When it comes to the state of Chicago college basketball, Northwestern is far and away the juggernaut.
Of the five teams in the city, they are the only one in a power five conference, and the only one that can be considered a “high-major” right now. NU took part in the annual Chicago college basketball tip-off luncheon yesterday, but they are in a different category from the four mid-majors in town who joined them.
I know DePaul is still considered a “high-major” by some standards, but given the decline of the Big East, and the Blue Demons program itself, the “mid-major” shoe actually fits. DPU drew 1,900 fans a game last year; that’s mid-major attendance figures.
These days, only teams in the power five, schools that also have a football program, are true high majors. This is what led to the disintegration of the Big East as we knew it, and the end of “leagues.” Like Jay Bilas said we don’t have leagues anymore just loose affiliations of programs for television contract purposes.
As another college hoops season tips off in ten days, things could get even worse for the state of Chicago’s college basketball before they get better.
Of the four mid-major programs in Chicago, three (DePaul, Loyola, UIC) were picked to finish dead last in their league’s respective poll.
Read that previous sentence again.
DePaul wasn’t just picked last in the Big East poll; they were picked last “with authority” as Marv Albert would say. The second to last team, Creighton, got more than twice as many votes (25) as the Blue Demons received (12) in that poll.
So if you support Chicago’s college teams through thick and thin, it’s been thin and it’s going to get thinner. Like Calista Flockhart, to Calista Flockhart on slim fast for six weeks. As NU is part of the Big Ten, we’ll preview their season later this week in a separate piece (not “A Separate Peace,” sorry John Knowles).
This is the Chicago mid-major four preview. (in alphabetical order)
1. Chicago State Cougars
The good: home venue is really nice; a great new arena. But not many people in Chicago know all that much about the Cougars or exactly where they’re located. They were NAIA not all that long ago. CSU earned the third seed in the WAC Tourney last year, so they’re on their way up in the world.
The bad: everybody is gone from last year. I’m not joking. Everybody.
The ugly: as a program, they’re really “just happy to be here” at this point.
2. DePaul Blue Demons
The good: Billy Garrett Jr. has next level potential. He could be all conference, if not this year than next for sure. The new McCormick Place arena is the first genuinely good news this program has had in a very long time. And DePaul hasn’t been irrelevant for really all that long. It was just ten years ago that DPU won conference and reached the NCAA Tournament. Falling that quickly, they can regroup just as fast, right?
The Big East is down, so league wins are available if Oliver Purnell finally does at DePaul what he’s done at every other program he’s coached.
The bad: Purnell’s 9-63 in conference play record has given Chicago no reason to believe. Despite his abysmal league record he really doesn’t seem to be on the hot seat. That’s quite problematic because if he isn’t under pressure, despite his laughably bad performance, what are DePaul’s current standards then?
The ugly: The Demons are drawing 1,900 fans (we’re talking through the gate, not tickets sold) per game, to a badly aging arena that is a nightmare commute from downtown at rush hour. (O’Hare traffic!). Considering that under 2,000 fans show up to a place that seats 17,500 you can imagine what the gameday atmosphere is like.
3. Loyola Ramblers
The good: Milton Doyle was the MVC freshman of the year, and the first player to ever lead Loyola in scoring, assists, steals and blocked shots. In addition to Doyle, three more starters return. Unfortunately, he’s got a torn labrum in his shooting shoulder. He is practicing and rehabbing though. He could play through the pain and be just fine. Or he could be shut down for the season due to surgery.
The bad: It’s been about 30 years since Loyola has gone dancing and the Missouri Valley is a one-bid conference. The Ramblers have zero chance of leap-frogging the Wichita State Shockers to get there. Not to mention all the other MVC teams they would have to go through first. Loyola has been irrelevant in Chicago for so long, it’s hard to envision them mattering again anytime soon.
The ugly: having their starting backcourt banged up (point guard Jeff White will miss the first few games of the season due to an arthroscopy), for at least the beginning of the season…on a team that’s picked last in a very weak league to begin with…well…..
4. UIC Flames
The good: I guess, since the Horizon League has no sizzle and no steak, you could say that the race is wide open and the conference crown is as much there’s for the taking as anybody’s else?? Maybe? I don’t know? I’m really struggling on this one.
The bad: With eight or fewer wins in four of the past five seasons. And only one starter returning from a 6-25, 1-15 in conference team, well you see where this is going. If you’ve been to a game at the UIC Pavilion lately, then you already that there’s nothing more to say about the runt of the Chicago college hoops litter.
The ugly: No need to keep piling on. We’ll stop.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2