Waking the Sleeping Demon | Maize's DePaul Dynasty

[jdbmaize]

Just as march madness approaches, I recently picked up a new college basketball game and I've really enjoyed it. Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 2021 was just released by Wolverine Studios and it's helped cure my need for a new dynasty.

I've done a lot of dynasty reports before, but I've struggled to replace playing the NCAA football franchise. This game will give me a chance to create a dynasty report that allows me to focus on what I enjoy most: creating a realistic simulation, building storylines and writing articles along the way.

I'll be taking over the DePaul Blue Demons. DePaul has a storied history, dating back to legendary Head Coach Ray Meyer. They had a strong run in the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s. Ray left the program in the hands of his son, Joey; who would be the last coach of the Demons to finish his tenure with a winning record. Joey Meyer left the program after the 1996-97 season...

Since then, they’ve been a program that is often found on lists of “sleeping giant” basketball programs. This dynasty will be focused on waking that sleeping giant. A new arena, a new Athletic Director, a fanbase hungry to win, and with Chicago as a backdrop - this is the story of DePaul basketball.


The Rundown
Game: Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 21
Roster: Using NCAA Mod, changed roster to match DePaul’s likely 2021-22 roster.
Recruiting Difficulty: Hard
Update Notes: Stats, conference standings and Top 25 will be posted monthly. Every game recaps will be posted; some will be just the score and game overview while some will include the entire box score.

[jdbmaize]

History and Records

Retired Numbers
24 | 99
Aguirre | Mikan

Program Records
Overall Record: 1,483-1,047 (58.6% Win%)
Most Wins in a Season: 28 (1987)
Conference Regular Season Champions: 2 (1992, 2004)
Conference Tournament Champions: 0

Postseason Records
National Championships: 0
Final Four Appearances: 2 (1943, '79)
Elite Eight Appearances: 3 (1943, '78, '79)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 22
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2004
NIT Tournament Champions: 1(1945)
NIT Tournament Appearances: 16
Last NIT Tournament Appearance: 2007

Big East Records (Member Since 2005)
Conference Record: 57-225 (20.2% Win%)
Tournament Record: 4-13
Best Regular Season Finish: 7th (2014-15)
Best Tournament Finish: Quarterfinals (3 times)

Player Records
Scoring
Career: Mark Aguirre (1978-81) - 2,182 points
Season: Mark Aguirre (1978-79) - 767 points
Game: George Mikan (1944-45) - 53 points
Rebounds
Career: Dave Corzine (1974-78) - 1,151 rebounds
Season: Ken Warzynski (1969-70) - 379 rebounds
Game: Ken Warzynski (1969-70) - 28 rebounds
Assists
Career: Kenny Patterson (1981-85) - 669 assists
Season: Clyde Bradshaw (1979-80) - 215 assists
Game: Imari Sawyer (2001-02) - 17 assists
Steals
Career: Kenny Patterson (1981-85) - 280 steals
Season: Gary Garland (1978-79) - 124 steals
Game: Gary Garland (1978-79) - 10 steals
Blocks
Career: Dallas Comegys (1983-87) - 297 blocks
Season: Dallas Comegys (1986-87) - 108 blocks
Game: Dallas Comegys (1986-87) - 10 blocks

[jdbmaize]

Season Reviews

2020-21
Overall Record: 8-21
Conference (Standing): 3-17 (11th/Last)
Home/Road Split: 8-9 at Home | 0-12 on the Road
Team Leaders:
Team MVP: SR. Charlie Moore, PG
Points: Charlie Moore - 14.0 PPG
Rebounds: Pauly Paulicap - 6.0 RPG
Assists: Charlie Moore - 4.0 APG
Big East Season Champion: Marquette and Villanova (16-4)
Big East Tournament Champion: #2 Villanova over #1 Marquette, 77-57
Big East Tournament Bids: 4 Teams
#3 Villanova (28-6), #10 Seton Hall (20-12), #11 Marquette (22-10), #12 Butler (22-12)
National Player of the Year: Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga
Final Four: Gonzaga, Michigan, Alabama, Virginia
National Champion Gonzaga (33-2)

2021-22
Overall Record: 12-19
Conference (Standing): 6-14 (t9th/Last)
Home/Road Split: 9-9 at Home | 3-10 on the Road
Team Leaders:
Team MVP: SR. Javon Freeman-Liberty, SG
Points: Javon Freeman-Liberty - 14.0 PPG
Rebounds: Nick Ongenda - 6.0 RPG
Assists: Javon Freeman-Liberty - 4.6 APG
Big East Season Champion: Butler (15-5)
Big East Tournament Champion: #5 St. John’s over #2 Villanova, 94-75
Big East Tournament Bids: 5 Teams
#6 Georgetown (22-10), #6 Villanova (22-12), #9 Butler (22-9),
#9 St. John’s (20-12), #11 UConn (20-11)
National Player of the Year: SG Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
Final Four: Kansas, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio State
National Champion: Kansas (34-4)

[PointGuard]

Welcoming DePaul to DeDynasties for some DeLite.

