God (finally!) saved the Blue Demons

The DePaul Blue Demons did in one game what the SIU men's basketball team couldn't do in two.

Win at Madison Square Garden.

After a 23-loss regular seasonwhich featured a Detroit Lions-esque 0-18 record in Big East Conference games, the DePaul Blue Demons, my mother's alma mater, beat Cincinnati in the first round of the Big East tourney, 67-57.

ESPN, which loves The Garden more than I do, confirmed the victory.

As for my beloved Salukis, the fact that there will be no postseason play for the first time in seven years still stings. A lot. Knowing my luck, SIU wins 20-plus games and makes an Elite 8 run next year.

Wonder what happens first: Southern getting out of the quarterfinal round of the MVC Tourney or DePaul getting out of the quarterfinal round of the Big East.

At least the Blue Demons have a little bit of a head start.