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BIG EAST Conference preview: Marquette the team to beat

By Erica Ayala

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 07: Marquette Golden Eagles guard Allazia Blockton (11) looks inside during the Big East Women's Championship Game between the DePaul Blue Demons and the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 7, 2017 at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Doug Bruno, Head Coach of DePaul, during the UConn Vs DePaul, NCAA Women’s College basketball game at Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. 19th December 2014 (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Doug Bruno, Head Coach of DePaul, during the UConn Vs DePaul, NCAA Women’s College basketball game at Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. 19th December 2014 (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /

DePaul (20)

Preseason predicted ranking: 2nd, down one spot from 2016-17 finish

2016-17 Record: 16-2

2016-17 Overall Record: 27-8

Biggest Losses: 

DePaul lost three of its stars from the previous season. Guards Jessica January and Brooke Schulte combined for an average of 17.9 points per game.

Key returners:

While three starters have left, Bruno gets back Ashton Millender and Mart’e Grays. Millender missed all but nine games last season with a stress reaction injury. Grays was sidelined for the entire season with a torn Achilles tendon.

Newcomers:

In addition to returning some experienced players from injury, DePaul will benefit from the presence of graduate transfer Rebekah Dahlman. The guard comes in from Vanderbilt where is was a proven scorer. She has dealt with an array of injuries throughout her career, but hope to remain healthy and contribute to the 2017-18 DePaul campaign.

The Blue Demons signed four recruits: Dee Bekelja, Jolene Danninger, Rachel McLimore and Vinisha Sherrod. Bekelja was selected as an Ohio Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The BIG EAST named her the preseason Freshman of the Year.

Head coach:

Doug Bruno is synonymous with DePaul. He played under Hall of Fame DePaul coach Ray Meyer, before becoming a DePaul coach himself. The 2017-18 season marks his 32nd season coaching and all but two of those years have been at his alma mater.

Bruno has led the Blue Demons to a career 641-326 (.657) record. He has led the program to an active streak of 15-straight NCAA postseason appearances. Bruno has been with USA Basketball since 2006, helping earn two Olympic gold medals.

Key non-conference games:

Bruno will spar with his USA Basketball coaching colleague Geno Auriemma again this season when UConn (1) travels to Illinois in December. DePaul will also face Note Dame (5) and Oklahoma (21) in non-conference play.

Outlook:

The Blue Demons go for a fifth regular season title and a 16th straight NCAA Tournament berth. History is on the side of DePaul. If some of Bruno’s injury-prone athletes can remain healthy, there is no reason to think they will not be at the top of the BIG EAST again come the playoffs.

Additionally, DePaul will play in a new facility for part of the season prior to hosting the BIG EAST Tournament in March.

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