Blue Demons Host Villanova Wednesday Night

Wednesday, March 4

7 p.m.

DePaul University

Villanova

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3/3/2026 3:42:00 PM | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Game Notes (PDF)

DePaul looks to clinch winning season Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena

CHICAGO – DePaul men's basketball returns home Wednesday night at Wintrust Arena, welcoming Villanova for a 7 p.m. tip on Peacock. Chris Vosters and Nick Bahe have the broadcast call while Zach Zaidman and Dave Corzine have DePaul's radio coverage on Sirius XM and the DePaul Blue Demons App.

The Blue Demons enter Wednesday's contest riding a two-game winning streak and coming off three-straight BIG EAST road wins – the first time in program history DePaul has accomplished that feat. A victory would clinch a winning season for DePaul for the first time since 2018-19 and tie the program record for most BIG EAST wins in a single season with nine.

LAST TIME OUT
DePaul (16-13, 8-10 BIG EAST) capped its road schedule in style Sunday with a commanding 62-51 victory over Marquette at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Brandon Maclin led the way with a game-high 18 points, while NJ Benson posted a double-double with 10 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. Kruz McClure added 10 points off the bench. DePaul led by as many as 18 in the first half and limited Marquette to 51 points, continuing a defensive stretch that has fueled the Blue Demons' late-season surge. DePaul is 10-0 on the season when holding opponents under 65 points.

Over his last five games, Benson has been among the most efficient players in the country – averaging 17.4 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 78.3 percent from the floor. His 64.0 field goal percentage this season would rank third all-time in single-season field goal percentage at DePaul, the highest since Stanley Brundy in 1988-89.

SCOUTING VILLANOVA
Villanova (22-7, 13-5 BIG EAST) comes to Wintrust Arena sitting third in the conference standings and receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches' polls with a NET ranking of 34. The Wildcats rank top-50 nationally with 9.7 three-pointers per game and are among the BIG EAST best in fewest turnovers and fouls per game.

Tyler Perkins leads the Wildcats with 13.3 points per game, while Villanova has a total of four-players averaging double-digit points and another two averaging above nine per game. Duke Brennan ranks second in the BIG EAST and ninth nationally with 10.3 rebounds per game, and is coming off a 12 point, eight rebound performance against #15 St. John's Saturday.

THE SERIES
Wednesday marks the second meeting between DePaul and Villanova this season and the 48th all-time. DePaul trails the all-time series 9-38, including a 4-18 mark in home games. The Blue Demons' last victory in the series came on Jan. 10, 2023, a 75-65 win at Wintrust Arena.

The two teams previously met on Dec. 31 at Finneran Pavilion, where the Wildcats edged the Blue Demons, 71-66, in a game DePaul led by four points in the first half. CJ Gunn had a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds in the first meeting this season.

UP NEXT
DePaul closes the regular season Saturday, March 7, hosting Butler. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. on FS1.