SB Nation - Dar Tucker

If We Have To Suffer, So Does Everyone Else

Sean Keeley — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:48:40 -0000

Just in case you feel like the only girl at the dance without a partner, take comfort in the knowledge that we're just one of many Big East programs losing underclassmen stars.

Hasheem Thabeet is leaving early over at UConn. Pitt's DeJuan Blair is going pro and has already hired an attorney and a "marketing representative." Georgetown didn't have a great year and DaJuan Summers' decision to leave early doesn't help matters. DePaul's season was even less impressive but that won't stop Dar Tucker from leaving early from there. There's even a rumor that Orange-killer Scottie Reynolds could be leaving Villanova early, thank the lord.

Then again, this all just makes me sadder, knowing just how much Jonny Flynn could dominate the Big East next year. Forget I mentioned anything...

Big East Tournament live blog: 8) Providence vs. 16) Depaul

Mike Rutherford — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:02:24 -0000

The first round of the Big East Tournament was one of my favorite days on the basketball calendar even during the years Louisville was running around in the Metro and C-USA. Obviously the second (or third) Wednesday in March has become even more enjoyable now that the Cards are among the teams taking the floor inside Madison Square Garden.

The first game of the 2009 slate of Wednesday games will determine who the top-seeded Cardinals face tomorrow at the same time.

It's eight-seeded and bubble ridden Providence taking on the perhaps the least likely team in the country to be playing today, No. 16 Depaul, a squad which went winless over the 18-game Big East regular season.

Feel free to join in the fun via the comments section or with an email to MikeRuth5@aol.com.

Let's hit it.

12:02 - We're here live from the Card Chronicle Compound (not Headquarters) and ready for an opening tilt that will lack the excitement of the 8/9 games of previous years unless Depaul can play above its head again.

Dan Schulman is here, Len Elmore is here, Mike Rutherford is sitting on a couch in Louisville. It's go time.

12:06 - Six shots, six misses and I'm pretty sure they've all been wide left....interesting?

12:07 - Weyinmi Efejuku finishes an alley-oop for the first made field goal in 11 attempts.

12:09 - Here's hoping our noon game is just a tad more aesthetically pleasing tomorrow.

Friahs up 4-2 at the under 16 timeout.

12:14 - Dar Tucker hasn't missed and has ten points. The Demons can hang if he's having one of his all-world games.

It's Depaul up 12-11 as the pace starts to pick up.

12:16 -Will Walker goes coast-to-coast for an uncontested lay-up and Depaul's up three.

Providence looks like it only had to show up to play tomorrow, and Keno Davis looks like he's ready to decapitate someone.

12:20 - A friend last night guaranteed that Jerry Wainwright would go out and get hammered to celebrate Depaul's first round win. I had my doubts, but Schulman just said that Wainwright is under the weather and "doesn't look like himself."

If Depaul wins and Wainwright inexplicably starts crying and pulls out his cell phone in the middle of tomorrow's game then we'll know for sure.

12:26 - The dream is alive and well in the Garden...Depaul leads 19-13 with ten to play in the half.

12:28 - Depaul has seven offensive boards and zero turnovers while the Friars have given it up six times. PC has to get Efejuku or Curry going. It's 22-16, Demons at the under eight.

12:31 - Dar Tucker really is Wilson Chandler. I almost hate seeing him play this way because you know he's capable of doing it every night, and you know that he's still eventually going to get paid because of his ridiculous talent.

12:35 - Depaul builds a nine-point lead and then shows why it went 0-18 in conference play by turning it over three straight times and letting the lead dip back down to one.

12:38 - Providence has started trying and Depaul has kind of stopped at the same time. It's still the Demons by one, 25-24 at the under four.

12:45 - Depaul's Mario Stula doesn't play for the first 17 minutes of the game and then gets in and buries a pair of treys in about 30 seconds. Demons up 31-29.

12:49 - Sharaud Curry banks in a three to put PC up one at the half.

12:54 - Jerry Wainwright is friggin' pumped.

12:57 - Curry is the game's leading scorer with 16 points, while Will Walker has 13 and Tucker has 10 for Depaul.

1:12 - Walker and Tucker come out firing and Depaul goes back up by three. Surely there's a massive PC run coming sometime between now and the five minute mark.

1:14 - Jerry Wainwright: master of the seemlingly unnecessary early second half timeout. Hey, it's working my man, stick with it.

1:15 - Score updates:

Baylor 28, Nebraska 21 (first half)
St. Louis 26, La Salle 24 (halftime)
Rice 6, Marshall 6

1:18 - Sharaud Curry is in one of his Sharaud Curry zones. He's got 21 and we're tied at 43.

