November 3, 2008

I am looking forward to the start of the season. Practice has been exciting especially with all the new faces, and I couldn’t be happier with the effort of all of our players. Also, our returning kids have done a great job leading and mentoring our new players and our chemistry has never been better. We obviously are a very young team, but we will never use our age as an excuse for not competing to win every game in the toughest conference in the country.

We play an exhibition game vs. Lewis this Friday, November 7and our season opener is Monday, November 17 vs. Albany. Both games will be played on campus at McGrath Arena. I hope you are able to come out and support our 2008-09 Blue Demon squad.

October 15, 2008

With the official start of practice October 17, I am excited about the prospects for this basketball season and I am really looking forward to working with my team this year- a young team consisting of 2 seniors, 1 junior, 4 sophomores and 5 freshmen. They have all worked very hard in the pre-season not only in the classroom but on their strength, conditioning and basketball skills. They have been challenged everyday and their academic and athletic schedules have been very demanding. I am very proud of how they have responded and am confident we will see the result of all their hard work when our season begins November 17th against Albany (this game will be played in McGrath Arena)


Look forward to seeing you at Blue Madness Friday October 17th at 8:00 p.m. and at our open practice at 1:00p.m. on Saturday, October 18.

HOOPS WITH THE TROOPS

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-spt

Official Press Release


Hardwood Heroes

DePaul head coach Jerry Wainwright along with seven of today’s most renowned NCAA basketball coaches and sports personalities are traveling to the Persian Gulf to visit troops as part of the fifth installment of “Operation Hardwood: Hoops with the Troops,” a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour featuring a week-long basketball tournament and championship game with some of the best military players stationed overseas. Wainwright will be checking in periodically throughout the trip to share his experiences...

Hello DePaul fans. Operation Hardwood has been eventful already. We left on Saturday and because my flight was delayed in Chicago I missed the tour of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. Because of the flight I didn’t have much time in Washington, D.C. as we hopped a 14-hour flight to Kuwait on Tuesday. That flight was fine until we landed. Shortly after touchdown there was a dust storm and the temperature was a balmy 120 degrees, combined with the eight-hour time difference (ahead) I felt like I missed a day of rest but the energy of our service personnel got me going right away!

So far we’ve taken tours of three bases in Kuwait but due to security reasons I can’t be too specific as to where we have been and where we are going. I’ve been absolutely awed by the morale of the troops. Their focus of completing the mission and the dedication of the young people that I‘ve encountered would make any coach (or leader of any group) proud.

I have met so many incredible people who are risking their lives serving all of us. Their belief in serving our country and its people is truly humbling. They have been adamant about how much our support means to them so please don't anyone forget them!

On Wednesday it was 122 degrees with moderate winds causing sand to be constantly part of your attire. The conditions are really tough but the troops handle without complaint, it is very impressive.

On a side note, gas here is 99-cents for a gallon and everyone drives like it’s a NASCAR event. I was told by the military that speed limits in this region are merely a suggestion.

Tomorrow (Thursday) we fly out to Iraq. Because of security reasons we have not been told our exact destination yet and likely won’t know until we arrive. Upon arrival we will meet our teams and great ready for the tournament.

Of course I do miss my family and my DePaul family but I am honored to see this up close and to have the opportunity to meet these kids who are really THE BEST our country has to offer. These are moments I will take with me for the rest of my life.

- Coach Wainwright

May 5, 2008

BELIEVE AND ACHIEVE CLINIC UPDATE

The first of two May Believe and Achieve clinics was held this past Saturday at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center in Evanston. Over 50 youngsters enjoyed a morning of basketball and life skills training with Coach Wainwright. Current Blue Demons Jabari Currie, Mac Koshwal, and Dar Tucker also came out to support the kids and give something back to the community. Coach Wainwright and the players led the kids through a series of demanding drills, interspersed with information about fitness, nutrition, and academics.

Believe and Achieve continues with its mission next Saturday, May 10, as another free clinic will be held at the MAX in McCook/Western Springs. Believe and Achieve is committed to teaching and developing young people-not just basketball-wise, but in all areas of life. The series of free clinics have become a great way for Coach Wainwright and the Blue Demons to do some community service in a way which makes a real difference in someone’s life. Look for more clinics around the Chicago area coming in August!
 

March 14, 2008

Burns, Koshwal and Tucker Recognized

Three Blue Demons were recognized by the conference this week for their performances during the 2007-08 basketball season.

6’4 senior guard Draelon Burns from Milwaukee, Wi (17.6 ppg/3.4 rpg) was selected to the All-Big East Second Team and 6’4 guard Dar Tucker from Saginaw, MI (13.3 ppg/4.7 rpg) and 6’10 forward Mac Koshwal from Chicago (10.7 ppg/8.4 rpg) were both selected to the 11-member Big East All-Rookie Team.

Votes are cast by the conference’s head coaches – they are not permitted to vote for their own players.

Other Season Highlights

- Cliff Clinkscales finished the regular season ranked #1 in the country in assist-turnover ratio (3.62) with 123 assists/34 turnovers.

- Also, Dar Tucker and Mac Koshwal finished the regular season ranked as the 8th highest scoring freshmen duo in the country.
 

Jan. 29, 2008

In my mind, the Big East is the toughest conference in the country. We now sit at 4-3 in the conference standings with games vs. Syracuse and Notre Dame this week. That is followed by contests with Providence, South Florida and Louisville, and one can clearly see there are no games in the conference one could call easy.

It has been a challenge to find a consistent level of play with our team this year. We have had consistent effort and I am very proud of how hard our kids play, but we need to play 40 minutes at a high level rather than the 32 we’ve played the last couple of games. Our young players are starting to “get it” and certainly have given us “an energy” and a level of athleticism that has kept us competitive against all opponents. We do need, though, to take a big step forward as a team to improve at all the little things so that we can finish the last 11 games of conference play successfully.

Syracuse, as always, will be a tough game. They are well coached, big, rebound exceptionally well and have outstanding offensive talent. The most important factor for us will be shooting the basketball well against their zone.

We then go on the road to arguably the best home court in our league when we play Notre Dame on Saturday. They are playing as well as any team in our league right now and possess the ability to score at every position. DePaul vs. Notre Dame is a great rivalry with a great tradition, and I sincerely believe Saturday’s game will only add to that legacy.

Our kids are doing well in school and are working hard in practice, and I am hopeful that we will be full strength for our Wednesday-Saturday games this week.