Game Day Essentials: Game #5 at Creighton

Creighton Info

Head Coach: Greg McDermott

Location: Omaha, NE

Conference: Big East

Nickname: Blue Jays

Mascot: Billy Blue Jay
Last time out: Defeated Kansas City

Opening Line: Creighton by 10.5

Nota bene:  

• The rivalry has its own Wikipedia site 
• The road team has won the last 3 games, the first time this has occurred in the rivalry
• Fred Hoiberg will face all active former Iowa St coaches this season: McDermott at Creighton and Steve Prohm at Murray St
• Steven Ashworth and Rollie Worster were freshmen on the same 2020-21 Utah St. team coached by Craig Smith

Player to watch: Ryan Kaulkbrenner

The Big East Pre-Season POTY isn't normally the main scoring threat for the Jays but in his 5th season the Creighton big man put up 49 in a game vs UTRGV team that refused to double-team him. Nebraska will make him the focal point and throw double teams at him whenever he touches the ball.  While Kaulk hasn't scored over 13 against Nebraska in his career, his defense and rebounding have played a part in limiting Nebraska's offense and thus chance to win over the years

Player to watch: Steven Ashworth

The sharpshooting PG is really stroking it this season for a Creighton team that overall has struggled to hit from outside.  Ashwoth is currently hitting a ridiculous 13-29 (44.8%) from 3 to start the season while the team is shooting 31.5%.

Player to watch: Pop Isaacs

The 6'2" combo guard shot 37.8% from 3 as a freshman and cratered at 29.3% when tasked as Texas Tech's goto scorer last season.  He's a savvy player but his shot selection can be questionable at times. 

Others to watch

• Jamiya Neal - The big guard transfer from Arizona St will likely be tasked with trying to slow down Brice Williams.  He's proven to be a valuable glue guy for the Jays but does not have a reliable outside shot
• Jackson McAndrew/Isaac Traudt/Jason Green/Mason Miller - These are all candidates for minutes at the 4 or even 3 for the Jays. The 6'10" McAndrew is their highest rated recruit in program history struggling to find his shot. Traudt is good when he gets to spot up for a 3 and can mix it up on defense. Miller arguably might be the best scorer right now but he's banged up. Jason Green hasn't taken off yet, might be banged up.  The Jays with throw these guys against the wall to see what sticks tonight.
• Fredrick King The backup center is not Kaulkbrenner but given how little foul trouble Ryan K gets into King typically just plays to gvie him a breather

Roster/infirmary report

Possible starters for Nebraska

3    Guard    Brice Williams     6-7    214 lbs    Senior

4    Forward    Juwan Gary     6-6    226 lbs    Senior

24    Guard    Rollie Worster     6-5    210 lbs    Senior

34    Center    Braxton Meah     7-1    264 lbs    Senior

9    Forward    Berke Büyüktuncel     6-10    244 lbs    Sophomore

Bench

0    Guard    Connor Essegian     6-4    190 lbs    Junior

2    Guard    Ahron Ulis     6-3    190 lbs    Senior
5    Forward    Braden Frager     6-7    220 lbs    Freshman
8    Guard    Jeffrey Grace III     6-3    200 lbs    Junior
12    Guard    Gavin Griffiths     6-7    193 lbs    Sophomore
20    Forward    Justin Bolis     6-8    225 lbs    Sophomore
25    Guard    Nick Janowski     6-4    208 lbs    Freshman
31    Guard    Cale Jacobsen     6-4    195 lbs    Sophomore

1    Guard    Sam Hoiberg     6-0    185 lbs    Junior

23    Forward    Andrew Morgan     6-10    242 lbs    Senior 

35    Forward    Henry Burt     6-7    222 lbs    Sophomore

Out for year
51    Forward    Rienk Mast     6-10    260 lbs    Senior

Fred Hoiberg Presser

Fred used the word "Jaysker" so I'd say he's invested in this as a rivalry game

The Skinny: 

Two years ago Nebraska did what no one expected and dominated a game in Omaha.  Creighton would go on to make the Elite 8.  Last season the Jays took Nebraska to the woodshed in Lincoln. The Huskers would go on to make the tourney for the first time in a decade.  The point is that while this game is very important for post season hopes and if extremely important as a fan, it's not necessarily going to dictate how the rest of the season will go.  To that point both teams are trying to work out the kinks in tonight's rivalry game, ready or not.

While Ryan Kaulkbrenner is firing on all cylinders, most of the Creighton shooters are not from 3 as shots from outside are currently falling at a Ryan Hawkins era level.  The Jays have been augmenting their offense with transition points and Nebraska will likely punt on offensive rebounds tonight in order to make the Jays play in the half court. Nebraska's 3pt defense can be a slump buster for 3pt shooting teams but the Huskers likely take their chances. Braxton Meah has been more miss than hit this season so we'll see how he fares in this type of matchup where you'd hope height will help further neutralize Big Kaulk.  How much is Nebraska's length in the passing lanes going to bother the Jays  tonight?

On the other side, Nebraska's 3pt shooting makes the Jays look like 2017 Golden State.  While the Jays love to take away the 3 and roll out Kaulk in drop coverage, you have to wonder if they plan to pack the paint tonight against this Nebraska team that is hellbent on making it to the rim and getting to the line.  Creighton doesn't really foul but you'll be surprised sometimes at the variance of a game where the unexpected happens. Things could get really ugly if Rollie Worster and Juwan Gary start hucking up 3s that the Jays will give them.  I feel like Brice is going to be the focus of the Jays' defense. Who else will step up tonight.

There's certainly a path for Nebraska to win this thing with some stifling defense and a breakthrough shooting night. Knock on wood but one thing Nebraska has yet to do this season is give up a 10 point run.  Think Nebraska hangs tough but not sure if it's enough.

Prediction: Creighton 75 - Nebraska 68