Creighton Game thread

[muskieman]

When: Saturday, March 1, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Cintas
Special Note: Saturday will be a Whiteout game, and Xavier is asking all fans attending to wear white. Don't be a curmudgeon—wear white.

TV: FOX national, including FOX 19 in Cincinnati, with play-by-play from Brandon Gaudin and analysis from Robbie Hummel.
Radio: 55KRC-AM also available on the Varsity Network and on Sirius XM


Creighton is ranked 25th in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll and is first "among others receiving votes" in the AP Top 25.

Xavier has improved to 18-10 thanks to four straight wins before their mid-week bye in their quest to return to the NCAA Tournament. The X-Men are 13-2 at home this season.

Xavier owns a 22-20 lead in the series with Creighton, including a 12-8 edge in Cincinnati. Twenty-five of the 42 all-time meetings have been within five points in the final minute, including 11 of the last 21 games.

The Coaches: Greg McDermott is 14-13 against Xavier, and 4-2 against Sean Miller. Miller is 3-7 against Creighton.

Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Xavier (20) and Creighton (19) lead the BIG EAST in victories by three points or fewer.
Both are in the top 10 nationally in that span.

[Anti-Homer]

Creighton is the 2nd hottest team in the BE behind St. John’s, led by the underrated Greg McDermott, one of the best offensive coaches in CBB. They are 11-2 in the last 13 and controlled much of the game at St. John’s a couple of weeks ago, losing a 5-7 point lead in the 2nd when Kalk went down with an ankle injury, missing about 10 critical minutes, only to return in the last 5 minutes or so to make it a close finish.

Creighton was very strategic with X in the 1st game. They made a concerted effort to get back on D after a miss, and not crash the boards, knowing X is highly reliant on fast break points, and their half-court offense would surely struggle since Creighton has the best defensive center in BBall. Free actually had a good game offensively, but not good enough to make up for the lack of easy, transition baskets X usually gets. This is evidenced by the fact that X had more offensive boards than Creighton, even though the average height differential between X and Creighton players is about 4 inches. X also had 5 less T.O.s that game as well.

Hugley had his best game of the year by far offensively and actually played decent defense. He will have to play in the teens, minutes-wise again, bc though Free is obviously the best “center’ on the team, he is so overmatched defensively against Kalk. They tried to double down at times, but McDermott spreads them out so well and sends cutter to the hoop so well, that X doing so results in a lot of open looks. However, I’d concede an open three for a team that shoots 34% from deep, than Kalk, who shoots about 67-70% from 2. Kalk scored 30 as easily and quietly as a player possibly can.

I hope X has Swain on Ashcroft as much as possible, and also varies pressure, to at least shave 6-8 seconds off the shot clock to shorten the time in their half-court sets and make them begin their offense in unplanned starting points. X also needs another good game from Maddox, and hopefully from Foster.

They can’t reply on Hugley scoring 13 again, but on the flip side, the Jays got 17 from the very pedestrian Neal, who scored 5 above his average (modest increase) but 50% from 3. This is from a 30% 3-point shooter, who also shoots about 47% from 2s, and 60% from the line. If X loses because he scores 17 again, God Bless them. I’ll take that rather than Kalk scoring 30.

In addition, anyone isolated on Ashworth needs to be aggressive on offense. He’s a credible defender, but not a great athlete, and only 6” tall. Kalb masks up for many of his defensive lapses, as he does for all of his teammates, but if Free can draw him out to the 3-point line, X has to drive on the likes of Ashworth, McAndrew, and Kraudt(sp?). I don’t think McKnight showed up at Creighton. He needs to big time today. They also need to make Ashworth take a lot of twos, and obviously not foul him on the shot, as he is the best F.T. shooter in the country. However, he shoots about 43 % from 2, and 37% from 3, hardly elite numbers.

I’ll be wearing my all-white pimp suit, a la Rick Pitino, to the game today. I’ve also been tasked by OSD to give our special guest, Sir Anthony Hopkins, the VIP treatment in the Moderator’s suite. I just hope he doesn’t talk my ear off about Howard’s End during timeouts, like the last time he visited Cintas. X finds a way to get the fast break going and hits their free throws at a high clip, winning a barn burner 79-76.

[connecticut72]

Surprised to see X favored by a 1.5. If we can get this one and don’t fall completely apartin our remaining games I like our chances for the Big Dance. Kalkbrenner is going to get his but I would play Hugely more and let him use his 5 fouls to rough him up. I think McKnight can guard Asworth. Swain will have his hands full guarding there wing players. I like our chances. Wear white yell like mad dogs and Let’s Gi X!!!!

[Anti-Homer]

Surprised to see X favored by a 1.5. If we can get this one and don’t fall completely apartin our remaining games I like our chances for the Big Dance. Kalkbrenner is going to get his but I would play Hugely more and let him use his 5 fouls to rough him up. I think McKnight can guard Asworth. Swain will have his hands full guarding there wing players. I like our chances. Wear white yell like mad dogs and Let’s Gi X!!!!

Conn,

The line is now up to X -2.5, and I'm not surprised one bit. I want Swain on Ashworth. He's the head of the snake, and though he's a great passer, he is also very loose with the ball (4 T.O.s a game), bc he throws a lot of risky passes. In order of importance offensively, it goes: Kalk > Ashworth >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>anyone else. Apparently, A Hopkins is taking too many liberties in the Concierge Lounge, so I have to log off and take him up to the Mod Suite.

[connecticut72]

Ok we will see what Sean does. I am betting on myself. I do not see Swain on Asworth but I will defer to Miller. Go X

[Anti-Homer]

Ok we will see what Sean does. I am betting on myself. I do not see Swain on Asworth but I will defer to Miller. Go X

No, I agree with you. McKnight will start off on Ashworth. I hope it holds but expect to see Swain on him as well.

[Kevin Reilly]

Anti-homer glad your pulling out all stops with the White MIAMI VICE suit. Have you and your suit showed up at any other games and more importantly did the suit get us a win? Creighton has the better team but we haven't really had a good win all year so we are due. Freemantle can't cover Kalkbrenner as he proved last game so I hope he doesn't pick up early fouls trying to guard him. We need Hugley in early to push Kalkbrenner out from the basket and maybe some zone? Yeah lol that's not happening. Be nice to get this one but I think we will just miss. We need about 25 points each from Freemantle and Maddox. Swain who I think can't keep anyone in front of him might be the answer for Ashworth because even if he gets beat off the dribble he might be able to recover and block some of Ashworths drives. Hope the students are loud because we need them tonight. I don't see us making the tournament so this is like it for us. Be great if the team proves me wrong. Go X

[Kevin Reilly]

Maddox comes in and gives us a nice boost. Mcknight playing confidently. The defense has been very good on Kalkbrenner so far.

[connecticut72]

Our defense looks real strong. Switching fighting thru ball screens playing hard. McKight with 2 is not good. Swain missing easy shots. Fatigue in this game could be a factor. The long rest should help

[Kevin Reilly]

Very good first half especially on defense. Hunter and Hugley played well on defense. McKnight, Conwell and Maddox were great on offense. Swain took 9 shots in the first half which is more than he should take in a whole game. Hope we can play another 20 minutes of defense like the first half.