DePaul University has released its non‑conference schedule for the 2026‑27 men’s basketball season, a slate that promises to test the Blue Demons early and set the tone for a campaign that could reshape their standing in the BIG EAST.
The schedule features four matchups against teams that earned berths in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, along with six contests against programs that consistently rank among the nation’s elite. Three of those games will be against first‑time opponents — Maryland Eastern Shore, North Alabama and West Georgia — giving DePaul a fresh set of challenges.
Head coach Chris Holtmann, now in his third year at the helm, called the slate the most demanding of his tenure, noting that the mix of high‑profile opponents is designed to sharpen the team before conference play begins.
Exhibition games at Loyola and against Notre Dame precede the official opener on November 2 at home against West Georgia. The early November stretch also includes a home game versus USF on the 5th and a meeting with Alabama A&M on the 9th, followed by a road test at Northwestern on the 13th and a visit from Maryland Eastern Shore on the 17th.
Fort Myers Tip‑Off and December Showdowns
Later in the month the Blue Demons will travel to the Fort Myers Tip‑Off, where they will meet Purdue and Pitt in back‑to‑back contests from November 24‑26. December will see DePaul host North Alabama, SMU and Maine, while also making a trip to Missouri to play Saint Louis before closing the non‑conference portion with a home game against Canisius on December 22.
The roster that will take the court is a blend of experience and new talent, featuring nine newcomers alongside seven returning players. The 2025‑26 season already delivered a program‑best defensive efficiency rating and the second‑most BIG EAST victories in school history, laying a strong foundation for the ambitions outlined in the new schedule.
If the early results are any indication, DePaul’s preparation could translate into a deep run in the conference tournament and perhaps a surprise appearance in the NCAA Tournament, making the upcoming schedule a pivotal chapter in the program’s recent resurgence.