DePaul guards stuck in neutral
Jerry Wainwright has run a meritocracy so far this season, giving several of his guards the chance to grab the wheel and go.
But five games in, DePaul (2-3) still waits for a designated driver. If the team continues to stall out, its coach will be forced to pick one.
"We haven't developed definitive vocal leadership," Wainwright said Tuesday before practice at the Allstate Arena. "It's not there. … We have to make a decision on leadership and it must be somewhere at the guard spot.
"It's frustrating in that we haven't had that guy emerge. I certainly have given everybody a chance."
Nine players are averaging 10 or more minutes per game, including point guards Jabari Currie (22.8 mpg, five starts), Cliff Clinkscales (18 mpg) and Michael Bizoukas (10.2 mpg). But DePaul has yet to find consistency at a position that has plagued the program for at least a decade.
The Blue Demons committed 23 turnovers in a season-opening loss at Creighton and had 22 giveaways Saturday against third-ranked Kansas. Currie (19 assists, 14 turnovers) has struggled to adjust to playing without longtime teammate Wilson Chandler and another NBA draft pick, Sammy Mejia.
Clinkscales, a co-captain, displays vocal leadership but seems to be most effective in short stretches. Bizoukas, a true freshman, has leadership intangibles but lacks the size to match up with bigger guards.
The emergence of a clear court leader is critical for promising freshmen Dar Tucker (12.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Mac Koshwal (7.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg).
"That's a normal curve," Wainwright said. "You can't fault all those kids' effort. But unless somebody leads them on the floor, your growth is stunted."
DePaul needs a growth spurt tonight against No. 20 Vanderbilt at the Allstate Arena (7 p.m., ESPN Classic) to avoid starting 2-4 for the second consecutive season. Like Kansas, the Commodores (9-0) are undefeated and balanced.
Most NBA scouts attending tonight will be charting Vanderbilt senior swingman Shan Foster, who averages 20.4 points and shoots 53.6 percent from 3-point range.
Australian freshman center A.J. Ogilvy (19.6, 6.3) adds a powerful inside dimension, and point guard Jermaine Beal (5 apg) is the main reason why Vanderbilt ranks 15th nationally in assists (18.3 per game).
"(Foster) is as good as anybody in the Southeastern Conference or the country," Wainwright said. "And then they get 19 from somebody in the inside. That's what every coach would like to have, somebody that stretches you and somebody that pounds you."
Wainwright said Wesley Green's status is "to be determined" after the senior center missed the team bus to Kansas and didn't play. If Green misses tonight's game, junior forward Matija Poscic likely will see increased minutes at power forward.
DePaul needs continued rebounding production from both Koshwal and Karron Clarke (5.6 rpg), and Wainwright is challenging his guards to attack the glass more. Vanderbilt was outrebounded 26-16 in the second half of Saturday's victory over Lipscomb.
"If we rebound (tonight) the way we rebounded in the second half, our fun will be temporarily over," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said.
DePaul wants its fun to start.
"We're really herky-jerky right now," Wainwright said. "Ultimately, you hope you patch it up."
Vanderbilt (9-0) at DePaul (2-3)
When: 7 p.m. at the Allstate Arena
TV: ESPN Classic Radio: Available at depaulbluedemons.com
The skinny: DePaul faces an undefeated ranked opponent for the second straight game and tries to curtail what is turning into another slow start. The Demons again will be without freshmen Mario Stula and Kene Obi, who still are awaiting clearance from the NCAA. Senior center Wesley Green could sit out his second straight game after missing the team bus to Kansas. "You expect somebody who's in their fifth year to be more responsible," coach Jerry Wainwright said of Green, who practiced Tuesday. Senior guard Draelon Burns re-injured his right shoulder Saturday against Kansas but should be fine for tonight's game. The teams' only other meeting came in 1965, when Vanderbilt beat DePaul in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
-- Adam Rittenberg