Mac Koshwal blocks Jon Kale in the Big East Tournament Last March

The Providence Friars (10-6, 2-2) return to the Big East road circuit where they stand at a solid 1-1, as they prepare to take on the Jerry Wainwright-less DePaul Blue Demons (7-8, 0-3) in Chicago at 9 P.M. on January 14th.

To say the least, DePaul has had a very interesting season.  They started out the season 2-0, and then lost to Tennessee by 4 at the Paradise Jam Tournament, the same Tennessee team that just beat #1 Kansas with only 6 scholarship players.  The loss to Tennessee proved to be costly, not only as a blemish to the record but also as DePaul lost star Mac Koshwal for roughly a month due to a foot injury.  The Blue Demons then won three in a row, including a victory over St. Joe’s.  However, SEC opponents proved to be the death of DePaul, as they lost to Vanderbilt by 13 and then Miss. St. by 31 and have not returned to their early season style where they looked like a rather solid basketball team.  The Blue Demons then finished the non-conference portion of their schedule going 2-2, losing to American and Florida Gult Coast (Mac Koshwal’s return, last non-conference game), while defeating UIC and Texas State.  In Big East play, DePaul has been dismantled by Pittsburgh, Georgetown, and Villanova.

Even with Mac Koshwal in the lineup, DePaul is not a very deep team.  They have two guys who could truly kill you, Koshwal and Will Walker.  Many of you may remember Will Walker’s 31 point performance against the Friars in the Big East Tournament last season, where he was 6-13 from three.  This season, Koshwal averages 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Walker averages 15.4 points per game to lead the team.  Like Providence, DePaul mixes and matches a lot of younger players, as Jeremiah Kelly (Freshman) and Eric Wallace (Sophomore) both play significant secondary roles for DePaul.  However, it is undetermined what DePaul’s roster rotation will look like tomorrow night when interim head coach Tracy Webster leads the Blue Demons.

Some stats that could play into the Friars favor is that DePaul does not score very much or rebound very well.  DePaul averages only 60.7 points per game, placing them 315th in the country and last in the Big East, while they only average 33.9 rebounds per game, again 253rd nationally and last in the Big East.  Providence averages 43.1 rebounds, 5th nationally and 1st in the Big East, so that is definitely an area where the Friars should be able to attack, both on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

Many questions that some of fans may have had about the Friars seemed to be answered on Saturday night against Rutgers, but it has to be determined whether it was tremendous player efforts or that fact that they were playing an inferior team.  One question many Friar fans may have revolve around Russ Permenter and his status with the Friars.  According to Kevin McNamara, Permenter has stayed behind to finish up school work.  However, seeing as how it is winter break, many should be questioning what school work he would have to do and how it could potentially effect is eligibility, or whether this is just an excuse to hide the fact Permenter is leaving the team.  Also in question is the status of Marshon Brooks.  He is traveling with the team but has not practiced since injuring his ankle Saturday night against Rutgers.  His injury status is listed as day-to-day.

My Prediction:

DePaul is not a very good, but we said the same thing last year and the Blue Demons almost beat a much more experienced Friars team in the Big East Tournament.  The game is on the road, where the Friars have played very inconsistent this season.  The Friars looked great against George Washington and St. John’s, but not so good in losses to Notre Dame and URI.  However, this is just another step in building a young team, and our talent should be able to beat DePaul, even if the game is on the road.  But playing with a new coach, no one will know how inspired the Blue Demons might play except those in their locker room.  They are tired of losing, so they are certainly hoping to come out and surprise some people on national television.

Providence - 93

DePaul - 76