Sportsbook handicappers will be looking at DePaul next college basketball season as the Blue Demons hired Clemson coach Oliver Purnell. The Blue Demons have not been a very good team to bet at the offshore sportsbook in recent seasons but that may change with Purnell running the club.
Sportsbook odds this past season did not have DePaul favored very often. The Blue Demons won just eight games straight up in 2009-2010. They were slightly above .500 against the spread though at the offshore sportsbook. Next season they should look different with Oliver Purnell as the head coach. DePaul signed Purnell to a seven-year contract. “DePaul presents a great opportunity,” Purnell said, “It’s a super job. They are very, very committed to restoring a tradition and make DePaul Chicago’s team.”
DePaul interviewed Minnesota assistant Reggie Theus but went with Purnell. DePaul fired Jerry Wainwright in January in a move that was long overdue. The Blue Demons went 8-23 overall and they finished last in the Big East. They were no better under interim coach Tracy Webster.
DePaul could be improved next season vs. the sportsbook point spread. Purnell led Clemson to the NCAA Tournament and his team finished 21-10. His team reached the tourney in three straight seasons. The problem for Purnell at Clemson is that his team lost in the first round each time. Sportsbook stats indicated that he was 138-90 in seven seasons at Clemson. Before he was at Clemson, Purnell coached at Dayton and led them to two NCAA appearances. He also coached at Old Dominion and led them to the tourney. He also coached at Radford. Purnell knows how to get a team to the tourney but his teams have never won a game in the NCAA Tournament. Purnell feels he left the Clemson program in a good situation. “I hope they feel we left the program in great shape,” Purnell said, “I feel that way.” Clemson was very surprised that Purnell left. He signed a two-year extension with the university last June and was making more than $1.3 million a year. He had a reasonable buyout of $250,000.
Sportsbook handicappers notice that DePaul has their work cut out for them in a tough Big East Conference. “On paper, it looks very tough,” Purnell said. “But once I evaluated this I saw that this was like a lot of the jobs I’ve had before Clemson. They were tough jobs as well.”