Schedule Analysis: DePaul

DePaul (11-21, 2-16 Big East)

Last season: No postseason

This is the third installment of a 10-part series evaluating the schedules of the 10 Big East teams for the 2013-14 season. Above record, tournament finishes are from last season.

For Butler’s analysis, click here.

For Creighton’s analysis, click here.

Ah yes, DePaul. The little brother of the Big East. You know the drill. When all the big boys of the Big East were deciding where to play basketball this year, DePaul was somehow included in the transition to the new conference.

Despite going 7-83 in Big East play over the past five seasons and 27-113 in conference play since joining in 2005. DePaul hasn’t won more than 12 games in a year since it went 20-14 in Jerry Wainwright’s second year in 2006. They haven’t won more than seven games at home since 2006, either. But, yeah, let’s bring them along. Why not?

Cleveland Melvin decided to come back for his senior year to improve his NBA draft stock. (Photo via thesportsbank.net)

Schedule (all times Central) 

Nov. 1 – vs. Lewis Time TBA (exhibition)

Nov. 9 – vs. Grambling State 7:00 Fox Sports 2

Nov. 13 – vs. Southern Miss Time TBA (CBE Classic opening round)

Nov. 16 – vs. Wright State 1:00 (CBE Classic opening round)

Nov. 19 – at Milwaukee Time 7:00

Nov. 25 – vs. Wichita State 9:00 (CBE Classic, Kansas City)

Nov. 26 – vs. Texas/BYU 6:30/9:00 ESPN2/ESPNU (CBE Classic, Kansas City)

Dec. 1 – vs. Oregon State 4:00 Fox Sports 1

Dec. 6 – vs. Arizona State 6:00 Fox Sports 1

Dec. 12 – vs. Florida Atlantic 8:00 Fox Sports 1

Dec. 15 – vs. Chicago State 3:30 Fox Sports 1

Dec. 18 – vs. Houston Baptist 8:00 Fox Sports 2

Dec. 22 – at Illinois State Time TBA

Dec. 27 – at Northwestern 8:00

Dec. 31 – at Georgetown 4:00 Fox Sports 1

Jan. 4 – at Marquette 1:00 CBS Sports

Jan. 7 – vs. Creighton 8:00 Fox Sports 1

Jan. 9 – at Butler 6:00 Fox Sports 1

Jan. 14 – vs. St. John’s 6:00 Fox Sports 1

Jan. 18 – at Villanova 3:00 FSN

Jan. 20 – vs. Xavier 3:00 FSN

Jan. 25 – at Seton Hall 5:00 CBS Sports

Feb. 1 – vs. Providence 12:00 FSN

Feb. 3 – vs. Georgetown 8:00 Fox Sports 1

Feb. 7 – at Creighton 8:00 Fox Sports 1

Feb. 12 – vs. Villanova 6:00 Fox Sports 1

Feb. 15 – at Providence 1:00 FSN

Feb. 19 – at Xavier 6:00 CBS Sports

Feb. 22 – vs. Marquette 5:00 CBS Sports

Feb. 25 – vs. Seton Hall 8:00 Fox Sports 1

March 2 – at St. John’s 11:00 CBS Sports

March 6 – vs. Butler 6:00 Fox Sports 1

Analysis

We are into the fourth year of the Oliver Purnell era and I have to give him credit for scheduling a relatively difficult schedule considering the talent on his team. Seriously, after Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young, who do they have? Fan of the program Charles McKinney?

Grambling State, Southern Miss and Wright State SHOULD be wins for a Big East team, but let’s remember DePaul lost to Gardner-Webb and Loyola-Chicago at home last year. A road contest at Marquette’s little brother Milwaukee shouldn’t offer much resistance, either.

Then things get dicey. The Blue Demons take on Final Four participant Wichita State in Kansas City for the CBE Classic. DePaul will likely then play Texas and these rumors will really pick up after the Blue Demons win.

Purnell’s squad will then host consecutive Pac 12 teams before chowing down on cupcakes Florida Atlantic, Chicago State and Houston Baptist. I think they’ll lose both Pac 12 games, even though Oregon State was just 3-7 on the road last year.

Trips to Illinois State and Northwestern will be tough and then the conference season starts with road games at Georgetown and Marquette. Needless to say, I expect an 0-2 start to the conference season for the Blue Demons.

The schedule doesn’t get much easier after that, however, with DePaul alternating home and road games until Feb. 3. I don’t see many chances for a win in that stretch either, except maybe home against Xavier. A road trip to Seton Hall has the possibility of an upset as well.

In all honesty, the Blue Demons best shot at a win in conference play is probably a home contest against Seton Hall on Feb. 25. I expect them to surprise a few teams, however, so I’ll give them 3 conference wins.

Wins: Grambling State, Southern Miss, Wright State, at Milwaukee, Texas (Kansas City), Florida Atlantic, Chicago State, Houston Baptist, St. John’s, Xavier, Seton Hall

Losses: Wichita State (Kansas City), Oregon State, Arizona State, at Illinois State, at Northwestern, Georgetown (twice), Marquette (twice), Creighton (twice), Butler (twice), at St. John’s, Villanova (twice), at Seton Hall, Providence (twice), at Xavier

Prediction: 11-20, 3-15 Big East (tied for 9th)