OSU women's basketball: Know the opponent — DePaul

But he knew it was a well-coached club, with women's basketball pioneer Doug Bruno taking the team he's coached for 27 seasons to its 11th consecutive Big Dance.

Here's a primer on the Cowgirls' first opponent in Durham:

Opponent: DePaul

Record: 21-11 overall, 9-7 Big East

Seed: 10

Conference: Big East

League finish: Tied for 6th

NCAA berth: At-Large

RPI rank: 27

Star player — Brittany Hrynko

Hrynko has had a breakout sophomore season, averaging 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 steals and nearly five assists per contest. She shared the Big East's Most Improved Award with Connecticut's Kelly Faris.

Coach: Doug Bruno (27th season at DePaul, 531-293 career record)

NCAA Tournament history: Been 11 consecutive years; has an overall record of 10-17

Last NCAA game: Lost, 63-48, to Tennessee in the 2012 Second Round

Best NCAA run: Reached the Sweet 16 in 2006 and 2011, falling to Duke in its most recent trip to the Regional Semifinals.

Location: Chicago

Enrollment: 25,398

Best all-time player: Diana Vines, who played from 1985-89, is the school's all-time leader in points (2,504) and steals (359) and ranks second in rebounds (1,269).

Best non-basketball alum: John C. Reilly, an Academy Award-nominated actor who has appeared in more than 50 films.

History: OSU is 2-0 all-time against DePaul, including an 81-80 victory in the first round of the 1991 NCAA Tournament.