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DePaul Basketball: Texas Tech win gives Blue Demons best start since ’87

By Michael Walton

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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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 04: Jalen Coleman-Lands #5 of the DePaul Blue Demons shoots a three pointer during over time of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Wintrust Arena on December 04, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Jalen Coleman-Lands will be the X-factor for DePaul

Another part of the impressive transfer classes that have come to DePaul basketball over the years is explosive guard Jalen Coleman-Lands, who transferred over from Illinois following the 2017 season. He is currently matching his career-high in points per game (10.3) and averaging career-highs in field goal attempts per game (8.9), and assists per game (1.4). Against Texas Tech, Coleman-Lands showed off not just his usual, great 3-point shooting (a tidy 38.2% from 3 for his career) but also the ability to make high pressure plays in the clutch.

https://twitter.com/DePaulHoops/status/1202404608297046016

Coleman-Lands racked up 18 points, with 15 of them coming in the second half and OT combined. He is DePaul’s most aggressive 3-point shooter on the season, with 70% of his field goal attempts coming from 3-point range. Coleman-Lands’ bombs away attitude from deep can result in a 2-for-7 or 0-for-5 effort 3-point range in a hurry. But when he is on-target, he makes the Blue Demons particularly tough to beat, opening up space for Butz and Weems in the post, and driving lanes for Moore.

Coleman-Lands was the only player on DePaul who shot more than four attempts from 3-point range and he was the only Blue Demon to make more than one 3-pointer.  His great touch from 3-point range led a 3-point make to start the game, another one to send the game to OT and yet another one to give DePaul a late 61-60 lead that they would not relinquish.

Sitting at 9-0 coming into Sunday’s matchup with Buffalo, the Blue Demons looked well-positioned to have a shot to go 13-0 heading into the start of Big East play, which is a showdown with No. 16 Seton Hall. If DePaul wants to be able to keep up their winning ways as conference play fast approaches, then keeping the explosive Coleman-Lands will go a long way. His outside shooting, lack of turnovers, and defensive intensity make him the perfect complement when DePaul’s top-3 scorers are all on.

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DePaul will have a great season as their top two players are having excellent 2019-20 campaigns but contributions from the entire team, including Coleman-Lands, is what will allow an already defensively dominant DePaul basketball team to improve their offensive efficiency in what looks to be a monumental season for the program.

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