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IMPORTANT DATES 1923 – DePaul fields a basketball team for the first time and wins its opening game over Kent College. The Blue Demons would go on to post an 8-6 record in their initial season. 1929-30 – DePaul takes the longest road trip in school history when the Blue Demons hit the road for a 16-game journey to end their season. Head coach Jim Kelly and the Demons venture to the states of Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico that season, compiling a record of 11-5 on the trip en route to a 15-5 overall record. April 17, 1942 – Ray Meyer is named DePaul’s head coach. March 1943 – DePaul advances to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four for the first time. March 21, 1945 – DePaul beats Bowling Green 71-54 behind George Mikan’s school-record 53 points to win the NIT championship. Mikan’s record still stands entering the 2009-10 season - the oldest standing record in school annals. February 21, 1956 – DePaul plays its final game at the DePaul Auditorium (also known as “The Barn”) and it’s a 91-77 win over Lewis, putting the final touch on an 81game winning streak in that arena. December 4, 1956 – The Blue Demons open Alumni Hall with an 82-66 win over Illinois Wesleyan. December 23, 1960 – Howie Carl scores 43 points to set the Alumni Hall scoring record that would stand until the building was demolished in 2000. January 16, 1974 – Legendary coach Ray Meyer wins his 500th game as the Blue Demons beat Marshall 76-68 at Alumni Hall. March 13, 1976 – DePaul is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1965 and celebrates with a 69-60 opening-round winning over Virginia in Charlotte, North Carolina. February 12, 1978 – DePaul beats Notre Dame 69-68 in overtime at South Bend in front of a national television audience in the game that many feel put the Blue Demons back in the national spotlight. March 19, 1978 – The Blue Demons come within one game of the Final Four as Notre Dame stops DePaul 84-64 in Lawrence, Kansas. November 25, 1978 – Mark Aguirre makes his debut in a DePaul uniform, scoring 29 points in a 76-69 loss to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. March 17, 1979 – DePaul beats UCLA 95-91 in Provo, Utah to secure the school’s second trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four. Gary Garland is named the MVP of the West Regional.
March 24, 1979 – The Blue Demons fall to Larry Bird and Indiana State 76-74 in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City. March 26, 1979 – DePaul beats Pennsylvania 96-93 to earn third place in the NCAA Tournament. 1979-80 – The Blue Demons compile a 26-game winning streak spanning from March 26, 1979 to February 23, 1980. December 12, 1979 – Ray Meyer wins his 600th game as DePaul beats Northern Illinois, 57-55, in overtime at Chick Evans Fieldhouse in DeKalb. March 1980 – Mark Aguirre is named the National Player of the Year. March 1980 – DePaul finishes the regular season ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and United Press International polls. December 1, 1980 – DePaul makes its debut at the Rosemont Horizon with a 74-56 win over Gonzaga. March 1981 – Mark Aguirre is named the National Player of the Year. March 1981 – DePaul finishes the regular season ranked No. 1 in both the Associated Press and United Press International polls for the second straight year. December 3, 1983 – Ray Meyer wins his 700th game as the Blue Demons stop Illinois State 69-66 at the Rosemont Horizon. March 10, 1984 – Ray Meyer coaches his final home game, a 64-49 win over Marquette at the Rosemont Horizon. March 23, 1984 – Ray Meyer’s final game as DePaul’s head coach is a 73-71 overtime loss in the NCAA Tournament to Wake Forest at the Checkerdome in St. Louis. Meyer retires after 42 years and 724 wins. November 24, 1984 – Joey Meyer becomes the eighth coach in school history and wins his first game with a 5958 victory over Northern Illinois at the Rosemont Horizon. March 15, 1987 – The Blue Demons beat St. John’s 83-75 in overtime at the Rosemont Horizon in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. December 23, 1988 – Stanley Brundy scores a Rosemont Horizon-record 47 points in the 115-111 win over Loyola Marymount in the title game of the Old Style Classic. Brundy’s record still stands entering the 2008-09 season. March 16, 1989 – The 12th-seeded Blue Demons stun fifth-seed Memphis State 66-63 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Boise, Idaho.
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