NOTHING BUT THE BLUES FOR DEPAUL

January 21, 2009


This is rock bottom for the DePaul basketball program. Sitting at 0-6 in the Big East, the realization that they have hit bottom definitely occurred to even the most optimistic Blue Demons fan last night as South Florida Beats DePaul for Second Time This Season (St. Petersburg Times), in the span of 10 days, to sweep the home and home series between the Big East foes.

Adding salt to the DePaul wounds, the Bulls were short-handed as USF's Jesus Verdejo Out Agianst DePaul (Tampa Tribune) after suffering a concussion in the loss to WVU last weekend. Verdejo had started every game this season and is the second leading scorer on the team.

Sophomore Dominique Jones and freshman Gus Gilchrist each recorded a double double as Jones Scores 26 to Lead USF by DePaul (Daily Herald), 70-61. Jones added 10 rebounds and 6 assists and Gilchrist added 16 points and 11 rebounds in the win. USF out-rebounded DePaul 48-28 in the game, securing 21 boards on the offensive end.

Twenty-one offensive rebounds, that's the story of the game," said DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright after the game. "They beat us up on the glass."

USF saw a seven-point halftime lead evaporate, but a three-pointer bu Gilchrist with the shot clock winding down with 6:52 left put the Bulls back in front, 57-56. USF would never relinquish the lead as USF Surges Past DePaul for 2nd Big East Win (Tampa Tribune), finishing the game on a 16-5 run over the last seven minutes.

Dar Tucker was high scorer for DePaul, with 19 points, but was just 5-19 from the floor. Mac Koshwal added 17 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.