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DePaul Basketball: 2019-2020 season preview for Blue Demons

By Bryan Mauro

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 12: DePaul Blue Demons cheerleaders perform against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Wintrust Arena on February 12, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 12: DePaul Blue Demons cheerleaders perform against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Wintrust Arena on February 12, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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PROVIDENCE, RI – FEBRUARY 27: Darrick Wood #1, Myke Henry #4, and Joe Hanel #33 of the DePaul Blue Demons reacts minutes before a loss against the Providence Friars in the second half on February 27, 2016, at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
PROVIDENCE, RI – FEBRUARY 27: Darrick Wood #1, Myke Henry #4, and Joe Hanel #33 of the DePaul Blue Demons reacts minutes before a loss against the Providence Friars in the second half on February 27, 2016, at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

DePaul Basketball has had a hard time building the program back to relevancy.  This year behind a strong recruiting class, are the Blue Demons finally over the hump?

The 2003-2004 campaign was the last season DePaul Basketball made the NCAA tournament. Since that season the team has been one of the worst power conference schools in the country. Head coach Dave Leitao, now in his second stint with DePaul, was at the helm for the last run to the NCAA tournament. This season could be a make or break year for Leitao, especially after the Blue Demons showed signs of life last year. It was their first winning season since 2006-2007, winning more than 12 games for the first time in a decade.

The Blue Demons have a lot to be optimistic about heading into the season. They have much of their roster returning from a 19-win team. That team also gained valuable experience by playing in the championship of the CBI, before falling in three games to South Florida. The heightened sense of optimism around the program this year is due to the tremendous recruiting class Leitao was able to secure. The Blue Demons head coach has a lot to work this season backed by the best recruiting class he has had at DePaul.

The Big East is going to be loaded this year, and just like every year, it is going to be an uphill climb for the Blue Demons. Unlike most other years, DePaul looks to be a team that is going to climb out of the basement of the league and has a chance to finish in the middle of the pack. The league is so competitive that the teams should only be separated by a game or two, so the margin for error in the league is small.

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