DePaul hopes to chart different course with new coach Chris Holtmann and overhauled roster
Chris Holtmann speaks after being introduced as the new NCAA college basketball head coach at DePaul University in Chicago Monday, March 18, 2024. Credit: AP/Andrew Seligman
DePaul (3-29, 0-20 Big East)
DePaul hopes to chart a different course after hiring coach Chris Holtmann to restore a once-proud program. The Blue Demons have an entirely new roster following one of the worst seasons in Big East history. DePaul fired former coach Tony Stubblefield in January and hired Holtmann in March, a month after he was let go by Ohio State. Holtmann brings a 251-171 record with seven NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons at Gardner-Webb, Butler and Ohio State. He was Coach of the Year in the Big East and Big Ten.
Players to watch
Layden Blocker (sophomore, guard, 3.7 ppg). The Arkansas transfer has a chance to establish himself with the Blue Demons after getting inconsistent minutes with the Razorbacks. Blocker started five of the 27 games he played in and shot 40.3%.
Conor Enright (junior, guard, 6.9 ppg). Enright started all 33 games for Drake last season and was second in the Missouri Valley with a 2.44 assist-turnover ratio. The Bulldogs went 28-7 and won their second straight conference tournament.
David Skogman (graduate student, forward, 13.3 ppg). Skogman played the past two years at Davidson after spending two at Buffalo. He started 17 games last season before a season-ending injury and shot 55.6% from the field.
Departures and arrivals
How big a job did Holtmann inherit? Of the 14 players on the roster, 10 are transfers and four are freshman. None suited up for DePaul last season.
Top games
DePaul hosts Southern Indiana in the season opener on Nov. 4. Notable nonconference games include trips to Texas Tech (Dec. 4) and Northwestern (Dec. 21) as well as home games against Wichita State (Dec. 14) and Loyola Chicago (Dec. 28). The Big East opener is against Providence at home on Dec. 10. DePaul hosts No. 3 UConn on Jan. 1 .
Facts and figures
DePaul has four straight losing seasons and has not finished with a winning record since going 19-17 in 2018-19. ... The Blue Demons are 66-275 in Big East play since joining the league in 2005. ... DePaul has lost 34 of 35 league games, counting the conference tournament. ... The Blue Demons were the first team to go 0-20 in Big East play.
