Back In Chicago For Final Exhibition at DePaul

CHICAGO - Notre Dame men's basketball players just got through midterms, but one more test remains via an exhibition at DePaul on Friday, October 23. The Fighting Irish invade Chicago for their final preseason tune-up before Rome. Tip off is set for 8 pm ET/7 pm CT inside Wintrust Arena.

Tickets are still available. In addition, the only way to follow the game is on the Notre Dame Radio Network and on social at @NDMBB. 

 

IRISH AT DEPAUL

The final preseason test awaits Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish make the short bus ride down the toll road to Wintrust Arena to challenge DePaul. There is a strong history for these two programs, only separated by 99 miles (just a 95 min bus ride to Wintrust).

The old Big East rivals have played 106 official games against each other, with the Irish owning the all-time series, 62-44. The last time ND played at Wintrust was back on Nov. 11, 2017 - a 72-58 victory. The two sides did play an exhibition bout in South Bend last season, where DePaul won 69-62. 

There’s also a little history between Coach Shrewsberry and Chris Holtmann as well. Their paths crossed in the Big Ten with Shrewsberry’s Penn State team vs. Holtmann’s Ohio State. Shrewsberry went 3-1 against Holtmann over a two-year span.

DePaul was picked to finish eighth in the 2026-27 Big East preseason poll. They return seven players from last season’s roster and welcome nine newcomers, six of whom are transfers.

The Blue Demons recorded a 16-16 record last season, finishing in sixth place (8-12) in the Big East - highest in program history.

Guard Layden Blocker returns after leading the squad in scoring last year, averaging 11.1 points, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals. He was named to the Preseason All-Big East Third Team. The newcomer class is headlined by San Diego State transfer Magoon Gwath, who won 2025 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Gwath totaled 105 blocks through two seasons.

In DePaul’s first exhibition, they defeated Loyola Chicago, 72-65, behind Ade Popoola’s 25 points (seven made threes).

ROAD TEST AT DAYTON - EXHIBITION #1

Notre Dame took care of business in the first half, outscoring Dayton 38-33 behind 40.7 percent shooting from the floor, plus a 13-of-14 effort from the free-throw line. By the under-12 media timeout, Coach Shrewsberry subbed out his top five and allowed his bench to have valuable minutes down the homestretch. Next, the Flyers outshot the Irish 43.8 percent to 34.6 percent in the second half to ultimately win 75-65.

Ethan Roberts was the lone Irish in double figures, finishing with 11 points in 20 minutes of action. ND had two sparks off the bench in Tommy Ahneman and Jonathan Sanderson. Ahneman supplied eight points on 3-of-4 shooting; Sanderson tallied nine points and two assists.

-- ND --