DePaul University’s men’s basketball team is set to conclude their non-conference schedule on Saturday, December 13, as they face Wichita State. The game is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and can be watched on ESPNU, with Derek Jones and John Williams providing commentary. Fans can also catch the DePaul radio broadcast by Zach Zaidman and Dave Corzine on Sirius XM and the Blue Demons App.
The Blue Demons, boasting a record of 7-3, showcased their defensive prowess in a recent game against Morgan State, where they held the opponent to an astonishing 20.0 percent shooting — the lowest percentage allowed by a BIG EAST team since 2012. This impressive defensive effort allowed DePaul to force 20 turnovers, further establishing them among the national leaders in turnover margin. The team has shown resilience, maintaining an undefeated record of 5-0 when keeping opponents under 65 points. In their previous matchup against Wichita State, DePaul claimed a 91-72 victory at Wintrust Arena, where they set a record with 17 three-pointers made in regulation at a shooting percentage of 51.5 percent from beyond the arc. Historically, DePaul holds a slight edge in the all-time series at 5-4, although Wichita State has won the last two games played at home, the last of which occurred 47 years ago.
Wichita State enters this game with a record of 6-4 and is coming off two consecutive victories against Mount Marty and Northern Iowa. The Shockers have a strong home court advantage, going 17-6 at home over the past two seasons, and they remain undefeated at home this season with a perfect 5-0 record. Coach Paul Mills, now in his third season, aims to build on last season’s NIT appearance. Key player Kenyon Giles leads Wichita State’s offense, averaging 17.1 points per game, while the team’s overall performance has shown a strong emphasis on rebounding and defensive strategies. The Shockers rank 12th nationally with an impressive 14.8 offensive rebounds per game and are among the top 90 in terms of field goal percentage defense and scoring defense, allowing an average of 67.3 points to their opponents, culminating in an 11-point scoring margin this season.
Following this matchup, DePaul will transition into BIG EAST play, starting with a challenging game against reigning conference champion St. John’s on December 16 at 6 p.m. CT, broadcasted on Peacock. The upcoming contests provide DePaul with an opportunity to solidify their performance and position in the league as they head into the heart of their schedule.