Creighton Faces DePaul in BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals

NEW YORK, N.Y. — The No. 2 seed Creighton Bluejays (22-9, 15-5 BIG EAST) are set to face the No. 10 seed DePaul Blue Demons (13-18, 4-16 BIG EAST) on Thursday, March 13, in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. This matchup follows each team’s recent victories, with Creighton defeating Butler 87-74 and DePaul edging Georgetown 71-67.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. Central Time and will be broadcast live on FS1. The winner of this quarterfinal matchup will advance to the semifinals, taking place on Friday, March 14.

Creighton enters this postseason contest with a strong performance in recent weeks, finishing the regular season second in the BIG EAST. The Bluejays have notably won 13 out of their last 16 games. Senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner has been instrumental in this run, recently scoring 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in their last game against Butler.

“We’re really looking forward to the tournament,” Kalkbrenner said after the victory against Butler. “We’ve been working hard all season, and it’s the time to show it.”

DePaul, on the other hand, seeks momentum after their road win against Georgetown. N.J. Benson has been a key player for the Blue Demons, scoring 18 points with an impressive shooting percentage in their last game. “We’ve got to carry this energy into the next game,” Benson said.

Creighton’s offensive efficiency has been a highlight this season, averaging 75.4 points per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from three-point range. The Bluejays have also been tough on the boards, out-rebounding opponents by an average of 3.8 boards per game.

In terms of postseason history, Creighton has made steady progress in the BIG EAST Tournament, owning a 10-10 record in the tournament since joining the league. This includes a solid 5-5 mark in quarterfinal appearances.

Coach Greg McDermott, in his 15th season leading the Bluejays, has witnessed significant growth in the program, including leading the team to its first BIG EAST regular-season title in 2019-20 and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

“The team understands the importance of this moment,” McDermott stated. “We’ve worked hard to get here, and we want to capitalize on this opportunity.”

With both teams aiming to make a significant impact in the tournament, fans can expect an intense battle as the Bluejays take on the Blue Demons in this pivotal matchup.