NCAA Basketball Odds and Picks: Creighton Bluejays vs Evansville Aces
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
Creighton Bluejays' Doug McDermott is a near lock to win the Missouri Valley Player of the Year, but Evansville Aces' Colt Ryan is doing his best to delay the trophy engraving.
Ryan averages 20.8 points per game and is one of the best 3-point shooters in the conference. McDermott, an All-American candidate, is third in the nation in scoring, averaging 23.4 points.
No. 15 Creighton has won six straight against the Aces, and 11 of the last 12. The Bluejays fell into a tie for first with Wichita State after a last-second loss at Northern Iowa on Saturday.
- Creighton Bluejays @ Evansville Aces
When: 8:05 PM ET, Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Where: Ford Center, Evansville, Indiana
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, no television, gopurpleaces.com
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Bluejays listed as 5½-point favorites versus the Aces.
Creighton Bluejays (21-3): Although both Creighton and Evansville have dynamic scorers, the difference between the teams comes down to the support squads. Besides McDermott, Creighton has one of the most dominant post players in the league in 270-pound center Gregory Echenique. Gonzaga transfer Grant Gibbs is second in the league in assists despite playing the off-guard position. Sophomores Jahenns Manigat and Ethan Wragge are lethal from the outside.
Evansville Aces (11-12): The last time a Creighton team came in ranked this high was in 2003 when Evansville stunned Kyle Korver and the ninth-ranked Bluejays, 74-66. The bottom-dwelling Aces have played Creighton close at home in recent years. Evansville should struggle to match up with Creighton in the post and will likely have to double and triple-team. However, if Ryan goes off for 39 points like he did against Bradley this year, Evansville has a chance to pull off the upset.
1. It’s been 11 years since a single player averaged more than 20 points in the Valley, let alone two in the same season.
2. Creighton has won 10 or more conference games in a Missouri Valley record 16 straight seasons. Evansville hasn’t won 10 conference games since 1998-1999.
3. Creighton, the nation’s top 3-point shooting team, has seven players who shoot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc. Evansville has just one (Ryan) and only six Aces have made a 3-pointer this year.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Bluejays 81, Aces 72.
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colt ryan - creighton bluejays - doug mcdermott - ethan wragge - evansville aces - ford center - grant gibbs - gregory echenique - jahenns manigat - kyle korver
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