DePaul's Walker a true bright spot

Tough times keep trying to get the best of Will Walker.

Only days after the start of basketball practice last month, the DePaul senior guard took an elbow to the nose. Surgery to repair the break and a protective mask quickly had him back on the court.

Then came a four-day bout with the flu.

''My mom said, 'Get it all out of the way before the season,''' the Bolingbrook native said with a smile.

After all, who knows if tough times might stalk his team again after the program's worst season in decades. Not that the 6-foot team captain expects it.

''We kind of take this as [the start of] our road to redemption for last season,'' he said. ''We want to prove that we belong out there and can play with anybody. We have just as many good players and athletes as other teams -- it's just a matter of putting it together and jelling together and working hard on defense and working hard on every play. That's what we're really stressing, and I think if we do that, we'll be fine and have a successful season.''

If few outside the team are as optimistic -- the Big East preseason poll again projects DePaul to finish last -- at least beleaguered coach Jerry Wainwright can count on optimism from the player who emerged as his steadiest in the final months of a terrible season.

''I thought he was as good from a scoring standpoint as any guard in our league down the stretch, especially when you consider he was the focal point [of defenses],'' Wainwright said.

Indeed, while sophomore Dar Tucker was faltering as the season wound down, Walker had his best games during the winless Big East campaign. He averaged 16.4 points in the conference and twice tallied a career-high 31 points against West Virginia just before the regular season ended and against Providence in the conference tournament. He had 30 points against No. 11 Marquette during the season. Defensively, he ranked 17th in the conference in steals.

It was the kind of season Wainwright expected from Walker when he signed the second-team All-State high school star as his first DePaul recruit.

''He has a great basketball IQ and really understands the game,'' Wainwright said of his only senior. ''No one practices harder, and I think he's made himself into one of the better guards in Division I.''

Yet Wainwright is the first to admit he was tough on Walker in his first years -- a tough-love approach Walker absorbed and now tries to use to help his teammates.

''I think I could be a good leader for these guys,'' Walker said. ''I'll take a guy aside if Coach has yelled at him or something and say, 'You understand what he's trying to say?' I really think I have to take that role.''

Last season probably taught Walker and his teammates more of life's toughest lessons than any mentor could.

''It was hard trying to pick everyone up, because I know we can win. But there were times we'd go out there and you could tell the energy wasn't there.

''I've been here when we beat good teams,'' he said, recalling when DePaul went 20-14 and made the NIT quarterfinals his freshman season. ''I know it's possible, but it was hard to instill that in some of the young guys and build their confidence early. That's why winning against Cincinnati [in the Big East tournament] was so important, because it showed we could beat a good team. Cincinnati had beaten some good teams.''

It was the only win DePaul had in its final 20 games, a dismal stretch compounded by public scorn.

''I don't know about the other guys, but it always went in one ear and out the other,'' he said of the criticism engulfing the team. ''I grew up around Chicago and everyone is always saying something. People always have something negative to say. Even if we were winning, people would have something critical to say.''

Time will tell if, as Walker believes, a positive comes out of last season's woes.

''It brought us more together because we all went through the same struggle together. That always brings people together in anything in life. I think it will help a lot to have a chip on your shoulder. It's all about being our brother's keeper. If my guy gets past me, I know my brother's going to have my back to help me out -- and I'm going to help him out.' That's how we really feel this year.''

Nov. 20 Northern Iowa* Noon

Nov. 21 or 22 TBA* TBA

Nov. 23 TBA* TBA

Nov. 28 Detroit 1

Dec. 2 Alabama State 7:30

Dec. 5 at Vanderbilt 3

Dec. 10 Mississippi State+ 5:30

Dec. 13 UIC 5

Dec. 16 American 7:30

Dec. 19 Texas State 1

Dec. 22 at Fla. Gulf Coast 6:05

Dec. 28 at Pittsburgh 6

Jan. 3 Georgetown 1

Jan. 6 at Villanova 7

Jan. 14 Providence 8

Jan. 17 at St. John's 1

Jan. 20 Marquette 8

Jan. 23 at Notre Dame 1

Jan. 26 West Virginia 7:30

Jan. 30 Syracuse 1

Feb. 3 at Marquette 6

Feb. 6 at Connecticut 7

Feb. 14 at Seton Hall 11 a.m.

Feb. 16 Rutgers 8

Feb. 20 Louisville 1

Feb. 24 at Cincinnati 6:00

Feb. 27 at Rutgers 3

Mar. 02 South Florida 6:30

Mar. 05 St. John's 7:30

*--Paradise Jam at U.S. Virgin Islands

+--at Tampa, Fla.

2008-09 record: 9-24, 0-18 Big East.

Key stat: DePaul has only two returning players who averaged in double figures last season.

Circle the date: Feb. 24. DePaul travels to Cincinnati to face the only Big East team it defeated last season -- in the first round of the conference tournament.

X-factor: Eric Wallace (above). The Ohio State transfer is eligible to play after sitting out a season. The one-time All-America mention was a highly recruited player from Winston-Salem, N.C. His potential is enticing if he quickly can shake off the rust.

Question mark: Will DePaul achieve enough success to save Wainwright's job?

Season will be a success if: DePaul can win at least four of its Big East home games while having a winning nonconference run.

Season will be a failure if: Big East rivals run roughshod over the Blue Demons again.

Forecast: DePaul has winnable conference games on its schedule, but it must play better at home to try to win back a disgruntled fan base. Whatever the record, junior Mac Koshwal probably is in his last college season before the NBA beckons.

0 Michael Bizoukas G 6-1 So.

1 Mike Stovall G/F 6-5 Jr.

3 Devin Hill F 6-9 So.

10 Mario Stula F 6-7 Jr.

11 Jeremiah Kelly G 6-1 So.

13 Mac Koshwal F/C 6-10 Jr.

22 Tony Freeland F 6-6 Fr.

25 Eric Wallace G/F 6-6 So.

30 Will Walker G 6-0 Sr.

33 Krys Faber F/C 6-11 So.

55 Kene Obi C 7-2 So.