Last time out for DePaul basketball, the team lost 68-85 to the Xavier Musketeers on the road, their biggest loss since at the Hinkle Fieldhouse against Butler (69-86).
C.J. Gunn led the Blue Demons with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 7-12 (58.3%) from the field and 2-2 (100%) from the line.
The Red Storm come to Chicago after a close, 79-73 win over the Creighton Bluejays. They were led by R.J. Luis Jr, who recorded a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
DePaul (11-15, 2-13) and St. John’s (22-4, 13-2)
p.m. CST
FS1
Radio DePaul Sports & Entertainment (RDSE)
Under head coach Rick Pitino, the Red Storm has had a turnaround for the ages, currently standing as the #10 ranked team in the country. As well as the best team in the Big East conference.
In their last five games, St. John’s has won four games, only losing a close, 71-73 matchup to the Villanova Wildcats.
Before that, the Red Storm went on a 10-game conference winning streak, sweeping their season series against Providence, Georgetown, and Xavier.
Luis Jr is one of the best scorers in the country, and fourth in the Big East in scoring, averaging 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds (fifth in the conference).
He is joined by Zuby Ejiofor (13.9 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) and Kadary Richmond (12.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2 steals), showcasing a big three at the Carnesecca Arena.
One key flaw in all of these players is their struggles in shooting from the perimeter with Luis Jr shooting 26.6% from beyond the arc. Ejiofor and Richmond themselves haven’t done better, shooting 25% and 21.9% from the perimeter respectively.
The Blue Demons’ rough stretch continues into Wednesday’s contest. They have lost their last three straight contests. Against Villanova and Marquette, they lost by 10 in each of those games. Against the Musketeers, they were dealt their worst hand since their previous matchup against the Red Storm, where they lost 61-89.
The team saw a return of Troy D’Amico against the Musketeers after missing a few games due to a foot injury. Before that game, the team took another blow against the Golden Eagles, losing N.J. Benson to an injury that resulted in him wearing a brace on his right hand and not playing against Xavier.
Currently, head coach Chris Holtmann has no update on Benson’s status for the upcoming game. He may know more by tomorrow.
The Blue Demons have struggled from the perimeter, and with the lack of interior presence due to Benson’s absence, the team has had to rely on David Skogman and Theo Pierre-Justin. Against Xavier, Pierre-Justin scored 8 points and 3 rebounds in 19 minutes.
Unless Benson can return for Wednesday’s game, this matchup will be difficult for the Blue Demons.
Despite the three-headed hydra of the Red Storm struggling from the three, DePaul has struggled to generate positive scoring drives from downtown.
St. John’s is second in the conference in scoring, averaging 78.2 points. This is despite shooting the worst from the perimeter in the Big East, averaging 29.3% from downtown.
They also are great defensively, leading the Big East in boards, averaging 41 rebounds. They also are second in the Big East in steals and blocks, averaging 9.3 steals and 5.6 blocks.
The Red Storm also are difficult to score against, allowing 65.6 points which is the best in the conference. Without Benson or consistent shooting from downtown (DePaul averages 34.1% from beyond the arc), the Blue Demons will face another tough matchup.
