Youngsters are leading Blue Demons

The first step to riding college basketball's fast track involves fear.

For DePaul freshmen Dar Tucker and Mac Koshwal, it means having none.

"I've never been afraid of anything in life," Tucker said Monday. "The only thing I'm afraid of is God."

Koshwal, the first freshman ever named a captain at DePaul, subscribes to a similar philosophy.

"You can't go out and just think you're a big shot," Koshwal said, "but just never back down, never show no fear."

Both Tucker and Koshwal didn't buckle during their Big East baptisms, helping DePaul to the first 2-0 conference start in program history. Playing for a squad that most people wrote off in December, the two freshmen have lifted hope for the rest of this season and beyond.

Tucker, a 6-foot-5 swingman, ranks second on the team in scoring (12.8) and rebounding (6.1) despite averaging just 21.4 minutes. Koshwal, a 6-10 power forward, has been arguably DePaul's most consistent performer, leading the team in rebounds (8.2) and ranking third in scoring (11.2).

Their contributions don't go unnoticed at DePaul, which has won four straight heading into tonight's home matchup against No. 7 Georgetown (8 p.m., ESPNU).

"When they first came on campus, they had the bodies, the strength, the athleticism," senior guard Draelon Burns said. "I knew they were going to be fine. They're big keys to our team."

Trepidation wasn't an issue for them. The bigger challenge was harnessing emotion and energy -- "dialing down," as coach Jerry Wainwright puts it.

For each player, the process went differently.

Tucker had a quick trigger early, launching 31 3-point shots in his first six games but sinking only 7. He also struggled with fouls.

Against Vanderbilt on Dec. 12, Tucker slammed home a teammate's miss but was whistled for a technical foul for hanging on the rim. Though it happened early, DePaul lost in overtime.

"Since that time he hasn't even done it in practice," Wainwright said.

Fast-forward to Saturday's game against Providence, when Tucker soared for an alley-oop that landed him on ESPN later that night. After the play, he asked a referee if he had celebrated too much.

Tucker still gets over-hyped at times, but for good reasons. Against Providence he received several warnings from refs while cheering on teammates from the bench.

"Dar's a lightning rod," Wainwright said. "He's ignited the positive part of playing basketball. … And when he's made a mistake, he's held himself accountable."

Koshwal has forced himself to slow down, whether he's flashing to the middle for a pass or pump-faking before a layup attempt.

"It seems like they don't even count three seconds (in the lane)," Koshwal said. "It's like six seconds. So just wait and see your options.

"At first, I was just rushing."

Despite shooting 52.9 percent from the floor, Koshwal doesn't force many shots. His rebounding, though, is constant. He has 7 or more rebounds in all but three games.

"His ability to pick things up and his progress in so many little things has been extraordinary," Wainwright said. "And what a motor he has. The kid is drenched every day.

"Both kids have really tried to fit into the team. That's not easy."