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Tag: Bluejays
3 keys for Xavier Musketeers to beat Creighton Bluejays in Omaha
Just over three weeks ago, Xavier was at its “low point” following a 10-point home loss to St. John’s. At 1-4 in Big East play, it was the moment of truth for Xavier’s season.
The Musketeers have found a way to climb out of that early hole. Xavier has won four of its last five, including a pair of gargantuan victories over ranked teams − at Marquette Jan. 18 and at home over No. 19 UConn Saturday.
GALLERY:Xavier Musketeers beat No. 19 UConn at Cintas Center
At 13-8 overall (5-5 Big East), Xavier is in position to be on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble if they can keep this momentum (37.1% chance to make the tournament, according to TeamRankings.com). Another key road victory would certainly help the cause, and Xavier has that opportunity Wednesday against the red-hot Creighton Bluejays in Omaha, Nebraska.
More:Report: Xavier Musketeers basketball to play in 2025 Charleston Classic
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3 keys to a Xavier Musketeers win over Creighton Bluejays
1. Can Xavier handle road crowd in crunch time?
Xavier head coach Sean Miller applauded the sold-out Cintas Center crowd that fueled the Musketeers’ 76-72 win over No. 19 UConn. Xavier must flip the script and make the necessary plays during crunch time when a raucous crowd is not on its side.
Creighton is 10-1 at CHI Health Center Arena this season and have mauled its last two home opponents with blowout wins over Seton Hall (79-54) and Providence (84-64).
Xavier has handled its business on the road early on but have had problems shutting the door. The Musketeers were able to hang on at Fiserv Forum against Marquette (59-57) but coughed up a 16-point second-half lead at Madison Square Garden against St. John’s last week.
2. Xavier’s improved defense will be tested against the ‘Let it fly’ Bluejays
“Our defense, in and around three weeks ago, took on a different form in a positive way − tougher, harder playing, more detail-oriented, more alert,” Miller said after Xavier’s defense got a pair of stops in the final minute against UConn.
Xavier’s defense, which is now No. 38 in KenPom in efficiency, will face a Creighton offense that can bury teams in a hurry from the perimeter. Crieghton’s “Let it fly” mantra has led to an offense that lives and dies by the 3-point shot. Nearly half (49.8%) of Creighton’s total field goal attempts come from beyond the arc, which is the 10th-highest rate in the country. Creighton has four (active) players with at least 60 three-point attempts and any one of them can punish an opposing team on any given night.
Xavier has had plenty of practice against teams who chuck it from the perimeter at a high rate. Xavier already has road wins over Marquette and DePaul, which rank No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, in the Big East in 3-point attempts per game.
3. Can Xavier’s offense make hay against a solid Creighton defense?
While the offense might live and die with triples, that reputation might disguise how stout Creighton is on the defensive end. Back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances (including an Elite 8 run in 2023) don’t happen by accident.
Creighton is No. 25 overall in KenPom in defensive efficiency and rank in the top 45 in both 3-point and 2-point defense. The Bluejays have been particularly tough at home. Only one Big East team (Villanova) has gone to Omaha and scored over 65 points.
Xavier Musketeers vs. Creighton Bluejays
Tip: Wednesday, 8 p.m., The CHI Health Center Arena (17,560)
TV/Radio: FS1/700 WLW
Ratings: Xavier is No. 47 in KenPom and Creighton is No. 32. Xavier is No. 55 in the NCAA NET Rankings and Creighton is No. 39.
History: Xavier leads the all-time series, 22-19, though Creighton has won three of four, including a pair of seven-point victories over the Musketeers last season. The series is even 13-13 since the two programs joined the Big East.
Creighton Bluejays scouting report
Record: 14-6 (7-2 Big East)
Head coach: Greg McDermott (339-166 at Creighton, 15th season)
Offense: 75.5 ppg
Defense: 68.7 ppg
Overview: Creighton reached as high as No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 but have been unranked since a three-game losing streak in November. Creighton has recovered since losing junior guard Pop Isaacs, a Texas Tech transfer who scored 27 points in a win over then-No. 1 Kansas Dec. 4 but is out for the season (hip).
Winners of five straight, Creighton is nearly back among the ranked. The Bluejays were No. 34 in Monday’s AP poll, receiving 12 votes.
Creighton lost its two leading scorers from last year’s Sweet 16 run but point guard Steven Ashworth is still around. The former Utah State transfer is averaging a career-high 16.6 points and 6.7 assists per game. He leads the Big East in 3-point attempts per game (8.4) and connects at a 36.5% clip.
