Key Stats:
Creighton shoots 23-57 (40.4%) from the floor and 8-21 from three-point range (38%), while Providence shoots an almost idential 22-56 (39.3%) overall and a much worse 4-24 from three-point land (16.7%). The teams were nearly dead-even on the glass, as well, with PC edging CU 36-34 overall and 7-5 on offensive boards; the result was no real advantage for either team on second chance points, with Providence squeaking past the Jays 12-11.
The difference in the game, therefore? Creighton committed five more turnovers than Providence (12 to 7), leading directly to a 16-4 Providence edge in points off turnovers and indirectly to a 32-22 edge in points in the paint. And while CU made all 12 free throws they attempted, Providence attempted 29, making 22.
Standout Performance:
Malik Albert filled in admirably when Mo Watson went down to injury (more on that in a minute), but James Milliken continued his late-season burst with a career-high 26 points on 8-13 shooting, including 4-6 from three-point range, 6-6 from the line, and four rebounds in 38 minutes.
It’s a similar trend to Milliken’s junior season, when he caught fire in mid-February and was their most indispensable offensive weapon through the Big East tourney. If the Jays are to make a run in NYC next week, they’ll need Milliken to continue to be a versatile volume scorer who can keep defenses honest by making open jump shots — and provide points from behind the arc, which is something his teammates have been unable to do of late.
Recap & Analysis:
In front of an emotionally-charged crowd at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center for the final home game for Kris Dunn (and perhaps Ben Bentil), Creighton fell behind 11-4 after five minutes of action. Milliken hit a three-pointer with 13:39 to go that sparked a 8-2 run to bring the Jays to within a point, but then the moment Bluejay fans have dreaded all season came to pass: Maurice Watson drove inside to put up one of his patented “absorb contact from a much bigger player and throw up an impossible shot off the glass” move, but this time when he crashed into the floor, he didn’t get up right away.
As Bluejay fans held their collective breaths, he finally got up off the deck, noticeably limping as he strode to the free throw line where he sank two shots. He subbed out, Malik Albert came in to direct the team — and promptly grabbed a rebound, raced down court, and made a layup, then came up with a steal and an assist for a three-pointer on the next possession. That three-ball from Isaiah Zierden gave the Jays a 19-17 lead, and when Watson checked back in moments later, it looked like CU had not only weathered the storm without him but had also managed to escape without their star suffering a serious injury.
Those thoughts lasted all of 20 seconds. After being unable to push off as he tried to make a cut, Watson signaled to the bench that he couldn’t go on. The groin injury was apparently worse than originally thought, and now the Jays found themselves in a tight game on the road without their star point guard. Oh boy.
All three of the Jays’ primary post players soon joined him on the bench. Geoff Groselle picked up his second foul four seconds later, and spent the rest of the half on the bench. Zach Hanson picked up his third at the 2:56 mark, and also headed to the bench. Then Toby Hegner picked up his second foul, and the Jays played the remainder of the half with Cole Huff at the ‘5’ out of necessity.
Somehow, in spite all of that, they took a 32-28 lead to the break, due in large part to Malik Albert. The JuCo transfer, who had finally grasped his role and proved himself to the coaching staff in practice over the past couple of weeks, was suddenly thrust into playing that role full-time, and proved to be more than up to the challenge, directing the team on an 11-5 run to close the half and give his team a 32-28 lead at the half.
CU opened up a 38-31 lead less than two minutes into the second half, with Groselle asserting himself offensively, establishing position on the block, and Watson — back in the game, though playing at perhaps 75% — delivering perfectly timed post feeds that led to back-to-back buckets.
Just as momentum was swinging Creighton’s way, the deciding moments occurred on the defensive end of the floor. Groselle picked up his third and fourth fouls in quick succession, sending him to the bench just as he had started to make a difference offensively. The fourth foul, in hindsight, was a result of Groselle simply being too aggressive for a player with three fouls; rather than rotate and trust the help-side defense would be there to protect the rim, he stood his ground on Ben Bentil and picked up the foul.
Toby Hegner then picked up his third and fourth fouls in quick succession, joining Groselle on the bench, and with Hanson also nursing foul trouble, Providence began to exert their will inside. Bentil would score 18 second-half points on 5-9 shooting, while also grabbing eight rebounds as Bluejay defenders were unable to play him aggressively.
In a game where the officials called things tightly, Providence was simply better equipped to take advantage with more players able to drive at the rim, and more players able to attack in the paint. When the Jays did so, they benefited from the same calls — Kris Dunn picked up three fouls in the second half attempting to cut off dribble penetration and wound up spending most of the final five minutes on the bench — but they were not able to take advantage to the same extent.
Creighton led by as many as eight points in the second half, 43-35, and took their last lead of the half on a three-pointer by Zierden to make it 55-54 with 7:15 to go. That lead was erased moments later, and Providence led the rest of the way.
That the Bluejays were able to be competitive and lead for nearly 20 minutes of a game where their star point guard was injured, all three of their big men were unable to play aggressively because of foul trouble, and one of their starters fouled out while scoring zero points is frankly astonishing.
Their main focus now is on getting healthy for NYC. In all likelihood they will be the six-seed and play Seton Hall in the first game; they beat The Hall soundly in Jersey and owe them one for the nonchalant way they played in the rematch, so that’s a matchup I welcome. But if they’re to win, they’ll need Mo Watson at 100% or somewhere much closer to that than he was in the second half of this game.
They Said It:
“There were a few times we were a little late with some help on Bentil. He’s a good player. He leads the league in scoring, and we’re not the first team he’s done this to this season. For the most part, we kept Dunn in check. Bentil got away from us, and Jalen Lindsey’s 13 points might have been the difference. We had talked in the locker room about this game could be decided by a guy who isn’t normally the big scorer. We got a big night out of James, but Lindsey stepped up and had a big night for them.” -Coach Greg McDermott on 1620AM Postgame
“Maurice is sore. He ripped that groin pretty good. We got him playing on one leg and Cole (Huff) playing on one leg and Z (Isaiah Zierden) playing with one arm. As I told the team, I couldn’t be more proud of them. They fought. There are several of them that should not be playing, but they’re fighting.” -Coach Greg McDermott on 1620AM Postgame
“If our fans could walk into the locker room, they would be so proud of this team. And I’m proud of them. I don’t question their heart and what this program means to them to play with the injuries they’ve been playing with.” -Coach Greg McDermott on 1620AM Postgame
“The last thing we can have happen is for these injuries to get worse and we lose guys for Thursday of next week. We’ll evaluate that. We’ll get them to some treatment and some rest, and we’ll see where we’re at on Saturday.” -Coach Greg McDermott on 1620AM Postgame
“Malik did a good job. Without him, with Maurice hampered by the injury in the first half, we’re in deep, deep trouble. I’m proud of the way he played. You want guys when someone goes down to step up, and he certainly did that tonight.” -Coach Greg McDermott on 1620AM Postgame
“I’ve had a good three-week stretch here of taking care of the ball in practice. I think that’s helping build Mac’s confidence in me. It’s toward the end of the season, but I’m still grateful to get into the game. I’d run through a wall for Coach Mac.” -Malik Albert on 1620AM Postgame
You Said It:
https://twitter.com/dannyobyrne/status/705221073852215297
https://twitter.com/dannyobyrne/status/705225313932877824
https://twitter.com/joejohns402/status/705230647262990336
https://twitter.com/kadan1_3/status/705231400685821952