ROSEMONT, Ill. (Interstat) — Two Big East teams hovering around .500 will meet Saturday when the DePaul Blue Demons host the Butler Bulldogs at Allstate Arena.

The regular-season finale for both teams carries weight for seeding in next week’s conference tournament. DePaul (16-14, 8-11 Big East) enters with a slight edge in the standings over Butler (15-15, 7-12), but both seek momentum after losses in their last outings.

The Blue Demons fell 76-57 to Villanova on Wednesday, struggling offensively. They will rely on guard Brandon Maclin, who leads the team and averages 16.2 points per game in conference play. Maclin has been a consistent scorer, including a 21-point performance in a road win at Creighton on Feb. 25.

Butler is looking to rebound from a 76-59 home loss to Creighton. The Bulldogs’ fortunes often follow the play of wing Michael Ajayi, who scored 26 points in that defeat. Ajayi has been on a scoring tear, averaging 19.1 points over his last seven games, including a 24-point effort in a win over Xavier and a remarkable 19-rebound game at Marquette.

DePaul won the first meeting this season, 80-87 at Butler on Jan. 20. The Bulldogs have lost three of their last four, while the Blue Demons have split their last six, showcasing the unpredictable nature of this mid-tier conference matchup.

A key battle will be on the boards. Butler ranks third in the Big East in rebounding margin, while DePaul sits near the bottom. Containing second-chance opportunities will be critical for the Blue Demons.

With the conference tournament looming, Saturday’s contest is a final chance for both squads to fine-tune their play and secure a more favorable path in New York. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST.