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Big East Breakdown: Conference Takes Over The Bubble In Final Weekend

By Casey Pazzalia

Feb 15, 2017; Newark, NJ, USA; Seton Hall Pirates guard Myles Powell (13) celebrates a three points basket during the second half against the Creighton Bluejays at Prudential Center. Seton Hall won, 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Newark, NJ, USA; Seton Hall Pirates guard Myles Powell (13) celebrates a three points basket during the second half against the Creighton Bluejays at Prudential Center. Seton Hall won, 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 13, 2017; Rosemont, IL, USA; DePaul Blue Demons head coach Dave Leitao during the second half against the Villanova Wildcats at the Allstate Arena. Villanova defeats DePaul 75-62. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2017; Rosemont, IL, USA; DePaul Blue Demons head coach Dave Leitao during the second half against the Villanova Wildcats at the Allstate Arena. Villanova defeats DePaul 75-62. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Unfortunately, the DePaul Blue Demons just cannot figure out how to make things work in the Big East Conference. Since joining the conference in 2005, the program has only had one winning season (2006-07) and have yet to make an NCAA Tournament appearance.

To make matters worse, the Blue Demons have finished dead-last in the conference six times in the last 10 years.

This season has been more of the same, winning only two Big East games and nine overall. On a national scale, their output on both ends of the floor is atrocious, ranking No. 275 in points scored (69.1) and No. 235 in points allowed (74.6).

Also, out of all the teams in the six power conferences, there’s only one team with a lower KenPom rating (No. 272 Oregon State).

Having said that, you have to feel bad for a guy like Billy Garret Jr., a senior point guard who stayed home to play for DePaul. He’s averaged double-figures in scoring throughout his four years, shining through as one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise dreadful stretch.

However, by sticking around the entire time, it shows a lot about his character and he will be rewarded with a long professional basketball career.

As much as I’d like to say that the Blue Demons could go on a run in the Big East Tournament, it’s simply not going to happen.

In order to take home the hardware, they would need to win four Big East games in a row and that’s something that the program has never done since joining the conference.

Looking ahead, there is a small glimmer of hope for the struggling program. Next year, the Blue Demons will start playing their home games at Wintrust Arena, a shiny new home court more than 15 miles closer to campus than their old dwelling (Allstate Arena).

If you’ve ever watched a DePaul home game, the seats at Allstate Arena rarely had people in them. In fact, this year the Blue Demons were averaging only 1,824 fans per home game.

Numbers like that would be disappointing for some Midwestern high schools, let alone a power conference Division 1 program. Hopefully with their new arena being to the school, they can fill the place up and gain some sort of homecourt advantage.

Next: The Greatest Player In Every Franchise's History

DePaul plays Xavier on Wednesday night at 9:30 P.M ET in the first round of the Big East Tournament.