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How to Watch, Stream, Listen
Game Time: 7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET
Location: CenturyLink Center, Omaha, NE
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 1620AM the Zone in Omaha / ESPN 540AM in Milwaukee
Odds & Ends
Creighton is favored by 7.5 points according to OddsShark.
Over/Under: 147
ATS: Creighton is at 16-10 while Marquette is at 11-15.
Previously...
On a seemingly nice evening in a weather-controlled arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Creighton Bluejays fought a hard battle against the Marquette Golden Eagles in a game that went right down to the wire. The game was a lot like an unhinged gate in a windstorm, teetering back and forth and making the neighbors increasingly more irritated as the gate slammed repeatedly. In a game that featured 10 lead changes, the Bluejays made sure to shut down Henry Ellenson by double teaming him the moment he got into the post, leaving the superstar with just 16 points and 8 rebounds. Creighton's Maurice Watson Jr. had yet another stellar game of his own, scoring 18 points and dishing out 10 assists.
The play of the game came in the waning moments as Marquette's defense begged off of James Milliken, who proceeded to nail a three to take a one point lead. From there, Isaiah Zierden hit two free throws to put the Jays up 3 - Zierden's first points of the game after going 0-6 from the field - and after a desperation heave by Marquette's Duane Wilson that clanged off the iron, the game was over.
Verba de Ludis
I'm not a huge fan of social media. I enjoy the twitterverse to a degree, understanding its purpose as a tool for self promotion, bad jokes, and a mainline to as-it-happens information from our friends around the globe and potentially in our neighborhoods. I disregard its usage in news as a replacement for a 'man on the street' interview. Yet there's a certain charm to browsing through the short spurt of conscious thought from people you rarely interact with on a daily basis. There are characters and personalities that grow out of the avatars used on the twittosphere and they can be very enjoyable.
I like to think of myself as a terrible twitter user, reaching for jokes and usually performing all sorts of typos, but I figured I'd ask the internet what they thought about basketball.
send me a tweet about basketball and I will include it in tomorrow's Creighton-Marquette preview.
— alex sindelar (@crimebait) February 24, 2016
@crimebait there are two hoops on opposite ends of the "hard" "wood"
— Jared Arndt (@arndtjc) February 24, 2016
@crimebait the shoes squeak on the playing surface
— Jared Arndt (@arndtjc) February 24, 2016
Wow, great responses here. I'd just like to point out that this twitter user is very correct. Well done!
@crimebait you have to put the ball in the hoop to win (and it doesn't hurt to learn to rebound)
— Fake Greg McDermott (@fauxcoachgreg) February 24, 2016
Phenomenal point, Fake Coach McD! Though I would like more depth into what exactly a 'rebound' is, other than my ex-girlfriend! ha ha please roll me up in a rug and bury me where no one will find me.
@crimebait you already used a tweet of mine in a story of yours and it was not complimentary
— Michael McGoodtweet (@michaelkmcneil) February 24, 2016
No doubt about that! If you'd like to see the non-complimentary tweet, click here!
@crimebait I don't like you. Basketball.
— Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) February 24, 2016
Yeah I'm with you there, I don't like myself either!
@crimebait Doug McDermott is making Creighton proud right now
— Vijay Vemu (@VJVemu) February 24, 2016
Good to hear it! I personally loved the 'Dougie' era when he was a Bluejay!
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Now that we've heard from the general populous about the sport of hoops, let's dive right into the matchup between Marquette and Creighton.
On one hand, you have a team that doesn't have a post-season resume, with losses to teams they most certainly should've beat, causing their RPI to plummet. On the other hand you have a team that doesn't have a post-season resume, with losses to teams they most certainly should've beat, causing their RPI to plummet.
What separates these two teams is their performances as of late. Marquette stumbled out of the gates to start conference play and really haven't been able to regain their balance. The play of Henry Ellenson has been up and down, having some monstrous games that make him look like a surefire lottery pick, to having some so-so games that make him look like a run of the player in the BIG EAST. Creighton, meanwhile, has had their fair share of ups and downs, but has been relatively steady in conference play. They've won games they should've and shouldn't have. They've avoided bad losses to bad teams (thus far). They've picked up some attention and entered themselves into the national conversation after beating Xavier, which is as good of a win as a 'last four out' team can achieve this late into the season.
Creighton had eight days to prepare for Marquette, and when given time to rest and properly game plan for a heavy dose of Ellenson & Co, it may spell disaster for the Golden Eagles. Only time will tell.