Illinois-Chicago @ DePaul preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 14, 2018 ) Illinois-Chicago 70, DePaul 90

DePaul likely spent a lot of time at the foul line in preparation for Saturday's game against visiting Illinois-Chicago. The Blue Demons missed 11 free throws in suffering their first loss of the season Sunday to Buffalo, but can rebound against the Flames.

Poor foul shooting wasn't the only problem - 15 turnovers in the first half certainly contributed - but when you give away 11 points and lose by five, it is an issue that should be addressed. No one was immune, not even Paul Reed, who had a spectacular game with 15 points, 18 rebounds, five blocks and four steals, as he missed two free throws as did Jaylen Butz, Romeo Weems and Markese Jacobs. "Biggest thing is to make sure everybody stays on the boat," DePaul's Jalen Coleman-Lands told the media. "We have to have maturity on our team and just kind of coming together and go into the next game with the mindset that we can't put ourselves in that situation again." Michael Diggins (25 points) and Jamie Ahale (19) came up big in a 62-49 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 14 for the Flames, who lose to the Blue Demons 90-70 last season to fall to 2-8 in the series against their city rivals, won back-to-back games following losses in three straight contests.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT UIC (4-6): Diggins has built himself up to be a solid player for the Flames, going from a little-used freshman and solid reserve to a starter capable of leading the team in scoring. The Las Vegas native did just that against Purdue Fort Wayne as he notched career highs in points and made field goals (10), and all he needs to do is develop some consistency. "This is a bigger role. I have to take responsibility on the defensive end and try to do better on the offensive end as well," the forward, who is a 50.8 percent career shooter, told the media. "We're focused on defending, making the right plays and playing as a team."

ABOUT DEPAUL (9-1): Charlie Moore has logged 38 or more minutes in each of the last five games for the Blue Demons and wear and tear may be starting the show. The junior followed up his lowest scoring game of the season with six points against Texas Tech by recording as many points (eight) as turnovers against the Bulls, giving him 99 giveaways on the season against 120 assists. Backup point guard Devin Gage, who was able to spell Moore early in the season and provide solid defense, has missed the last five games with an ankle injury.

TIP-INS

1. Weems had 13 points against Buffalo - one more than he had in the previous three games.

2. Reed was tied for third nationally entering Friday with seven double-doubles and sixth with 3.6 blocks per game.

3. One positive in the loss was that the Blue Demons held Buffalo to 37.1 percent shooting to keep a hold on their top 10 spot in Division I in field goal percentage defense (36.1).

PREDICTION: DePaul 87, UIC 66