:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58159505/usa_today_9893989.1514697500.jpg)
How to Watch, Stream, Listen, Follow
Game Time: 1:30pm CT
Location: CenturyLink Center, Omaha, NE
TV: FS1
Stream: Fox Sports GO
Radio: 1620AM the Zone & 101.9FM the Keg in Omaha / 103.7FM WEEI in Providence
Other Blogs: White & Blue Review / Bluejay Banter - Creighton
PCBB 1917 - Providence
Tweeters:
Creighton - Rob Anderson / Creighton MBB / Tom Nemitz / “Patrick Marshall” / Matt DeMarinis / Corey Lathrop / Jon Nyatawa
Providence - Mike Hopkins / Chris Grenham / Kevin McNamara / Brendan McGair / Friar Faithful / Daniel James
Odds & Ends
Creighton is favored by 8 points according to Odds Shark. The over/under is set at 155.
Kenpom has the Jays winning this one 83-76 with a 74% chance of winning.
Series History
Providence leads the overall series 13-7, winning 8 of the first 10 since Creighton joined the conference in 2013-14.
Last season Creighton managed to win their first game at the Dunkin’ Donuts center since they joined the conference. Providence would take the later game in Omaha on a Kyron Cartwright buzzer-beater, one of two buzzer-beaters the Friars have cashed in on in their last two trips to the CenturyLink Center (Kris Dunn, 1/12/16).
Verba de Ludis
There’s something deep in my heart that truly appreciates Ed Cooley. As long as I’ve been writing these, with a clear bias towards the Creighton Bluejays, there hasn’t been a person in this BIG EAST conference that I idolize as much as Ed Cooley.
I don’t know what it is. He’s just your regular guy, as seen on BIG EAST shootaround, who seems to defy that with his coaching ability. He makes statements that force you to rise from your mother’s basement and drive you to make a difference in this world.
Unfortunately, he’s also very good at beating Creighton.
With the Jays coming off of a heartbreaking, mind numbing, Indian-burn inducing loss against Seton Hall, and the Friars coming off of a heart thumping, mind-blowing, noogie inducing blowout start against St. John’s, we’re so lucky to see two teams at a crossroads.
In Providence (10-4, 1-0) there’s a veteran team within its core that has been burdened by injuries. First, the loss of Emmitt Holt at the beginning of the season, was the first strike. Holt, a 6’7 240lb senior, was ruled out with a serious abdominal injury that forced the Friars to toss a redshirt on him.
Kyron Cartwright, Alpha Diallo, and eventually Maliek White were all sidelined at some point in the nonconference slate due to injury. Fortunately for the Friars, they’re all back, and holy smokes did it make a difference.
Against a crippled St. John’s (without Marcus LoVett, and later Shamorie Ponds) the Friars capitalized on the opportunity, tuning up the Red Storm by a score of 94-72. Alpha Diallo contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Rodney Bullock and Kyron Cartwright combined to deliver a 41 point performance.
Despite all the setbacks, it appears that the Friars have returned to their glorious form.
Meanwhile, Creighton got off to a hot start against the Pirates, but continued a troubling trend of second half collapses, falling 90-84 to Seton Hall. Though the Jays were able to escape from a monumental potential injury to Marcus Foster, they weren’t able to keep the chest-thumping, momentum swinging, tough-as-nails Pirates at bay, even after a career night from sophomore center Martin Krampelj, who dunked in nearly all of his 23 points.
As far as BIG EAST games go, especially on New Year’s Eve and the Dollar Beer Afternoon (Steve Lavin Appreciation Extravaganza Day), this one is going to be a fun one.
Projected Starters:
Providence:
C - Nate Watson - Freshman - 6’10 / 260lbs - 7.5PPG / 2.5RPG
PF - Rodney Bullock - Senior - 6’8 / 225lbs - 17PPG / 6.5RPG
SF - Jalen Lindsey - Senior - 6’7 / 227lbs - 9.5PPG / 4RPG
SG - Alpha Diallo - Sophomore - 6’7 / 211lbs - 10.8PPG / 5.5RPG
PG - Kyron Cartwright - Senior - 5’11 / 185lbs - 9.5PPG / 3:1 AST/TO
Creighton:
C - Martin Krampelj - Sophomore - 6’9 / 220lb - 12.6PPG / 7.8RPG
PF - TOBY! Hegner - Senior - 6’10 / 240lb - 8.4PPG / 55%FG
SF - Khyri Thomas - Junior - 6’3 / 210lb - 15.1PPG / 1.4SPG
SG - Marcus Foster - Senior - 6’3 / 205lb - 19.1PPG / 3.3RPG
PG - Davion Mintz - Sophomore - 6’3 / 180lb - 5.2PPG / 2.5:1 AST/TO
Song of the Day - Dive Bar Support Group - Open Mike Eagle & Paul White