DePaul was picked last in the Big East at the start of the season, but seven games into conference play the Blue Demons share first place with Georgetown and are off to their best start since dropping independent status in 1991.
Oh yeah, the Blue Demons also shed the weight of a 51-game losing streak against ranked opponents Thursday night by beating No. 24 Seton Hall 64-60. Coach Oliver Purnell's team managed to win despite making just 19 of 33 free throws and three of 17 3-point attempts.
It is the first win on the road over a top-25 team for DePaul since winning at Wake Forest in 2005. The Blue Demons improved to 11-9 overall but 5-2 in the Big East.
DePaul had plenty to overcome to beat the Pirates, but the fact they accomplished it speaks to how Purnell has finally changed the mindset of players in the program.* The Blue Demons, now brimming with confidence, went more than 6 minutes in the second half without a field goal and watched leading scorer Billy Garrett Jr., head to the bench for the final 3 minutes after fouling out.
They only made one field goal attempt in the final two minutes but limited Seton Hall to a single field goal in the final 51/2 minutes and got to the free throw line down the stretch.
The victory earned approval from DePaul fans on the Internet while others around the country also took notice.
Depaul basketball beat a ranked team. The end of the world is nigh
— Kyle Rogers (@Kyle_Rogers) January 23, 2015
@BrianHamiltonSI When DePaul is good at basketball, it's good for the NCAA. OK, a little hyperbole, but it is nice to see after 30 years...
— Phil (@kujoatc75) January 23, 2015
#DePaul Basketball is back! Who's next? We're handing out "Ls." #dpubb #BlueDemons

— Dan Tombasco (@Tombasco) January 23, 2015
DePaul Basketball = America's Team. @FOXSports1 #BigEast
— Mike Piff (@Mike_PiFF03) January 23, 2015
Meanwhile DePaul basketball is still a thing. Who knew?
— fried chicken Ryne (@RHancock19) January 23, 2015
DePaul basketball is for real! 5-2 in the Big East! Hop on the bandwagon before it is too late #ChoCho
— aj fedoruk (@fastony12) January 23, 2015
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[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo