DePaul has another upset in mind

Pitt Panthers beware: The DePaul Blue Demons knows how to protect their house.

The Blue… Pitt Panthers beware: The DePaul Blue Demons knows how to protect their house.

The Blue Demons (10-6, 1-1 Big East) are no stranger to beating high-profile opponents on their home court, having already defeated Kansas, Wake Forest and California in the Allstate Arena this season.

In fact, the Blue Demons boast a nine-game home win streak that dates back to February of last season.

To provide further angst for the Panthers, DePaul is also coming off an important road victory against perennial Big East power Villanova on Saturday.

And after playing their first two Big East contests on the road, the Blue Demons welcome a home game.

“We have to move on to the next game, that’s what conference play is all about,” DePaul head coach Jerry Wainwright said after his team’s win over Villanova.

“At least we get to go home for this next one.”

The stay at home won’t last long for the Blue Demons, though, as they only host one of their first four Big East games.

Seventh-ranked Pitt (14-2, 2-0 Big East), meanwhile, is in the midst of a four-game win streak dating back to its Dec. 23 win over Dayton.

On Sunday, the Panthers trounced South Florida, 69-48, to remain undefeated (10-0) at home this season.

The win was Jamie Dixon’s 90th of his career as head coach, making Dixon the first coach in school history to reach that milestone so quickly.

A game at DePaul also holds some memories for Dixon and his family. Dixon’s sister, the late Maggie Dixon, was an assistant women’s basketball coach at DePaul for four years before moving on to the head job at Army.

But playing away from the Petersen Events Center has proved to be a little trickier for the Panthers so far this season.

Pitt is 4-2 on the road this season, including a narrow 70-67 victory over mid-major Buffalo. Pitt’s two losses came in back-to-back games over winter break to Wisconsin and Oklahoma State.

The Panthers, however, are just 1-1 all-time against DePaul. Pitt defeated the Blue Demons, 73-65, last season inside the Petersen Events Center.

The other meeting between the two schools came during the 1936-37 season when DePaul beat the Panthers, 41-37, in Chicago, Ill.

The Blue Demons are led by senior guard Sammy Mejia. The senior was selected to the preseason All-Big East Team and ranks either in or jus outside of the top 10 in five all-time categories at DePaul, including minutes played (3,217), scoring (1,271), 3-point field goal attempts (294), 3-point field goals made (96) and assists (351).

The New York native, who will be starting his 100th career game in a Blue Demon uniform, is averaging 16.1 points per game and also leads the team in rebounding with 107 on the season.

Mejia was named Big East Player of the Week for the second time this season on Jan. 2, in part because of his 40-point performance against Northwestern State on Dec. 29.

Last season, Mejia scored 15 points on the Panthers in a losing effort.

Right behind Mejia in scoring and rebounding is 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Wilson Chandler.

Chandler is averaging 15.8 points per contest and 6.6 rebounds coming into the game.

The young forward notched 18 points and 11 boards in the win over Villanova for his second double-double of the season.

Currently, Chandler ranks near the top of the Big East’s statistical leaders. He is 11th in scoring, 14th in minutes played and 19th in rebounding.

Pitt will counter DePaul with its strong post play and ever-improving perimeter shooting.

Senior center Aaron Gray has struggled as of late, failing to record a double-digit scoring total since the team’s loss at Oklahoma State.

The Preseason Big East Player of the Year pick is averaging 14.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest thus far.

His numbers have dropped to 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds since the start of conference play, however.

“We’ve seen a lot of two-three zones recently, a lot of teams that have set out to take away our inside game,” Dixon said of Gray’s struggles.

“His point totals may not be as high, but he’s doing a great job reading what the defense gives him.”

Levon Kendall has also been quieted recently.

Kendall was held to only five points on Sunday and two against Syracuse.

In the absence of Pitt’s typically reliable interior scoring, the guards have stepped up their game.

The Panthers have converted 46.3 percent (32-69) of their 3-point attempts in the past three games.

Despite averaging only 9.8 points per contest for the season, sophomore point guard Levance Fields has improved his output to 17.5 points per game in the Panthers’ first two Big East contests.

“When I was missing, I started thinking about it a little bit,” Fields said.

“Now I’m just shooting it again. I’m not really thinking about how it looks, and it’s been going down, so that’s the best result I could ask for.”

Reserve guard Ronald Ramon has also improved his point-per-game average from 8.6 to 10.5 since the start of conference play.

“Everybody’s been knocking down good shots recently,” Ramon said.

“It’s something we’ve struggled a bit with in recent seasons, but this year, we have a number of guys that can step up and make a big shot.

“It’s just another way that this team can beat you.”

Junior Keith Benjamin has also provided a nice spark off the bench. In the team’s two Big East contests, Benjamin has shot a phenomenal .714 from the floor and connected on all three of his 3-point attempts.

“I think the inside-outside game is the best it’s ever been,” Benjamin said.

“We’re all knocking down shots now, and I think the confidence in each other is as high as it’s ever been.”

Dixon commented on the depth of the team after the win over South Florida.

“Keith Benjamin has been giving us very good minutes both offensively and defensively, which really helps us out with what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“As I’ve said all along, I feel very comfortable with the makeup of this roster.”

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. tonight. The game will be aired nationally on ESPN2 with Dave O’Brien (play-by-play) and Rick Majerus (color) calling the action.