Dave Leitao & Paul Reed, DePaul

We preview the DePaul Blue Demons matchup with the UIC Flames at Wintrust Arena on Saturday afternoon in this report.

Key Information

DePaul Blue Demons (9-1) vs. UIC Flames (4-6) – Saturday, December 14th, 1:00 p.m. Central – Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois

How to Watch - Television – FOX Sports 1

Where to Listen - Radio – WSCR AM 670

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Game Preview

After firing off nine straight wins to start the season, the Blue Demons were flying high. They’ve now settled back down to earth following Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bulls. Next up are the crosstown rival UIC Flames as DePaul looks to get back on track.

UIC is off to a rough start this season. The Flames are 4-6. They own wins over Olivet Nazarene (NAIA), Robert Morris, San Diego, and Purdue-Fort Wayne.

The Flames have been a bit shorthanded so far this season with two former starters lost to injury. Senior guard Marcus Ottey, who averaged 14.8 points per game last season, has yet to play a regular season game due to an injury after appearing in a pre-season exhibition game. Senior forward Jordan Blount, who averaged 9.3 ppg and 5.6 rebounds per game last year, is out until at least January with an ACL injury.

Senior guard Tarkus Ferguson is leading the way for UIC so far this season with 14.4 ppg. Senior guard Godwin Boahen leads the team in rebounding at 5.5 boards per game and contributes 11.3 ppg.

Junior forward Michael Diggins, who is the cousin of WNBA star Skylar Diggins, is adding 11.1 ppg. Australian wing Jamie Ahale is chipping in to the tune of 9.4 ppg while shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.

UIC is coming off a season where they finished 16-16 and didn’t advance to the postseason. Head coach Steve McClain is now in his fifth year at UIC and has compiled a 62-82 record at the school.

UIC is 226th in the nation in Ken Pomeroy’s College Basketball Ratings, as of this writing. DePaul currently stands at number 59 at Kenpom.com.

The Blue Demons are 55th in the Sagarin Ratings, while the Flames are 251st.

UIC was predicted to finish third in the Horizon League in the conference’s preseason poll, but has struggled without Ottey and Blount in the lineup so far.

DePaul’s most consistent player has been junior forward Paul Reed, who is averaging a double-double of 15.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. This week Reed was named to the Big East’s honor roll after Reed averaged16.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, four blocks and three steals in a 1-1 week.

The Blue Demons have risen to ninth in the nation in Field Goal Percentage Defense as they hold opponents to 36.1 percent shooting.

DePaul should be able to dominate on the glass against this UIC team.

Look for Reed and point guard Charlie Moore to get the Blue Demons back on track as they look to start a new winning streak on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday’s game is the front half of a men’s / women’s hoops doubleheader at Wintrust Arena. The DePaul women’s team takes on Alabama State beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Gambling Info.

The Blue Demons are 6-4 against the spread thus far this season.

DePaul is favored by 14.5 points.

The Over/Under is 137.5 points.

The Last Time

On December 14, 2018 at Wintrust Arena, the Blue Demons snuffed out the UIC Flames by a score of 90-70.

The Blue Demons got off to a hot shooting start with a 13-2 run to start the game and continued to cruise from there.

Where the Blue Demons got the job done was on the defensive end of the court to start the game.

DePaul forced 20 UIC turnovers and scored 27 points off of their turnovers.

DePaul played up to it’s “Playing Possessed” nickname in this one as they went on a 10-0 run to close out the first half with a 52-28 lead at intermission.

The Demons shot 52.5 percent overall and 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Blue Demon senior Max Strus led all scorers with a career high 34 points, along with a career-high in rebounds with 14 boards to cap off a double-double effort.

Strus set a new career-high for made 3-pointers with eight and tied the school record for 3-pointers in a game held by Draelon Burns. Strus shot 10 for 23 overall and eight for 16 from beyond the arc.

Five Blue Demons finished in double-figures.

Devin Gage scored 15 points to go along with five assists and five rebounds.

Eli Cain and Jalen Coleman-Lands contributed 10 points apiece, while sophomore forward Paul Reed came in off the bench to chip in with 13 points.

Four Flames finished in double figures. UIC’s Tarkus Ferguson led the way for the Flames with 20 points. Marcus Ottey scored 17 points, while Godwin Boahen and Jordan Blount had 10 points apiece.

UIC Roster

# NAME HT. WT. POS. YEAR HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL LAST COLLEGE

0 Brian Taylor 6-6 200 Guard Fr. Detroit, Mich. Edison Public School Academy

1 Marcus Ottey 6-2 185 Guard Sr. Ajax, Ontario Canada SPIRE Academy (Ohio)

2 Michael Diggins 6-8 195 Forward Jr. Las Vegas, Nev. Durango

3 Jacob Wiley 6-7 210 Forward Jr. Houston, Texas Sam Houston

4 Tarkus Ferguson 6-4 190 Guard Sr. Belleville, Ill. Althoff Catholic

5 Sam Ward 6-3 185 Guard So. Overland Park, Kan. Blue Valley Northwest Butler CC

10 Deon Ejim 6-6 235 Forward Fr. Toronto, Ontario, Canada TRC Academy

13 Jordan Blount 6-8 220 Forward Sr. Cork, Ireland SPIRE Academy (Ohio)

20 Jamie Ahale 6-5 205 Guard/Forward Jr. Montrose, Australia Box Hill Senior Secondary Mineral Area

22 Rob Howard 6-8 230 Forward Sr. Gary, Ind. Michigan City Shawnee

23 Braelen Bridges 6-10 225 Forward So. Atlanta, Ga. Union Grove Northwest Florida State

25 Godwin Boahen 5-11 180 Guard Sr. Toronto, Ontario, Canada The Hill Academy

35 Travell Washington 6-9 230 Forward So. San Bernardino, Calif. Lawrence Academy (Mass.)