DePaul back at .500 after blowout win against Florida Gulf Coast
As Jerry Wainwright left the court after Monday night's blowout win against Florida Gulf Coast, a fan gruffly asked him why this didn't happen sooner.
Like back in November when DePaul was spinning its wheels.
Wainwright's response?
"It's not the same team as we had in November," the DePaul coach said. "Our team has been through a lot, they've learned a lot, and they've picked themselves up off the deck."
DePaul is back to the .500 mark after a 92-60 victory before 7,902 at the Allstate Arena. Things are coming easier these days for the Blue Demons (9-9), who won for the seventh time in nine games and are .500 for the first time since Nov. 28.
The victory margin marked DePaul's largest of the season.
A near flawless final 25 minutes spurred DePaul in a contest that was rescheduled after Wyoming backed out of a game at Allstate. DePaul will travel to Florida Gulf Coast in 2009.
"This turned out to be really good for us," Wainwright said.
DePaul forced a season-high 20 turnovers, 14 in the opening half, and converted for 27 points.
A fullcourt press that disrupted Rutgers on Saturday continued to work well as the Demons scored 14 fastbreak points. The pressure stifled Florida Gulf Coast (6-13), which hit 6 of 10 3-pointers in the opening half and twice led but couldn't protect the ball.
With DePaul up 36-30, Mac Koshwal picked off an errant pass and outletted to Will Walker for a layup, part of a 9-0 Demons run.
"It was my fault early (in the season), I was probably too cute defensively," Wainwright said. "We really tried to pressure and pick up full. That was a big factor tonight."
The defense helped DePaul survive a slow shooting start. After hitting just 5 of its first 13 shots, DePaul finished the game at 50.7 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from 3-point range.
Walker scored a career-high 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, eclipsing his previous best of 15 against LaSalle on Dec 22. The sophomore reserve scored 9 straight points on DePaul's 23-6 run to open the second half.
"I was feeling it," Walker said. "I just kept making sure I was stepping in to get in rhythm.
"And my teammates were getting me the ball at the right time."
DePaul had a season-high 25 assists, and five players scored in double figures. Top scorer Draelon Burns continued to surge with 19 points (7-of-12 shooting) and classmate Karron Clarke added 15.
Wainwright hinted that scheduling nonconference games during league play might become common at DePaul, which resumes its Big East duties Saturday at No. 21 Marquette.
His players don't mind.
"We love to play, so whenever we get a chance, it's always a plus," Clarke said. "Going into Marquette, we needed this boost of energy and confidence."