1:20 - Providence isn't playing particularly well, but they're also not insanely lethargic or disinterested. There's just no excuse for this Depaul team with Walker, Tucker and Koshwal going 0-18 and continually dropping games by ridiculous margins in the Big East.

It's 45-45 with just under 14 to play. If you all quit your jobs now you'll probably be able to catch the last nine or ten minutes.

1:24 - Stula's hit seven threes all season and he's knocked down three in just over two minutes of court time this afternoon. Unreal.

1:25 - Walker's a good shooter and an excellent calming force, but he's not a particularly good ball-handler nor is anyone else in blue. I just don't understand why it's taken Providence so long to pick up the press and extend its defense in the halfcourt.

Depaul 51-46 with 12:30 to go.

1:29 - PC is trying to force Tucker to go to his right and he's still scoring. Darquavis has 22 and his team's up 55-53.

This is borderline unbelievable.

1:33 - As entertaining as this is, it's really not good for the conference.

1:37 - Depaul making the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament has officially become a realistic possbility. Tucker's got 25 and the Demons lead by four with eight and-a-half to go.

1:39 - Stula with a huge block on Efejuku. The man has been hustling for five months.

1:39 - Keno Davis gets T'd up in what would seem to be a desperate move by a desperate coach. Depaul up 60-55 with the ball.

1:42 - I realize that Louisville has never lost to Depaul ever (look it up), but I can't help but feel weird, if not nervous, about possibly facing the Demons in the quarterfinals.

1:44 - Mac Koshwal has three fouls and his team has the ball and a four point lead, so the only logical thing for him to do is blatantly shove his man in the face right in front of two officials.

1:46 - Congrats to Wiley Brown and IU Southeast, which opened the NAIA Tournament with a 17-point win this morning.

1:49 - Depaul has had a chance to put this one away at the stripe, but Tucker and Walker have each missed three.

Tucker picks up his fourth foul and Efejuku strokes a pair to make it 62-61 Depaul with six and-a-quarter to go.

1:53 - Jeff Xavier buries a three and Providence finally takes the lead at 64-62. Jonathan Xavier resists the urge to rush the floor.

1:55 - Depaul responds by nearly air-balling a three on a 2-on-1 fast break and then refusing to play any defense.

It's a 15-1 PC run and the Friars lead 70-62.

This one's done, son.

1:57 - You'll always have Tuesday, Jerry.

2:02 -Dar Tucker continues to drive and draw fouls...and then miss free-throws. One-point possessions aren't going to get it done here. Friars by nine with 2:30 to go.

2:04 - Providence shoots just over 60% from the stripe as a team, but Depaul refuses to foul Len says it's because Jerry Wainwright wants his guys to feel this loss...I'm not as sure that this is the case.

2:06 - Dar Tucker has 30 points and Will Walker has 28. Thanks for the help, Mac.

2:08 - Providence 83, Depaul 74 is your final.

The Cards will face a desperate team tomorrow afternoon.

It's grub time.

DePaul About To Get De Paul Harris Treatment (Sorry)

Sean Keeley — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:25:52 -0000

The SU Women's team did what they had to do last night, now it's the men's turn. The Orange host 8-7 (0-2) DePaul tonight at 7pm EST.

The Blue Demons are off to a rough start in what is sure to be a very rough year in the Big East for them. With losses to Notre Dame and Providence so far, the Demons don't really have a quality win to their name. Chances aren't looking good that they'll add one tonight. They won just one of their last nine conference road games and haven't beaten a ranked team on the road since 2005.

Sophomore Dar Tucker is 3rd in the conference in scoring with a 19.6 average. Of course that could be because there aren't very many other players on the team doing much scoring at all. Only three Blue Demons average in double digits, compared to Syracuse's five. They'll be relying on Tucker's 3-point shooting to give them a spark. If it's not there, there's not much else they can do. (Oh and you might remember Dar from this dunk last year).

There's a few questions for the Orange tonight. First up,.will Eric Devendorf play? Last we heard he was leaving practice early due to pains in his hip,. Second, will Arinze Onuaku actually hit a free throw? Onuaku leads the Big East in field goal percentage but is abysmal from the line and it's only a matter of time until that bites us in the ass. Will Paul Harris be back to his usual self after the finger injury? Outlook is good. Finally, will Jonny Flynn start returning to form? Andy Rautins has done the heavy lifting on the scoring side and Flynn hasn't played terrible. But he hasn't been his usual self. Hopefully the mini-slump is over.

