NCAA Tournament bid at heart of Big East matchup

When Marquette and Creighton met on Valentine’s Day last year, the teams were battling to stay out of the Big East cellar. With notable roster turnover within both programs, it was a season of transition that ended with each team finishing 4-14 in the Big East and exiting the conference tournament in the quarterfinals.

Over the past year, the programs have built on their transitional stages. Each is coming off an upset win over a ranked opponent, with Creighton knocking off No. 5 Xavier, 70-56, in Omaha on Tuesday and Marquette outlasting No. 20 Providence, 96-91, in two overtimes Wednesday night.

When the Golden Eagles (16-9, 5-7) and Bluejays (16-9, 7-5) meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, there will be a lot more on the line than last year. If either team wants to make the NCAA Tournament, getting a win is imperative.

“Because we were able to get a win of that magnitude (against Xa-

vier) it makes Saturday’s game meaningful as well,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. “Obviously they’re playing with some pretty good mojo right now. It will be a heck of a challenge for us.

“Compared to where we sat a year ago, to be able to move forward to the point where it’s mid-February and our games mean something is a good step for our program.”

Marquette’s season sweepclinching victory over Providence was one of its best performances of the season. The Golden Eagles battled through adversity, committed just 13 turnovers in 50 minutes and got key contributions from multiple players, including three freshmen at crunchtime.

“It feels good,” Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski said after the win. “The thing that will make it feel even better is if we respond and grow from it.”

The physical wear and tear of Wednesday’s game meant Wojciechowski didn’t hold a long, drawn-out practice Thursday. Considering Marquette is facing Creighton for the first time this season — the only Big East foe the Golden Eagles have yet to play — the physical rest left more time to focus on studying film and getting familiar with the Bluejays.

“I think we were in the same situation last year with them where we played them twice in two weeks, but it is a little strange,” junior center Luke Fischer said. “In a way it’s a good thing for us — we have a while to prepare for them, we can see all the games that they’ve played, we know what their tendencies are, so I think it will be a good advantage for us as well.”

Another advantage is Marquette’s young squad seems like it is starting to turn a corner. Over the past two games, including a close loss at Xavier, the Golden Eagles have played more inspired basketball.

Creighton’s first game against Marquette is coming in the same week as its first matchup with Xavier, so it represents a unique challenge.

“It’s a mental grind of a week for our guys to have to put together a plan for Xavier that’s brand new and now flip the page and get ready for Marquette,” McDermott said. “(Marquette’s) young players certainly aren’t playing like freshmen anymore.”

One of the focal points of Marquette’s game plan will be limiting Creighton junior point guard Maurice Watson Jr. The 5-foot-10 transfer from Boston University has made a huge impact in his first season with the Bluejays, ranking 10th in the Big East in scoring (14.8 points per game) and second in assists (6.5).

Watson scored 32 points in Creighton’s upset of Xavier. Most of his damage came from inside the arc, shooting 10 of 13 on two-pointers and going 9 of10 from the foul line.

“He’s really the engine that makes us go,” McDermott said. “And I couldn’t be more pleased with where he’s at at this point during his junior season.”

While Watson poses the main threat, Wojciechowski sees an opponent that’s built around more than one player.

“I think they’re one of the most underappreciated teams in the country,” Wojciechowski said. “I think they have a dynamic point guard, I think they’re really, really good in all positions, they understand their roles, they compete very well and they’re obviously tremendously well coached.

“When I watch them play, I see an NCAA Tournament team.”