Is Depaul that bad?

[nyg]

I have not seen Depaul play this year.  Today they were spanked by PITT.  Some of the stats of the game are just unreal:

Lost by 38 points.  93-55
Shot 18 for 65 (27%)
Missed 10 free throws
Outrebounded by 25.  54-29
PITT had 9 blocks, Depaul one.

Are they really bad?

[mr.MUskie]

From today's Chicago Tribune...

DePaul AD sees better days ahead for basketball program
Ponsetto confident Purnell can turn program around and new league will be great for school

These are exciting if unsettled times for DePaul basketball, with the bright prospect of a new power conference affiliation looming around questions about a new home arena and the on-court direction of Oliver Purnell's program under the guidance of athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto.

Purnell is not yet "on the clock," according to Ponsetto, despite having his team finish last in the Big East in each of his first two seasons.

Pressure to return the program to some semblance of its national prominence in the late 1970s and early '80s under legendary coach Ray Meyer is a process Ponsetto views as incremental.

"We have an expectation that we will start to see a turn in the program in Years 3, 4 and 5," Ponsetto said in an interview with the Tribune. "And hopefully when we get to Year 5, we (will) be well on our way. But we fully recognized when he came in it would take time. … And you are starting to see it a little bit with the development of Brandon Young and Cleveland Melvin."

Purnell reportedly is being paid $1.8 million annually on a seven-year deal that runs through the 2016-17 season.

Purnell, who previously turned around programs at Old Dominion, Dayton and Clemson, is 29-50 overall at DePaul with a 7-24 mark his first season, 12-18 last season and 10-8 in Year 3.

Ponsetto also acknowledges she is accountable for getting better results from the school's most visible sport.

"The men's basketball program, on many levels, has provided great opportunities for DePaul to tell its story," she said. "I obviously was here when (we were) experiencing a renaissance in the late '70s when my husband Joe (Ponsetto) played. … So I probably feel a little more intensity or a little more pressure to be successful because I have to go home and look at somebody every day who wants to see it successful."

But she also is accountable to the DePaul administration for shepherding the program successfully into its new conference.

The buzz around the Big East this season is the likely defection of DePaul and six other Catholic universities to form a new basketball conference. Such a move could add pressure on the Demons to step up their game.

"(In the '70s) DePaul wasn't in a conference," Ponsetto said, "didn't have a regular-season schedule that had some of the same nuances as the strength of what the Big East Conference has right now or what the new conference affiliation might have."

Marquette, St. John's, Seton Hall, Georgetown, Providence, Villanova and DePaul have agreed to separate from the Big East and form a so-called "Catholic 7."

"Honestly, I don't think our priorities or our sense of urgency will be shifted regardless of what conference we're in," Ponsetto said. "The university has made a significant commitment to men's basketball because we recognize how visible the program is and its long, storied history."

Ponsetto predicts significant progress will be made soon regarding the proposed new conference.

"As we took a look at the new conference, it became more and more apparent that for us to have the kind of association and affiliation that we were looking for in terms of institutional commonality, it made a lot of sense," she said.

"We are diverse, urban campuses and philosophically have a lot of commonality in commitment to academics and athletics."

According to multiple reports, Butler, Dayton, St. Louis and Xavier are interested in leaving the Atlantic 10 to join the new conference. Creighton of the Missouri Valley Conference also is believed to be in the mix.

Reports of major sports networks such as ESPN, NBC Sports and Fox Sports lining up to court and showcase a new conference have fueled those schools' enthusiasm. One report had Fox Sports offering $500 million over 12 years.

"Financially, that really remains to be seen," Ponsetto said. "(The decision to split) really wasn't financial, although there is a great appeal nationally for a lot of the institutions and the brands we have. And it certainly doesn't hurt us, too, that we have some great television markets."

The details of the conference shift remain fluid.

"We have hired a law firm out of (Washington)," Ponsetto said. "And we hired Neal Pilson (former president of CBS Sports) as our television consultant. The negotiation of how we are going to leave the conference has to be managed. Then who is going to be in the conference, besides the seven of us."

It is feasible a new conference could be in play by next season.

"By and large, our presidents are responsible for working through all of the separation," Ponsetto said. "There are a lot of legal ins and outs."

While the Blue Demons continue to play home games at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, many fans long for the days when DePaul played on campus at Alumni Hall. But she said there isn't really a suitable site near the school.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has expressed support for DePaul to return to the city, while Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz and Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf reportedly have offered free rent for 10 years and other perks for the Blue Demons to play at the United Center.

"We continue to have a great experience at the Allstate Arena," she said. "(But there is) really strong interest in bringing men's basketball back to the city of Chicago … or something in the Chicago area.

"Certainly, the United Center is an opportunity that is out there. And we have determined that partnering with someone is the best opportunity we have if we are going to build something new. We have had a lot of interest from a variety of different partners who want to work with us. I would say: Stay tuned."

[LloydMooresLegs]

They lost to Gardner Webb.   At home.  By 12.   Gardner Webb is 3-4 in the Big South after today's win over VMI (not VCU).

They will not turn it around under the current AD.  It is not Purnell who should be "on the clock."

DePaul should/could be so much better.   

[We R Final Four]

I am expecting their best effort when we play them.  They always play up for us.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

They are 6-72 in the BE the last 4 years.

[LloydMooresLegs]

They are 6-72 in the BE the last 4 years.

