Creighton hosts Marquette Monday night

The #9 Creighton Bluejays (4-1) welcome the Marquette Golden Eagles (4-2) to CHI Health Center Omaha Monday night in the Big East’s lone game of the evening.

If you enjoy high-powered offense, this game is for you. Creighton has been its usual self this year, coming into the game sixth in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency and first in the Big East in points per game with 85.2.

The thing that makes the Bluejays so potent offensively is their depth. Both Marcus Zegarowski and Denzel Mahoney average 15 points per game, Christian Bishop averages 13.6, Damien Jefferson averages 10.8, and freshman Ryan Kalkbrenner averages 9.2. This doesn’t even account for the fact that Mitch Ballock is averaging just 7.6 points per game so far this season. Ballock has finished in the top five in the Big East in three-point shooting in each of the past two seasons, and is shooting just 30% from deep this year. It feels like just a matter of time before he breaks out and adds yet another layer to Creighton’s offense.

Marquette’s offense is a bit of a step down from last season, but they’re also replacing the nation’s leading scorer in Markus Howard. Koby McEwen, Dawson Garcia, and DJ Carton have done an admirable job so far this season picking up in Howard’s absence.

Marquette’s three-point percentage has been down this season compared to the last couple years. Some of that likely has to do with Howard, but it has still been interesting to see the Golden Eagles shift their offensive plan a bit.

THE FACTS

Time and Date: Sunday, December 14, 8 p.m. CT

Records: Creighton (4-1) | Marquette (4-2)

Rankings: Creighton (#11 KenPom) | Marquette (#42 KenPom)

TV Channel: FOX Sports 1

Watch Online: FOX Sports Go

Line: Creighton -8

O/U: 151