# 2020–21 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team

The 2020–21 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by sixth-year (ninth overall with DePaul) head coach Dave Leitao and played their home games at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois as members of the Big East Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Demons finished the season 5–14, 2–13 in Big East play to finish in last place. They defeated Providence in the first round of the Big East tournament before losing to UConn in the quarterfinals.
After finishing in last place in the Big East for a fifth consecutive year, the school fired head coach Leitao on March 15, 2021. On April 1, the school named longtime Oregon assistant Tony Stubblefield the team's new head coach.

## Previous season

The Blue Demons finished the 2019–20 season 16–16, 3–15 in Big East play to finish in last place. They defeated Xavier in the first round of the Big East tournament before the remaining tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Offseason
### Departures

DePaul Departures :
| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Flynn Cameron | 21 | G | 6'3" | 198 | Junior | Auckland, New Zealand | Transferred to UC Riverside |
| Jalen Coleman-Lands | 5 | G | 6'4" | 185 | Senior | Indianapolis, IN | Transferred to Iowa State |
| Devin Gage | 3 | G | 6'2" | 205 | Junior | Chicago, IL | Transferred to Fresno State |
| Paul Reed | 4 | F | 6'9" | 220 | Junior | Orlando, FL | Declared for 2020 NBA draft; selected 58th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers |
| Lyrik Shreiner | 10 | G | 6'3" | 195 | Senior | Phoenix, AZ | Graduated |
| D. J. Williams | 32 | F | 6'7" | 215 | Senior | Chicago, IL | Graduated |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Javon Freeman-Liberty | 4 | G | 6'4 | 180 | Junior | Chicago, IL | Valparaiso |
| Courvoisier McCauley | 23 | G | 6'5 | 180 | Junior | Indianapolis, IN | Lincoln Memorial |
| Pauly Paulicap | 33 | F | 6'8 | 225 | Senior | Elmont, NY | Manhattan |
| Ray Salnave | 10 | G | 6'3 | 205 | Senior | Elmont, NY | Monmouth |

### 2020 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Kobe Elvis PG | Brampton, ON | Bill Crothers Secondary School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Nov 24, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN grade: NR ||||||
| Keon Edwards SF | Pasadena, TX | Hillcrest Prep | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Jan 27, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN grade: 4 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2020 DePaul Signees". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 30, 2019. "2020 DePaul Signees". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 30, 2019. "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 30, 2019. ||||||