Projected starting lineup
(Pos., Height, Stats)
Steven Ashworth (G, 6’0″, 16.6 ppg)
Jamiya Neal (G, 6’5″, 11.4 ppg)
Jasen Green (F, 6’8″, 3.2 ppg)
Jackson McAndrew (F, 6’10”, 8.2 ppg)
Ryan Kalkbrenner (C, 7’1″, 17.7 ppg)
Xavier Musketeers scouting report
Record: 13-8 (5-5 Big East)
Head coach: Sean Miller (176-83 at Xavier, eighth season)
Offense: 77 ppg
Defense: 69.4 ppg
Projected starters
(Pos., Height, Stats)
Dayvion McKnight (G, 6’0″, 10.4 ppg)
Ryan Conwell (G, 6’4″, 16.1 ppg)
Marcus Foster (G, 6’5″, 8.2 ppg)
Dailyn Swain (G/F, 6’8″, 9.9 ppg)
Zach Freemantle (F, 6’9″, 16.5 ppg)
Players to watch
For all the 3-point headlines Creighton garners, you still have to deal with 7-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner down low. Xavier’s frontcourt must keep Kalkbrenner from wrecking them down low and on the glass, like he did last year at Cintas Center by turning in 28 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Kalkbrenner’s 66.5% field goal percentage is why the Bluejays are the No. 5 team in the nation in 2-point shooting. He has three double-doubles over the last six games and ranks No. 5 in the nation in blocked shots. Those swats are important as Xavier ranks No. 354 in the country (out of 364 teams) in blocked shot percentage at 13.3%.
Can “UConn Dante” make back-to-back appearances for Xavier’s offense? Xavier needed bench production against UConn and found it behind Jerome Hunter and Dante Maddox Jr. Over half (36 of 68) of Maddox’s Big East points this season have been against UConn. Some consistency from the Toledo transfer would go a long way for Xavier’s offense.
- Strong defense: The Xavier Musketeers will need to bring their A-game defensively to shut down Creighton’s high-powered offense. This means playing tough man-to-man defense, contesting every shot, and limiting second-chance opportunities for the Bluejays.
- Efficient offense: Xavier will need to take care of the ball and make the most of their scoring chances against Creighton. This means moving the ball well, finding open looks, and knocking down shots when they present themselves. The Musketeers will also need to capitalize on fast break opportunities and convert at the free throw line.
- Control the tempo: Creighton likes to play fast and score in transition, so Xavier will need to dictate the pace of the game and limit the Bluejays’ fast break opportunities. This means executing in the half-court offense, taking care of the basketball, and not allowing Creighton to get out in transition. By controlling the tempo of the game, Xavier can disrupt Creighton’s rhythm and give themselves a better chance to come out on top in Omaha.
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Creighton Bluejays vs. Xavier Musketeers: How to watch NCAA Basketball online, TV channel, live stream info, start time
Halftime Report
Only one more half stands between Creighton and the win they were favored to collect coming into this evening. They have jumped out to a quick 40-35 lead against Xavier.
Creighton entered the match having won five straight and they’re just one half away from another. Will they make it six, or will Xavier step up and spoil it? We’ll know soon.
Who’s Playing
Xavier Musketeers @ Creighton Bluejays
Current Records: Xavier 13-8, Creighton 14-6
How To Watch
- When: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET
- Where: CHI Health Center Omaha — Omaha, Nebraska
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket Cost: $2.00
What to Know
Xavier and Creighton are an even 5-5 against one another since January of 2020, but not for long. Both will face off in a Big East battle at 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday at CHI Health Center Omaha. The Musketeers are strutting in with some offensive muscle as they’ve averaged 77 points per game this season.
Xavier took a loss when they played away from home on Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Saturday. They secured a 76-72 W over UConn.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Xavier to victory, but perhaps none more so than Dante Maddox Jr., who went 5 for 6 en route to 14 points. The dominant performance also gave Maddox Jr. a new career-high in field goal percentage (83.3%). Dailyn Swain was another key player, going 6 for 7 en route to 15 points.
Meanwhile, Creighton entered their tilt with Seton Hall on Saturday with four consecutive wins but they’ll enter their next game with five. They were the clear victor by a 79-54 margin over the Pirates. The Bluejays have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won six contests by 20 points or more this season.
Creighton can attribute much of their success to Ryan Kalkbrenner, who almost dropped a double-double on 23 points and nine rebounds. Kalkbrenner has been hot , having also posted two or more blocks the last five times he’s played. Another player making a difference was Steven Ashworth, who shot 5-for-8 from deep and almost dropped a double-double on 17 points and nine assists.
