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.
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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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