Villanova Basketball: 3 keys to winning Big East duel with No. 19 Creighton

3. No one has been more consistent for the Bluejays as of late than Christian Bishop – and the Wildcats will need to shut him down

After scoring a season-low four points against Seton Hall – in what was ultimately a difference-maker in a four-point win – junior Christian Bishop has been on a tear for Creighton, pouring in double-digits in four-straight games.

He scored 14 points in three straight games, before recording 17 points in the win at Georgetown.  Creighton’s best shooter on two-pointers at 71.1%, Bishop has been knocking down inside shots at an insane clip in the last four outings with a 79.3% (23-29) mark while hauling down 8.25 boards.

Several of Creighton’s players are capable of lighting up the scoreboard – all five starters have reached double-digits in one of the last three outings – but given that he has been the most consistent scorer as of late, Bishop should warrant the most of Villanova’s attention from the get-go.

At 6-7, Bishop – along with 7-0 freshman Ryan Kalkbrenner – have earned nearly all of the time at the center position in the last five games, meaning Jeremiah Robinson-Earl will have his hands full in the post.  Robinson-Earl is one of Villanova’s best by way of hauling down boards on both ends – and he is the Wildcats’ best two-point shooter at 58.2%, a significantly smaller number than what Bishop records.

In that same vein, the Bluejays feast inside on points in the paint – with Bishop and Kalkbrenner being a key part of that.  That presents an issue for Villanova, who have struggled in the last two outings with defending inside.

Against Marquette, Creighton outscored the Golden Eagles – largely in the second half – in points in the paint, 42-26.  Against Georgetown just days later, the Bluejays annihilated the Hoyas inside, 38-12.  Contrarily, the Wildcats were not nearly as effective – they just barely scraped by against Marquette, 32-28, and were dismantled by Georgetown, 36-20.

For Villanova, this will be more of a defensive test than an offensive tilt.  Both the Wildcats and the Bluejays are the most efficient offensive teams in the Big East – Villanova being first, Creighton in second – but the Bluejays own the second most efficient defense.  Villanova, meanwhile, is fifth defensively.

This, ultimately, could be the biggest game in the Big East this season – and in a duel of top-25 squads, this will be one of the hottest games on the Saturday docket.  For Villanova, this could be the biggest win of the season – and it is one they must pick up if they hope to find themselves back on the one-seed line ahead of March.