[Cracked Sidewalks] #7-DePaul Preview

[brewcity77]

We continue on to the NCAA bid contenders with...wait...

[rubseyes] Checks notes [/rubseyes]

...DePaul? At #7? That can't be right! What are we even doing here? How did we not get to them last week?!? Oh well, let's see what Cracked Sidewalks has to say about the Blue Demons.

DePaul Blue Demons

[Uncle Rico]

We continue on to the NCAA bid contenders with...wait...

[rubseyes] Checks notes [/rubseyes]

...DePaul? At #7? That can't be right! What are we even doing here? How did we not get to them last week?!? Oh well, let's see what Cracked Sidewalks has to say about the Blue Demons.

DePaul Blue Demons

They have closed the gap

[The Sultan]

They have closed the gap

There are so many gaps - we're going down like the Edmund Fitzgerald.

[Shooter McGavin]

DePaul looked unusually competent last night in a 69-62 win over ND.  I think Brew is right.  They could be a fringe tournament team. 

[Jay Bee]

DePaul looked unusually competent last night in a 69-62 win over ND.  I think Brew is right.  They could be a fringe tournament team. 

It. Was. Not. A. Game.

[Uncle Rico]

DePaul looked unusually competent last night in a 69-62 win over ND.  I think Brew is right.  They could be a fringe tournament team. 

I think you're correct.  Holtmann will have them competing at a higher level.  They won't be a pushover most nights.  Don't think it's a tourney team but no one should take them lightly in conference play.

[Shooter McGavin]

It. Was. Not. A. Game.

You are correct to a point.  Once it was apparent the game was going to be competitive in the first half,  both teams rotations shortened and it got pretty physical.  There was a double technical called with under 3 min to go.  All starters on the court.  It was actually a fun game to watch. 

Take if for what it's worth.  You are correct that it was an exhibition game.  But they looked well coached and played well.  Guards, wings and centers.

[CountryRoads]

My BigEast prediction this year is that Holtmann is gone if DePaul has a good year. Don't get the feeling he'll be there long.

[brewcity77]

My BigEast prediction this year is that Holtmann is gone if DePaul has a good year. Don't get the feeling he'll be there long.

I actually wonder if he would be just because of what the landscape will look like. Which HM jobs are likely to be open after this year?

ACC: Doubt he gets either UNC or Syracuse if they open. Would he take Va Tech or BC if those opened up? Maybe Wake Forest?

Big East: Maybe PC considers him if English doesn't make the tourney. Can't see Butler given the history and Creighton has their guy to replace McDermott already under contract.

Big Ten: Most likely to open is Ohio State, but they'd be more likely to hire me than Holtmann. Would he take Nebraska or Rutgers? Doubt anyone else is really on the hot seat yet.

Big 12: Maybe Cincy or K-State would be fits if they are in the market. UCF or ASU could open but I'm not sure either are much better than DePaul.

SEC: LSU is probably the biggest one that is likely to open. Maybe South Carolina or Oklahoma?

Of all of those, I feel like Wake, Cincy, K-State, or LSU are the only real candidates. While there are some prominent jobs that could, I don't think he's won enough for a UNC, Kansas, or Tennessee (if Self or Barnes retire). Feels like he's kind of in the middle and might need a couple years to really get the kind of job that would be worth jumping for.