Marquette visits DePaul on Monday

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Call this Catholic rivalry week for DePaul.

Long before they were conference rivals of any kind, DePaul, Marquette and Notre Dame were the Big Three among Catholic college powers.

In 1977, Marquette won the national championship. In 1978, Notre Dame reached the Final Four. And in 1979, DePaul went to the Final Four.

In the decades since, all three programs have had their ups and downs. But since they became Big East rivals, Marquette and Notre Dame have revived their basketball identity. It has been a far more difficult road for DePaul.

As the Blue Demons (11-11, 2-8 Big East) prepare to host the No. 15 Golden Eagles (19-5, 8-3) on Monday, the task remains daunting. Not only is DePaul banged up, but Marquette is coming off a loss Saturday to the Fighting Irish that ended its seven-game winning streak.

The Demons, who will visit Notre Dame on Saturday, are coming off consecutive losses to St. John?s and Cincinnati. They fell to the Bearcats on Saturday after leading at halftime, their first loss this season after holding a halftime lead.

But DePaul got some good news when guard Moses Morgan was cleared to play. Morgan missed the game against Cincinnati after fainting at practice Thursday. He had precautionary tests Friday and didn?t travel with the team.

Still a question is guard Jeremiah Kelly, who is nursing a sore left hip that kept him out of the last two games. His status is day-to-day.

The Golden Eagles are led by guard Darius Johnson-Odom, who averages 18 points; forward Jae Crowder, who averages 16 points and 7.5 rebounds; and guard Junior Cadougan, who averages 5.5 assists.

Forward Cleveland Melvin leads the Demons with averages of 18 points and 6.8 rebounds. He had a career-high 13 rebounds against Cincinnati.

Forward Jamee Crockett, meanwhile, scored in double figures for the third time in the last four games, raising his average to 7.4.

 

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Game Preview

ESPN is calling this week ?Rivalry Week?. Well who better for the Blue Demons to play on ESPNU on Monday night than Marquette. The Golden Eagles are DePaul?s longest continuous rival.

While Marquette has held the upper hand in terms of postseason success and rankings in recent years, the old clich? of throwing out the records when these two teams meet still applies.

Look no further than the last time these two teams met at Allstate Arena in 2010. The Blue Demons went 1-17 in conference that year, but their sole win came against Marquette. It was interim coach Tracy Webster?s only win as coach of the Blue Demons.

In what would be the highlight moment of his career at DePaul, junior guard Mike Stovall launched an 18 foot jumper with 0.7 seconds left on the clock to defeat the Golden Eagles 51-50.

Both teams are coming off a short turnaround for this game. Marquette (19-5, 8-3) lost 76-59 to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday afternoon. While DePaul (11-11, 2-8) is on the heels of a 74-66 loss at Cincinnati on Saturday night.

The Irish managed to hold Darius Johnson-Odom to just 12 points. Johnson-Odom had been named Big East player of the week for last week.

The difference in that game was three point shooting. Notre Dame shot 47.8% from beyond the arc, while Marquette only shot two of 13 for 15.4% from three point territory.

The Blue Demons will have to hope for similar three point futility from Marquette on Monday.

After having only eight scholarship players available for Saturday?s game, DePaul did receive some good news. Moses Morgan has been cleared to return to practice and participate in Monday night?s game after fainting in practice on Thursday.

It?s unclear at this time whether senior guard Jeremiah Kelly will play on Monday. Kelly has been sidelined for the last two games with muscle soreness in his hip.

Marquette has been playing without 6-8, 290 lb. sophomore Davante Gardner who is out with a left knee sprain.




The Last Time

On January 18, 2011 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Golden Eagles walked away with a 94-64 victory. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom scored 20 apiece in the winning effort. Four Blue Demons finished in double-fi

 

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Marquette (19-5, 8-3) completes a quick turnaround as they head down I-94 to take on the DePaul Blue Demons (11-11, 2-8) on Monday night at the Allstate Arena. The Golden Eagles look to rebound after a 17-point loss to Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday.

DePaul is in the midst of another rebuilding season under second-year head coach Oliver Purnell. The Blue Demons have dropped seven of their last eight games, losing most recently at Cincinnati on Saturday. The Bearcats ended the game on a 12-3 run to seal the victory.

The Blue Demons were without Moses Morgan and Jeremiah Kelly for the matchup with Cincinnati. Morgan fainted during practice on Thursday and was awaiting test results before returning to action, while Kelly has missed the last two games with left hip discomfort. There has been no update on their statuses for Monday?s game against Marquette.

DePaul has been devastated this year by injuries, even before the season began. Junior Tony Freeland underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in October, and has since decided to transfer. Freshman Montray Clemons ruptured the patella tendon in his left knee during warm-ups before the first practice and is also out for the season. As if the injuries weren?t enough, freshman Macari Brooks was ruled academically ineligible and withdrew from school in October.

If Kelly is unable to suit up on Monday, Brandon Young and Worrel Clahar will assume point guard responsibilities. The pair has been distributing the basketball well in Kelly?s absence, combining to average 13.5 assist per game in the last two games. However, Young and Clahar have also turned the ball over a combined 20 times in those two games, something they cannot afford against a quality opponent like Marquette.

Freshman Charles McKinney will likely round out the backcourt for Purnell. The Illinois native tied his tied his career high in scoring in Big East play against Cincinnati with eight points. However, McKinney is known more for his ability on the defensive end.

?McKinney?s got a chance to be one of the best defenders in the Big East,? Purnell told the Daily Herald.

Oliver Purnell has said that forward Jamee Crockett ?may be the best athlete on our team.? The 6-4 freshman out of Chicago is playing his best basketball of the season lately. Crockett is averaging 14.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in his last four contests, well above his season average of 7.4 and 2.2, respectively.

Sophomore forward Cleveland Melvin is having another fine season for the Blue Demons, averaging 18 points and 6.8 rebounds per game to lead the team in both categories. Last year?s Big East Rookie of the Year is coming off an 18-point, 13-rebound performance against Cincinnati on Saturday.

?He?s an uncanny scorer,? Purnell told the Daily Hearld in November. ?He?s got unusual athleticism in that he doesn?t look like an overpowering athlete, but he?s got quickness as well as explosiveness.?

Filling out the frontcourt for the Blue Demons is center Krys Faber. The 6-10 senior isn?t a big scoring threat, but may cause problems on the boards for an injury-depleted Marquette frontcourt. Faber pulls down 5.4 rebounds per contest.

Monday night?s matchup will mark 111th game between the two programs, dating back to the 1917-1918 season. The Golden Eag