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BIG EAST Conference preview: Title runs through either Marquette or DePaul

By Erica Ayala

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 14: Commissioner Val Ackerman addresses the media during the Big East Men's & Women's Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 14, 2015 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 14: Commissioner Val Ackerman addresses the media during the Big East Men's & Women's Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 14, 2015 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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DePaul leads the BIG EAST Preseason Polls

CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 06: DePaul Blue Demons head coach Doug Bruno reacts during the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 6, 2018 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 06: DePaul Blue Demons head coach Doug Bruno reacts during the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles on March 6, 2018 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Doug Bruno has his team on top yet again.  The reigning BIG EAST Conference champions share the top preseason votes with Marquette. Bruno has led the Blue Demons to 11 consecutive 20+ win seasons. In the past five seasons, DePaul has done no worse than tie for first place.

Like Marquette, DePaul will play two Top Five teams this preseason. Unlike Marquette, they will do so with a roster full of underclassmen. If the Blue Demons want to remain on top, they will have to do so with six true freshmen. However, five of their six players who averaged double-digit points per game are returning. Not too bad!

2017-18 Record: Overall Record 27-18 ;BIG EAST Conference 15-3; Tied first

2018-19 Preseason Poll: First place, tied

Key Returners:

DePaul landed two players on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.  Junior guard Kelly Campbell and senior forward Mart’e Grays were unanimous selections in the preseason poll.

Last month, Campbell was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award watch list. The Lieberman Award is given to the top point guard in women’s Division I college basketball.

Additionally, Grays was tabbed for the 2019 Cheryl Miller Awards watch list. The Cheryl Miller awards is presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association to the top small forward in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.

The returners also 2017-18 All-BIG EAST First Team selections. Campbell led the conference with 6.2 assists per game. She also averaged 10.3 rebounds per game, good for the second-best tally in the BIG  EAST.

Games to Watch:

Opener: Friday, November 9 vs. UW Green Bay – 8:00 p.m

Notre Dame (1) at DePaul – Saturday, November 17 at 2:00 pm

DePaul at Connecticut (2) – Wednesday, November 28 at TBD

BIG EAST Opener: Saturday, December 29 vs. Creighton – 8: 00 p.m on BEDN

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