Looking forward to your unfolding story.

[jdbmaize]

2021 Big East Tournament

[jdbmaize]

Big East 2020-21 Final Standings

[jdbmaize]

Welcoming DePaul to DeDynasties for some DeLite.

Looking forward to your unfolding story.

Thank you! I'm excited to be a part of the DeDynasty community!

[jdbmaize]

DePaul's Season Ends, Program Eyes Uncertain Future
The DePaul Blue Demons just finished a grueling season: one that saw game postponements, a late start to the season, multiple player injuries that ultimately culminated in another losing season.

DePaul finished 8-21, winning just three games in the Big East and ending the season on a 8 game losing streak. It's the second straight season that they started with high hopes that were only dashed once conference play started.

Last year, before COVID shortened their postseason, DePaul had started 9-1 before finishing 16-16 with just three conference wins. This year, a sluggish start out of the gates saw the Demons come alive in late November, winning 4 of 5 games to close the month.

Head Coach Dave Leitao was disappointed in how this season finished, but was proud of his players for what they endured. Finishing his sixth season, in his second stint at the helm - this is DePaul's fourth losing season since Leitao returned.

After a postseason appearance and runner-up finish in the 2019 CBI Tournament, fans were excited about a young team heading into the 2019-20 season. Those hopes were met with an exciting start, that also led DePaul to lock Leitao into a multiyear extension.

Since then, DePaul has moved on from their former Athletic Director and new AD DeWayne Peevy has been mum on the status of his Head Coach. It's expected that Leitao might have coached his last game; when his Demons took a four-point lead to the locker room, only to lose by 7 to Butler in the first round of the Big East Tournament.

DePaul will see 5 players leave to graduation, and roster retention remains a concern. Multiple players over the last few years have transferred out of the program. Peevy has said that stability is key going forward - a trait that seems to be lacking in the Leitao era.

The Blue Demons will be saying goodbye to starters Charlie Moore, Pauly Paulicap and Monmouth transfer Ray Salnave. They'll also be losing two reserve guards, Jason Malonga and Pantelis Xidias.

Even with the complications of a COVID season, this was clearly not the result many expected from DePaul. After last year's collapse, it was clear that Leitao needed a bounce back season. His Demons did not deliver, instead turning in another losing season.

This season marks 17 seasons since the Demons last appeared in the NCAA tournament. Peevy has said that the men's basketball program is the 'key' driver of the University's athletics. His high expectations have clearly not been met, leaving many to question what comes next for the Blue Demons.

[jdbmaize]

End of 2020-21 Season
Overall Record: 8-21
Conference (Standing): 3-17 (11th/Last)
Home/Road Split: 8-9 at Home | 0-12 on the Road
Team Leaders:
Team MVP: SR. Charlie Moore, PG
Points: Charlie Moore - 14.0 PPG
Rebounds: Pauly Paulicap - 6.0 RPG
Assists: Charlie Moore - 4.0 APG
Big East Season Champion: Marquette and Villanova (16-4)
Big East Tournament Champion: #2 Villanova over #1 Marquette, 77-57
Big East Tournament Bids: 4 Teams
#3 Villanova (28-6), #10 Seton Hall (20-12), #11 Marquette (22-10), #12 Butler (22-12)
National Player of the Year: Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga
Final Four: Gonzaga, Michigan, Alabama, Virginia
National Champion Gonzaga

[jdbmaize]

DePaul Parts Ways with Coach Dave Leitao
DePaul Athletics and men's basketball coach Dave Leitao have agreed to part ways. This news comes following the end of their season, the fifth straight season that DePaul has finished last in the Big East Conference.

Leitao, who coached the Blue Demons for six years in his second stint as Head Coach; finished with a record of 66-112 overall and 21-84 in the Big East. The only postseason appearance was a runner-up finish in the 2019 CBI Tournament.

New Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy could not be reached for comment, but in the press release that announced the decision, it was stated that Peevy will lead a national search for the team's next Head Coach.

Peevy will be using a national executive search firm to aid in the coaching search. It's expected that Peevy will use his years of connections made at Kentucky in an effort to bring a top coach to DePaul.

Currently, DePaul is the only Big East program without a Head Coach. It's been a difficult transition for the Demons to the Big East; the new coach will be expected to make the program more competitive and no longer a cellar dweller.