Finally, it's worth noting this game does have some significance. If the Orange lose, they may just be responsible for the end of a relationship. Or worse. Don't tell the SU Judicial Board about this...

Get some more thoughts at the links below. GameThread as always will be here when the game starts.

Big East basketball roundup: 11/17/08

Mike Rutherford — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:00:07 -0000

A perfect 7-0 mark for the nation's premier college basketball conference on the first night of extensive non-conference action.

Here's how it happened.

CONNECTICUT 99, Hartford 56

The Huskies scored 54 of the game's final 66 points to turn a tilt that had been touch-and-go into a laugher.

Starting in place of an injured (ankle) A.J. Price, Kemba Walker stole the show. The ballyhooed freshman scored 21 points and committed zero turnovers over the course of 29 minutes.

Sharp-shooting Craig Austrie added 21, and Jerome Dyson tossed in 18.

UCONN scored 1/3 of its points from the free-throw line (33-of-46).

PITTSBURGH 82, Miami (OH) 53

If you told me there was a team in action Monday night that was more impressive than the Panthers, then I'd be forced into calling you a knave. I wouldn't want to, but there would be absolutely no way around it.

In taking a Miami team that nearly knocked off UCLA behind the woodshed, Pitt looked like a team possessing everything necessary to make a serious push for the national title.

All four starters scored in double figures, including junior college transfer Jermaine Dixon (14), perhaps the team's biggest question mark heading into the season. Despite playing just 19 minutes, DeJuan Blair finished a rebound shy of a double-double, and Levance Fields scored 12 while handing out a career-high 12 assists.

To sum up: 'dem boys look tough.

MARQUETTE 106, Chicago State 87

Wesley Matthews scored 26 points and Lazar Hayward added 21 to lead the Golden Eagles past the conference-less Cougars of Chicago State.

Despite the win, first-year head coach Buzz Williams can't be happy that 5-foot-8 David Holston - one of the nation's leading scorers a season ago - was allowed to hit seven three-pointers and score 33 points.

Jerel McNeal will be the first to tell you that it wasn't his fault.

VILLANOVA 107, Fordham 68

Dante Cunningham scored a career-high 33 points to go along with 11 rebounds as the Wildcats routed visiting Fordham Monday night.

Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher each added 17 points, but perhaps the best news of the night for Jay Wright's team was that senior forward Shane Clark was able to return to action just 11 days after having surgery on his right knee.

Dwayne Anderson and Casiem Drummond missed the game with injuries.

GEORGETOWN 71, Jacksonville 62

Preseason Big East Co-Freshman of the Year Greg Monroe looked as good as advertised, delivering 14 points and seven rebounds in his collegiate debut. The 6-foot-11 former McDonald's All-American ran the floor, made several nice moves away from the basket, and was credited with three blocked shots on the defensive end.

While Monroe was busy comparing shoe-sizes with Roy Hibbert, sophomore point guard Chris Wright was scoring a team-high 16 points in his initial effort to match the footprints left behind by three-year starter Jonathan Wallace.

DaJuan Summers and Jesse Sapp each added 13 to help GU notch a typical John Thompson III November victory.

ST. JOHN'S 86, Cornell 75

Anthony Mason Jr. scored a team-high 24 points to lead the Johnnies past the class of the Ivy League in an opening round game of the Preseason NIT.

D.J. Kennedy scored 22 points, sophomore Justin Burrell added 11 points and 11 rebounds and Malik Boothe netted 14 points and nine assists for the Red Storm, who will play Boston College in the second round on Tuesday.

DEPAUL 75, Albany 64

Dar Tucker led all scorers with 23 points, and junior point guard Will Walker added 19 points, two blocks and three steals as Depaul began its 2008-2009 season with a win over the Great Daines out of the America East Conference.

The Blue Demons, who ordinarily play their home games at the Allstate Arena, played a regular season game on campus for the first time since 1999.

Big East Basketball Preview: 50 non-conference games of note

Mike Rutherford — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:53:31 -0000

Only games guaranteed to be played are eligible for the list.

Anyone who watches all 50 games in their entirety wins a night of dinner, drinks and dancing with me and This Guy at the White Castle on Westport Rd.

50. Connecticut vs. Hartford (Nov. 17)

Coming off their best season in two decades, the Hawks will provide the only semi-test for Connecticut before the Huskies head to Spokane on Dec. 20. Big man Warren McClendon is gone, but U of H returns its other four starters, including sharp-shooter Joe Zeglinski.

