NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Baylor rolling, Ohio State tumbling

Creighton is only 2-2 in Big East play so far this season but you can call me a believer. It has taken me a while to come around on the Bluejays as I was wary of their lack of size inside, but I now believe that they belong in the Top 25 moving forward. The team boasts absolutely electric guards and has survived its most difficult stretch of conference play by defeating Marquette (home) and Xavier (away) to move to 13-4 (2-2 BE) on the season.

Their only four losses have come to teams ranked in my Top 21 of these rankings, three in the Top 11, so it’s hard to complain about any of those.

With regard to individual leaders, Creighton’s success starts with its backcourt. Marcus Zegarowski, Ty-Shon Alexander, and Mitchell Ballock form a three-headed offensive monster that very few teams in the country will be able to stop. All of them are elite marksmen from beyond the arc and also work together to consistently create open looks. Creighton ranks 90th nationally in 3-point attempt rate but is still connecting on 36.1% of those shots. It is hard to find many teams as prolific from distance.

Zegarowski, Alexander, and Ballock are combining to average 45.7 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game and have shot 129-for-315 (40.1%) from three to lead the team.

Furthermore, it is vital to mention that Creighton’s undersized forwards are doing a great job of holding their own underneath. Denzel Mahoney has contributed at a high level since joining the team and Christian Bishop consistently plays well above his size. Even while barely playing anyone over 6-foot-7 in the rotation, Creighton has managed to rank in the upper half of the nation in defensive rebounding rate.

Creighton’s offense is the reason for its success so far this season but it wouldn’t hold this record without the contributions of those forwards on the defensive end underneath.