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After a four game losing streak to start off conference play, the DePaul Blue Demons bounced back with a historic upset. Against the number five team in the country in Butler, DePaul caught fire from deep. The Blue Demons went 10 of 17 from three and got massive performances from both Paul Reed and Jalen Coleman-Lands. DePaul raced out to an early lead and never let go. The duo of Reed and Coleman-Lands combined for 43 points in a 79-66 upset. Per the DePaul game day guide, this was the first time since 2006 that the Blue Demons have knocked off a top five team. Beating Butler was clearly a statement win. Not only did it snap a losing streak but it shows how dangerous this DePaul team has been all year. They have gotten quality wins during their non-conference schedule but until Saturday they failed to translate that success to Big East play. DePaul still looked like a team learning on the fly when they first played their conference opponents. Now it seems they learned from their mistakes during the losing streak and it paid off big time. The victory moved DePaul from the cellar of the Big East standings and hopefully for them it’s the start of a more positive stretch of games.
The Creighton Bluejays sit two spots ahead of DePaul in the standings and have won two of their last three games. They beat both Providence and Xavier with a loss to Georgetown in between. Against the Friars, the Bluejays looked to be out of it as the clock was winding down in the second half. They were down by five and needed a big push to get back in the game. Thanks to the play of Ty-Shon Alexander (24 points) and Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton stormed back. They went on a 9-0 run to take the game 78-74.
The win bumped their record to 14-5 and it was their 11th one at home, the most in the Big East the season. After this game the Bluejays have a quick rematch against Xavier before traveling to face Villanova on the road. Like DePaul, the Bluejays also need to keep winning to have a chance at making the big dance.
Per ESPN, Creighton is currently an eighth seed, dropping a rank this past week. DePaul is currently one of the First Four Out as things stand.
How to watch, listen, or stream
Game Time: 9PM ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: WIND 560 AM (DePaul) || KOZN 1620 AM (Creighton)
Stream: CBS Sports Network (where streaming is available)
Gamblin’ Odds
Odds: DePaul enters this game as a 1.5 point favorite (via Oddsshark.com)
Record ATS: DePaul (9-8-1) || Creighton (8-8-2)
O/U: The over/under opened at 145.5 but it’s since moved up to 146.
By the Numbers
DePaul is ranked 54th via KenPom’s overall metrics. They have an adjusted offensive efficiency score of 106.2 (73rd in the country). Their defense has done much better this season and it reflects in the rankings. The Blue Demons defense has an adjusted defensive efficiency score of 93.2 (47th overall).
Sitting at 40th overall, Seton Hall has an AdjO score of 113.2 (13th) and a AdjD score of 97.4 (93rd in the country).