DePaul starts Big East campaign
Jerry Wainwright doesn't need to crunch the numbers.
The DePaul coach knows that at 4-7, his team needs to do some serious damage in Big East play to achieve its top goals.
An 18-game league schedule doesn't sit well with some teams, but DePaul needs as many marquee victories as possible to salvage what many already consider a lost season.
"Realistically, we're a couple games off where we hoped we would be," Wainwright said Wednesday. "We've stubbed our toe a couple times at home, which isn't fun. We certainly aren't happy with our record, but we certainly have made progress.
"We've played really good teams, so I'm hoping there's some carryover."
So far, the Blue Demons have been prone to the wrong kind of carryover, unable to put bad plays or bad losses behind them. But after wrapping up a disastrous December with consecutive victories, DePaul hopes it has generated the right kind of momentum.
The Demons tip off Big East play tonight against No. 17 Villanova at the Allstate Arena (8 p.m., ESPN2).
"The Big East demands an awful lot out of you," Wainwright said. "Now is when you have to play your best."
In some ways, Villanova will be a good barometer to see if DePaul can turn things around. Led by guard Scottie Reynolds, the Wildcats (10-1) rank fourth in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (39.0).
Perimeter defense has been DePaul's biggest bugaboo despite its experience in the backcourt. The Demons rank a distant last in the league in defending the 3-pointer (43.7 percent).
Reynolds, the league's Rookie of the Year in 2006-07, has made 39.4 percent of his 3s but ranks third on the team in that category.
"They're going to take and make 3-point shots no matter what you do," Wainwright said. "Our weakness is their strength."
Part of the problem has been "broken-play 3s" -- when opponents drain open shots following offensive rebounds. DePaul is trying to run the floor as much as possible this season, but occasionally the style hurts its defensive rebounding.
"The most important thing for us to do is finish each defensive possession," Wainwright said. "You can't run without the ball. At times, we've kind of leaked out hoping to start the fastbreak without the rebound."
The Demons have played more zone defense this year than in either of Wainwright's first two seasons, but Villanova's perimeter prowess could cause a switch tonight.
"The one thing that separates teams who (play zone) all the time is a dominant rebounder," Wainwright said. "We don't have that. We have to continue to use zone, but our man-to-man is getting better."
Reynolds is Villanova's primary weapon, but DePaul must also keep tabs on freshman guard Corey Fisher, who averages 12 points and 3.5 assists. Wainwright called Fisher one of the nation's Top 10 freshmen.
The Wildcats likely will lean even more on Reynolds and Fisher tonight since center Casiem Drummond, the team's top rebounder (7.9 per game), will miss the game with a stress fracture in his right ankle.
"It's going to be a concern," coach Jay Wright told the Philadelphia Daily News. "We'll go to (junior swingman) Dwayne Anderson more, even though he's smaller."
Drummond's absence could increase opportunities for Demons freshman center Mac Koshwal (11.2 ppg, 8 rpg).
Said Wainwright: "He's been our most consistent player in terms of effort and production."
Villanova (10-1) at DePaul (4-7)
When: 8 p.m. at Allstate Arena
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Available at www.depaulbluedemons.com
The skinny: DePaul opens Big East play against the team that knocked it out of the league tournament last March. Villanova's lone blemish is a 1-point loss to N.C. State at a neutral site. "They seem to play with interchangeable pieces," Blue Demons coach Jerry Wainwright said. "Maybe not a dominant big guy yet, but they're really hard to guard." The Demons are well aware of Villanova sophomore Scottie Reynolds after the 6-foot-2 guard put up 29 points against them in the Big East tournament. DePaul is still looking for its first win in a Big East opener.
-- Adam Rittenberg
Loyola (5-7, 1-1) at Cleveland St. (8-5, 1-0)
When: 6:30 p.m. at the Wolstein Center
TV: Available at www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv
Radio: WYLL 1160-AM
The skinny: Loyola reopens Horizon League play without junior forward Leon Young, who contracted pneumonia during winter break and was hospitalized near his home in California. Young, who leads the Ramblers in rebounding (7.1) and ranks second in scoring (12.7), will fly back to Chicago today. He will miss tonight's game as well as Saturday's contest at Youngstown State, and he's doubtful to return Monday against No. 16 Butler. Transfer Justin Cerasoli has made an immediate impact with Loyola, averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4 assists in his first three games. Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock (14.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) leads a much-improved Cleveland State squad, which has wins against South Florida and Florida State this season.
-- Adam Rittenberg