DePaul vs. Detroit Game Preview

WeAreDePaul.com previews Saturday’s matchup between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Detroit Titans in the Motor City.

Key Information

DePaul Blue Demons at. Detroit Titans - Saturday, December 29th, 3:00 p.m. (Central)

Television – none

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Radio – WSCR AM 670

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Game Preview

The Blue Demons are coming off a 93-88 win over LaSalle in the final game of the San Juan Shootout. DePaul’s Karron Clarke was named to the All-tournament team in recognition of his 25 point season-high performance over LaSalle.

The win was a boost of confidence for DePaul players. “I thought the last game we played, we had fun,” said Demons coach Jerry Wainwright. “For whatever reason, we had six guys in double figures, a high assist count, and a low turnover count. I thought overall everybody had some fun.”

The high assist count of 21 represents the Demons sharing the basketball and no doubt had something to do with that fun. “A key statistic for us from January on, will be assists to baskets,” Wainwright observed. “The one thing that happened in Puerto Rico was I thought we moved the ball better. There really were some excellent passes, guys were ready to shoot. I’d like to think that there will be some carryover.”

The biggest areas of improvement left for this 3-7 DePaul team are free throw shooting and defense.

The Demons are shooting 63.7% from the charity stripe and must improve as they enter the physical play of the Big East in January.

Then there is the defense. While DePaul is playing a more uptempo offensive style, that is also lending itself to a defense that is giving up an average of 80 points per game. “You get spread out and there’s more possessions,” said Waiwnwright. “The most telling statistic and the one that hurts us the most right now is field goal percentage defense. We’re last in the Big East in field goal percentage defense.”

This game in the Motor City represents a Michigan homecoming for Jabari Currie from Detroit Pershing high school and Darquavis Tucker from Saginaw Arthur Hill. Tucker will no doubt be anxious to play after having sat out the LaSalle game with a suspension due to a “timing issue”.

While Currie just returned from a holiday break in his hometown, he is looking forward to playing in front of his well wishers. “I’ve got a whole bunch of family coming,” said Currie.

Currie knows Detroit’s Calihan Hall having played there once in high school and is familiar with the Detroit coach. “Perry Watson, he’s a good coach,” said Currie.

While Wainwright has never faced Watson on the court, he knows his reputation all too well. “He’s always been a grinder,” Jerry remarked. “He’s an old high school coach like I am. He’s a very, very good coach. They don’t beat themselves. Coach Watson has done a fine job, they’ll be prepared.”

The Titans are coming off a 79-39 shellacking at Texas A&M on December 19th. Watson left the arena after the loss without speaking to the media.

The Titans are desperate for a victory, having lost five straight. They’ve had 10 days to prepare since the Texas A&M game.

Detroit’s leading scorers coming in are senior guard Jon Goode who is averaging 16.6 ppg and Chris Hayes (10.2 ppg) a junior forward from Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago.

Notes: Blue Demons freshman point guard Michael Bizoukas is not expected to play in Detroit due to illness. Bizoukas had been recovering from a bout with mononucleoisis.

Detroit will be honoring their 1977 team at halftime of the game. The Titans team led by Dick Vitale finished with a 25-4 record in the 1976-77 season.

The Last Time

The Demons and Titans last met on February 27, 1995 in a 78-47 DePaul victory at the Rosemont Horizon. Tom Kleinschmidt led all scorers with 20 points, while Brandon Cole contributed 18. DePaul big man Bryant Bowdon chipped in with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Carl Pickett led Detroit with 11 points.

Detroit Roster

# Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/High School

1 David Boarden G 6-3 185 Fr. Merrillville, IN/Andrean

2 Russell Allen F-C 6-8 255 Fr. Paris, KY/Bourbon County

4 Mychael Broom F 6-5 210 So. Phoenix, AZ/Marcos de Niza

10 Tryl Hartfield G 5-7 160 Jr. Wyoming, MI/Rogers

11 Zach Everingham G 6-4 180 Sr. Grosse Ile, MI/Grosse Ile

12 Josh Samarco G 6-2 188 So. Ypsilanti, MI/Belleville

21 Nemanja Jokic F 6-6 220 So. Sombor, Serbia/Mechanical

23 Chris Hayes F 6-9 190 Jr. Chicago, IL/Mt. Carmel

24 Eulis Stephens G 6-4 180 So. Detroit, MI/Southeastern

25 Jon Goode G 5-10 150 Sr. Flint, MI/Central

31 Woody Payne G 5-10 160 So. Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti

33 Justin Sample C 6-8 235 So. Detroit, MI/Cass Tech

42 Michael Harrington F 6-8 230 Jr. Country Club Hills, IL/Rich Central

55 Jason Praet F 6-7 220 So. Oakland Twp., MI/Notre Dame Prep