A Review of DePaul

[Demon22]

Please DePaul. DO SOMETHING.

That's a very non-specific request.

I mean, they've already spent $75 million to build a downtown arena, they just had their best win/loss record in 13 years, and they just signed their best recruiting class in more than a decade.

You have something else in mind?

[NJRedman]

DePaul does nothing for the Big East. Even watching their games on television is more embarrassing than anything else with the lack of fans there. Chicago is a wonderful city but they aren't doing too much to support the team by showing up, BUT DePaul isn't doing too much to make them want to show up. When will it end? Please DePaul. DO SOMETHING. Would love to see them become competitive, but I am not going to sit here and pat them on the back for being a DOORMAT for SO LONG.

So you didn't watch them this year or look at their conference record? 7-11 in conference isn't being competitive?

[ChestRockwell85]

Finish dead last in the conference and you are making it seem like progress. This isn’t Little League, not everybody is getting a trophy. The Big East needs teams to show up to keep the conference relevant and DePaul has done jackshit to help and I’m supposed to high 5 you because you are looking at all the moral victories? Dead last again is dead last. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see the team in a major city like Chicago do well, would be great for the league, but you guys have been bad for so long that you are trying to spin this season into progress. It’s not.

[XUFan09]

Finish dead last in the conference and you are making it seem like progress. This isn’t Little League, not everybody is getting a trophy. The Big East needs teams to show up to keep the conference relevant and DePaul has done jackshit to help and I’m supposed to high 5 you because you are looking at all the moral victories? Dead last again is dead last. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see the team in a major city like Chicago do well, would be great for the league, but you guys have been bad for so long that you are trying to spin this season into progress. It’s not.

What from DePaul would satisfy you? They finished dead last, but someone has to, and they actually had two teams join them. The Big East had no real bottom this year because DePaul wasn't so bad. They joined the middle-of-the-pack craziness that always exists in the Big East and helped make it even crazier than usual. Only two games separated the 3 seed from the 10 seed; in the previous five years, it was never less than six. They also beat a top 50 team in the non-conference, which not every BE team can say, and their NET ranking ensured that a road victory over them is actually a Quadrant 2 win.

I'll say that last part again: A road win over DePaul is actually considered a decent win by the Committee. That's a pretty good thing to say about your lowest-seeded team.

[ChestRockwell85]

Since joining the Big East in 2005, DePaul has only had ONE season where their Big East record was above .500 and they still only made the NIT. They haven't made the dance once. Since 2005, they have only had 2 seasons where their overall record was above .500. In those 14 years they have finished last NINE times. The highest they have ever finished was 7th and that was after the conference went to 10 teams.

This isn't the old Big East when we had 7 teams in the Top 25 every year, and 7 teams dancing every year. Yeah, I know there were more teams but that is besides the point. Back then it didn't matter if a few teams sucked because you had so many great teams keeping the Big East as a top conference. It isn't like that anymore. We don't have a single Top 20 team right now and some people are saying we might only get 3 in the dance. I think we will get 4 and possibly sneak in 5, but regardless of the fact it is a dogfight within the conference, doesn't mean the conference as a whole is strong.

I am saying what everybody else is thinking. I am not gonna pat little brother on the head and tell them they are doing great when they aren't. I am rooting for them, but unless show some signs of progress soon, they continue to bring down the Big East. How am I wrong?

I am not some internet tough guy flexing my muscles because I am a Villanova fan. I would be surprised if Villanova even makes it out of the first weekend. I am a supporter of the Big East and I am talking about the bigger picture here. Right now, it is a little shaky and sitting back and watching Villanova save the conference every March is bullsh--. This needs to be a group effort and DePaul has not played it's part. Not by a LONG SHOT.

Sorry if I am being blunt and what I am saying is hurtful, but it is sure as hell not untrue.

