Remember when these guys beat a Kansas team that had just taken down defending national champion Florida? The Dec. 2 upset at the time seemed like an attention-grabbing win on an NCAA tournament resume, but since then, the DePaul Blue Demons have reverted to their traditionally mediocre form.
DePaul (13-11, 4-6 Big East), which has lost four of its last five games, is in the midst of one of those "weren't we supposed to be good this year, or something?" seasons. Star senior guard Sammy Mejia, a preseason All-Big East selection, is averaging 9.9 points in conference games, making just 42.3 percent of his free throws along the way.
But the team's struggles transcend a single player. It takes a total team effort to suffer double-digit road losses to Bradley, Northwestern and St. John's. DePaul has not beaten any teams in the top half of the Big East. Much like the Kansas game, the Blue Demons' best win – at Villanova on Jan. 6 – seems like an eternity ago.
There is good news for head coach Jerry Wainwright's club: An easy schedule to end the season awaits. Although the Blue Demons likely will have to run the regular-season table or win a few games in the Big East tournament to make a case for an at-large NCAA bid, their task is hardly impossible.
Home-and-homes with South Florida and overachieving-but-beatable Notre Dame, coupled with home dates with familiar foes Cincinnati and Marquette, will give DePaul a chance at salvaging its season.
Or bury it altogether.
Come again?
A Syracuse senior forward leads the Big East in scoring at 18.6 points per game and has scored in double figures in all but two games this season. He sounds like a player with whom every college basketball fan in the country would be familiar.
But how many of you can honestly say you know the name, Demetris Nichols?
The names of his teammates seem better known: Eric Devendorf (last year's underachieving preseason Big East rookie of the year) and Paul Harris (this year's underachieving preseason Big East rookie of the year).
Although the Orange sit precariously at 5-5 in the conference, Nichols' stellar play likely will be enough to lift Syracuse back into the NCAA tournament.
Who's Hot? – Marquette. Until the Golden Eagles lose a game, they will retain this distinction.
Who's Not? – Cincinnati. The Bearcats have dropped five straight to take sole possession of the conference basement.
Player of the Week – Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia. The freshman reserve forward exploded for 17 and 21 points in wins at Rutgers and Seton Hall as the Mountaineers solidified their NCAA hopes.