Next up: DePaul & Duke

Look out! Demons and Devils are coming to Maples!!

The challenge of the Cardinal's toughest nonconference season ever ramps up as they return from finals break to confront a not-quite-ranked and then a ranked team.

DePaul Blue Demons

DePaul finished last season tied for fourth in the BIG EAST conference with a 23-10 record. They lost to San Diego State in the first round of the NCAAs.

They returned ten players this season, including four of five starters, and they were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST (behind UConn & Notre Dame).

But they suffered a devastating blow when their star player, senior guard Deidre Naughton, tore her ACL late in November. She was their top scorer, the "heart and soul of the team", and had been named to most of the preseason award watch lists – Naismith, Wade, Wooden, Lowe's.

It isn't the same team without her, but the Blue Demons have many other talented players who have stepped up in Naughton's absence.

DePaul's strength is in its back court. They average 75.2 points per game (#36 in the nation) and make 80.8% of their free throws (#4 in the nation). They don't shoot much beyond the arc. They average 5.2 of 19 3-pointers per game. They take good care of the ball. They average 16.4 assists and just 16.2 turnovers per game, for the 27th best assist-to-turnover ratio in the nation (1.01).

All five starters average between 10 and 13 points per game: 6'2" sophomore forward Keisha Hampton, 5'6" junior guard Sam Quigley (pictured on the right), 5'9" freshman guard Anna Martin, 6'3" junior forward Felicia Chester and 5'9" junior guard Jennifer Juergens.

On defense, they average 41.2 rebounds per game, seven more than their opponents. The leader here is 6'3" junior forward Felicia Chester, who averages 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.

The Blue Demons are 7-2 for the season, all against unranked opponents. They have dropped in the polls since Naughton's injury and are no longer in the top 25, but they received 73 votes in the AP Poll. Their RPI is 74, and their strength of schedule is 207.

Here are their 2009-10 player statistics and their roster.

Duke Blue Devils

Duke finished third in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season with a 27-6 record. They were a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but were upset by Michigan State in the second round.

They are picked to finish second in the ACC this season (behind North Carolina). Chante Black and Carrem Gay graduated, but the Blue Devils are still a defensive powerhouse.

They average 45.4 rebounds – 10.4 more than their opponents – 5.4 blocks and 14.4 steals per game. They rank #3 in the nation in steals, #13 in rebounding margin, #22 in blocks. Their top defenders are 6'4" junior center Krystal Thomas (7.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game), pictured on the right, and 6'1" senior forward Joy Cheek (6.6 rebounds per game).

Their leading scorer is 5'9" junior guard Jasmine Thomas, who is on the Naismith Trophy watch list. She averages 17.8 points per game and is their most prolific 3-point shooter. Her shooting percentages are 39% field goals, 34% 3-pointers and 86% free throws. She had a triple-double against Marquette – 11 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

The other starters are 6'0" senior guard Keturah Jackson and 6'0" senior forward Bridgette Mitchell. Coming off the bench for more than 20 minutes a game are 5'11" junior forward Karima Christmas and 6'5" freshman center Allison Vernerey; 5'8" sophomore guard Chelsea Hopkins comes in for about 10 minutes a game.

The Blue Devils are 7-1 for the season. Their only loss was to #15 Texas A&M. Their best win was an upset of #3 Ohio State. Their most recent game was a 6-point victory over USC. They are ranked #7 in the AP Top 25 Poll and #10 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. Their RPI is 7 and their strength of schedule is 49.

Here are their 2009-10 player statistics and their roster.