The threesome of rookies Cleveland Melvin and Moses Morgan along with guard Brandon Young have come close, many times. Cincinnati, West Virginia, Louisville; they seem to pile up. But until their 13th Big East game of the regular season last Thursday, they had never walked off the court with a conference win.Despite that, the reason they are close is often the play of one, two, or sometimes all three of the youngsters. And people are noticing.

“I think the freshmen are doing a great job so far this year,” junior guard Jeremiah Kelly said. “They hit a wall early, but they’ve matured. They’re growing, getting better, staying focused and working hard.”

Melvin, a 6′ 8″ forward with a mean spin move, leads the team in scoring and is averaging over 17 points per game in conference play. Young has started every game this season and is second on the team in scoring. It should be no surprise however, that the Blue Demons have improved their play as Morgan started to come around.

As a Las Vegas prep star, Morgan averaged more than 20 points per game, but he struggled upon arrival to DePaul in what he called a “hard transition.”

Head Coach Oliver Purnell said that he “played in a league that was light years away from the physicality and athleticism of the Big East.”

Despite a seven-game scoreless drought, Morgan was eventually able to break through by trusting the same solid stroke that got him to DePaul and now makes him a key contributor off the bench. Dating back to the West Virginia game on Jan. 4, he is shooting 43 percent (13-30) from 3-point range.

“He’s gotten better,” Purnell said. “He gives us more of a threat from the outside than we’ve had.”

Ask each of them who wins a game of 21 and you will get three different answers.

Melvin and Young each said they would win, and said it without hesitation. The third answer was a bit more diplomatic.

“We would each win one game,” Morgan said.

There is a natural chemistry between Young and Melvin on the court, due in no small part to their hometown Baltimore connection. Maybe that is why when Young breaks the half-court line he usually sets his eyes for the Big East Rookie of the Year candidate.

“Brandon always looks for me on the court,” Melvin said. “He’s a good guy, he knows how to find me.”

The trio has also gotten close off the court. When asked about what they do in their free time, their first response involved the other two. Whether they are hanging out in the dorms or going to the student center, they all have each other’s back.

“Since day one we really grew a bond and we’re really close,” Morgan said. “I look up to both of them and whenever I have a problem I talk to both of them about it.”

For anyone who believes that the upperclassmen would have a problem with the freshmen coming in and having the impact that they have, think again. Melvin is the one to break the team down after player introductions with his “dougie” and gives the team energy before tip-off.

Kelly, who has started every game this year, sees no problem with their roles.

According to Kelly, there is no conflict on the team, adding, “I think we still have a good family bond as a team [through the losses].