Gang: Here I stand at a crazy arcade in Warrenville chaperoning my daughter's Bat Mitzvah party (fun for a good Catholic boy like myself). In front of the bowling alley with 7 massive screens playing seven different sporting events during the NU-DePaul hoops game. None of the TVs were turned to our game. If I wanted to watch USC-BYU, I could. NU-DePaul in the western suburbs. Not so much. Go 'Cats!
A sad statement about the status of DePaul and NU hoops
- Thread starter Dugan15
- Start date
You haven't lived until you've had to persuade a bartender to put on NU MBB at Buffalo Wild Wings' Evanston location.
I had to do that at Prairie Moon in Evanston. I would think they would have at least one TV on a NU game by default but you often have to ask. I always ask where ever I am and often all the screens become the NU game. I'm a one man Wildcat promotion machine. Tens of people have watched NU because of me.
Mazel tov Dugan from a fellow Catholic father of two Jewish kids.
Three points about the game.
For those of us who were adults over that period when DePaul was ranked the #1 team in the country in multiple years the first half of last night's game was unimaginable. Sure, NU can beat DePaul, but to be up by 38 in the first half was bizarre. Tip of the hat to DePaul's athletic department for sending the Meyer family on its way.
Second, this game mattered for recruiting. DePaul has been in the mix for a a bunch of Chicago area kids that NU is chasing. If NU wants you, it's not a choice right now.
Third, while that first year or two under Collins looked rough offensively this looks like a very fun style to play. The movement and cutting is great, pushing the ball up is getting better and better, a player never has to ask for more shots. Really, what more could you want as a player from the scheme. And the entire team plays.
I had that very conversation with a friend of mine at W-R during halftime last night:
Oh, how the tables have turned. And, sure hope there are some recruits present to experience the packed house and the scoreboard's story. This was at halftime, remember.
Oh, how the tables have turned. And, sure hope there are some recruits present to experience the packed house and the scoreboard's story. This was at halftime, remember.
I couldn't agree more.
I've said for a long time that one of the program's goals should be to DOMINATE the Chicago area. CC sounded like he was going in that direction when he was hired, but I think he's smart enough to know a lot of that is PR blah, blah also.
Play many of these teams on a yearly basis and crush them. If you can't beat DePaul (as it is), Loyola and UIC, you're not going anywhere anyhow.
This was a good step, but one year does not equal domination.
On the other hand, as a guy who grew up on 80s DePaul, I hate to see them (and Leito) fall this low. I hope these can be good close games in the future.
P.S. Class move by Leito to walk over to Collins and apologize for the flagrant foul. There were time he also seemed embarrassed by his team last night.
As a DePaul fan and alum this is a new low for the program. I was hoping that this game would be a fun competitive contest but it was the complete opposite. You guys owned us and the second half was basically a scrimmage for NU. The DePaul AD has completely destroyed the program. The only hope we have going forward is the new Arena.
That said, I was at the game and loved the atmosphere at Welsh-Ryan. It was my first time visiting and I enjoyed the old school feel of the gym. The only complaint I had was with the concessions, but I think the upgrades that are coming will make it a unique venue moving forward. I am a huge supporter of NU Football (Fitz is awesome).
Wishing you guys the best in conference play and hope this is the year for NU basketball to finally make the tournament.
That said, I was at the game and loved the atmosphere at Welsh-Ryan. It was my first time visiting and I enjoyed the old school feel of the gym. The only complaint I had was with the concessions, but I think the upgrades that are coming will make it a unique venue moving forward. I am a huge supporter of NU Football (Fitz is awesome).
Wishing you guys the best in conference play and hope this is the year for NU basketball to finally make the tournament.
Thanks for the kind words. I was a big fan of Ray Meyer DePaul basketball in the '70s and early '80s and saw a lot more games at the Horizon than I did at McGaw Hall. Hoping that they can return to their previous level of competitiveness soon, and our games will be a lot more interesting.
One of my memories of Chicago riding the "L" as a student was seeing the postings near the DePaul stop reminding of DePaul's basketball prowess. Are the National Champions heralding signs still there?
As to getting NU sporting events on TV at the primary sports bar here in Alaska ("The Peanut Farm") they have often just handed me a small portable TV to watch at my table. Either that or they find a corner with a smaller sized screen to link up for me. One of the few times that I got to see NU on their largest screen was when we were playing Ohio State, and of course I was the only one there in Purple. The experience of being there surrounded by red while NU pulled off the upset was akin to the stunned silence of attending a game that NU wins in an opposing stadium.
