want to go harder,” said Threatt.

When it comes to tattoos, the most notable inked-up player is Krys Faber, a junior center on the men’s team. He has seven tattoos, with more to come, he said.

Even more impressive, he designed all of the tattoos himself.

Faber has a memorial tattoo, a cross with a basketball on his upper right arm, with “In Loving Memory” and his grandmother’s name along with it.

“It’s about how she’s pushed me to continue to do well in life, being able to get an education with basketball,” said Faber.

Faber has motivational tats as well, with “LOVE/PAIN” on his right wrist and “SAINT/ SINNER” on his left. On his chest, he has a tattoo showing a slash with a basketball.

“I still need to add more to it,” Faber said, “But it’s supposed to be symbolic to where my heart’s supposed to be.”

The coaching staffs of both teams do not have any restrictions on athlete body art.

“There are no rules that I heard of,” said Young. Mostly, the players with tattoos face minor problems with their own families.

“The only person I can think of is probably my aunt,” said Faber. “She’s really old-fashioned, real old-school, and tattoos in general she’s been against since the get-go. She especially doesn’t like the one on my forearm because it is visible.”

Faber is referring to a blackand-white tattoo of three skulls, with the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” motif. Threatt said that her mom does not like that she has so many big tattoos and Pikes said her grandma is not particularly fond of hers either.

“My grandma tells me to stop getting them,” said Pikes.

“But I never will.”

Photos by Samantha Dite

China Threatt has a tattoo on her forearm honoring her brother (left). Taylor Pikes has a rose and her mother’s name (top right) and Krys Faber has multiple (bottom right).

Basketball Preview. November 9, 2009. The DePaulia 8

Blue Demons super fans

By MOLLIE PELON Blue Demon spirit suffocates the air as basketball season gets into gear. DePaul students pile into Allstate Arena-bound buses and the McGrath Arena to cheer on their Blue Demons.

There are a few fans, however, that outperform the rest. Not even missing a game for illness or blizzard, DePaul’s “super fans” religiously cheer on their Blue Demons.

Mike Strama, season ticket holder and 2007 graduate, claims to have missed “maybe a dozen games” in his entire undergraduate career. “Ask anybody from 2003 to 2007, I was always there, every game, in the front row with the white jersey,” said Strama.

“No matter what. If there was a blizzard, Valentine’s Day, night class, I was always there getting the crowd involved, usually dragging about a dozen other guys with me.”

As an alumnus, Strama still tries to attend every game. You can find him and his white jersey in the front row of the alumni section.

Photo by Sam Dite

Krys Faber has multiple tattoos on his body, all of which he designed himself.

Inked

Basketball players show what kind of art is hiding underneath their jersey

By MIKE CHAMERNIK Stephon Marbury and the “3” tattoo on his head. Carmelo Anthony and the “WB” Warner Bros. logo on his chest for West Baltimore. Chris Andersen and his Birdman wings on his arms.

LeBron James with “Chosen 1” across his back.

Allen Iverson, JR Smith, Jason Williams, and Kenyon Martin are all basketball players with distinctive body art. In the basketball world, more and more players get tattoos.

That extends to DePaul basketball as well.

“You see a lot of people with tattoos, even if they have one or just a lot,” said Brandon Young, a freshman guard on the men’s team. “Most basketball players have tattoos.”

Young has 11 tattoos, and a few of them are meaningful tattoos of his family. He has his mom’s name on his right wrist and also has a tattoo of his deceased dad and brother’s names, with angel wings on the side of it.

“They mean a lot to me, so I just

put them on my body,” he said.

“When I look at them, it makes me work even harder.”

China Threatt, a senior guard on the women’s team, also has a memorial tattoo.

She has “My Fallen Soldier” tattooed on her right forearm, with praying hands holding dog tags in between.

She got the tattoo in honor of her brother.

“I had gotten injured and I had surgery a day or two before he died, and the couple days after, the day before the funeral, I went and got the tattoo,” Threatt said.

