Villanova vs. Creighton: College basketball game preview, TV schedule, prediction
The Villanova Wildcats look to validate their AP poll ranking in a tough home contest against the surging Creighton Bluejays.
Date and time: Thursday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m. ET
TV schedule: Fox Sports 1
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Villanova Wildcats arguably deserved to be supplanted in the AP poll this week after Virginia’s big road win over Duke. However, Villanova remained at No. 1. In their first game since the latest poll was released, it’s time for them to prove they earned their spot.
The Wildcats have received only one serious close challenge in Big East play this season, a road shootout loss at Butler. Other than that, Villanova has been rolling over opponents. Since the loss, Villanova has won five of their last seven games by double digits.
The team will still be without starting guard Phil Booth and that will test their depth. Mikal Bridges looks determined to fill some of the gaps, electrifying his team at the end of their close win over Marquette. Still, there has to be some concern after their three-point win against a team arguably inferior to the Bluejays.
Speaking of which, the Bluejays have their own injury problem. Two weeks ago, the team lost Martin Krampelj for the season. Before the ACL injury, the Slovenian starting forward was averaging 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Creighton still has Marcus Foster, though. The star guard is a two-time Big East Player of the Week accolade, including this last week of play.
Marcus Foster has been named the @BIGEAST Player of the Week for the second time this season. Foster averaged 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists & 1.5 steals in two victories last week. #GoJays #LetItFly #BIGEASThoops
— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) January 29, 2018
⬇️ READ MORE ⬇️https://t.co/A0CG6cKnVz pic.twitter.com/AzshTVIlYh
Foster is averaging 19.9 points per game during his senior season and is shooting 44.9% from three-point range. There’s one daunting stat the Bluejays have to overcome. In the history of the program, they’ve never defeated the top-ranked team in the nation. The Wildcats are playing for the top seed, not only in the Big East Tournament but in the NCAA Tournament as well.
This should be a fun battle between two of the top four teams in the Big East this season. Both squads are bound for the NCAA Tournament and their seeding will depend on games such as this one. With the home crowd on their side, Villanova prevails.
Prediction: Villanova 87, Creighton 78