As to getting NU sporting events on TV at the primary sports bar here in Alaska ("The Peanut Farm") they have often just handed me a small portable TV to watch at my table. Either that or they find a corner with a smaller sized screen to link up for me. One of the few times that I got to see NU on their largest screen was when we were playing Ohio State, and of course I was the only one there in Purple. The experience of being there surrounded by red while NU pulled off the upset was akin to the stunned silence of attending a game that NU wins in an opposing stadium.
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I've become a fan of Joey Meyer's color analysis of the Cats on the radio. Second best to the great Shon Morris.
There are still posters advertising the DePaul basketball schedules at Fullerton, but none of them say anything about previous championships.
I'd be ok if Collins recruits contemporary equivalents of Aguirre, Cummings, Strickland and Corbin. I'd be ok with a Bernard Randolph or Skip Dillard clone. And I'd be more than satisfied if in the middle of three consecutive seasons, NU was ranked #1 nationally.
High Tide raises all boats. I remember when college basketball was the game in Chicago. The doubleheaders at Chicago Stadium, Marquette-Loyola at the Amphitheater.......It was the rivalry between all the local teams which included Marquette and Bradley and Notre Dame. I can remember games at Depaul and McGaw and of course Alumni gym at Loyola where I was drenched in sweat after the game and almost deaf from the noise. The scene has changed.....TV had a lot to do with that. I mean Marquette and Depaul in the Big East? seriously sold their souls to the devil and Loyola did not know how to ride the wave after their National Championship and college basketball has been the worse for it. You have to add that so many local players leaving the area has hurt also.
I just got something from my kids school offering 4 free tickets to a number of DePaul men's and women's games in December and january. I'm actually more intrigued to go to a women's game since they are consistently good
I have a different angle on Loyola. I grew up in the 80's in Cincinnati and so I would follow Xavier. Their star player was Barry Larkin's little brother Byron. I remember that one of their big, hated rivals was Loyola of Chicago who was really good then. They played some heated games.
With all due respect, I think you are confusing DePaul with Loyola. Loyola hung a national championship banner at the el stop for the campus well into the '70s. At the time it seemed sad - a school reveling in the faded glory of ancient victories. However, years later, I still have photos of NU at the Rose Bowl from 1995. That game was now over 20 years ago. Perspectives change. I also remember great games between DePaul and Marquette - Al McGuire vs Ray Meyer... wonderful!
As to a National Championship you have to be correct but it did seem that DePaul also had some type of sign heralding their basketball success. Under Coach Meyer they did have a NIT Championship and had been to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament multiple times, the most recent to when I would have been riding the El as a student would have been 1964-65.
On these counts, I'm 1-for-2.Heck, I still have my Rose Bowl 1996 sweat shirt, and it still fits!
I guess my point is that back in the day before major television contracts and mega conferences ,,,all the city rivalries were big and that include Marquette and ND...then IMO everyone chased the mighty dollar and that vibrant era of Chicago Collegiate Basketball was gone. From what was constantly full games including the larger arenas like Chicago Stadium and the Amphitheater (which was like walking through a RIng Lardner novel..cigar smoke,,,stale beer.......) now all teams struggle to fill their arenas for games ( Loyola offered 300 free Chick Fill A sandwiches and didn't get close to a full student section) but they are all probably making big bucks from the TV and Conference contracts,
DP has been to the Final Four twice, in the early 40's and the late 70's.
They also won the NIT in the early 40's after being the runner-up the previous season. At that time, the NIT was actually more prestigious than the NCAA-T (there was little BkB media coverage in the late 30's and 40's, so playing at the MSG, where all games were played, was highly desirable).
Skip Dillard?? Seriously?? The guy was a serial convicted armed robber. I don't want to win that much. Thanks but I'll pass.
DePaul repeated their pattern of the year getting down big (25 pts) to Temple but rallied to within five before losing today. What I can't understand is how I Leitao has not recruited more guys who can shoot the three. It looks like a long road back for them and I don't see them winning many in the rugged Big East. Hopefully we will get some of those 2018 and 2019 Chicago recruits that want to stay home to come play for us. When we were good back in the 60s, we had lots of great Chicago players!