DePaul Pulls Off Comeback Victory Over Creighton

Coach Chris Holtmann's boxing analogy inspires team to battle back for narrow win.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a close game against Creighton, the DePaul Blue Demons overcame a late deficit to pull out a 72-71 victory. Before the game, coach Chris Holtmann showed his team a video of an epic 10-round boxing match, using it to motivate his players to fight through adversity and find a way to win, just as the boxer did in the video.

Why it matters

The win keeps DePaul in contention in a tight Big East conference race, showing the team's resilience and ability to bounce back from a tough situation. Holtmann's use of the boxing analogy highlights his creative coaching tactics to inspire his players.

The details

Despite Creighton hitting 14 three-pointers, DePaul was able to grind out the victory in a back-and-forth affair. Holtmann said he showed his team a video of the 2005 lightweight unification bout between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, where Corrales came back from a late knockdown to score a dramatic 10th round knockout. The coach used this example to emphasize the importance of fighting through hardship and not giving up, even when the odds seem stacked against you.

  • The game was played on February 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena.

The players

Chris Holtmann

The head coach of the DePaul Blue Demons basketball team, known for his creative motivational tactics to inspire his players.

Diego Corrales

A former professional boxer who won the 2005 lightweight unification bout against Jose Luis Castillo in a dramatic 10th round knockout.

Jose Luis Castillo

The opponent of Diego Corrales in the 2005 lightweight unification bout, which is considered one of the greatest rounds in boxing history.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Great win for our guys. I'm just really proud of our guys for finding a way to come back and win that game, when it was never out of hand, but it was certainly touch and go there.”

— Chris Holtmann, Head Coach, DePaul Blue Demons (247sports.com)

What’s next

DePaul will look to build on this comeback victory as they continue their push for a top spot in the Big East standings.

The takeaway

Holtmann's creative use of a boxing analogy to inspire his team shows the importance of finding unique ways to motivate players, especially when facing adversity. DePaul's resilience in this game could pay dividends as they navigate the challenging Big East conference schedule.