DePaul, Long Beach State look to bounce back from opening losses

Field Level Media|published: Fri 10th November, 21:17 2023

Mar 9, 2023; New York, NY, USA; DePaul Blue Demons head coach Tony Stubblefield instructs the team in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers during the second round of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. credits: The Enquirer-USA TODAY Sports

It's been 17 years since DePaul opened a season with two straight defeats.

And nearly that long since Long Beach State experienced the same disappointing start.

The Blue Demons and Beach each will try again for that first victory of the season Saturday night in Chicago.

Looking to move on from last season's 10-win season, DePaul didn't get off to a good start with Tuesday's 82-74 home loss to Purdue Fort Wayne. The Blue Demons shot 49 percent and erased a 13-point deficit but committed 22 turnovers and allowed the Mastodons to make 9 of 18 3-pointers en route to losing their first opener since 2017.

DePaul last started 0-2 in November 2006.

"There's nothing we can do about that one, it's about how we respond from here," said Wyoming transfer Jeremiah Oden, who had 13 points and eight rebounds in his DePaul debut.

South Carolina transfer Chico Carter Jr. had a team-high 18 points and pulled down eight boards for DePaul, which aims to rebound in this first-ever meeting with Long Beach State.

The Beach return their entire starting lineup from last season's 17-win group and were picked to finish second in the Big West preseason poll. However, Long Beach State shot 36.2 percent overall, 8-of-29 from 3-point range and 15-of-23 at the free-throw line during Monday's 78-73 loss at Portland.

Jadon Jones had 23 points, Marcus Tsohonis scored 17 and Aboubacar Traore added 16 with nine rebounds and five assists as LBSU dropped its opener for the fourth time in six seasons. The Beach have not started 0-2 since 2008-09.

"I like my kids, I wouldn't trade them for anybody," Beach coach Dan Monson told The Big West Conference. "But, we've got a lot to prove ... It's a long year."

Since the start of the 2008-09 season, Long Beach State is 1-6 against Big East teams on the road and lost the last four such meetings. However, the most recent came in December 2014 at St. John's.

—Field Level Media