Creighton Basketball 2020: Takeaways from heartbreaking loss to Kansas

NEW YORK, NY - March 12: The Creighton Bluejays mascot exits after a quarterfinal game against the St. John's Red Storm in the Big East Tournament was cancelled at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2020 in New York City. Each team was allowed about 200 tickets under a reduced attendance policy because of the coronavirus COVID-19. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images). /

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Creighton Basketball (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Backcourt Efficiency

Yes, Creighton turned the ball over 14 times. Yes, that needs to change. But what I believe is the more crucial thing the Jays need to address is how to get into their offense.

Garrett is a sensational defensive player, and this KU defense as a whole in top ten nationally according to KenPom. However, it seemed at times Creighton couldn’t even get into their offensive flow until halfway through the shot clock.

It would take one or even two on-ball screens to free up Zegarowski enough where he could make a pass and get the ball moving. Shereef Mitchell was subbed in with hopes of answering this with his speed, but he as well proved ineffective at getting things going at the offensive end. Mitchell played just ten minutes and went 0-1 from the floor.

Creighton needs to find a way to get into their offensive sets earlier, and more efficiently. Perhaps Kansas’s defense is just that good, but I doubt that to be the case. Perhaps this was simply the wakeup call the Jays need to be more aggressive bringing up the ball, considering the next toughest defense they have played is North Dakota State (148 KenPom Defensive Efficiency).

Creighton has a more-or-less ‘get right’ game against Nebraska on Friday. I expect the Jays to put the pedal to the metal on that one, especially in the backcourt.

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