49. Notre Dame vs. Indiana (Nov. 24)

The two schools from the Hoosier state meet in the opening round of the Maui Invitational with preseason expectations significantly higher for the less storied program.

48. Pittsburgh vs. Vermont (Dec. 6)

Pitt's non-conference schedule doesn't feature a big-name opponent - although participation in the Legends Classic could bring about one - but it does feature several formidable mid-major foes, including the preseason favorites in the America East. The Panthers will be tested by the inside-out duo of Mike Trimboli and reigning league POY Marqus Blakely.

47. Rutgers at Rider (Dec. 31)

Jason Thompson is gone, but Rider still returns four starters and should provide a solid road test for a young Scarlet Knight squad looking to prove it's ready to compete in the Big East.

46. West Virginia vs. Miami (OH) (Dec. 20)

The Redhawks figure to finish near the top of the standings in the always tough Mid-American Conference, but this is the type of game Bob Huggins' team can't afford to have lost if they find themselves planted squarely on the bubble come early March.

45. Pittsburgh vs. Belmont (Nov. 25)

Belmont knocked off Cincinnati in the season-opener for both a year ago, and the Bruins are picked to win the Atlantic Sun yet again this season.

44. Georgetown vs. American (Dec. 6)

American appears to be the class of the Patriot League, and the Eagles have the experience and maturity to deal with Georgetown's methodical style of play.

43. Louisville vs. UAB (Dec. 27)

The Cardinals will have to avoid a holiday hangover because they'll get the best shot of a Blazer team needing a marquee win to bolster its NCAA Tournament hopes.

42. St. John's vs. Cornell (Nov. 17)

The Johnnies open the preseason NIT with a dangerous draw in the defending Ivy League champs.

41. Pittsburgh at Texas Tech (Nov. 28)

Pat Knight's Red Raiders don't appear to be destined for anything approaching greatness this season, but there's enough there to test Pitt in the Panthers' Legends Classic opener.

40. South Florida at Wright State (Dec. 21)

A trip to the Nutter Center to take on one of the better mid-major teams in the land should be a good challenge for Stan Heath's guard-heavy squad.

39. Depaul at St. Louis (Dec. 22)

The Billikens made great strides in Rick Majerus' first season, and should serve as a formidable first-round opponent in the Las Vegas Classic for the Blue Demons.

38. Marquette at North Carolina State (Dec. 22)

The Pack is down, but Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley will test Marquette's emaciated frontcourt early in the season.

37. Cincinnati vs. UAB (Dec. 6)

The former C-USA rivals meet in an early December game that could have a great impact on the NCAA Tournament resume of each.

36. Pittsburgh vs. Miami (OH) (Nov. 17)

Pitt begins the season on Nov. 14 with Fairleigh Dickinson and gets its first real test three days later when Charlie Coles and the Redhawks come to the Peterson Events Center.

35. Depaul at California (Dec. 3)

Dar Tucker and Mac Koshwal can make the rest of the league take notice by going out West and knocking off a beatable Cal squad.

34. West Virginia vs. Cleveland State (Dec. 6)

The 'Eers return from Vegas and begin a tough four-game stretch at home with the favorites to take the Horizon League.

33. Connecticut vs. Michigan (Feb. 7)

The Huskies take a break from Big East play to host the Wolverines and sophomore stud Manny Harris.

32. Louisville at Minnesota (Dec. 20)

Tubby Smith had a solid amount of success against Rick Pitino when he was at Kentucky, but the odds are a bit more stacked against him in this game which will be played in Phoenix.

31. South Florida at Vanderbilt (Dec. 16)

How the Kentrell Gransberry-less Bulls handle A.J. Ogilvy should serve as a barometer of how they'll fare in the post talent-heavy Big East.

30. West Virginia at Mississippi (Dec. 3)

Serving as the X factor against a talented Ole Miss backcourt, this could be Devin Ebanks' first opportunity to really sparkle.

29. Providence at Boston College (Dec. 20)

If Keno Davis wants to prove he can get the talented Friars to play to their potential then he needs to go on the road and take care of a BC team that has little outside of Tyrese Rice.

28. Villanova vs. St. Joseph's (Dec. 11)

The Wildcats are the clear favorites on paper, but All-American candidate Ahmad Nivins presents a real matchup problem.

27. Syracuse vs. Cleveland State (Dec. 15)

Seniors J'Nathan Bullock and Cedric Jackson might be the two best players in the Horizon League, and could easily lead the Vikings to an early season upset. The fact that Syracuse has just a day to prepare after a home tilt with Long Beach State certainly doesn't help.

