Bracketology 2020: Big 12, SOCON and Notre Dame among biggest losers

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts to a call in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 16, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 04: Head coach Dave Leitao of the DePaul Blue Demons reacts while instructing Jalen Coleman-Lands #5 of the DePaul Blue Demons in the second half 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) /

DePaul

Week 5 Results

Beat Texas Tech, 65-60 (OT)
Lost to Buffalo, 73-67

Say it ain’t so, Dave Leitao!

After taking the country by storm in pulling off a nationally-televised upset of Texas Tech on their home floor in Lubbock, the Blue Demons were looking like they might sneak into the Top 25 for the first time in nearly two decades after posting an undefeated record through nine games.

And rightfully so.

This DePaul team looks better than any in recent memory, with Charlie Moore and Paul Reed providing one of the nation’s most electrifying one-two punches. Moore is averaging 16 points and seven assists, while Reed is pulling down a double-double seemingly every night. Solid performances from Jaylen Butz, Jalen Coleman-Lands, and Romeo Weems have also helped turn the Demons into a Big East contender.

But they hit a huge bump on Sunday when they hosted Buffalo. The Bulls have been something of an afterthought after the departure of head coach Nate Oats, as well as most of the roster from the school’s back-to-back NCAA Tournament squads.

They’ve got our attention now, though, after knocking off the Demons.

Reed was fantastic, by the way, posting an astounding stat line of 15 points, 18 rebounds, five blocks, four steals, and two assists. But even his Superman performance wasn’t enough to keep DePaul perfect.

The remainder of the non-conference schedule should be pretty manageable for Leitao and DePaul. They have an intra-city game against an Illinois-Chicago team that has won two straight after starting the season 1-6. Next, the Demons traverse the Great Lakes to take on Cleveland State on the road. They finish things off back in Chicago against a mediocre Northwestern team at Wintrust Arena.

The margins are relatively slim for the Demons as they try to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004—so they need to avoid losses like the one to Buffalo in order to make that dream a reality.

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