The DePaul men's basketball program has been on such a roller coaster ride the past decade that it's hard to tell if the fun is just starting or just about to end.

Second-year coach Dave Leitao certainly hopes it's just starting. In his first year at the helm, Leitao led the Blue Demons to a 16-13 record and a berth in the NIT. It was a remarkable turnaround for a program that had gone 21-37 the two years before his arrival.

Leitao and the Blue Demons head into the season without leading scorer Sam Hoskin and 3-point specialist Joe Tulley, but there is plenty of experience and talent left to carry DePaul back to the postseason. That starts with three seniors -- Andre Brown, Delonte Holland and Chris Exilus -- who all have ridden their own personal roller coasters the past three years.

"The three seniors will provide that type of leadership that all good programs have to have to be successful," Leitao said. "Each player has experience in our system, and because of that, they will be asked to teach as well as learn this season."

FRONTCOURT

DePaul excelled on both ends of the court without a true center last year and will try to do that again. But this year Brown will have to carry most of the center-like functions alone without the help of Hoskin.

Brown certainly is capable. He was tabbed as the next great DePaul player to come out of the Chicago Public League three years ago, but he has suffered through injuries, including preseason knee trouble last year. Brown still managed to lead DePaul in rebounding the past two seasons and will try to become the first Blue Demon in almost two decades to lead the team three years in a row. If he can improve his offensive game, Brown may finally live up to the lofty expectations placed on him when he arrived on campus.

If Brown cannot provide that offensive lift, Holland will be there to assist. Holland was a highly regarded junior college transfer two years ago who excelled offensively when he became acclimated to Division I play last year. He made 20 starts and is DePaul's returning leading scorer.

A quartet of similarly versatile forwards will fill in the rest of the post game for the Blue Demons. Quemont Greer can play inside or outside. He hit 19 3-pointers last year and gives DePaul a bigger look against heftier teams. Sophomore Marlon Brumfield played in just 12 games last year because of a knee injury. He likely will join big-bodied freshmen Wesley Green and Lorenzo Thompson off the bench. Freshman Marcus Heard is a heralded recruit who could play either forward position.

BACKCOURT

In the search for a point guard last year, Leitao turned to Drake Diener. A former shooting guard, Diener became one of just five DePaul players ever to lead the team in assists and 3-pointers in the same season.

"Drake and I have had many conversations about his role in the upcoming season," Leitao said. "We worked very hard to recruit lead guards so Drake can move back to his natural position as an off-guard. We fully expect him to increase his scoring while maintaining his ability to take care of the ball and shoot it at a high percentage."

Diener, a first cousin of Marquette guard Travis Diener's, may move back to the off-guard spot but not until one of the three potential point guards is ready to take over. One of the possible points is Exilus, who played in just 14 games last year but should take on a larger role this season. The other two are freshmen Sammy Mejia and Tyler Smith. Mejia has good size, and Smith brings good quickness.

Somewhere Leitao will have to find room for LeVar Seals, who was DePaul's best defender last season. But Seals will have to improve his 33.7 percent shooting from the field if he is going to top his 15 starts from last season.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The DePaul roster features a nice blend of talented veterans and promising newcomers. The Blue Demons aren't ready to challenge the elite in C-USA, but anything short of a return to the postseason will be a disappointment.

The team faces a challenging schedule that includes an early-season trip to Michigan State in a game signifying the 25th anniversary of the 1979 Final Four. For longtime DePaul fans, it will be a chance to relive the glory days until Leitao and the Blue Demons learn how to turn back the clock when it really counts -- in March.

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