26. St. John's vs. Miami (Fla.) (Dec. 27)

Norm Roberts could make a lot of folks in Brooklyn more comfortable about his contract extension if he could lead the Johnnies to an early upset of a nationally ranked foe.

25. Marquette vs. Dayton (Nov. 29)

The Flyers have been tough to beat in pre-Atlantic 10 action in recent years, which makes this tussle in Chicago a dangerous one for the Golden Eagles. Chris Wright can jump super high.

24. Louisville vs. Mississippi (Dec. 18)

The guard trio of Huertas, Polynice and Warren should provide a tough early test for the occasionally eccentric Cardinal backcourt.

23. St. John's vs. Duke (Feb. 19)

This one stopped being cute when Ron Artest rode out of town.

22. Depaul at UCLA (Dec. 13)

The Blue Demons might be just a bit outclassed in this John Wooden Classic game being played in Anaheim.

21. Rutgers at North Carolina (Dec. 28)

If RU keeps it closer than 22 (UNC won 93-71 a year ago), I say they win. Which means a lot.

20. Pittsburgh vs. Siena (Dec. 17)

The Saints return all five starters from the squad that routed Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

19. Villanova vs. Temple (Dec. 29)

'Nova will have to find an answer for Dionte Christmas if they want to prevail in what could end up being the de facto Big Five title game.

18. Louisville vs. UNLV (Dec. 31)

The Runnin' Rebs hung with the Cards for 35 minutes a year ago before falling apart and losing by 20. They return their top two scorers and add highly-touted freshman Beas Hamga.

17. Cincinnati vs. Xavier (Dec. 13)

If Cincinnati can take as large a stride in Mick Cronin's second season as they did in his first, then this could be the most even Crosstown Shootout in quite some time.

16. Seton Hall vs. USC (Nov. 20)

The Pirates have next-to-no non-con challenges outside of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, so a strong performance on the island is paramount for the squad's postseason aspirations. It all starts with a date with the 18th ranked Trojans.

15. West Virginia at Ohio State (Dec. 27)

Seven-foot freshman sensation B.J. Mullens is a matchup nightmare for the undersized Mountaineers.

14. Cincinnati at Memphis (Dec. 29)

Things started to turn around for the Bearcats a season ago when they hung with the top-ranked Tigers for 40 minutes. Expecations are a bit higher at UC 12 months later.

13. Providence at Baylor (Nov. 27)

A huge opening round matchup in the Anaheim Classic for a pair of programs looking to take giant leaps forward in 2008-2009.

12. Syracuse vs. Florida (Nov. 24)

A win over the Gators could be the difference between NCAA and NIT if the Big East threatens to swallow SU's postseason dreams for a third straight year.

11. Notre Dame vs. Ohio State (Dec. 6)

Lots of talent + contrasting styles = December fun for the whole family.

10. Marquette vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 6)

The most underrated rivalry in college basketball will almost assuredly again involve a pair of top 25 teams.

9. West Virginia vs. Davidson (Dec. 9)

I hear these guys are kind of dangerous. Apparently have a decent little guard.

8. Syracuse at Memphis (Dec. 20)

The Tigers' mini-tour of the Big East hits its second stop when the Orange roll into the FedExForum. Chances are 100% that Eric Devendorf and Tyreke Evans have words.

7. Louisville vs. Kentucky (Jan. 4)

The most hate-filled rivalry in the sport could turn into must-see-TV if the Cats show early improvement in their second season under Billy Gillispie.

6. Georgetown vs. Memphis (Dec. 13)

Memphis exposed the Hoyas with their athleticism a year ago, but the two main culprits - Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose - are now being paid to play the game.

5. Marquette at Tennessee (Dec. 13)

Sensational veteran guards vs. athletic veteran wings. Also, two programs who have or have had a head coach with the first name Buzz.

4. Villanova vs. Texas (Dec. 9)

This Jimmy V. Classic tilt will feature a pair of nationally ranked teams and a couple of shot-happy guards who have the potential to go for 30 every time they step on the floor.

3. Georgetown at Duke (Jan. 17)

The Hoyas get a quick reprieve from Big East play, unfortunately it involves a trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium.

2. Connecticut at Gonzaga (Dec. 20)

The sixth-annual Battle in Seattle will be a rematch of last year's classic which the 'Zags won 85-82.

1. Notre Dame at UCLA (Feb. 7)

A February clash in Pauley featuring two presaeason top ten squads that will affect the seeding of multiple teams in both the Pac-10 and Big East.