[Cracked Sidewalks] Know Your.... Enemy? DePaul

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

Know Your.... Enemy?  DePaul

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (Rob Lowe)

In advance of Marquette's road game against DePaul we were contacted by John over at Chicago College Basketball.    John was good enough to share his thoughts on the game and the DePaul program in this installation of Know Your Opponent.

John is doing some really interesting things with his blog, which we encourage you to check out  -- and be sure to check out our responses to his questions about MU and the game at Bradley Center South.

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What does the DePaul fan base think of Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto? Is she the right leader to help DePaul emerge from its current struggle with men's hoops?

I think the DePaul fan base is quite frustrated with Jean Lenti Ponsetto right now. Most fans thought that Jerry Wainwright should have been fired at the end of last season. The fact that she waited until halfway through this season has angered a lot of fans. She keeps talking about how DePaul is a great job, but fans wonder if she really understands how hard it is to coach in the Big East night in and night out. Whether she's the right person to get DePaul out of this mess remains to be seen. All of DePaul's other Big East teams are doing phenomenally well, but people don't realize that because of the struggles of the school's premiere program. Her next hire is probably JLP's last chance with the DePaul faithful. She better make the right one.


Does the timing of the Wainwright dismissal help or hurt the program?

The fact is this: Jerry Wainwright had to go. It became obvious as you looked at the roster he constructed that he doesn't have a good grasp on how to recruit Big East level talent. There's no questioning his capability with X's and O's, but you can't win in the Big East when there is no talent on your roster. NBA Lottery picks are going to destroy your average Conference USA caliber athlete (just look at Memphis) and that's what Wainwright had been recruiting. Him stepping down at this precise moment came from a lot of factors, but I think the early dismissal was probably a good thing for the coach and the program. No one wanted Wainwright to have to attempt to coach on the sidelines while hobbling on crutches and the program needed a breath of fresh air. Last season at Allstate Arena felt like a long drawn out death spiral for the program and at least now there has been a resolution and action will be taken at the end of the season.


Can you give us a sign of hope regarding DePaul?

Signs of hope? Hmm... Will Walker is the only senior on the roster. The injuries to Mac Koshwal might force him to stay in college for his senior season. The team played with a tremendous amount of effort for Tracy Webster against Providence. There really is no beacon of light right now and I think that's why places like the Chicago Tribune are asking if anyone can win at DePaul anymore.  The first challenge of a new coach will be to instill some hope in the fan base.


There are many people that root for DPU to keep depressed, because of the idea that it benefits Marquette if DPU is not as good.  Your thoughts?

I don't think DePaul being down benefits Marquette that much, especially since Buzz Williams became head coach. His recruiting connections don't seem to be in the Chicago area. Two easy wins against DePaul every season might seem helpful, but it hurts the Big East's reputation and gives Marquette the chance to get some ugly losses. Personally I think it's better for the Big East if every program is humming along. There will always be cycles, but DePaul hasn't been in an upswing ever in the Big East. If it never does it'll be an anchor for the conference, and that's definitely not a good thing.


With big man Mac Koshwal out 2-4 weeks, which players should we focus on for Wednesday's game?

The player that has really stepped up since the firing of Jerry Wainwright has been Mike Stovall. The junior is listed as a forward, but at 6'5" he'd much prefer to slash to the basket and make plays. He has the athleticism to play in the Big East, but he's more of a streak shooter. Against Providence he was hot and scored 30 points, against St. John's he was cold and scored 11. He wasn't getting much playing time under Wainwright, but Tracy Webster seems to feel he's a very important guy for the rotation. He's the guy to watch.

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Thanks John!

Gametime is set for 8pm Marquette Standard Time on Wednesday night.  Fans can watch the game on the BIG EAST Network.   Marquette enters the game at 11-6 overall and a respectable 2-3 in conference play.

Is the proverbial cavalry coming for the Warriors?  There's been plenty of anticipation about the possible return of Junior Cadougan to the active roster. The freshman was thought to be lost for the season with an Achilles tendon injury but recent comments from Buzz Williams indicate that help might be on the way.  Of course, the basketball gods giveth and taketh away -- on Tuesday MU announced that big man Yous Mbao will now miss up to six weeks with a knee strain.