Creighton was working as a unit and finished the game with 19 assists. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Seton Hall only posted nine.
Xavier has been performing well recently as they’ve won four of their last five matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 13-8 record this season. As for Creighton, they pushed their record up to 14-6 with the victory, which was their sixth straight at home.
Some high-performance offense is likely on the agenda as the two teams are some of the highest scoring teams in the league. Xavier hasn’t had any problem running up the score this season, having averaged 77 points per game. However, it’s not like Creighton struggles in that department as they’ve been averaging 75.5. With both teams so easily able to put up points, the only question left is who can run the score up higher.
Xavier is hoping to beat the odds on Wednesday, as the experts think they’re headed for a loss. They and Creighton have both performed well against the spread, with Xavier at 12-9 and Creighton at 5-1 ATS.
Odds
Creighton is a solid 6-point favorite against Xavier, according to the latest college basketball odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Bluejays as a 5.5-point favorite.
The over/under is 142.5 points.
See college basketball picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get picks now.
Series History
Creighton and Xavier both have 5 wins in their last 10 games.
- Feb 10, 2024 – Creighton 78 vs. Xavier 71
- Jan 23, 2024 – Creighton 85 vs. Xavier 78
- Mar 10, 2023 – Xavier 82 vs. Creighton 60
- Jan 28, 2023 – Creighton 84 vs. Xavier 67
- Jan 11, 2023 – Xavier 90 vs. Creighton 87
- Jan 29, 2022 – Xavier 74 vs. Creighton 64
- Jan 15, 2022 – Xavier 80 vs. Creighton 73
- Feb 27, 2021 – Xavier 77 vs. Creighton 69
- Dec 23, 2020 – Creighton 66 vs. Xavier 61
- Jan 26, 2020 – Creighton 77 vs. Xavier 66
The highly anticipated matchup between the Creighton Bluejays and Xavier Musketeers is set to take place soon, and fans are eager to catch all the action. Here is everything you need to know to watch the NCAA Basketball game online, on TV, or via live stream:Date: Saturday, February 12, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Location: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OhioTV Channel: The game will be broadcast on FS1. Check your local listings to find the channel in your area.
Live Stream: You can stream the game live on the FOX Sports app or on the FOX Sports website with a cable or streaming service provider login.
Online: For those without a cable subscription, you can also watch the game online through streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and fuboTV.
Don’t miss out on the excitement of this NCAA Basketball showdown between the Creighton Bluejays and Xavier Musketeers. Tune in to catch all the action and cheer on your favorite team!
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#Creighton #Bluejays #Xavier #Musketeers #watch #NCAA #Basketball #online #channel #live #stream #info #start #timeCreighton Bluejays vs. Seton Hall Pirates: How to watch NCAA Basketball online, TV channel, live stream info, start time
Who’s Playing
Seton Hall Pirates @ Creighton Bluejays
Current Records: Seton Hall 6-13, Creighton 13-6
How To Watch
- When: Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. ET
- Where: CHI Health Center Omaha — Omaha, Nebraska
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket Cost: $10.20
What to Know
If the oddsmakers’ predictions hold true, the near future looks bright for Creighton. They and the Seton Hall Pirates will face off in a Big East battle at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha. The timing is sure in the Bluejays’ favor as the squad sits on five straight wins at home while the Pirates have been banged up by seven consecutive losses on the road dating back to last season.
Last Tuesday, Creighton got the win against DePaul by a conclusive 73-49.
Creighton’s success was spearheaded by the efforts of Ryan Kalkbrenner, who posted 13 points plus eight rebounds and four blocks, and Jamiya Neal, who earned 14 points along with seven rebounds and three steals. Kalkbrenner has been hot recently, having posted two or more blocks the last four times he’s played.
Creighton was working as a unit and finished the game with 19 assists. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as DePaul only racked up ten.
Meanwhile, Seton Hall ended up a good deal behind Marquette on Tuesday and lost 76-59.
Seton Hall’s defeat came about despite a quality game from Isaiah Coleman, who almost dropped a double-double on 27 points and nine rebounds. What’s more, Coleman also posted a 64.3% field goal percentage, which is the highest he’s posted since back in February of 2024.
Creighton has been performing incredibly well recently as they’ve won six of their last seven matches, which provided a nice bump to their 13-6 record this season. As for Seton Hall, their loss dropped their record down to 6-13.
