Digger Phelps: DePaul Is A 'Sleeping Giant'
(CBS) ESPN analyst and former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps has high expectations for DePaul basketball as it embarks on a coaching search following Oliver Purnell's resignation last Saturday.
"I just feel this way: They could become as good as any school in the country in any conference, even (being) in the Big East, if they keep those kids at home in Chicago," Phelps said in an interview on 670 The Score on Tuesday morning. "And it can be done in my opinion.
"I told Anthony Davis a couple years ago when Kentucky won it when they were in the Final Four, 'Anthony, you know if I was coaching DePaul, you'd be playing for me, not for Kentucky.' That job's a sleeping giant, always has been."
Phelps had several ideas for creating buzz around Blue Demons, suggesting DePaul should play some games at the United Center and also schedule a game against Illinois with proceeds going to the public schools and after-school programs.
He also shared his preferred way of helping persuade the city's top recruits to stay home.
"Just get the guys to stay at home," Phelps said. "Get them summer jobs -- and you can do this, it's legal, when they're not in school, they can work -- and get them jobs where they're making $25 an hour. Get them in a union. Who cares? Get them going."
Phelps had plenty more to say about DePaul and, notably, the NCAA Tournament that gets going tonight. You can listen to the full interview here.