[scoscox]

They signed romeo weems, markese jacobs, (and terrence shannon temporarily)(markese and terrence are chicago guys and that's huge if leitao can recruit them) and got carteare gordon from slu. they're definitely doing something. paul reed won most improved. coleman lands will come back. they'll be solid next year and possibly a tournament team in two years imo especially if leitao can reel in another solid class.

in previous years i think it was fair to ask them what they were doing to improve, but it's not as easy after they built a new arena, significantly improved this year, and are bringing in the third best recruiting class in the conference behind you (nova), and us (xavier). clearly they're making an effort

[XUFan09]

They signed romeo weems, markese jacobs, (and terrence shannon temporarily)(markese and terrence are chicago guys and that's huge if leitao can recruit them) and got carteare gordon from slu. they're definitely doing something. paul reed won most improved. coleman lands will come back. they'll be solid next year and possibly a tournament team in two years imo especially if leitao can reel in another solid class.

in previous years i think it was fair to ask them what they were doing to improve, but it's not as easy after they built a new arena, significantly improved this year, and are bringing in the third best recruiting class in the conference behind you (nova), and us (xavier). clearly they're making an effort

Yeah, and if they had Coleman-Lands for the whole year this season, I bet they would have been at minimum a top 75 team and at least talked about in Bubble Watch for awhile.

[Demon22]

Sorry if I am being blunt and what I am saying is hurtful, but it is sure as hell not untrue.

It's not that you're being blunt or hurtful - it's that you're overstating the painfully obvious.

Again, I'm not sure exactly what you want DePaul to do at this point. They sunk a boatload of money into a new arena. They just had what was objectively their best season in more than a decade. They're starting to recruit on a higher level. Things are heading the right direction. They have no control over the fact that Providence and Butler weren't worse than 7-11.

In two years, Reed and Butz will be seniors, Hall and Gordon will be juniors, Weems and Jacobs will be sophomores, and I think they've got a decent chance to have another strong recruiting class in 2020. If they're not close to a Tournament team at that point, then feel free to vent all you want. In the mean time, I apologize for not improving at a rate that's acceptable to you.

[adoraz]

Yeah, I can't remember the last time I watched a bench as annoying as DePaul's. It seems every year they are a huge pain in the ass. That goggles kid is the cherry on top.

PX's teammates and coaches love him. HIs job is to bring positivity and energy to the team, and he does his job well. That kid shouldn't give two craps about what any fans from any other schools think of him. You do you, Pantelis. You. Do. You.

DePaul has been complete dead weight, just holding the conference back, so when they beat a team with Tournament/seeding aspirations and you see the bench acting like a #16 Little Sisters of the Poor seed upsetting #1 Duke... it is just infuriating.

Ever think your anger might be a little misdirected?

They are probably one of 2-3 teams (including St. John's) who will take a step back next year.

Calling my shot... DePaul will be in the NCAA Tournament in two years.

Goggles kid is an obnoxious attention whore. Every fan base gets annoyed watching him. Since DePaul has yet to contribute to the Big East, it makes the team that much more annoying to watch. Even without goggles kid, seeing them choke OOC and then pull off 7 BE wins is annoying. One of these years they need to contribute with at least a solid OOC.

That said, I think they are on the right track. I hope they are back in the NCAAs within the next 2 years. As I said, I root for them every OOC.

[NJRedman]

Since joining the Big East in 2005, DePaul has only had ONE season where their Big East record was above .500 and they still only made the NIT. They haven't made the dance once. Since 2005, they have only had 2 seasons where their overall record was above .500. In those 14 years they have finished last NINE times. The highest they have ever finished was 7th and that was after the conference went to 10 teams.

This isn't the old Big East when we had 7 teams in the Top 25 every year, and 7 teams dancing every year. Yeah, I know there were more teams but that is besides the point. Back then it didn't matter if a few teams sucked because you had so many great teams keeping the Big East as a top conference. It isn't like that anymore. We don't have a single Top 20 team right now and some people are saying we might only get 3 in the dance. I think we will get 4 and possibly sneak in 5, but regardless of the fact it is a dogfight within the conference, doesn't mean the conference as a whole is strong.

I am saying what everybody else is thinking. I am not gonna pat little brother on the head and tell them they are doing great when they aren't. I am rooting for them, but unless show some signs of progress soon, they continue to bring down the Big East. How am I wrong?

I am not some internet tough guy flexing my muscles because I am a Villanova fan. I would be surprised if Villanova even makes it out of the first weekend. I am a supporter of the Big East and I am talking about the bigger picture here. Right now, it is a little shaky and sitting back and watching Villanova save the conference every March is bullsh--. This needs to be a group effort and DePaul has not played it's part. Not by a LONG SHOT.

Sorry if I am being blunt and what I am saying is hurtful, but it is sure as hell not untrue.

The previous seasons have no bearing on what they did this year. You're wrong because they bring value to the league while down.