The DePaul Blue Demons have one of the finest basketball legacies in the nation. From their dominance in the 1940s with the legendary George Mikan to their status as a national heavyweight and perennial contender in the 1970s and 80s, DePaul is at the epicenter of basketball-mad Chicago, Illinois.   Though the team has struggled in recent years, failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament since a second round loss in 2004 under head coach Dave Leitao, brighter days are on the horizon for DePaul under Oliver Purnell in a brand new “Big East.”   Building a New Legacy   The 10-year span from 1979 to 1989 was a golden era for DePaul basketball. In 1979, they went all the way to the Final Four, but fell to a Larry Bird-led Indiana State team. Those next two years, they ranked as the best team in the nation and over a ten year period, the Blue Demons qualified for the NCAA Tournament every year except one.   DePaul spent most of its history as an independent school before joining the Great Midwest Conference in 1991 until that conference became Conference-USA in 1995. Ten years later, DePaul jumped to the vaunted Big East. Along with fellow members of the “Catholic 7,” including powerhouse programs Georgetown Georgetown, Villanova and St. John's, DePaul will help forge new ground with a basketball-centric Big East.   With Oliver Purnell revving up his recruiting efforts and a new arena for the Blue Demons on the agenda, DePaul is on the road back to national prominence.   Save on DePaul Blue Demons Men’s Basketball tickets   Purchase discounted DePaul Blue Demons Men’s Basketball tickets on ScoreBig.com and watch a team on a mission to recapture the magic of their past. In a new league that’s bursting with talent, the climb won’t be easy, but the Blue Demons are rising.