DePaul News, Summer Reports, Zach Smart

DEPAUL SUMMER REPORT

Blue Demons look to escape Big East basement in 2009-2010

by ZACH SMART

Following a humiliating 0-18 Big East campaign, left for dead DePaul developed a pulse during the all-inclusive 2009 Big East tournament.

The core of young guns, spearheaded by high-scoring forward Dar Tucker, managed to scrape the embarrassing monkey off their backs.

On the biggest stage, DePaul sent reeling Cincinnati home early and drove the final coffin in their NCAA Tournament hopes.

In the ensuing round, DePaul’s vital signs remained intact. An upset-bid of Providence ultimately fell by the wayside.

It was an interesting experience, witnessing a team who avoided its tombstone prolong a post-season power surge. They gave the surplus of black-and-white clad fans early jitters.

DePaul forced turnovers (the Friars committed seven first-half turnovers before DePaul had committed one) and sealed off 7-foot behemoth Randall Hanke down low.

They put the clamps on the Friars, pressuring point guard Sharaud Curry into errant passes and poor decisions.

In the early going, DePaul buried the Friars under a barrage of three-pointers. Will Walker, Tucker, and seldom-used forward Mario Stula (the big Croatian had just seven three-pointers leading up to the game but drained three pivotal treys in 13 minutes) managed to keep the pressure pendulum swinging in Providence’s direction.

Will DePaul recover this momentum wave and ride it into 2009-10? Or is another season tied up in the Big East basement in the cards?

Tucker bolted to test the NBA waters and ultimately punched a one-way ticket out of town. He took his bags with him without even glancing over his shoulder or looking in the rearview. He’s out.

The 6-foot-5 Tucker ended up going undrafted. He’ll take his 18 points per game and suspect shot selection/happy trigger elsewhere.

Overseas and the NBA’s Developmental League are feasible options for Tucker, who hung a 30-spot on 10-for-22 shooting in his last NCAA game.

KEY LOSSES:

Dar Tucker, 6-5 F: Tucker averaged a team leading 18 points but shot just 39 percent. As a rookie, Tucker averaged 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds while averaging just 23 minutes a game. He was an explosive scorer, versatile enough to play both forward positions. The ultra-athletic Tucker was also problematic for teams when plugged in as a swingman. At times, he carried the team offensively. Tucker had his fair share of 25+ point scoring outbursts his sophomore season, though his habit of dominating the basketball and taking too many bad shots was ultimately detrimental to team success. He was costly and beneficial to the Blue Demons, and he leaves a significant scoring void.

Jabarie Currie, 6-2 G: Career-ending injury was a big blow to the program. Albeit he established himself as a guard who could orchestrate offense, Currie—a highly-touted recruit who was hounded by Michigan— was never as good as billed

KEY RETURNEES:

Will Walker, 6-1 G: Shootist who can score buckets by the bunches when he catches fire. Notably feast-or-famine throughout last season. Began to turn it on at the end of the season, lighting up West Virginia for 31 points on 10-of-20 shooting. He followed this performance up with 20, 17, and 31 in tilts with Georgetown, Cinci, and Providence, respectively. Walker could be funneled into the role of go-to-guy. For this to happen, he must become less dependent on his outside shooting and develop into a more creative scorer.

Mac Koshwal, 6-10 F: Tested the NBA waters and found them to be colder than the Pacific Ocean. Koshwal averaged 12.2 points and 9.6 boards while materializing as a high percentage big who can patrol the paint. The inside-outside tandem of Walker and Koshwal could be intriguing, but can it alone lift the Blue Demons from their stable spot in the Big East’s gutter?

Jeremiah Kelly, 6-1 PG: As a freshman Kelly led the Blue Demons with 2.4 assists/game, teaming with Mike Bizoukas to handle the lead guard duties after Currie was lost to injury. He easily had the best assist to turnover ration on the team as well.

Mike Bizoukas, 6′0 PG: Was steady as a redshirt freshman. A true pass-first point guard that forms a solid duo with Kelly. However, on a team that will struggle to find offense, his lack of scoring ability could be a liability.

KEY NEWCOMERS:

Tony Freeland, 6-5 G/F: Spindly kid from L.A. inked early. Should assume immediate contributions…Great rebounder for his size. Freeland also has springy bounce and athleticism that allows him to penetrate the driving lanes and thrive in transition. Must develop a dependable jumpshot, though he does have good lift on it. A hybrid forward in high school, DePaul could use every ounce of Freeland’s versatility.

Mike Stovall, 6-5 F: Local area player and JUCO transfer is a fundamentally sound wing who could also see playing time instantly. Can work off the dribble and has good lift on his pull-up jumper. Can handle the rock ad pull the three but his length permits him to score off the dribble.

Eric Wallace, 6-7 F: Ohio State transfer becomes eligible this fall to play for the Blue Demons. Was a highly regarded recruit out of North Carolina for the Buckeyes, but saw little action as a frosh. Will hopefully provide a much needed boost at the forward position next season.

NBE Blogger says…
Jerry Wainwright, much to the chagrin of many Blue Demon boosters, survived an 0-18 conference record to remain the DePaul head coach. With in-state and Chicago-land recruiting drying up for the once proud Lincoln Park school, a revamped staff with local connections has been assembled. However, with another tough season expected in 2009-2010, how many bottom of the barrel seasons can Wainwright survive?

There is some talent, and my guess is that DePaul WILL win a few games in the Big East this season, but enough to escape the conference basement might not happen. Finding a consistent floor general, especially one that will get the ball inside to Mac Koshwal is a must. Will Walker will take over the role of scorer, handed down by Dar Tucker who inherited it from Draelon Burns, but the lack of additional offensive help will likely be the undoing of the team, and possibly of the Wainwright era in Lincoln Park.

Previous Summer Reports:
Cincinnati Summer Report
Connecticut Summer Report
Providence Summer Report
South Florida Summer Report
St. John’s Summer Report
Syracuse Summer Report