Head Coach Collins: Northwestern Must Match DePaul's 'Physicality'

The rivalry between Northwestern and DePaul has always carried an added level of significance because of the proximity between the two programs. Separated by roughly 11 miles, the Wildcats and Blue Demons share a place in Chicago-area basketball, making their annual meetings an opportunity for both programs to establish bragging rights in the city.

As Northwestern prepares for its Nov. 13 matchup against DePaul, head coach Chris Collins knows his team will face a difficult test, particularly in the front court. While the Wildcats have found success in recent meetings between the two programs, Collins recognizes that DePaul's size and physicality present a challenge that Northwestern cannot overlook.

"Their size is impressive," Collins said. "You look at the guys, the bodies they can throw out there."

Collins specifically pointed to DePaul's ability to rotate multiple big men throughout the game, mentioning Fabián Flores and Magoon Gwath in the starting lineup, along with Koree Cotton and Wilson Jacques coming off the bench. With several players standing seven feet tall, the Blue Demons have the personnel to create problems around the basket on both ends of the floor.

That size could be especially important in the rebounding battle, an area Collins identified as a concern based on Northwestern's previous meeting with DePaul.

"We surely struggled in last year's game on the glass against them," Collins said. "We were very fortunate to come away with the win."

Despite Northwestern escaping with the victory, Collins believes DePaul's physical approach played a significant role in keeping the game competitive.

"I thought their physicality really set the tone last year of the game and gave them a great chance to win," Collins said.

The matchup represents another chapter in a rivalry between two programs competing in different major conferences. Northwestern represents the Big Ten, while DePaul competes in the Big East. Despite those different conference affiliations, the proximity of the schools has helped maintain the importance of the annual matchup.

The programs have also experienced different levels of success in recent years. Northwestern has worked to establish itself as a consistent competitor in the Big Ten, reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and 2024 under Collins. DePaul, meanwhile, has been working to build momentum in the Big East under head coach Chris Holtmann, who took over the program ahead of the 2024-25 season.

For DePaul, its combination of size, athleticism and developing guard play gives the Blue Demons a chance to challenge Northwestern in multiple areas. Collins acknowledged that the team's strengths extend beyond its frontcourt.

"They have added shooting, they have good guard play, they have great size on the front line," Collins said.

Collins also spoke highly of DePaul's potential within the Big East, suggesting that the Blue Demons have the pieces to compete against some of the conference's stronger programs.

"I think this is a team that has the makings of being a top-half Big East team for sure," Collins said.

For Northwestern, the challenge will be handling DePaul's defensive pressure while avoiding the mistakes that can allow the Blue Demons to take control of the game. Collins emphasized that his players must be strong with the basketball and disciplined when facing DePaul's aggressiveness.

"We're going to have to be strong with the ball, take care of the ball against their aggressiveness defensively," Collins said.

Those details could ultimately determine the outcome. Northwestern will need to compete on the glass, limit turnovers and prevent DePaul's size from becoming a major advantage in the paint.

While the rivalry provides an opportunity for both programs to claim bragging rights in Chicago, Collins' message heading into the matchup is centered on the basketball itself. The Wildcats know what DePaul brings physically, and they understand that matching that intensity for 40 minutes will be essential.

After struggling on the glass in their previous meeting, Northwestern will have another opportunity to show that it can handle the Blue Demons' size and physicality.