A busy stretch could be ideal for Creighton.
The Bluejays (16-8, 8-5 Big East) had their most prolific scoring output in conference play in their last game. They will try to maintain their offensive surge Thursday against DePaul (12-12, 3-11) in Chicago.
Five Creighton players scored in double figures in an 88-77 victory over Georgetown on Monday. Alex O’Connell, who scored 27 points in that game, is one of five Bluejays averaging more than nine points on the season.
Still, Creighton coach Greg McDermott does see the busy grind wearing on his team after dressing just nine players Monday. The Bluejays are riding their first three-game winning streak since November while awaiting the return of Arthur Kaluma (knee).
“We’re running on fumes,” McDermott said.
The Bluejays recorded an impressive 46 assists on 58 made baskets in the two-game sweep of Georgetown, although it’s worth pointing out the Hoyas are winless in Big East play.
“Instead of playing to win, we’re playing not to lose,” McDermott said. “But we’ve talked about meaningful games in February and we’re in a spot that matters.”
Whatever recovery time is available must be spent wisely to regain the juice necessary to finish out the Big East schedule. Creighton continues to challenge three ranked teams at the top of the conference standings, No. 8 Providence, No. 10 Villanova and No. 24 UConn.
“We need to be just making sure we do the right things to get our bodies right because these are highly physical games that take 40 minutes to win,” O’Connell said.
Ryan Hawkins averages team-best totals in points (13.5) and rebounding (7.4).
The inability to play a complete game frustrated DePaul coach Tony Stubblefield after the Blue Demons squandered a nine-point lead in the second half Tuesday in a 73-71 loss to Butler.
“We didn’t come out with the intensity we needed to play at, very lackadaisical, didn’t get the stops when we needed to get stops and just very disappointed in our own performance,” Stubblefield said.
All five DePaul starters scored in double figures, including a team-high 17 from David Jones.
Javon Freeman-Liberty leads the Blue Demons with a 20.6-point average. He missed seven games with a groin injury before returning Tuesday.
A second-half collapse also contributed to DePaul’s 60-47 loss at Creighton when the teams first met on Jan. 22. The Blue Demons held a nine-point lead at halftime.
–Field Level Media
