Game Day Essentials: Game #9 vs Creighton

Creighton Info

Head Coach: Greg McDermott 
Location: Omaha, NE
Conference: Big East
Nickname: Bluejays, Sweatervests
Mascot: Billy Bluejay
Last time out: Beat Akron
Typical Rotation Depth: 10+
Line: Creighton by 4
Tempo: Fast
Style: High Assists/High 3pt Attempts/Obnoxious Benchwarmers
4 Factors Good: Shooter U, winner of the turnover battle, doesn't foul
4 Factors Bad: 2nd chance points available, don't draw contact

Scouting/Airing of grievances about Creighton

Players to watch: Everyone!

They start two Nebraska kids + 3 transfers. (Watson, Foster, Thomas, Huff, Patton)  Further down the line you have your favorite generic MVC type players like overconfident 3pt shooting guy (Zierden) and stretch four 3pt shooting guy (TOBY!). The rest of the guys are spot minute types though hopefully we've scouted them to the point there are no surprises when MacD decides to play one of them 20 minutes. 

Other Previews 

• White and Blue Review (Creighton Site)
• Journal Star
• World Herald Husker Version
• World Herald Jay Version
• Corn Nation

The Skinny

Please refer to the above links if you need some more general or strategy specific previews.

Two years ago was supposed to be the redemption game for the Huskers vs Creighton. Nebraska coming off a NCAA tournament birth would host a Creighton team that graduated the entire McBuckets crew.  Creighton wasn't very good that year nor in that game but the cracks in what would be a fatally flawed Nebraska team were exploited big time by Greg McDermott.  Fast forward two years later and a young Nebraska team gets their home crack against a Creighton team coming in at #10 in the country after rolling over their first 8 opponents including a stout Wisconsin squad.

The question you come back to is "What has changed for a Tim Miles squad that hasn't beat Creighton home or away?"

Here are some things to consider:

• This Nebraska squad is less dependent on FTs to score points, something that Creighton excels at taking away
• This Nebraska squad doesn't have 1-2 players who have to take shots. It also doesn't start anyone who won't take shots
• While this Creighton squad is smoking the nets it's one of the least 3pt dependent teams of the McDermott era
• This, of course, is Creighton's first true road game of the year

There is a very good chance that Creighton comes in here and RollJays LetItFly ShooterU us to death but we're really too good and probably too proud of a defensive team to let that happen. Then it comes down to the other side: Does Nebraska have enough offense to beat this team?  The team that took out Dayton did. Is that the team that shows up tonight?