As one of DePaul's senior captains, Drake Diener has the OK to speak up whenever he thinks the situation calls for it.
So said coach Dave Leitao, who had no problem with Diener calling out some of his teammates and questioning their preparation following Sunday's 67-57 loss at Marquette.
Diener called DePaul's performance in such an important game "pathetic," and he wondered why more of the Blue Demons weren't ready to play.
"He should be able to question," Leitao said Monday. "He's a captain and he's a leader. He knows what's at stake. He's been through the good times and the bad times and knows the physical and psychological level we should be at on a day-to-day basis. So if he sees it and questions it, he has the right to do that."
Leitao told of a timeout early in the first half when Diener did all of the talking after the Blue Demons got out of the gate slowly.
"Early in the game we had some miscommunication on defensive assignments that we had been over for two or three days," Leitao said. "He saw that it set a bad tone early in the game, so he chose to speak up, which is probably what I would have said anyway."
Leitao praised Diener for the job has done leading the Blue Demons on and off the court through their 16-7 season that continues tonight against South Florida at the Allstate Arena.
Diener had 16 points in the loss at Marquette, giving him 63 in the last three games.
"With most seniors, the one thing before you talk about their play is their ability to lead," Leitao said. "He's done a very good job for us in that role in just accepting the responsibility for what the team is going to be about and what direction it should go."
DePaul needs a victory tonight after stubbing its toe on the road in losses at Charlotte and Marquette. Leitao doesn't see his team at any type of crossroads in the season with just four games to play before the Conference USA tournament.
The Blue Demons still look to be in good shape for an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, barring a complete collapse down the stretch. Leitao isn't overacting to the losses at Charlotte and Marquette and doesn't expect his team to either.
"Any loss to me is disappointing, and when lose in February it's much more, but I don't know if crossroads is the word I'd use," Leitao said. "As I've said and other coaches have said, when you go on the road you take your life into your own hands. In order to come away with wins, you've got to be on top of your game physically and mentally, and we weren't and took losses because of that.
"Now we've got to turn back home and figure out a way to get back on the winning track."
The Blue Demons play three of their last four at the Allstate Arena, where they have won 10 in a row and are 12-1 for the season.
USF is 11-13 overall and 4-9 in C-USA play. Bulls coach Robert McCullum figures his team will have a tough time matching up with the Blue Demons.
"They've got great balance," McCullum said. "(Quemont) Greer is so difficult to defend. They're not real tall on the front line, but they have backcourt players (Diener, Sammy Mejia and LeVar Seals) who are long, tall and athletic."
So said coach Dave Leitao, who had no problem with Diener calling out some of his teammates and questioning their preparation following Sunday's 67-57 loss at Marquette.
Diener called DePaul's performance in such an important game "pathetic," and he wondered why more of the Blue Demons weren't ready to play.
"He should be able to question," Leitao said Monday. "He's a captain and he's a leader. He knows what's at stake. He's been through the good times and the bad times and knows the physical and psychological level we should be at on a day-to-day basis. So if he sees it and questions it, he has the right to do that."
Leitao told of a timeout early in the first half when Diener did all of the talking after the Blue Demons got out of the gate slowly.
"Early in the game we had some miscommunication on defensive assignments that we had been over for two or three days," Leitao said. "He saw that it set a bad tone early in the game, so he chose to speak up, which is probably what I would have said anyway."
Leitao praised Diener for the job has done leading the Blue Demons on and off the court through their 16-7 season that continues tonight against South Florida at the Allstate Arena.
Diener had 16 points in the loss at Marquette, giving him 63 in the last three games.
"With most seniors, the one thing before you talk about their play is their ability to lead," Leitao said. "He's done a very good job for us in that role in just accepting the responsibility for what the team is going to be about and what direction it should go."
DePaul needs a victory tonight after stubbing its toe on the road in losses at Charlotte and Marquette. Leitao doesn't see his team at any type of crossroads in the season with just four games to play before the Conference USA tournament.
The Blue Demons still look to be in good shape for an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, barring a complete collapse down the stretch. Leitao isn't overacting to the losses at Charlotte and Marquette and doesn't expect his team to either.
"Any loss to me is disappointing, and when lose in February it's much more, but I don't know if crossroads is the word I'd use," Leitao said. "As I've said and other coaches have said, when you go on the road you take your life into your own hands. In order to come away with wins, you've got to be on top of your game physically and mentally, and we weren't and took losses because of that.
"Now we've got to turn back home and figure out a way to get back on the winning track."
The Blue Demons play three of their last four at the Allstate Arena, where they have won 10 in a row and are 12-1 for the season.
USF is 11-13 overall and 4-9 in C-USA play. Bulls coach Robert McCullum figures his team will have a tough time matching up with the Blue Demons.
"They've got great balance," McCullum said. "(Quemont) Greer is so difficult to defend. They're not real tall on the front line, but they have backcourt players (Diener, Sammy Mejia and LeVar Seals) who are long, tall and athletic."
