Game Day Essentials: Game #9 at Creighton

Creighton Info

Head Coach: Greg McDermott 
Location: Omaha, NE
Conference: Big East
Nickname: Bluejays
Mascot: Billy Bluejay
Typical Rotation Depth: 6+
Line: Creighton by 11.5

KenPom rank: 55

Previous history: Huskers and Jays are tied up at 26 wins each in the rivalry

Offensive Style: LET IT FLY

Defensive Style: Don't foul

Key Injuries: Jacob Epperson, Davion Mintz, Kelvin Jones?

Hoiberg Presser

Cheatham Presser

Players to watch:   Christian Bishop

The sophomore PF is Creighton's starting center due to injuries. The high flying Bishop is the only rim protector the Jays have and the biggest threat to draw fouls. With Jones questionable, Bishop will probably need to play softly on D or risk foul trouble.

Players to watch:   Marcus Zegarowski

With all due respect to Alexander or Ballock, Zegarowski is the star of this Jays team and when he isn't setting up teammates for easy looks he's hitting from everywhere at a high percentage. 

Roster points

The Jays might have the 3 or even 4 most talented players on the court but after that things get dicey. It will help their cause if Kevin Jones, their backup center who left last game with a foot injury, can play

• Alexander has picked up where he left off last year and is capable of carrying the offense in addition to one of the better rebounders on the team
• Ballock can still hit from everywhere
• Jefferson is easily the weak link on offense and has slumped from 3
• Freshman Shereef Mitchell has stepped up and played well as a secondary PG. Has yet to hit a 3.
• Freshman walk-on Jett Canfield is really the only other player receiving significant minutes and has been serviceable
• Senior walk-on Jordan Scurry and schoarlship Fr Jalen Windham have only played garbage minutes but I mention them because they could be pressed to play on Saturday

Scouting Creighton

The Skinny:

There is a decent argument that this isn't a rivalry because as Tim Miles can attest, winning or losing the game vs Creighton isn't much of a factor when it comes to job security. This game really does matter though to the fans of both schools if for no other reason both lost any of their other long standing conference rivals in the last decade. For most people, this is their 'if you can only win one game, let it be this one' game. A lot of Nebraska teams have melted under the lights at Creighton. Is this year's young and swaggy team any different?

The Jays and their ability to pour in points with their talented players and home court advantage are probably too much to overcome for this young Nebraska team who has struggled with lesser teams at home.  In some ways thought this is a good matchup for the Huskers. Nebraska has only won games where they shoot at high percentage and has only done so against teams with defenses as poor as the Jays. The Huskers half court offense has been substandard but here is a Creighton team that wants to run in transition. Can Nebraska wear down the shorthanded Jays who have notably swooned in 2nd halves this year?

The Jays should slow this game down any chance they get and punt on any offensive rebounds in order to make Nebraska earn points and to frustrate a young Nebraska team into beating itself. Are the Jays ready to do the smart thing after being pants'ed last year in Lincoln? Will they let the game fly out of their control?

Prediction: Creighton 89 - Nebraska 80