The DePaul Blue Demons are within the basement of the Big East nearly each season. DePaul has completed final or second-to-last within the Big East for 10 straight years, and hasn’t made the boys’s NCAA match since 2004. DePaul had one other brutal 12 months in convention play this 12 months, ending 3-17 within the Big East and forward of solely Georgetown.
The Blue Demons drew a matchup with Seton Hall within the first spherical of the 2023 Big East match, and in some way pulled out one of the vital dramatic wins you’ll ever see. DePaul beat Seton Hall, 66-65, because of a outstanding comeback cemented by Nick Ongenda’s game-saving block on the buzzer.
After DePaul’s Umoja Gibson hit the go-ahead free throw, Seton Hall inbounded the ball underneath its personal basket with 3.9 seconds left. Femi Odukale drove the size of the court docket and went for the game-winning layup, but it surely was swatted by Ongenda. The refs seen it as goaltending to present Seton Hall the win, however instantly reviewed it. Upon assessment, the block was clear, and DePaul gained. The Blue Demons now play No. 2 seed Xavier within the subsequent spherical.
Watch the frantic last sequence right here:
Here’s one other take a look at the block. It couldn’t be any nearer:
Another take a look at Nick Ongenda’s game-winning block to present DePaul the win within the Big East match.
Refs initially dominated it as goaltending, however accurately modified it to a block after the assessment. DePaul went 3-17 in convention this 12 months, however they’ve transferring on within the match: pic.twitter.com/3LjbR91UHs
— Ricky O’Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) March 9, 2023
The indisputable fact that DePaul was ever up in any respect on the finish of the sport was so unlikely. The Blue Demons trailed by 5 factors with 45 seconds left till Jalen Terry hit this pull-up three to make it a two-point sport.
After a pair of free throws by Seton Hall, Terry made a layup with on the following possession with six seconds left to place DePaul again down two. Then he stole the inbounds cross and kicked it to Umoja Gibson, who was fouled taking a three-pointer. Gibson hit all three free throws, regardless of Seton Hall icing him with a timeout after the second.
DePaul could be a Big East bottom-feeder, however they nonetheless acquired to have a tremendous second in Madison Square Garden within the largest sport most of their gamers have ever performed in. This is why we love faculty basketball. There’s nothing prefer it.