First priority for Peevy at DePaul: A home game against Kentucky
One of DeWayne Peevy’s duties as Kentucky’s deputy director of athletics was helping devise a schedule in men’s basketball. That will not change, albeit on a severely limited basis, now that he’s been hired as DePaul’s athletics director.
During his introductory news conference Tuesday, Peevy was asked about DePaul possibly playing UK in a future season.
“That’s going to be my first charge . . . ,” Peevy said. “That’s the first thing I’m going after. Cal, if you’re listening, get the phone ready.”
Then, Peevy suggested he will give UK Coach John Calipari a precondition for starting a series with DePaul. “And they have to come to Wintrust,” he said.
DePaul plays its home games in Wintrust Arena (capacity 10,367) in Chicago.
Kentucky last played DePaul in the first round of the 2006 Maui Invitational. UK won 87-81. Incidentally, two days later, Tubby Smith’s Wildcats lost 80-63 to Calipari-coached Memphis in the third-place game.
The 2006 Maui Invitational marked the only time Kentucky has played DePaul since the 1970 UKIT, and only the second game since 1956. UK leads the series 18-3.
Peevy spoke of a close relationship with Calipari, forged in part by many conversations centered on the coach beginning a Twitter account in his first UK season. Before his first game as UK coach, Calipari had about a million followers, Peevy said.
“He’s a confidant,” Peevy said. “He’s a true friend. He’s an uncle to my kids.”
Once on the national basketball map, DePaul’s program has receded. The Blue Demons had losing records in four of the last five seasons, and finished last or tied for last in the Big East Conference in each of the last four seasons.
Peevy likened DePaul basketball to Kentucky football.
“We have an unbelievable passionate fan base,” he said of Kentucky football. “They haven’t been able to get over the hump for a long time. . . . But we broke that barrier. We went past that. . . . Having a culture of Mark Stoops and a different outlook on things.
“But that’s not something you have to change coaches to do.”
DePaul’s basketball coach, Dave Leitao, has a five-season record of 123-132.
Peevy asked DePaul fans to believe.
“I’m asking today, have faith in us,” he said. “You’ve waited this long. It’s time to totally put your chips in the middle of the table. Go all in with us.”
