Know Your Opponent: DePaul Blue Demons

Written by Scott on Tuesday, 28 December 2010 19:00.

Tonight at 7 on ESPN3.com, the Cincinnati Bearcats open up Big East play by hosting their long time rivals, the DePaul Blue Demons. The Blue Demons aren't exactly lighting the world on fire, but they have played better as of late, winning 3 in a row. That is a quarter of the Bearcats 12 game winning streak to open the season. The Bearcats haven't really been tested at home this month. Big East play is a new can of worms. As you may have seen with the UConn/Pitt game last night, just because you start off the season undefeated, doesn't mean you won't get it handed to you in the conference like UConn did. That said, DePaul isn't of the caliber of Pitt, and the game is at home for the Bearcats. DePaul has won only 2 Big East games the last 2 seasons. 1 of them was against Cincinnati. For the first time this season, let's break things down KYO style.

All stats taken from KenPom.com, the Polls, and the school's sites. RPI from StatSheet.com

For reference, there are 347 teams in the NCAA

Record: 12-0

KenPom Rank: 36

RPI: 94

AP/USA Today Rank: NR

Strength of Schedule (KenPom/RealTime): 341/344

Tempo: 6.7.6 (180)

Offensive Ratings (Rank)

Points Per Game: 75.4

Efficiency: 108.7 (57)

Effective FG%: 51.9 (72)

Turnover %: 16.7 (15)

Off. Rebound %: 39.6 (15)

FTA/FGA: 42.4 (94)

3%: 37.2 (82)

2%: 49.8 (93)

FT%: 64.2 (273)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 29.5 (121)

2: 49.7 (232)

FT: 20.8 (192)

Style Components

3PA/FGA: 34.6 (131)

A/FGM: 61.5 (45)

Defensive Ratings (Rank)

Points Per Game: 54

Efficiency: 88.6 (24)

Effective FG%: 41.8 (11)

Turnover %: 24.9 (15)

Off. Rebound %: 27 (19)

FTA/FGA: 27.4 (28)

3%: 29.3 (41)

2%: 40.9 (17)

Block %: 10.7 (101)

Steal %: 13.8 (12)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 24.5 (244)

2: 56.8 (54)

FT: 18.7 (260)

Statistical Leaders

Points (top 3): Dion Dixon 12.8, Yancy Gates 11.4, Sean Kilpatrick 10.4

Rebounds (top 3): Yancy Gates 6.7, Ibrahima Thomas 6.6, Rashad Bishop 3.8

Assists (top 2): Cashmere Wright 3.8, Dion Dixon 1.8

Blocks: Yancy Gates 1.7

Steals: Cashmere Wright 2

depaullogo

Record: 6-6

KenPom Rank: 181

RPI: 228

AP/USA Today Rank: NR

Strength of Schedule (KenPom/RealTime): 267/280

Tempo: 69.9 (76)

Offensive Ratings (Rank)

Points Per Game: 72.7

Efficiency: 97.3 (223)

Effective FG%: 48.8 (157)

Turnover %: 19 (78)

Off. Rebound %: 25.9 (322)

FTA/FGA: 43.2 (76)

3%: 28.4 (319)

2%: 50.8 (67)

FT%: 70.7 (104)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 15.8 (343)

2: 60.3 (13)

FT: 23.9 (67)

Style Components

3PA/FGA: 23.8 (331)

A/FGM: 57 (105)

Defensive Ratings (Rank)

Points Per Game: 71.7

Efficiency: 98.9 (128)

Effective FG%: 50.4 (213)

Turnover %: 27.1 (4)

Off. Rebound %: 37.5 (303)

FTA/FGA: 36.2 (148)

3%: 28 (21)

2%: 52.8 (307)

Block %: 9.9 (138)

Steal %: 11.8 (51)

Point Distribution (% of total points)

3: 14.7 (345)

2: 64.7 (1)

FT: 20.7 (187)

Statistical Leaders

Points (top 3): Brandon Young 13.4, Tony Freeland 11.8, Cleveland Melvin 10.4

Rebounds (top 3): Krys Faber 5.8, Tony Freeland 4, Cleveland Melvin 3.3

Assists (top 2): Brandon Young 3.9, Jeremiah Kelly 2.8

Blocks: Cleveland Melvin 1.7

Steals: Jeremiah Kelly 2.1

Three pointers might be at a premium tonight. DePaul doesn't make many of them, and they don't let you make many of them. They do, however, let you get to the basket at will. This should be a big game for Yancy Gates and Ibrahima Thomas inside. And also for the guards who drive to the basket, like Dion Dixon, my best friend. DePaul can also score inside. I'm very interested to see what kind of game their freshmen, Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young, have. Young especially seems like a good, young point guard. Melvin is the reigning Big East Rookie of the Week. Let's get to 3 keys for the game.

Rebound. This Bearcat squad has pounded the glass on teams that have inferior interior games. DePaul is another one of these. The Blue Demons get killed on the glass, especially the offensive glass. That means that Bishop, Gates and Thomas have to bring their rebounding shoes, because there is a chance to get many of them tonight. DePaul's offensive rebounding percentage is very low, which makes me think that they get back on defense instead of crash the glass. This may mean that the Bearcats could be forced into a half court style game. So rebounds are much more important in that case. UC has done a lot of running lately off of defensive rebounds, so that's something to watch as well.
Get to the rim. DePaul gives up over 2/3 of their points on 2s. Their 2 point defense is one of the worst in the nation. They don't really foul a ton, and like mentioned up top, they shut down the perimeter. I think Cash and Dixon should be able to get to the rim any time they want. Think of DePaul like Miami in this way. They are a faster Miami.
Knock down free throws. Cincinnati is shooting under 65%. This is the Big East. Games are won and lost at the free throw line. There is no reason that a team with this many guys that can shoot should be so awful at one of the easiest shots in the game. You could bring a fan out and they would make 65% of their free throws. This is the start of the grind. You can't leave points at the line.

Prediction

I think that this is going to be a nice win for the Bearcats. DePaul isn't good, and the Bearcats have feasted on teams that aren't good all season. KenPom gives DePaul a 4% chance at winning tonight. That's 2% more than their next game, which is at Georgetown. I think the Blue Demons are going to put up a good fight, with them wanting to show they aren't the same DePaul and all. But, I think this is a statement game for Cincinnati. This is the start of showing that 12-0 isn't a hollow 12-0, and that the Bearcats are a team that's going to be in this all season long. That starts tonight. The Bearcats have to put away DePaul, and put away DePaul I think they will. Kinda like the video below.

Cincinnati 79 DePaul 60

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