[Dawson Rental]

They are 6-72 in the BE the last 4 years.

No problem.  "[T]he bright prospect of a new power conference affiliation looming" will change all that.  You see, if the Big East had only been better, than DePaul could have improved its basketball program.  I wonder if Lenti-Ponsetto is as clueless about her job status as she seems to be about doing her job.

[RJax55]

I have not seen Depaul play this year.  Today they were spanked by PITT.  Some of the stats of the game are just unreal:

Lost by 38 points.  93-55
Shot 18 for 65 (27%)
Missed 10 free throws
Outrebounded by 25.  54-29
PITT had 9 blocks, Depaul one.

Are they really bad?

Actually, this probably the best DePaul team (talent-wise) since the program derailed in the Wainwright era. I know, that statement doesn't say too much. Young and Melvin are legitimate Big East players.

I thought going into the Big East season, they could win 5 to 6 games in conference. However, they are still horribly weak in the paint and the press is doing nothing for them. With that said, I think they will surprise a couple of teams at home.

[T-Bone]

They are 6-72 in the BE the last 4 years.

Everytime I see that I'm reminded that first win was against us.  Ugh.

[We R Final Four]

Everytime I see that I'm reminded that first win was against us.  Ugh.

I think 2 of those 6 wins were vs. MU.

[T-Bone]

I think 2 of those 6 wins were vs. MU.

Salt in the wounds.

[muguru]

No, DePaul isn't that bad for a mid major or a low major. They need to be in the MEAC or something where they could better compete.

[Avenue Commons]

I have not seen Depaul play this year.  Today they were spanked by PITT.  Some of the stats of the game are just unreal:

Lost by 38 points.  93-55

Are they really bad?

Marquette got destroyed by Florida and lost to UWGB. It happens.

DePaul is no where near as bad as that game. They have some talented players and Purnell is a serviceable and competent coach.

Tangent: Ponsetto needs to go. They need a coach with some personality to go with skill. Basically, a Buzz Williams. Or what Pat Fitzgerald has done for Northwestern football. The bright lights in Chicago drown out mediocrity.

A few years from now DePaul will be playing in the UC or a new facility on the lake front as the key tenant. And be in the new Big East. But if they limp into the situation instead of having a running start, it may not matter.

[JWags85]

I think 2 of those 6 wins were vs. MU.

They only beat us once.  Granted, that was as brutal of a regular season loss as I've seen as a fan, but still, it wasn't twice.

[We R Final Four]

Thats right, my mistake.  Was thinking back more than 4 years ago for that second one.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

They only beat us once.  Granted, that was as brutal of a regular season loss as I've seen as a fan, but still, it wasn't twice.

I think UWGB is up there with the the worst regular season losses in the past 10 years. Inexplicable considering how we've played since

[john31]

It kills me a little bit every time I am faces with the reality that is Depaul basketball. Such a rich tradition and such a horrible' underperforming brand for the last 20 years? Having such close proximity to a rich talent pool how could they be so bad? AD needs to go, as an institution they need to commit to putting a better team on the floor. I hope that in the new conference there are mechanisms in place that penalize/reward teams for being good. I don't think the new conference can afford to have Depaul. Providence,Seton Hall, and St. John's be crap every year(I know St. John's is on the upswing). I want MU to win every game but I certainly don't hate on other C-7 schools I want the best for them, if the league is strong it make it easier for MU to be top program. I would like to hear from any Depaul alums on this subject? Does Depaul even care?

[Golden Avalanche]

I think UWGB is up there with the the worst regular season losses in the past 10 years. Inexplicable considering how we've played since

I think it is the worst loss in the past 10 years of any variety.

[MDMU04]

I think it is the worst loss in the past 10 years of any variety.

I'm pretty sure the North Dakota State loss at home in 06 was worse.

[Knight Commission]

I'm pretty sure the North Dakota State loss at home in 06 was worse.

Nope. The home loss to Austin Peay in 88, was worse.

[bradley center bat]

DePaul has a nice win at Arizona State this season.

[MDMU04]

Nope. The home loss to Austin Peay in 88, was worse.

You may be right, but that was more than 10 years ago.

[NavinRJohnson]

What that article fails to mention is recruiting, of which Purnell seems to be having little success. In his third year, It just doesnt look like hes brought in a whole lot to build with, which is going to make it awfully tough to turn around. Not sure why they would keep him around and waste another year or two, since the horizon doesn't really look all that promising.

[GGGG]

What that article fails to mention is recruiting, of which Purnell seems to be having little success. In his third year, It just doesnt look like hes brought in a whole lot to build with, which is going to make it awfully tough to turn around. Not sure why they would keep him around and waste another year or two, since the horizon doesn't really look all that promising.

Yeah, if he could have hung on to some of this talent coming out of Chicago, then he might have been able to turn things around.  But every single player is going elsewhere.  Taylor, Parker, Nunn, Tate, Okafor, etc. None really considered, or are seriously considering, DPU.

I guess they either really have to get a "Chicago guy" in there, or else maybe they have to try a 180 and bring in a solid coach who can get them moving forward - think a Bo Ryan @ UWM type.

[NavinRJohnson]

I think the best option for them would be to go the young, high energy assistant, or mid-major HC route who will come in and completely remake the program. I think they thought they were hiring a fairly big name with track record of turnarounds, but it isn't happening.