“I was on crutches, getting the tattoo, and I was on pain medication too.”

Some players have motivational tattoos.

Taylor Pikes, a junior guard/forward on the women’s team, has a rose on her right leg with her mother’s name on it.

She’s proud of it and likes that “everybody can see it, especially when I’m playing ball,” said Pikes.

Young has a tattoo that says “Baller’s Life” across his chest.

Continued on page 7

Photo by Hanna Pageau

DIBS, the cheerleaders and the dance team prepare the crowd for basketball’s first preseason game.

During Strama’s senior year he was the student director of the well-known student organization, Blue Crew. This student group encourages and facilitates Blue Demon spirit at all sporting events, from tennis to basketball.

This year’s student director, Rich Hebron, said, “Our mission

is to get as many students out to athletic games and events as possible. We also want to create a fun and inviting atmosphere where everyone can contribute, have a great time, and meet new people.”

Blue Crew also maintains quite a large fan base. Kristin Frost, senior PR/advertising student, and

Continued on page 7

Back to the court

By BRITTANY LEWIS

When senior guard Deirdre Naughton tore her ACL last November in a game against Northwestern, she did not know whether or not she would be back.

“It was a devastating blow,” said Naughton. “I didn’t think that it really happened.”

Teammates felt the loss of their leading scorer as well. “We could have really used her last year,” said Keisha Hampton, junior forward. “Even though we still made it to the tournament, I think having Deirdre last year would’ve been an even better year.”

However, with the help of the Athletic Department and fellow teammates who had gone through similar injuries, Naughton stayed positive with the hope that she would be able to play again. Immediately after the 2009-2010 season ended, Naughton applied for a waiver for a sixth year of eligibility.

The NCAA rules on allowing a sixth year of eligibility state at least two years of competition must be lost due to circumstances out of the athlete’s control. “It’s always a case-by-case basis,” said Doug Bakker, the Director of Athletics Compliance. “It’s unique to every kid.”

So would the NCAA find Naughton’s case unique? Naughton lost one year when she transferred to DePaul from Wake Forest after her freshman year to be closer to her family due to medical reasons and was forced to red shirt the 2006-2007 season.

Then, after two very successful years with the Blue Demons, Naughton’s ACL tear forced her to sit out for another season. Two years of Naughton’s competition were lost due to circumstances out of her control.

Naughton, as well as DePaul’s Athletic Department, believed she had a good chance at receiving her sixth year of eligibility and began the waiver application process in late March.

There were many forms that needed to be completed, including a student athlete statement from Naughton. “That’s what she did a really good job of and one of the reasons she got the waiver,” said Bakker.

However, the NCAA denied Naughton’s preliminary request; she needed to provide the NCAA with further documentation. Naughton’s basketball future was put on hold.

“It was definitely kind of up in the air. Either way, I was kind of rehabbing like I was going to play again, “said Naughton.

“It was kind of, don’t tell us no, tell us what you need,” said Bakker. So, the case was appealed and Naughton, along with her family, worked extremely hard to provide the NCAA with the proper

DePaulia File Photo

Naughton in a game pre-injury.

documentation.

On Aug. 9, Naughton received a phone call from Bakker who said, “You better start rehabbing ‘cause you got your sixth year.” The hard work Naughton had put in to appealing the case had paid off, as the NCAA felt she deserved another year.

“It was awesome,” said Naughton.

The senior guard knows the hard work is not over yet. She still has a lot of rehabilitation left and will not be able to play until December. In the mean time, she will still practice with the team, but will refrain from any contact drills.

Naughton knows getting healthy is most important right now. “Right now, my goals are to get healthy by like December and kind of get back to where I was,” said Naughton. “Whatever success I can have from there is kind of an added bonus.”

Naughton’s 1,051 career points have many believing she will have success. She was recently nominated as a Sporting News Preseason AllAmerican, a John R. Wooden Preseason Top 30, and is on the Preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention team.

Teammates believe in her success as well.

“Having her back this year, we could definitely do something special,” said Hampton.