Depaul Magazine Athletics

DePaul Magazine

Volume 1 Issue 412021 Winter 2018 Article 1

3-1-2018

Athletics

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Recommended Citation (2018) "Athletics," DePaul Magazine: Vol. 1 : Iss. 412021 , Article 1. Available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/depaul-magazine/vol1/iss412021/1

This DePaul News is brought to you for free and open access by the Alumni Publications at Via Sapientiae. It has been accepted for inclusion in DePaul Magazine by an authorized editor of Via Sapientiae. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ATHLETICS ATHLETICS

Sweet Home Chicago DePaul Notches First DePaul Basketball Returns to the City Win at Home

On Nov. 13, DePaul scored its ﬁ rst win at Wintrust Arena with a 81-57 victory over the Delaware State Hornets. Tre’Darius McCallum led the way with 17 points, while Max Strus hit six of eight shots on his way to a 15-point performance. Eli Cain ﬁ nished with 11 points and eight rebounds, and Devin Gage contributed 10 points and eight assists.

was the culmination of many (CMN ’03), the university’s years anticipating when that second-leading all-time scorer moment would come when we with 1,993 points. Booth, now would once again have our own director of player personnel for facility in the city,” Ponsetto said. the New Orleans Pelicans, said, Even though junior guard “It totally brings back memo- Eli Cain wanted to score the ries of what it was like when I rst basket in the new facility played. Seeing all these DePaul after scoring the nal basket at guys—Melvon Foster (CMN Allstate Arena, it was sopho- ’93), Tommy Kleinschmidt more Devin Gage who made (CMN ’09) and others—we the rst eld goal in Wintrust still have that bond.” Arena. “I had to get it before Eli Stephen Howard (BUS did,” Gage said with a laugh. ’92), a well-respected college “We were down by ve, needed basketball analyst for ESPN, Eli Cain soars for a dunk in DePaul’s season opener against Notre Dame. a basket and the shot clock said he can’t wait to see the was winding down. So I drove impact Wintrust Arena will

Photos by Tom Evans Tom by Photos the lane for a layup. I didn’t have on the community. “It’s A long-held dream was realized with the Nov. 11 grand opening of Wintrust Arena. realize it was the rst basket going to rejuvenate the South [for DePaul] ever at Wintrust Loop, the city of Chicago and because I was in the moment. DePaul University. All the hen fans gathered Arena Fundraising Committee When I look back, it’s pretty people I talk to from Chicago Won Nov. 11 at the Chair Dan Ustian (BUS ’73). amazing to be a part of history.” want the Blue Demons to be brand-new Wintrust Arena at “What a great arena and the Super-fan and donor Joni relevant again.” McCormick Square to watch start of something special. e Phillips (CSH ’82) was on her Opening day for former DePaul square o against long- feeling today is even better than feet roaring her approval after coach Joey Meyer (CSH ’71) time rival Notre Dame in the we all thought it would be.” Cain’s double-pump reverse was like old home week. “It was opening game of the 2017-18 It didn’t much matter that layup tied the game 22-22 fun to see all my former players, season, it was the dawn of a new DePaul was bested 72-58 by one four minutes before halftime. and it brought back a lot of era in Blue Demon basketball. of the nation’s top teams. DePaul “ ere is such an energy in the great memories,” he said. Meyer, One NBA scout called it the Athletics Director Jean Lenti building,” she said. “It feels who succeeded his father, the best college basketball game of Ponsetto (EDU ’78), men’s like home and the return of a legendary Ray Meyer, as coach, the day, but for those closely basketball coach Dave Leitao, great tradition.” guided DePaul to seven NCAA involved in making this festive women’s basketball coach Doug “ is is the beginning of tournament appearances. occasion happen, it was the Bruno (LAS ’73, MA ’88) and a new chapter in the book of “Despite the outcome Saturday, ful llment of a dream. the more than 10,000 fans who DePaul and the day everyone this was still one heck of a start.

“It’s electrifying and kind of lled Wintrust Arena came away has been waiting for,” said ere’s a feeling that DePaul is Athletics Woltmann/DePaul Steve by Photo hard to describe,” said Wintrust with hope for the future. “ is ex-Blue Demon David Booth on its way up.” The Blue Demons’ state-of-the-art locker room rivals any in the NBA.

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