The No.4-seeded Creighton Bluejays (18-14) challenge the No.5-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (18-14) in the first round of the NIT tournament at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Action starts at 9:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Mar. 15 and will air on ESP and ES3.
The Bluejays were beaten by Seton Hall 81-73 in the 2 of the Big East tournament. Cole Huff was the game’s high scorer with 35 points. The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after the deflating 85-59 loss against Kentucky in the 3 of the Southeastern tournament. Arthur Edwards led the team in scoring with 20 points.
Over the last five games, Huff has been playing at a high level for the Bluejays. During that stretch, he has averaged 18.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 3.2 three-pointers.
The Bluejays enter the game with records of 18-14 Straight Up (SU) and 18-13 Against The Spread (ATS). Creighton is one of the most disciplined teams in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.33.
In the other locker room, Alabama has a SU record of 18-14 and an ATS record of 16-15. Alabama’s three-point defense is one of the top in the country, with opponents shooting only .328 from the three.
Creighton and Alabama have not played one another in a regular season matchup in recent years.
Predictions: SU Winner – Cre, ATS Winner – Cre
Notes
“Creighton is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home”.
“Creighton is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games at home”.
“The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Creighton’s last 8 games at home”.
“Creighton is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games “.
Alabama lost its last game by a 26-point margin. In games decided by a margin of 18 points or more, Creighton is 9-2. Alabama is 2-4 in blowouts this season.
The Creighton Bluejays have a defensive rating of 102.3 (ranked 78th), while the Alabama Crimson Tide have an offensive rating of 101.4 (ranked 262nd).
The Creighton Bluejays average a field goal percentage of 46.8% this season. The Alabama Crimson Tide are a winless 0-4 when opponents have a FG% of 46.8% or greater.
The Creighton Bluejays and the Alabama Crimson Tide both rank higher in average effective field goal percentage when compared to their field goal percentages. Creighton is 42nd and 36th in the nation for FG% and eFG% respectively, while Alabama is 244th and 187th in these categories.
Creighton ranks 55th in assists, registering 15.3 per game. Alabama performs worse at 335th with 10.6 assists per game.
Alabama, the 18th-ranked team in blocked shots, registers an average of 5.3 per game. Creighton ranks lower at 207th with 3.1.
Alabama makes 5.6 steals per game. When Creighton allows 5 or more steals, the team has an even 12-12 record.
