DePaul Blue Demons basketball — program history

DePaul's basketball program was established in 1923 at the Chicago Catholic university founded in 1898 by the Vincentian Fathers. The 'Blue Demons' name combines the school's blue colors with a spirited moniker. Under legendary coach Ray Meyer, who coached for 42 seasons, DePaul became a national power, reaching the Final Four in 1943 and 1979. Meyer's son Joey continued the coaching dynasty. DePaul produced NBA great George Mikan, widely considered the first dominant big man in basketball history, and Mark Aguirre.

The name

The 'Blue Demons' name evolved from 'D-men' — early DePaul athletes wore a large 'D' on their sweaters, prompting fans to call them 'D-men,' which was formalized into 'Demons' in the 1920s; 'Blue' came from the university's designated color (the affiliated DePaul Academy took scarlet). The mascot is named DIBS (DePaul Intercollegiate Blue Spirit).

Signature moment

George Mikan's dominant career in the 1940s, revolutionizing the center position and leading DePaul to the 1945 NIT Championship

George Mikan was so dominant at DePaul that the NCAA introduced the goaltending rule largely because of him — he went on to become the NBA's first superstar with the Minneapolis Lakers

The DePaul Blue Demons compete in the Big East and hold an all-time record of 1540–1158 (.571 winning percentage) across 97 recorded seasons dating back to 1923-24. The program has reached 2 Final Fours.

Season-by-season results

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