DePaul Blue Demons 2024-25 Preview & Big East Basketball Predictions

The DePaul Blue Demons have been a cellar dweller. A doormat. A bottom feeder. They have undoubtedly been the worst power conference program since joining the Big East back in 2006, and it’s a total elephant in the room each year at Big East Media Day when Commissioner Val Ackerman continues to mention that ten of the 11 schools in the conference have reached the NCAA Tournament since 2018.

After being fired from his post at Ohio State late last season, it’s now Chris Holtmann‘s turn to revive DePaul in one of the best conferences in the sport. He has made it clear that he has one goal in mind before the team will see any success, and it’s securing a team identity.

“What we need to do is establish how we want to play," said Holtmann. “We need to establish a level of competitiveness on the floor. If we do that, I believe that will translate into on-the-floor success. What that is specifically going to look like, who knows. I do believe this is a group that is going to bring a real competitiveness and a really refreshing way of competing."

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DePaul Blue Demons Odds

Betting Market	FanDuel	DraftKings
Big East Winner	+25000	+50000
Final Four	+9500	+10000
National Championship	+30000	+30000

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Holtmann has tipped his hand slightly on what he wants that identity to be with the players he has brought into the team. Five of his ten incoming transfers shot better than 40 percent from deep a season ago. It was something he slightly leaned into towards his final years at Ohio State, and he may believe it’s the only way he can make the Blue Demons competitive in 2024-25.

DePaul Blue Demons Top Additions

Layden Blocker (Arkansas)	David Skogman (Davidson)	Conor Enright (Drake)

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David Skogman and Conor Enright will likely be the leaders of the sharpshooting as flamethrowers from deep. If Arkansas transfer Layden Blocker can develop into a pass-first guard that can ignite some playmaking out of the backcourt, this could be a competitive group this season.

DePaul Blue Demons Prediction

It’s going to be a multi-year rebuild for the Blue Demons going forward under Holtmann. But the comments he made at media day were promising, and we believe that establishing an identity is the proper first step to get out from under this league. This could be an exciting team to watch in Holtmann’s debut season, and we’re looking forward to them giving some teams an unexpected handful this year.

Prediction: 10th Place Big East Finish