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After having their first three games canceled due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests in their program, the DePaul Blue Demons are ready to kick off their season. After a strong start to last years campaign, the wheels fell off for Dave Leitao’s team during conference play. The Blue Demons ended up finishing with a 16-16 record which put them in the bottom of the Big East standings when the season was shut down. After losing Paul Reed and Jalen Coleman-Lands, the Blue Demons will have to rely on some returning names in Charlie Moore and Jaylen Butz along with some new faces entering the program. With the majority of their games being in conference play, improving from last seasons woeful 3-15 record in Big East play surely has to be a goal. However to start their season, DePaul’s first opponent will be a non-conference one. Ironically, it will be the school that one of their former players, Coleman-Lands, transferred to.
The Iowa State Cyclones have already started their season and have gone .500 in their first two games. They began with a 80-63 win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff thanks to outscoring their opponents 46-26 in the second half. Coleman-Lands led the way with 17 points with Rasir Bolton adding 16 of his own. However in their most recent game, they were upset at Hilton by the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 71-68. The Cyclones battled back from a 12 point half-time deficit and got 24 points from Solomon Young but it wasn’t enough to pull off the victory. They were also out rebounded by their Summit League opponents 34-29. They will be looking to get back to their winning ways and for Jalen Coleman-Lands, it will be a very early chance to face off against his former team. After this game, Iowa State is scheduled to play their in-state rival and No. 3 team in the country in Iowa next Friday before playing a Big 12 opponent on Kansas State.
Meanwhile for DePaul, they are also scheduled to play next Friday against Seton Hall before traveling to face off against Villanova.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game Time: 6PM ET
TV: ESPNU
Radio: WYLL 1160 AM (DePaul) | Cyclone Radio Network (Iowa State)
Stream: Watch ESPN (where streaming is available)
Gamblin’ Odds
Odds: Iowa State is a 3.5 point favorite in this one (via the Action Network).
Record ATS: DePaul (0-0) | Iowa State (0-2)
O/U: The total is set at 147 (also via the Action Network).
Last Time They Met
It’s been a long time since both of these programs have played each other. In fact, it’s been 53 years since the Cyclones and Blue Demons faced off against each and today will be only the second ever meeting between the two schools. The last time they played was back in 1967, which resulted in a DePaul win. So you could say that they lead the all time series 1-0.
By the Numbers
Iowa State are 71st in the country according to KenPom with an adjusted offensive efficiency rating of 106.8 (52nd) and a defensive efficiency rating of 95.5 (97th).
Meanwhile DePaul is 81st overall with an adjusted offense rating of 103.9 (88th) and a defensive rating of 94.4 (80th).