The DePaul Blue Demons (2-0, 0-2 ATS, 1-1 O/U) will clash with the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-0, 1-1 ATS, 0-2 O/U) in an inter-conference battle on Monday night. The Blue Demons defeated Western Illinois last time out. The Golden Gophers posted a win against St. Francis in their previous action. These foes last met in 2019 in a game DePaul won 73-68.
The DePaul Blue Demons are seeking a third consecutive win to begin the season. This is the biggest challenge so far. They were 14-point favorites in a 72-66 win against Loyola Maryland and were labeled huge 15-point favorites in an 86-74 home win against Western Illinois on Friday night. DePaul is a program that has struggled to post winning seasons. They went 15-15 last year but posted an abysmal 2-13 mark in conference play, and likely will not be a contender again this year.
Javan Johnson is expected to have a productive season. The senior forward did spend one year with Iowa State and only played in 10 games in his first season with DePaul last year. Johnson scored 24 points in the opener and 14 points on Friday. The program was able to attract a proven scorer in Umoja Gibson. The senior guard averaged 13 PPG with Oklahoma last year and is in a groove, already collecting 38 points in two games . Eral Penn was a big scorer with LIU Brooklyn last season. The senior forward has accumulated 18 points in two performances.
don't let him get hot. @KnownAs_Moja with his third 3?? of the night.
3:23 1H | DePaul 38, WIU 28 pic.twitter.com/obbUAgIaAZ
— DePaul Basketball (@DePaulHoops) November 12, 2022
The Blue Demons are ranked 88th in the country in Ken Pomeroy’s college basketball ratings and were voted to finish last in the Big East preseason poll. So far the defense has been stellar but has yet to play against a notable foe. DePaul averaged 73.3 points last season, landing them 125th. They allowed an average of 71.5 points, pegging them 254th in DI.