Big tests await in Big East

For all those who characterize New Year's Eve as "Amateur Night," DePaul isn't doing anything to dispute that moniker.

When the Blue Demons take the Allstate Arena floor against No. 7 Notre Dame today, six of their 11 players will make their Big East debut.

In front of a national ESPN2 audience. With little but the conviction of the ignorant to guide them through the nation's most rugged league.

Fourth-year coach Jerry Wainwright and sophomore power forward Mac Koshwal wish they could speed up the youngsters' learning curves, but they have the wisdom to know it's futile.

"Here's what our young guys have no feel for: They have no clue how physical it's going to be," Wainwright said. "They saw physical play against Cal and they saw physical play against UCLA, but you earn your free throws in this league.

"If you're waiting for a call, you have no chance to be successful."

"It's like a different experience," said Koshwal, the nation's No. 9 rebounder with 11.3 per game. "You can tell them about it, but they've got to see it to believe it. Ain't nothing much you can do but try to help them out."

Koshwal has a man-sized task of his own to handle. He will go toe to toe with reigning Big East player of the year Luke Harangody.

Though he was slowed briefly by pneumonia, the powerful Irish junior ranks 11th nationally in scoring (22.7 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (12.0 rpg).

"My game plan is just try to outwork him the best I can, even though he's a hard worker," Koshwal said. "I'm just going to run and if he tires that's going to be a little difficult (for him) to score on offense."

But as important as DePaul learning how to compete physically with the nation's best might be, Wainwright believes learning to deal with the psychological wear of a Big East schedule counts just as much.

One way to look at it: DePaul (8-5) faced one ranked team in its 13 preconference games. According to the current Top 25 polls, 10 of the Blue Demons' 18 league games will come against ranked teams.

And when No. 11 Georgetown can go to No. 2 Connecticut on Opening Night in the Big East and come out a winner, as it did Sunday, the Demons should realize homecourt advantage means little in either direction.

"Obviously every game is kind of like a mini-season," Wainwright said. "It's really easy to get too high or too low. You can get worn down."