This contest is shaping up to be a blowout: Creighton has been crazy accurate this season, having made 47.2% of their field goals per game. It’s a different story for Seton Hall, though, as they’ve only made 40.8% of their field goals this season. Given Creighton’s sizable advantage in that area, Seton Hall will need to find a way to close that gap.
Creighton took their win against Seton Hall when the teams last played back in February of 2024 by a conclusive 85-64. Will Creighton repeat their success, or does Seton Hall have a better game plan this time around? We’ll find out soon enough.
Odds
Creighton is a big 15.5-point favorite against Seton Hall, according to the latest college basketball odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Bluejays as a 14.5-point favorite.
The over/under is 135.5 points.
See college basketball picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get picks now.
Series History
Creighton has won 8 out of their last 10 games against Seton Hall.
- Feb 28, 2024 – Creighton 85 vs. Seton Hall 64
- Jan 20, 2024 – Creighton 97 vs. Seton Hall 94
- Feb 08, 2023 – Creighton 75 vs. Seton Hall 62
- Jan 03, 2023 – Creighton 83 vs. Seton Hall 61
- Mar 05, 2022 – Seton Hall 65 vs. Creighton 60
- Feb 04, 2022 – Seton Hall 74 vs. Creighton 55
- Jan 27, 2021 – Creighton 85 vs. Seton Hall 81
- Jan 06, 2021 – Creighton 89 vs. Seton Hall 53
- Mar 07, 2020 – Creighton 77 vs. Seton Hall 60
- Feb 12, 2020 – Creighton 87 vs. Seton Hall 82
Are you ready for some exciting NCAA Basketball action? The Creighton Bluejays will be facing off against the Seton Hall Pirates in what promises to be a thrilling matchup. If you’re looking to catch all the action live, here’s everything you need to know:TV Channel: The game will be broadcast on FS1.
Live Stream: You can stream the game on the Fox Sports Go app or website.
Start Time: The game is scheduled to tip off at [insert start time here].
So make sure to tune in and cheer on your favorite team as they battle it out on the court. Don’t miss out on any of the action – watch the Creighton Bluejays take on the Seton Hall Pirates live!
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Creighton Bluejays vs Connecticut Huskies Prediction, Odds and Picks
Creighton looks to keep things rolling and make it 3 in a row as it gets ready to take on #UConn this afternoon. The Bluejays are coming off an 84-64 win over Providence in which they shot 51.6% from the field and 43.8% from beyond the arc. UConn beat Georgetown 68-60 while shooting 46.4% from the field and 34.6% from deep. Creighton is 4-2 in conference play this season; UConn sits at 5-1. This is going to be an exciting matchup.
Creighton has played well in its last couple of games and currently averages 75.9 points per game while giving up 70.5. A big part of this Creighton offense is Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is averaging 17.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. As for UConn, it struggled to score in their last two games putting up only 68 against Georgetown and 66 against Villanova. UConn averages 81.9 points per game while giving up 68.1 points per game. UConn’s star, Alex Karaban, averages 16.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg, and need him to be on point in today’s matchup if it wants to win this game. Creighton has struggled on the road this season, but based on recent performances I think this team finally got things clicking to keep this game close. The Bluejays may not win the game, but they should be able to put up enough points to cover the spread — making them my best bet of the day.
Creighton vs UConn prediction: Creighton +8 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.
You can bet on our Creighton vs UConn pick with BetMGM, where right now new users can activate your new BetMGM account and get up to $1,500 in first-bet protection!
The Creighton Bluejays will face off against the Connecticut Huskies in a highly anticipated college basketball matchup. Both teams have had solid seasons so far, with Creighton boasting a 14-3 record and Connecticut holding a 10-6 record.In terms of odds, Creighton is currently favored to win this game, with odds of -150 compared to Connecticut’s +130 odds. However, this game is expected to be a close one, with both teams having talented rosters and competitive spirits.
In terms of prediction, I believe that Creighton will come out on top in this matchup. They have a strong offense led by players such as Marcus Zegarowski and Damien Jefferson, and their ability to shoot the three-pointer could give them an edge in this game.
However, Connecticut is a formidable opponent with players like James Bouknight and R.J. Cole who can make big plays when it counts. It will be a close game, but I predict Creighton will ultimately pull out the win.
As for picks, I would recommend taking Creighton to win straight up and potentially taking the over on the total points scored, as both teams have the ability to put up big numbers on offense. It should be an exciting game to watch, so make sure to tune in and see how it all plays out.
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