The Blue Demons are lousy and reeling, off to an 0-5 start in conference play and 7-10 overall.    Last time out DePaul was smoked 67-47 by St Johns in Queens.  Sadly the Demons even to Florida Gulf Coast in their final tune-up for BIG EAST action.


Linksy Linksy Linksy

• Rosiak's blog preview of the game
• GoMarquette.com's preview, including their excellent Game Notes.
• DePaul game notes are ready too
• More from DePaulBlueDemons.com on the game.
• Quevedo at the Buffet speaks the truth -- there's no juice with DePaul hoops.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2010/01/know-your-enemy-depaul.html

[Eye]

Link doesn't work. Would like to read the MU opinion on the DU board if at all possible.

[foreverwarriors]

glad you guys got the opportunity to talk with John. He's a good guy, knows his stuff, and is doing some really interesting work in journalism at Northwestern (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/19/the-robots-are-coming-oh-theyre-here/)

oh yeah, his family has good taste too...Brother is a MU 07 alum and sister is a current soph!

[dpu70]

Very surprised.  Your assessments are pretty accurate.  You can't play in the Big East with Conf USA level players.  And, that is what DePaul has.  Maybe even lower.

Yes, Wainwright should have been gone last year.  Why the AD gave that man a 3 year extension has baffled DePaul faithful.  A 3-year buyout of that contract seemed to be the hang-up in getting rid of him.  But, it seems the School has mad a decision, and took action in mid year. 

Now, Tracy Webster is saddled to salvage what is left of the season.  It's not an enviable position to be placed in.  Koshwal being out for the second time this year, doesn't help at all.  But, I gives those Sophs some additional playing time that they didn't get last year.  Wainwright seemed frustrated this year and yanked players after every little mishap.  It was a revolving door at the scorers table.  Hard to get your mind in the game when you see your replacement sitting at the scorer.  Webster is at least giving some players more time on the floor.  And, they are not afraid to play.  But, they are very limited in what they can do.  The bench is even weaker, and walk-ons have logged as many or more minutes then a few scholarship players.  That says a lot.

We can't protect the ball.  A press kills our ball movement, as we have no real point guard.  Mike Bizoukas was close, but he is also out for the balance of the year.  It was not coincidental that the team faltered badly right after his injury.

With no real inside presence, and no outside ball control, DePaul will be very lucky to win a conference game for he second year. Wainwright did it to himself with his poor selection of players on the roster.  5 years and we are worse now then when he came here.

A National Search will be conducted for a replacement Coach.  Again, I think you are right.  Ponsetto has to hit a home run with this one.  The faithful are not that certain she con do it as the last 2 Coaching hires have fallen far short of expectations.  She must save her job too.

In the meantime, the fans are fairly supportive on the interim Coach and players, but expect massive changes in the Coaching Chairs and probably in the player roster.  It is unfair to the players to force them to compete at this level.  They are just getting beaten up every night.

So, see you at the game.  I know yous guys travel well, and the Allstate is usually Gold on your game night.  Our dwindling crowd will be there, but quietly supportive.

[NYWarrior]

I updated the link to the Cracked Sidewalks Q/A on John's blog --- Mods, can you update the initial post above which now has the correct link?

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-college-basketball/2010/01/qa-with-cracked-sidewalks.html

[GGGG]

Can you give us a sign of hope regarding DePaul?

Signs of hope? Hmm... Will Walker is the only senior on the roster. The injuries to Mac Koshwal might force him to stay in college for his senior season. The team played with a tremendous amount of effort for Tracy Webster against Providence. There really is no beacon of light right now and I think that's why places like the Chicago Tribune are asking if anyone can win at DePaul anymore.  The first challenge of a new coach will be to instill some hope in the fan base.

Jeez, that picture in the Chicago Tribune article is really sad.  You have your ex-coach limping around on crutches being consoled by your slightly overweight athletic director in a hot pink suit.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

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