Game 24: Creighton University (17-7)
Feb. 13, 8:30 pm EST
Omaha, NE
CHI Health Center
Tickets: Limited
Media:
TV: Fox Sports 1
GU Radio: WTEM-980
CU Radio: KOZN-1620
About the Bluejays:
Location: Omaha, NE
Enrollment: 4,472
Conference: Big East
2022-23 Record: 24-13
Record vs. Georgetown: 15-9
Meet The Coach:
Greg McDermott
(Northern Iowa '88)
14th season, 317-157
Career: 596-352
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|
Expected Starters |
Name |
Ht. |
Pts. |
Steven Ashworth |
6-1 |
10.5 |
Trey Alexander |
6-4 |
16.9 |
Baylor Scheierman |
6-7 |
18.5 |
Mason Miller |
6-9 |
6.1 |
Ryan Kalkbrenner |
7-1 |
17.0 |
|
Team Stats: |
Points/Game: |
80.7 |
Points Allowed: |
69.7 |
FG Shooting: |
48.4 |
FG Defense |
41.4 |
3FG Shooting: |
35.7 |
FT Shooting: |
77.3 |
Rebounds/Game |
39.0 |
Assists/Game |
16.8 |
Turnovers/Game |
10.8 |
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Last 5 Games (3-2) |
01/23: CU 85, Xavier 78
01/27: CU 85, DePaul 62
02/02: Butler 99, CU 98
02/07: Providence 91, CU 87
02/10: CU 78, Xavier 71
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Believe it or not, but there is some light at the end of the dark tunnel known as the Georgetown Hoyas' 2023-24 schedule. It's just not tonight in Omaha.
At #17 in the Associated Press Poll, Creighton knows what it needs out of this game: an early, decisive win over a reputation-battered program. Georgetown is on course for what, as late as 2021, would have seemed unthinkable: a third consecutive 20-loss season, a school which suffered only one such season in its first 114 years.
Much like UConn and Marquette at the top of the Big East race, Creighton is a veteran starting lineup which knows what it can do, and more important, what it cannot do in a game like this. The Bluejays scored 42 of its 77 points inside the Hoyas when the two teams met on January 2, and are strong favorites to follow the path of UConn and Marquette, each of which topped 40 points inside in easy wins over the Hoyas in the past 10 days. Winners of 28 of its last 33 at home over the past three seasons, another large crowd at CHI Health Center expects no less.
With what has largely become a six man rotation, Creighton relies on a veteran starting five. Stephen Ashworth has been a great fit at point guard since transferring from Utah State, with eight straight games in double figures and 15 threes over a three game stretch before an uncharacteristic 1 for 8 Saturday versus Xavier. Leading the Big East in in assist to turnover ratio, Ashworth had seven points and seven assists in the first meting between the schools in Washington, but in the absence of consistent guard play for the Hoyas, is capable of a big game Tuesday.
Across the court from Ashworth stands Trey Alexander, who went for 25 against the Hoyas last month on 11 for 17 shooting. Alexander is averaging 20.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in his last six games, all at 6-4. A top 10 performer in five different individual categories, Alexander drives this offense and the Jays know it: Creighton is 16-1 when Alexander scores 20 or more points, 1-6 when he does not. A 27 point, nine rebound effort versus Xavier is a season high; his seven threes last season versus GU was a career high.
While 6-9 Mason Miller has been quiet of late in the frontcourt, the same cannot be said of senior Baylor Scheierman, whose 18 points and 12 rebounds versus the Hoyas in January is part of a all-Big East resume as a senior. Per the Creighton media notes, Scheierman is the first men's player in Division I history 2,000 or more points, 1,000 or more rebounds, 500 or more assists and 300 or more three pointers, and is fifth nationally in career rebounds among active players. He ranks in the top five in six different Big East statistical categories, including two of significant interest to the Hoyas; first in three pointers per game and first in defensive rebounding, areas where the Hoyas have struggled to defend this season. Scheierman had 27 points and 12 rebounds last week versus Providence and represents much the same bad matchup for Georgetown that Alex Karaban was this past Saturday.
It may be difficult to compare, but the Hoyas did not get crushed by UConn's Donovan Clingan inside, but an arguably tougher opponent awaits Tuesday in Creighton senior Ryan Kalkbrenner. The 7-1 senior, averaging 17 points a game on 63 percent shooting, was 12 of 14 versus Xavier Saturday en route to 28 points. Georgetown can't win without significantly limiting Kalkbrenner inside, something they have been unable to do against taller opponents much of this season.
Creighton entered the end of week Big East statistics just two points short of Connecticut as the top rated offense on the conference at 80.8 points per game, first in three point shooting, and first in defensive rebounding, numbers that shine in comparison to Georgetown, ranked 10th in offense, 10th in defense, and 10th in rebounding, respectively. The Hoyas have not shown any ability to address these three, and can only hope for incremental progress as it approaches a more manageable portion of the schedule with which to build upon for 2024-25.
Keys to the game:
1. Rebounding: Creighton is 13-2 when winning the boards. Georgetown actually played UConn well in this stat on Saturday (33 to 32) but cannot hope to contend in this one without a lead in rebounding.
2. A Slower Pace: Maybe not in the 50s, but this is a competitive game if the final score remains under 70.
3. Attack Alexander: Trey Alexander dominated the first meeting. Can the spotty Georgetown guard defense stop him this time?
Even with these three keys, Georgetown's prospects are, at best, poor.