Mayor Rahm Emanuel, DePaul University step up with Arena Deal

May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced plans for a large-scale project near McCormick Place, which includes construction of a 10,000-seat, multipurpose events center to be the new home for DePaul Blue Demons college basketball.

In addition to hosting the DePaul men’s and women’s basketball teams; and serving as a college basketball practice facility, the events center will host the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and Chicago convention-related business, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced.

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DePaul to get new downtown arena

May 15, 2013 by 1 Comment

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The Chicago Tribune broke a story in the early morning hours about the new DePaul college basketball arena. The new plan, and like Benjamin Linus on the former ABC series Lost, DePaul “always has a plan,” calls for two hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues next to the McCormick Place convention center.

The formal announcement could come this week.

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2013 NBA Draft Combine Participants

May 9, 2013 by

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The NBA Draft Combine hits Chicago next week.  It’s the most…..wonderful…..time……of the year!!!!!!! Ok, not really. But it’s still a pretty cool event. Most likely everyone who’s going to get picked in the NBA Draft comes to the Second City for workouts with NBA scouts and interviews with the media.

The invite list did not include the Gophers’ Rodney Williams (that’s fine, he really shouldn’t be picked anyway), Florida State’s Michael Snaer (surprising, I mean someone in the NBA has to play defense at some point), Alex Oriakhi (take it or leave it), Marquette’s Vander Blue (we’re very surprised) and Elias Harris of Gonzaga.

Like the late Nate Dogg said: “I don’t want to dream about getting paid,” and pretty soon these gentlemen won’t have to.

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2014 NBA Mock Draft (4/22/13)

April 21, 2013 by 2 Comments

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The 2014 NBA Draft class is shaping up to be way more loaded than the 2013 group.  Here is an insanely early 2014 NBA Mock Draft where team needs and outstanding trades have NOT yet been taken into account. Click here for The Sports Bank’s 2013 NBA Mock Draft.

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Fox Sports replaces ESPN as New Big East broadcast partners

March 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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The new Big East, otherwise known as the Catholic 7, announced a new partnership with FOX Sports that will grant the television network exclusive media rights. The old Big East was completely in bed with ESPN, so this move to Fox could signify at least a small shift in power away from ESPN and to Fox Sports. Certainly it means a lot in the college basketball world.

With the launch of Fox Sports 1, hopefully one day Fox Sports will be able to rival ESPN, the World Wide Leader.

FOX Sports and FOX Sports 1 will acquire television rights to all Big East games, as part of a 12-year contract that was detailed during a press conference at the midtown Manhattan studios of FOX News. (And you know those studios are fair and balanced, the won’t tip over) Under the broadcast partnership, FOX Sports will have television rights to a wide range of marquee Big East basketball games, including the annual Big East conference tournament.

The new Big East will consist of the Butler Bulldogs, Creighton Blue Jays, Xavier Musketeers in addition to join the Catholic 7 basketball conference which consists of the seven college basketball only schools previously in the Big East: (Catholic institutions Marquette, DePaul, Georgetown, Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Providence)

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Butler, Xavier, Creighton joining Catholic 7 basketball conference (Big East Update)

March 16, 2013 by 3 Comments

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Multiple sources report The Butler Bulldogs, Creighton Blue Jays and Xavier Musketeers will join the Catholic 7 basketball conference which consists of the seven college basketball only schools previously in the Big East: (Catholic institutions Marquette, DePaul, Georgetown, Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Providence)

Not since Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation have a group of Catholics felt so freed and empowered. (Remember they were all Catholics before they became Protestants and later Lutherans. Catholic excess was what they were “protesting” against. I guess 7 Catholic schools gave up the Big East conference for Lent.

The Catholic 7 basketball conference will still keep the Big East name. New league begins play July 1

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For DePaul Blue Demons, Big East Tournament is their NCAA Tournament

March 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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Hopefully, this week in Madison Square Garden will say goodbye to the league in style, by winning a few consecutive games. The Blue Demons are part of the Catholic seven who are starting their own conference, and bringing the Big East name with them. Yes, seven Catholic schools gave up their conference for Lent.

DePaul will play Rutgers next in the final Big East as we know it tournament. “I do think we match-up against them well, and of course we won the game here,” Purnell said of the match-up with the Scarlet Knights.

“This is our NCAA tournament,” Purnell said of the Big East tournament. “We play Rutgers (on Tuesday). If we win, we keep going. So it functions exactly like a NCAA tournament. That’s the approach we have to take.”
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Pitt Panthers win comfortably at DePaul; #20 Pitt Panthers on hot streak

March 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Pittsburgh-Panthers

On an episode of Mr. Belvidere, the character played by Bob Uecker once sang karaoke “My kind of town..Pittsburgh is” The rift on the popular Sinatra tune about Chicago is apt for #20 Pitt Panthers basketball as they own a winning record at DePaul. The Pitt Panthers shot 76% from the field, 83% on three pointers in the first half to build a big 46-35 lead after the first 20 minutes. They won 81-66; shooting 72% for the game (that’s a school record), 64% from deep.

The Pitt Panthers ruined DePaul senior night and improved to 24-7, 12-6 in Big East play. The #20 team in college basketball, they’re riding a hot streak into March Madness. The Pitt Panthers have won four in a row, 11/14 and 12/16. Over the last 12 years, the Pitt Panthers are the Big East leaders in winning percentage, conference winning percentage, Big East championships, Big East Tournament wins and NCAA Tournament appearances.

So they’ll say goodbye to the league in style, as they move on to the ACC.

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Former Chicago Blackhawks reporter Sarah Kustok video message for Chicago

March 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

sarah-kustok

Sarah Kustok, a popular television star at Comcast SportsNet Chicago since 2009, has moved on to the YES Network in New York, where she covers the Brooklyn Nets. But she was back in her hometown of Chicago last night to cover the Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets game. She had a video message for her hometown.

Sarah Kustok expressed her excitement over the Blackhawks record breaking red hot start; a team she used to cover. Are the Blackhawks on the way to another Stanley Cup?

The extremely photogenic and search engine friendly former Blackhawks reporter joined 19 other inductees into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame last fall. including Green Bay Packers legend Paul Hornung, Chicago Bears linebacker Otis Wilson and Bo Jackson. Sarah Kustok is the 4th best career three-point shooter in DePaul history.

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DePaul basketball has made a three in 608 straight games

March 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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DePaul basketball has made at least one three-pointer in 608 straight games. That’s insane. The last time they were scoreless from behind the arc  was February 16th, 1993 versus UAB. The streak almost fell Wednesday night in a loss to Louisville. DePaul didn’t hit a three until late in the second half and they finished just 1-9 from the field. Something to watch for when they battle last place USF at 1 CDT tomorrow.

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