“I just want to leave the younger guys, and leave this program better than what I found it. That’s really the biggest thing that as you grow up, doing something bigger for yourself is brings a lot more joy than just thinking about yourself and goals. Obviously, taking this place somewhere where it hasn’t been in a long time, is definitely bigger than myself.”

““I’ve always thought that Chris was a great coach. I watched his teams play, and I always thought he was great from afar, always a great admiration for him as a coach. DePaul is the largest Catholic school in the nation. We’re the second largest Catholic school in the nation. DePaul has a beautiful campus. Their good school, scholastically, is no question about DePaul becoming a really good basketball program. The only thing, and I don’t know this, is, how big is their NIL, if he (Holtmann) has the same NIL as the rest of us they’ll be back in them, just like Georgetown will be back on. Ed Cooley, Chris Holtmann, (there’s)not a doubt in my mind that DePaul will be back and the Big East will be better than ever.”

“He’s going to get evaluated here at the end of this week. We should know a little bit more then on whether or he can return to play right away or it’s going to be something that could last throughout the end of the season. So he really wants to come back and play, but we’re not going to put his hand at any risk of further damage.”

St. Johns took control of the game at the end of the first half and never looked back. DePaul falls to 2-14 in conference play.

DePaul has gotten out numbered in almost every category tonight. Blue Demons 3-point percentage has been better tonight (34.6%), they came into tonight’s game shooting 25% from three in their last five games.

St. Johns is just pulling away from DePaul. They’re shooting from 50% from the three and 45% from the field.

DePaul is really struggling on the interior. They’re getting outscored in the paint 24-12, and out rebounded 30-21.

DePaul just looks unconfident in their open looks. Passing up some good looks for end of shot clock shots.

DePaul has kept this game close, not a nearly six minute scoring drought is the difference.

DePaul has gone nearly six minutes without a made FG.

DePaul has gotten some stops defensively but haven’t in scored in the last 2:10. DePaul guard Jacob Meyer played the last several minutes without his shoe. Yes, you read that correctly. Meyer’s shoe came off during a defensive possession and there wasn’t a stoppage to get it back to him.

Red Storm go on a 6-0 run causing Chris Holtmann to use a timeout. DePaul has matched St. Johns bucket for bucket until this recent stretch.

Lots of ball movement, not a lot of scoring.

JJ Traynor vs. Zuby Ejiofor for the tip

DePaul wins it.

Away we go.

Tip-off has been delayed until 8:15 p.m. due to Providence vs. Georgetown running long in the game before on FS1.

G Layden Blocker

G CJ Gunn

G Isaiah Rivera

G David Thomas

F JJ Traynor

Brian O’Connell, Tim Clougherty, Justin Albrect