## Schedule and results

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the start of the season was pushed back from the scheduled start of November 10. On September 16, 2020, the NCAA announced that November 25 would be the new start date. On November 19, the school announced that it was pausing all men's basketball activities due to positive COVID-19 test results and canceled the first three games of the season. On January 2, 2021, the game against St. John's was postponed due to COVID-19 issues at St. John's. On January 4, the January 5 game against Villanova was postponed due to COVID-19 issues at Villanova.
| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season |||||||||
| November 25, 2020* 8:00 pm, FS2 | | Western Illinois | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 23rd. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 23rd. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 23rd. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 23rd. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 23rd. | Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL |
| November 28, 2020* 12:00 pm, FS2 | | Chicago State | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL |
| December 1, 2020* 8:00 pm, FS2 | | Alcorn State | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL |
| December 3, 2020* 8:00 pm, FS1 | | Northern Illinois | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL |
| December 6, 2020* 5:00 pm, ESPNU | | at Iowa State Big East/Big 12 Battle | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Canceled due to COVID-19 issues | Hilton Coliseum Ames, IA |
| December 11, 2020 3:30 pm, CBSSN | | at Seton Hall | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 17th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 17th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 17th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 17th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 17th. | Prudential Center Newark, NJ |
| December 14, 2020 6:00 pm, FS1 | | at Villanova | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 9th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 9th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 9th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 9th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 9th. | Finneran Pavilion Villanova, PA |
| December 17, 2020 6:00 pm, FS1 | | at Providence | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 27th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 27th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 27th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 27th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to December 27th. | Alumni Hall Providence, RI |
| December 18, 2020 1:00 pm, FS1 | | Xavier | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 3, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 3, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 3, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 3, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 3, 2021. | Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL |
| December 21, 2020 4:30 pm, FS1 | | at Butler | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 6th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 6th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 6th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 6th. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 6th. | Hinkle Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN |
| December 23, 2020 8:00 pm, FS1 | | UConn | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to January 11, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to January 11, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to January 11, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to January 11, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to January 11, 2021. | Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL |
| December 23, 2020* 8:00 pm, FS1 | | Western Illinois | W 91–72 | 1–0 | 22 – Moore | 8 – Freeman-Liberty | 6 – Freeman-Liberty | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| December 27, 2020 3:30 pm, FS1 | | at Providence | L 90–95 $^{2OT}$ | 1–1 (0–1) | 21 – Weems | 8 – Hall | 8 – Moore | Alumni Hall (0) Providence, RI |
| December 30, 2020 8:00 pm, CBSSN | | at UConn | L 61–82 | 1–2 (0–2) | 14 – Hall | 8 – Tied | 4 – Moore | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (0) Storrs, CT |
| January 2, 2021 11:00 am, FS1 | | at St. John's | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 20, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 20, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 20, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 20, 2021. | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Rescheduled to February 20, 2021. | Carnesecca Arena Queens, NY |
| January 5, 2021 6:00 pm, FS1 | | No. 3 Villanova | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL |
| January 9, 2021 1:00 pm, FS1 | | Seton Hall | L 68–76 | 1–3 (0–3) | 22 – Freeman-Liberty | 8 – Weems | 5 – Moore | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| January 11, 2021 5:00 pm, FS1 | | No. 25 UConn | L 53–60 | 1–4 (0–4) | 10 – Hall | 7 – Tied | 4 – Elvis | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| January 13, 2021 6:00 pm, FS1 | | at Georgetown | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | McDonough Gymnasium Washington, D.C. |
| January 16, 2021* 3:00 pm, FS1 | | Valparaiso | W 77–58 | 2–4 | 20 – Weems | 10 – Hall | 5 – Moore | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| January 19, 2021 7:00 pm, CBSSN | | Butler | L 53–67 | 2–5 (0–5) | 12 – Elvis | 8 – Paulicap | 2 – 5 Tied | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| January 23, 2021 5:00 pm, FS1 | | at Marquette | W 68–61 | 3–5 (1–5) | 21 – Moore | 7 – Hall | 3 – Tied | Fiserv Forum (0) Milwaukee, WI |
| January 27, 2021 8:00 pm, FS1 | | St. John's | L 68–81 | 3–6 (1–6) | 21 – Moore | 16 – Paulicap | 4 – Moore | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| January 30, 2021 7:00 pm, CBSSN | | No. 17 Creighton | L 62–69 | 3–7 (1–7) | 21 – Salnave | 8 – Freeman-Liberty | 5 – Freeman-Liberty | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| February 3, 2021 4:00 pm, FS1 | | Xavier | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Wintrust Arena Chicago, IL |
| February 6, 2021 11:00 am, FS1 | | at Butler | L 58–68 | 3–8 (1–8) | 26 – Freeman-Liberty | 8 – Freeman-Liberty | 4 – Salnave | Hinkle Fieldhouse (1,715) Indianapolis, IN |
| February 9, 2021 | | at No. 3 Villanova | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Finneran Pavilion Villanova, PA |
| February 11, 2021 2:30 pm, FS1 | | at Xavier | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Postponed due to COVID-19 issues | Cintas Center Cincinnati, OH |
| February 13, 2021 7:00 pm, FS1 | | Providence | L 47–57 | 3–9 (1–9) | 10 – Jones | 11 – Ongenda | 3 – Elvis | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| February 17, 2021 7:30 pm, FS1 | | at Seton Hall | L 52–60 | 3–10 (1–10) | 15 – Paulicap | 10 – Paulicap | 3 – Elvis | Prudential Center (0) Newark, NJ |
| February 20, 2021 6:30 pm, FS1 | | at St. John's | W 88–83 | 4–10 (2–10) | 24 – Moore | 9 – Paulicap | 8 – Moore | Carnesecca Arena (0) Queens, NY |
| February 24, 2021 8:00 pm, CBSSN | | at No. 14 Creighton | L 53–77 | 4–11 (2–11) | 9 – Tied | 7 – Tied | 3 – Moore | CHI Health Center Omaha (1,936) Omaha, NE |
| February 27, 2021 11:00 am, FS1 | | Georgetown | L 60–68 | 4–12 (2–12) | 22 – Moore | 5 – Pauicap | 4 – Moore | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| March 2, 2021 8:00 pm, FS1 | | Marquette | L 71–77 | 4–13 (2–13) | 20 – Paulicap | 10 – Weems | 6 – Moore | Wintrust Arena (0) Chicago, IL |
| Big East tournament |||||||||
| March 10, 2021 8:00 pm, FS1 | (11) | vs. (6) Providence First round | W 70–62 | 5–13 | 21 – Tied | 8 – Paulicap | 3 – Moore | Madison Square Garden (824) Manhattan, NY |
| March 10, 2021 9:00 pm, FS1 | (11) | vs. (3) UConn Quarterfinals | L 60–94 | 5–14 | 19 – Freeman-Liberty | 6 – Moore | 2 – Tied | Madison Square Garden (824) Manhattan, NY |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. |||||||||
Source