Bradley: (RPI #93, Sagarin #88)
17-14 overall
16-12-1 ATS
9-9 conference
18-10 O/U
SOS: 66
Creighton: (RPI #53, Sagarin #49)
20-9 overall
14-11 ATS
10-8 conference
16-8-1 O/U
SOS: 82
The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament truly gets under way today as the Creighton Blue Jays take on the Bradley Braves in St. Louis. These two teams split their matchups in the regular season with Creighton winning in overtime earlier this month and Bradley blowing out the Blues Jays, at home, in the middle of February. The only realistic chance for either of these teams to make the Big Dance is by winning their conference tournament this weekend.
Creighton's offense is led by 6-2 guard P'Allen Stinnett. Stinnett had a big night the last time out against the Braves, but he's not the kind of offensive threat you can hope will take over a game. He only knocks down 30% of his three's, but he is effective if he's able to get to the line. The good news for the Blue Jay's offense is that they'll be up against a team that ranks 241rst in FG% defense. Bradley gives up over 71 points per contest and allows over 35% from behind the arc.
An area that that statistics say should go Creighton's way is the rebounding where they rank about 100 spots higher in rebounding differential, but those numbers have not played out in the two meetings between these schools in '08. In each game of this series, Bradley has won the battle on the boards which has to be a concern for Creighton coming into this afternoons tilt.
The offensive leader of the Braves is Jeremy Crouch who put up over 15 a game in the regular season and managed over 40% from long range. Crouch has been putting up huge numbers of late and also logging big minutes, he'll be the focus of a Creighton defense that's been one of the worst against the three all season.
Neither of these teams has been effective away from their home floor so we'll see how they get acclimated to the arena in St Louis this afternoon. One thing the Braves have done well away from their home in Illinois is knock down the trey and their FTs.
The big difference between these two looks to be the fact that Bradley boasts three wins over top 50 teams while Creighton sits at 0-5 against the nations top teams. Bradley is battle tested and has proved to be a tough team for Creighton to get a hold of in their recent meetings. I will take the Braves to win this one.
Bradley +110
17-14 overall
16-12-1 ATS
9-9 conference
18-10 O/U
SOS: 66
Creighton: (RPI #53, Sagarin #49)
20-9 overall
14-11 ATS
10-8 conference
16-8-1 O/U
SOS: 82
The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament truly gets under way today as the Creighton Blue Jays take on the Bradley Braves in St. Louis. These two teams split their matchups in the regular season with Creighton winning in overtime earlier this month and Bradley blowing out the Blues Jays, at home, in the middle of February. The only realistic chance for either of these teams to make the Big Dance is by winning their conference tournament this weekend.
Creighton's offense is led by 6-2 guard P'Allen Stinnett. Stinnett had a big night the last time out against the Braves, but he's not the kind of offensive threat you can hope will take over a game. He only knocks down 30% of his three's, but he is effective if he's able to get to the line. The good news for the Blue Jay's offense is that they'll be up against a team that ranks 241rst in FG% defense. Bradley gives up over 71 points per contest and allows over 35% from behind the arc.
An area that that statistics say should go Creighton's way is the rebounding where they rank about 100 spots higher in rebounding differential, but those numbers have not played out in the two meetings between these schools in '08. In each game of this series, Bradley has won the battle on the boards which has to be a concern for Creighton coming into this afternoons tilt.
The offensive leader of the Braves is Jeremy Crouch who put up over 15 a game in the regular season and managed over 40% from long range. Crouch has been putting up huge numbers of late and also logging big minutes, he'll be the focus of a Creighton defense that's been one of the worst against the three all season.
Neither of these teams has been effective away from their home floor so we'll see how they get acclimated to the arena in St Louis this afternoon. One thing the Braves have done well away from their home in Illinois is knock down the trey and their FTs.
The big difference between these two looks to be the fact that Bradley boasts three wins over top 50 teams while Creighton sits at 0-5 against the nations top teams. Bradley is battle tested and has proved to be a tough team for Creighton to get a hold of in their recent meetings. I will take the Braves to win this one.
Bradley +110