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Big East Basketball: Creighton rises on top in latest 2020-21 power rankings

By Salvador Lopez

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 22: Marcus Zegarowski #11 of the Creighton Bluejays in action in the game against the DePaul Blue Demons during the first half at Wintrust Arena on January 22, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 22: Marcus Zegarowski #11 of the Creighton Bluejays in action in the game against the DePaul Blue Demons during the first half at Wintrust Arena on January 22, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Big East Basketball Creighton Bluejays (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images).
Big East Basketball Creighton Bluejays (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images). /

1. Creighton Bluejays (16-5, 12-4 Big East)

Despite being ranked lower than Villanova in the AP Top 25 Poll, I put Creighton at the top of the latest power rankings due to their commanding 86-70 victory over Villanova on Saturday, February 13th.

During Creighton’s last game, the Bluejays shot 32-for-54 from the floor (59.3 percent) and made 12 three-point shots against Villanova. Creighton was able to extend their lead to double digits against the Wildcats due to the Bluejays’ ability to hit shots from the perimeter in transition.

Junior point guard, Marcus Zegarowski (15 ppg, 4.4 apg), scored a season-high 25 points against Villanova, while senior guard, Mitchell Ballock (10.9 ppg), made six three-point shots to score 20 points.

Creighton’s offense is highly reliant upon their three-point shots. The Bluejays are currently in the Top 35 nationally in three-point shooting attempts, averaging over 26 attempts from the outside per game. Ballock and Zegarowski are also the top two perimeter shooters on the Bluejays roster this season. Ballock is converting on 41.1 percent of his three-point shots, while Zegarowski has made 39.2 percent of his shots from the perimeter.

During Creighton’s two-game losing streak in mid-January against Butler and Providence, the Bluejays struggled from three and shot a combined 10-for-46 (21.7 percent).

However, when Creighton gets hot from the outside, that’s when the Bluejays explode offensively. In early-January against Seton Hall and St. John’s, Creighton went 29-for-60 from the perimeter (48.3 percent) in both blowout victories.

If Creighton’s three’s can connect, the Bluejays can be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bluejays have four more games to close out the season before the Big East Tournament. Creighton will host DePaul on Wednesday and will travel to face Xavier on Saturday.

dark. Next. Latest top-25 power rankings

The rematch between Creighton versus Villanova will take place at Finneran Pavilion on Wednesday, March 3rd. Creighton will then close out conference play with a home contest on Saturday, March 6th versus Butler.

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