Creighton Bluejay Preview

Date: Friday, December 11th

Time: 6:00pm CST

Location: Omaha, NE

2019-20 Record: 24-7 (13-5 Big East)

2020-21 Record: 3-1

Ranking: #7 Coaches/#8 AP

Coach: Greg McDermott (11th Season)

Series History: Creighton leads 27-26

Preview

The Creighton Bluejays return a majority of the team from the 2019-20 season which saw them tie for 1st in the Big East before COVID popped its ugly head and ended their season along with everyone else. They received the coveted #1 spot in the conference tournament against St. John’s and would have made a nice run through it if it all went according to plan.

This season, barring COVID, they should have just as nice of a season. Maybe even better.

Gone is first team all Big East Ty-Shon Alexander who declared for the NBA after the season was cut short. A huge talent that gave issues to a majority of the teams Creighton took on. However, they have plenty of talent returning to vie for the top of the conference and make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

Leading the team is pre season Big East Player of the Year Marcus Zegarowski. Marcus was second team all Big East and second team All-American by NBC Sports last season. Many expect him to be in the hunt for player of the year honors if all go according to plan. In fact, many believed that he was the number one candidate before Iowa’s Lucas Garza came back for one more season.

Marcus is averaging 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game so far on the season. Last year Marcus had a whopping 30 points and 9 rebounds against Nebraska. I would expect another big game but the Huskers should have the talent this year to keep him in check better than they did in last years loss.

Forward Christian Bishop is leading the Bluejays this season in points with 14.5 per game. He is also averaging a team high of 6.3 rebounds. Christian had a game high of 9 rebounds in their loss to Kansas on Monday. I would expect much of the same against Nebraska as he has dominated the past for the past two years for Creighton.

Also of note is Denzel Mahoney at guard. He is averaging 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. A talented senior who has had a very nice career in Omaha.

Prediction

Both Nebraska and Creighton are coming off of tough losses that they could have won. Nebraska to Georgia Tech and Creighton to Kansas. They are both looking at this as a much needed pick me up to get through the rest of the December slate.

Nebraska has improved considerably from their 95-76 loss to Creighton last season. However, the Bluejays bring a lot back from that team and have added some other nice pieces to their arsenal. The Huskers will match up better this year but it will take some key shooting and a defense that doesn’t fall apart in the second half to pull off this win.