re: Why isn't DePaul a more formidable basketball school?

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As a Chicagoan, it is sad to see the state of Illinois fail miserably at keeping hoops talent in-state. Heck, the Bulls do a better job at getting Chicago players than Depaul, Illinois, etc.

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On a similar vein to this thread, I think I can confidently say that Northwestern basketball is the most under-achieving sports program in the big two (men's football and men's basketball) in all of the sixty-something Power Five schools in the last century. Like below UNC and Cal and Illinois and UVA football. DePaul, at the very least, has had some stretches of several decades where they've been quite good.

To have never even been to an NCAA tournament with all the advantages NU has in basketball is just incredible. Like a school would have to actively try to fail to be what they've been for the last eighty years. Think of all the advantages they have:

- A founding member and academic pillar of one of the top three basketball conferences and one of the two most powerful conferences in general in the country almost every year
- Right in the heart of the region that is the Louisiana or Texas of college basketball. It's not just the city of Chicago: the suburbs produce quite a bit of talent, downstate (especially Peoria) is a solid breadbasket, the metro Milwaukee area always produces a lot of good players. Northwest Indiana (known as the Region around here) is the Louisiana to Texas' Chicago when it comes to basketball talent. That part of the country just bleeds excellent players and coaches decade after decade.
- A very good athletics program in almost every single sport except for men's basketball
- An exceptional education for talented kids that want to go to a good school
- Right in the heart of one of America's great metropolitan regions

You get my drift.

DePaul was a consistent NCAA Tournament team back in the Conference USA days. Unfortunately once they got into the Big East it has been downhill from there

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They are coming back to campus next year which should help the atmosphere and make it more appealing to Chicago recruits.

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The new arena will be in the South Loop, near McCormick Place. It's still about eight miles from campus, but so much easier for students to hop on the Red Line at Fullerton and get down to the arena.

DePaul is not even on the recruiting map for Chicago kids. you never even see them mentioned in the final 4 or final 8 as far as kids choices.

it is in a great area, as others have said, the off campus arena hurts, but I remember going to games in the early 90's and people showed. Being a Tulane fan, I know all too well its the product on the field that makes the ultimate difference.

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and especially only being 2 hours-ish from some really good peoria bball talent

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Peoria talent has largely dried up. Still a decent prospect every few years, but nowhere near what it was. Damonte Williams (Frank Williams son) is the best recent product and he's going to Illinois like his dad.

Dallas Comegys was the man.

Rocket Rod Strickland another one

One of the schools that made 80's cbb the best era

Lincoln park is a awesome area but don't think it appeals to urban life

I remember watching DePaul about 20 years ago.

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rarely have more than a couple hundred people in the building.

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Assume you're exaggerating this number, but their 2015-16 average attendance was dreadful.

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I believe a basketball arena is in the works for their Lincoln park campus.

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Will be near McCormick Place in the South Loop.

Damn.... that's a decent area and the business and law schools are in the loop, I don't think any housing is there tho. I'd imagine you have to get the students on board before attendance can improve. I might be exaggerating a bit with those numbers lol, it's just what friking student wants to travel 30-40 mins outside the city to go watch a crap team, there has to be a gym they could use somewhere I the vicinity until their arena is done. The Allstate arena is dreadful.