NCAA Basketball: UConn, North Carolina, Wisconsin rise in latest top 25 power rankings
By Joey Loose
16. Creighton (13-4)
Greg McDermott has built a fantastic program at Creighton and returned major pieces from that talented lineup this season. The team hasn’t avoided struggles, with some rough performances in nonconference, but these Bluejays have looked the part of a contender in a talented Big East. After dropping their first two conference games, they’ve hit their stride more these last few weeks.
The Bluejays started the week with an ever-important road win, albeit with relative ease in an 84-58 game against DePaul. Both Ryan Kalkbrenner and Baylor Scheierman scored 20 points and the Bluejays made quick work in Chicago. A few days later, Creighton faced a much stiffer challenge at home, barely surviving in a 66-65 thriller against St. John’s. Those same two stars lead the charge again, with a double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds) from Scheierman in the team’s fourth straight win.
The Bluejays looked off at times earlier in the season but have played better these last few weeks. They’ve already lost their first two games to other top-tier Big East squads but will certainly have opportunities to prove themselves ahead. In fact, this next week might be their toughest of the season, with road games at Connecticut and Seton Hall. Can the Bluejays surprise the nation with some clutch road efforts?