Brunson, No. 1 Villanova bury DePaul
Jalen Brunson won a lot of basketball games in Illinois.
When he was a star guard at Stevenson High School, Brunson led the Patriots downstate three seasons in a row while going 91-10.
As a senior last year, Brunson guided Stevenson to its first state championship, scoring 30 points in a 57-40 win over Normal in the title game.
Rather than staying home to play college basketball - Brunson considered signing with Illinois - the two-time Gatorade Player of the Year chose Villanova.
Brunson is now based in Pennsylvania, but the winning continues.
Villanova arrived at the Allstate Arena on Tuesday night with a 20-3 record (10-1 in the Big East), and the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in school history.
Barreling out to a 16-2 lead and coming out of intermission on a 15-0 run, Villanova overpowered DePaul 86-59.
Starting for the 23rd time in 24 games for a Wildcats' that is highly skilled at both ends of the floor, Brunson played 23 minutes and scored 11 points. The left-hander hit 1 of 4 attempts from 3-point range and passed out 4 assists.
So how did it feel to be back playing basketball in Illinois?
"It's sort of weird," Brunson said. "I definitely miss it out here, but as soon as I stepped on the plane it was a business trip and I had to focus with the guys to get this win."
Brunson has been focused all season, whether it has been shooting the basketball, passing or guarding opposing point guards like DePaul standout Billy Garrett Jr., who was limited to 7 points Tuesday.
"I don't know if there's another freshman at any position, anywhere in the country, that we could have gotten that would come in as mature and well prepared," Villanova coach Jay Wright said of Brunson.
"He's playing with juniors and seniors and he fits in perfectly, not just in terms of how he plays but his personal maturity. I think that's really allowed us to be a very good team.
"He doesn't play like a freshman. He doesn't act like a freshman. He doesn't practice like a freshman. He's very, very mature, and I think it's a tribute to (Stevenson coach Pat) Ambrose and his parents."
DePaul (8-16, 2-10), which upset No. 11 Providence at the Allstate Arena on Feb. 2, was led by guard Eli Cain's 15 points.
The Blue Demons played a No. 1-ranked team for the first time since Jan. 1, 2012, when they lost to Syracuse 87-68.
"We played a program with a brand," DePaul coach Dave Leitao said of Villanova. "For 40 minutes, they play as well as any team you're going to play against. Their record shows it and their No. 1 ranking shows it."