Gonzaga vs. Creighton: 2018-19 College basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Brett Renner
Creighton faces their biggest test of the 2018-2019 season Saturday when they host No. 1 Gonzaga. Can the Bluejays pull off the upset?
TV Schedule: December 1 at 2:00 PM EST (FOX)
Location: CHI Health Center Omaha (Omaha, Nebraska)
Both Creighton and Gonzaga come into this matchup on fire from the field. The Jays are fresh off a home win on Wednesday after defeating a solid Montana team 98-72. Gonzaga, on the other hand, comes in as the top team in the nation and one of the 16 remaining undefeated teams.
The Jays are averaging 93 ppg in their last 4 games, while the Zags are second in the nation averaging 97.7 ppg on the season. Both teams come into this offensive showdown ranked in the top 3 for field goal percentage with Gonzaga (54.5%) in first and Creighton (53%) in third.
Gonzaga moved into the number one spot in the AP rankings this week after beating Duke in the Maui Invitational Championship. Creighton moved into the “receiving votes” category after their upset win over #16 Clemson in the Cayman Islands Classic Championship.
Now, Gonzaga will put its number one ranking to test again as they travel to Omaha where 17,000 strong will be cheering on their Jays making for a hostile crowd. The atmosphere in the arena could be the biggest test for Gonzaga and it will be interesting how they handle it.
While many thought this game wouldn’t be close before the season, the Jays were underestimated and the young but talented squad has another opportunity to grab a statement win.
If Creighton wants to win, they will need to find a way to defend the Zags star forward, Rui Hachimura. One of the Jays early weaknesses has been the play from their big men, and this will be the biggest test yet for Martin Krampelj. The Jays have been on fire from the field, shooting over 60% in back to back games, and it’s going to have to continue if they want a shot to pull off this upset.
For Gonzaga, this is their first true road game of the season, and the Bluejays faithful doesn’t make for an inviting matchup. With that being said, the Zags have more talent on paper. Along with Hachimura, forward Branden Clarke is an animal on both sides of the court. The Zags are led by junior point guard Josh Perkins, as he averages 11 points per game and eight assists per game.
Next. 3 Keys for Gonzaga vs. Creighton. dark
This matchup should lead to offensive fireworks from both teams and it presents itself as one of the most exciting games of the day. With that being said, I think the Zags talent and size down low will cause too many problems for the Jays on both sides of the court. I don’t see the Jays being able to counter the Hachimura/Clarke attack and the undefeated record should stay alive.