NFL Show
The Marquette Golden Eagles play host to the Creighton Blue Jays on Friday night in both teams' Big East opener from Fiserv Forum. The Blue Jays were a top-ten team just a few weeks ago but having now lost five games in a row, questions remain. For Marquette, they’ve shocked many after being picked here the bottom of the conference. The Blue Jays have won four in a row in the series and all but one in the last eight meetings, though they’ll need to be locked in if they want to grab the win in this one.
Creighton surprised many with their young team last season that caught fire down the stretch and was rewarded with some lofty expectations to start the season. Picked to win the Big East, they got off to a quick start but a current five-game losing streak is casting serious doubt over this group's long-term ambitions. While some of the losses have been expected to top opponents, others have been brutal games for this team to drop. Sitting with a 2-4 record away from home and coming off back-to-back games on a neutral court, this group needs to show some resolve in this one. While the non-conference might have been a blunder, their goal of winning the Big East needs to get started with a win in this one.
There’s no doubt that injuries have played into this team’s slow start to the season and they potentially remain without a key piece. Ryan Kalkbrenner (illness) missed last weekend’s games and it was evident how much his presence impacts this group. Being without him in the Big East opener could have them watch their losing streak grow.
Creighton's losing streak is now at five.
Jays looked like a Final Four contender in Maui.
Haven't won a game in 20 days. https://t.co/wFWa8viBCu
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 13, 2022
Despite all the returning talent, this team has struggled out of the gates on both sides of the ball. Lack of depth on the offensive side of things is an obvious concern, while a struggle linking together on defense continues to force this team to fight from behind. Kalkbrenner (15.9 ppg) is the clear focus if everyone is healthy, though Baylor Scheierman (12.5 ppg, 9.6) rpg remains the x-factor. As one of the most highly-sought transfers in the country this last offseason, his ability to stretch the floor and shoot from deep, are both a must for the Blue Jays to regain success. As one of the best offensive-rebounding teams in the country as well, generating second-chances could make all the difference in this one.