(01-16-2019 04:18 PM)stever20 Wrote: (01-16-2019 04:16 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote: DePaul's 2019 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 22 at ESPN.com, No. 24 by 247Sports.com and No. 28 in the nation by Rivals.com.
so question. Have you changed your mind on Leitao now? I know you were pretty solid against him last March.
Amazing how much the DePaul/Loyola picture has changed in 10 months, isn't it?
They are better positioned today than they were a year ago, no doubt. What's incredibly ironic is the examination of
how DePaul Basketball rose to prominence in the 70's and 80's: a big part of that was Ray Meyer, the winning, the recruiting, etc.; however, it also coincided with the dismal results/product of the Chicago Bulls. DePaul was the hottest ticket in town. Today, DePaul is trending upwards, and the Bulls are driving away fans not only due to the awful product they present, but because of the stubbornness and greediness they show towards its fans. History has a way of repeating itself, so it will be interesting to observe for sure.
Loyola, right now, is getting higher in-person attendance than DePaul (the actual numbers show they are close, but the athletic department has shown to dramatically fudge their numbers, as shown by their amazing student newspaper). Their gear is plastered throughout the city in the form of sweatshirts, hats, scarves, etc. They are still the city's darling in college basketball, and will remain so for quite some time. Despite DePaul's pickup today, and 2-2 start in the Big East, they (IMO) are still behind perceptually Loyola. I would also argue that Loyola recruits Chicago better than DePaul, but as long as you win, it shouldn't matter where the players come from, right?
I hope DePaul does well. I hope Loyola can build on its success from March (I still think they are the favorites to win the MVC Tournament and get another bid). I have no personal ties to DePaul (or Loyola) but I do know many older DePaul alumni that have given up on the basketball program (all of it due to the athletic department). It is sad to see how far the program has fallen since moving to the Big East.
So, in a long-winded way, DePaul needs to ride this out for sure.