Gardner-Webb gave Chris Holtmann his first Division I assistant's job in 2003 and his first head coaching gig in 2010.

Holtmann did right by the Runnin' Bulldogs -- leading them to the school's first 20-win season in 2012-13 -- before moving on to Butler, Ohio State and, now, DePaul.

On Tuesday, Holtmann faces Gardner-Webb for the first time since his departure in 2013 when the Blue Demons (2-2) host the Runnin' Bulldogs (0-4) in Chicago.

While it's not the sole reason Holtmann scheduled Gardner-Webb -- it's only getting harder for schools to figure out nonconference slates -- he is friends with Runnin' Bulldogs coach Jeremy Luther. He remains particularly tight with Gardner-Webb's previous coach, Tim Craft, who was Luther's boss before he took the job at Western Carolina.

"I just owe

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