The lowdown
2000-01 record: 12-18; 4-12 in C-USA (6th in American)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: None.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. Can the Blue Demons survive another round of defections to the NBA, this time with Steven Hunter and Bobby Simmons?
2. Will Imari Sawyer settle down and lower his turnover ratio? Can he become more of a leader and help smooth the transition of newcomers Quemont Greer and Kenny Adeleke?
3. What can the Blue Demons expect to get out of Lance Williams, Jonathan Oden, Andre Brown and Marlon London? They have the potential to improve their production inside and on the boards.
Three Key Facts
1. Imari Sawyer may be the best-kept secret at point guard in the nation. While the Blue Demons were underachieving last season, the freshman was one of the few bright spots, setting the school record for assists by a freshman (179) -- one of only three DePaul freshmen (Rod Strickland, Howard Nathan) to hand out 100 assists in the team's history.
2. For the second straight season, the Blue Demons lost two underclassmen to the NBA draft. Bobby Simmons, who led DePaul in scoring as a junior last season, and Steven Hunter, after an 11.4 ppg freshman campaign, each bolted Chicago.
3. Rashon Burno (6.7 ppg in 2000-01) isn't the first name that comes to mind this season, or any of his four seasons for that matter at DePaul, but the senior is one of only three players in school history to record 300 assists and 150 steals in a career. The other two? Kenny Patterson (699 assists/280 steals) and Strickland (557 assists/204 steals).
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: DePaul gets better through attrition and makes another run at an NCAA Tournament berth and earns its bid in the Conference USA tournament with a win over Memphis or Cincinnati.
Worst case: The Blue Demons don't live up to their potential for a second straight season and end up falling a few games short of the tournament and in the NIT.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Imari Sawyer
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So.
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G
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6-2/170
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PTS: 11.7 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 6.0
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Lance Williams
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Sr.
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F/C
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6-9/250
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PTS: 10.7 | REB: 5.8 | AST: 0.3
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Joe Tulley
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Jr.
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G
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6-2/180
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PTS: 7.6 | REB: 2.2 | AST: 1.8
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Bobby Simmons
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G
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6-7/210
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PTS: 16.7 | REB: 8.6 | AST: 2.5
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Steve Hunter
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C
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7-0/215
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PTS: 11.4 | REB: 5.6 | AST: 0.5
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DePaul Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Drake Diener
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G
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6-5
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Fond du Lac, Wis./Goodrich H.S.
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Quemont Greer
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F/G
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6-7
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Milwauke, Wis./Homested Academy
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Sam Hoskin
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F
F
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6-9
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Detroit/Schoolcraft JC
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LeVar Seals
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G
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6-4
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Chicago/Providence St. Mel's
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Marlon Brooks
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F
G
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6-1
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Peoria, Ill./Manuel H.S./Lincoln JC
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