DePaul-Marquette rivalry reignites for Monday’s matchup

It is often said that the hardest people to get along with are the ones most like you. This may be the best way to describe the storied rivalry between the DePaul University and Marquette University men's basketball teams.

Both are urban, Catholic schools, pulling students from the same applicant pool. They both have focused heavily on basketball throughout their respective programs' histories and switched from Conference USA to the Big East together for the 2005-06 season. Marquette and DePaul have both acknowledged that their rivalry dates back to 1923, before the D-Men had even hired a head coach.

The student relationship between the two schools also lends itself to healthy competition. Many students from DePaul, especially those from the surrounding area, know someone who chose Marquette instead.

While the upper hand has switched between the two schools about every 10 years in the past, Marquette has dominated since the decline of the DePaul men's program in the early 1990s. Going into Monday's game, Marquette holds a 19-4 record (8-2 Big East) while DePaul's record is 11-10 (2-7 Big East).

Kevin Bestor, director of DePaul's Blue Crew, has a lot of first-hand experience with the rivalry between DePaul and Marquette. He witnessed 2011 graduate Mike Stovall's thrilling buzzer beater two years ago, giving the Blue Demons a 51-50 win. Bestor described it with a beaming smile as his "most memorable moment at DePaul."

Bestor also ventured into Marquette territory last year and experienced the heart wrenching 94-64 30-point loss Jan. 18. "I was getting really heated towards the Marquette fans," Kevin said. Although he did admit that the Marquette student body was very nice, it was a hard loss to face, especially on enemy grounds.

A faithful fan like Bestor, however, isn't deterred by the team's recent struggles and said he thinks DePaul has a better chance of competing than in years past. "If we shoot well, with having home advantage, we should be able to get a sizable lead early," Kevin forecasted.

Steve Taylor, a recent high school recruit from Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, may also help reignite a healthy competitive attitude amongst DePaul students. In August, Taylor, ESPN'S top-ranked Illinois recruit, chose Marquette over DePaul and will suit up as a Golden Eagle starting next year.

In an interview with ESPN, Taylor explained his abandonment of hometown Chicago for Milwaukee simply.

"They're winning," Taylor said. "DePaul doesn't win. I think if they start winning maybe Chicago kids will like them."

"I'm glad he isn't coming here because that's the wrong attitude to have," said Bestor. "It's going to cause a new spark in the rivalry."

Even with a student body that seems apathetic towards DePaul sports, the Marquette games typically see a spike in attendance. It is predicted that 500-800 students will make their way to Allstate Arena Monday.

As incentive, the DePaul Blue Crew said they will hand out rally towels with the slogan, "Never Throw in the Towel," a saying that could not be more appropriate with a program making strides towards taking back a winning record.