Creighton Basketball: 3 keys to Bluejays beating San Diego State in Round of 64

Steady point guard play without Nembhard

Since Ryan Nembhard went down on February 23th, the Jays have had more turnovers than their opponent in every single game. Including two games where there has been a double-digit difference between Creighton’s turnover amount and their opponent’s.

That is, well, horrific. It’s certainly tough losing your point guard, especially since your other point guard (Shereef Mitchell) is also out of the year. However, giving San Diego State ten extra possessions in this game will result in a Creighton loss. This game will be too much a slow tempo, low-scoring affair to be giving a team that many extra possessions.

This means your senior leadership has to step up to the challenge. Alex O’Connell, who has been a fantastic leader and mentor to this exceptionally young team has to make the correct decisions. Ryan Hawkins, one of the more decorated Division-II ballers in all of CBB, has to make the correct decisions.

Trey Alexander has had a couple games in the absence of Nembhard where he has picked up a pair of early fouls resulting in him sitting for a bit. Although Rati Andronikashvili has come in and at times done a solid job, the SDSU pressure and defensive is a different animal. Alexander needs to find a way to stay on the court for as many minutes as possible for the Jays to pull off a victory.