In 'Exorcising Past Demons,' DePaul Notches Signature Win
By John Fanta
CHICAGO -- It was a night that started with so much promise, one that held so much belief that this could provide the moment DePaul and its fans have been waiting for inside the three-year-old Wintrust Arena.
Down the stretch, it looked like the story might be a gritty effort, but the host Blue Demons just falling short to the reigning national runner-up Texas Tech. Trailing by six with just 3:19 left, then by four with 38 seconds to play, all signs were pointing to the Red Raiders surviving.
But this DePaul team is the first to start a season at 9-0 since 1986-87, and on Wednesday night, they showed why. Down by three with the ball, senior Jalen Coleman-Lands rose and fired a three from the left wing that sent the 5,493 in attendance into a frenzy, tying the game at 53 and forcing the bonus period. Even then, the Blue Demons were hit with adversity again, going scoreless in the opening three minutes of overtime. All they did was proceed to go on a 12-3 run to close the game, with eight of the dozen coming from Coleman-Lands.
When the buzzer sounded, that belief turned into a reward the Blue Demon faithful have been longing for after years of struggles - a 65-60 win over the Red Raiders, and a perfect season continuing.
“We’re exorcising the demons of the past,” said a grinning DePaul head coach Dave Leitao. “We showed resilience, mental toughness and grit. We just hung in. In our timeouts, these guys have been able to coach themselves because we understand what we have to do. I’m really proud of our mental toughness.”
In a game that DePaul’s been on the wrong end of so many times in recent years, there’s a fresh mentality in place with this group.
“We are willing to do whatever it takes to win the game,” said Coleman-Lands, who was hoisted up into the air by DePaul students following the statement win. “You dream of a moment like this, but you never think, ‘oh, today will be the day.’ I’m relishing this moment.”
What’s the difference with this Blue Demons team?
“It’s our character, both individually and then that comes together as a whole,” said Coleman-Lands. “I feel like it’s off the court with our communication, and then on the court with repetition. We knew how important this game was, and a win like this is what builds camaraderie, and gives teams that edge to be at the next level.”
Chris Beard knows what it takes to get to the highest level, having charged the Red Raiders to a Final Four last season. He had high praise for Leitao’s Blue Demons.
“They look like an NCAA Tournament team,” said Beard, the reigning AP National Coach of the Year. “They certainly have the players and they certainly have the coach, and this was a big-time atmosphere. Credit to the fans here in Chicago.”
Comments like that from Beard speak for themselves, and only make DePaul’s goal of making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years even more believable.
“People wanted to see if we were really legitimate,” said Leitao. “Nights like tonight can not only help for the season, but for our program going forward.”
With the way the Blue Demons are playing, the ‘big-time atmospheres’ have only just begun.