Northwestern @ DePaul preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 3, 2016 ) DePaul 64, Northwestern 80

Visiting Northwestern looks to stay on the winning track when it faces crosstown rival DePaul on Saturday. The Wildcats have overcome a sluggish start in November, which saw them drop three games after starting the season in the Top 25, by winning three of their first four games in December - including an 84-50 victory against Valparaiso on Thursday and hopes to continue their defensive resurgence by topping the Blue Demons for the third consecutive time.

"We've rededicated and refocused ourselves to that end of the floor," Northwestern coach Chris Collins told reporters. "Now we have a tough challenge on Saturday afternoon against a much improved DePaul team." The Blue Demons look to have turned the corner after a slow start as they cruised past Alabama A&M on Monday to win their fifth consecutive game, which is their longest streak since 2012. DePaul has scored 80 or more points four times during its current streak and hopes to continue its hot shooting against a Northwestern squad which has limited its opponents to an average of 40.5 points over its last two games. "We have to be efficient on both ends of the floor over the course of the game," DePaul coach Dave Leitao told reporters. "If we play to our capabilities and our fans are energetic and create energy in there then we can finish the deal."

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

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (7-4): Vic Law equaled his career high with five 3-pointers en route to 18 points as the Wildcats shot 54.5 percent from beyond the arc in the win against Valparaiso. Scottie Lindsey added 13 points to finish in double figures for the fourth straight game after he was scoreless against Georgia Tech on Nov. 28 while Gavin Skelly contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds to notch the second double-double of his career. Bryant McIntosh dished out five assists to take his career total to 614, which vaulted him past Jeff Horner for 12th place on the Big Ten's all-time list.

ABOUT DEPAUL (6-4): Max Strus led the way with 14 points and Tre'Darius McCallum added 13 as 10 different Blue Demons scored at least two points in the win against Alabama A&M. Eli Cain matched a career high with eight assists against the Bulldogs and continued his smooth transition into the point guard role after incumbent Devin Gage was ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles. Marin Maric was averaging 11.6 points and 5.2 rebounds before suffering a knee injury in the win over Illinois-Chicago on Dec. 9 and will likely miss Saturday's clash.

TIP-INS

1. Northwestern has won three of the last four meetings with DePaul

2. The Blue Demons have won three games by 20 or more points this season.

3. McIntosh needs 20 assists to move into 11th place on the Big Ten's all-time list.

PREDICTION: Northwestern 73, DePaul 70