A New Home‑and‑Home Rivalry
DePaul University and Southern Methodist University have announced a home‑and‑home men’s basketball series that will begin in the 2026‑27 season. The opening contest is set for December 5, 2026 at Wintrust Arena, where the Blue Demons will host the Mustangs before the teams travel to Dallas for a return match during the 2027‑28 campaign.
This will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs, adding a non‑conference highlight to both schedules and providing an early‑season test for squads that have been building momentum.
Coaching Dynamics
SMU arrives with a 20‑14 record from the previous season and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017, a milestone achieved under head coach Andy Enfield, who is entering his third year at the helm and has guided the Mustangs to back‑to‑back 20‑win seasons.
DePaul, led by Chris Holtmann in his third season, posted its second‑most BIG EAST victories in program history and posted the best KenPom defensive efficiency rating ever recorded by a Blue Demon team, finishing the year ranked among the nation’s top‑35 defensive units and securing the highest conference standing since the school joined the league in 2005.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Demons also bring a nationally recognized transfer portal class to the court, highlighted by four‑star recruits Magoon Gwath and Ade Popoola, who are expected to bolster depth and competitiveness right away. Together, the matchup promises a clash of rising programs, each guided by experienced coaches and enriched by fresh talent, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in college basketball.