No. 11 Marquette is looking to snap a two-game losing streak while Creighton aims to remain red hot when the Big East teams square off Saturday afternoon in Omaha, Neb.
The Golden Eagles (18-5, 9-3 Big East) have fallen out of the top 10 for the first time since November, while the Bluejays (17-6, 10-2) have won eight straight since a 79-71 setback at Marquette on Jan. 3.
The Golden Eagles are coming off a 70-64 loss to No. 12 St. John’s on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden and sit in third place in the Big East standings.
“Adversity reveals a necessity to grow and improve,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “Our focus is on ourselves and what we can do to improve.”
Marquette had won three in a row before its recent slide.
Chase Ross has been a leader lately for the Golden Eagles, scoring in double figures in four consecutive games — something he had never done prior to his current run. He had 16 points in the loss to the Red Storm and is averaging 11.5 per game.
“I’m trying to find ways to help my team win,” Ross said.
The Golden Eagles’ Kam Jones, named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award on Monday, continues to lead the team with 18.8 points and 6.0 assists per game.
Creighton is feeling good after rolling past Providence 80-69 on Wednesday for its first road win against the Friars in four years, putting the Bluejays into sole possession of second place in the conference.
Ryan Kalkbrenner put on a show as he scored 35 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, living up to the hype as the preseason Big East Player of the Year.
He’ll be a handful for the Golden Eagles, as will Steven Ashworth, who scored 23 points at Providence and has made at least one 3-pointer in 41 straight games.
Creighton coach Greg McDermott had high praise for Kalkbrenner.
“He’s an incredible player and an even better person,” McDermott said after the game against Providence.
Kalkbrenner is averaging a team-best 19.2 points per game while also grabbing 8.5 rebounds per outing. He’s a game changer on defense as well, blocking 60 shots and altering many more with his 7-foot-1 frame.
Ashworth is putting up 16.6 points per game and has knocked down 67 3-pointers this season.
In last month’s meeting against Marquette, Kalkbrenner scored 16 points on 4-for-11 shooting.
In the win over Providence, Kalkbrenner started 0-for-5 but didn’t let it bother him.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever started a game 0-for-5,” Kalkbrenner said. “I was missing shots I normally make and in the past I’d let that frustrate me. But now I know those are going to start falling for me.”
Jones scored 22 to lead the way for Marquette the first time around against Creighton. Stevie Mitchell, who was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year list Wednesday, added 18 points with three steals.
–Field Level Media
