Greensboro, N.C. — Creighton’s first NCAA men’s basketball tournament appearance since 2007 will see it matchup against the University of Alabama.
All-American sophomore forward Doug McDermott and the Jays were chosen as a No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region and will play their opening round game in Greensboro, N.C. The Missouri Valley Conference champions are set to face a Southeastern Conference team that is 21-11 with wins over Wichita State University, Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Tennessee.
ESPN and Yahoo! Sports projections prior to the release of the bracket had Creighton as either a No. 6 seed or No. 7 seed. Head coach Greg McDermott said that his team’s résumé is similar to No. 5 seed Wichita State and No. 6 seed San Diego State University, both of whom the Jays beat this season.
“I’m thrilled to be back in the NCAA tournament,” Greg McDermott said. “But I really think these guys earned more than an eighth seed.”
“We’ve won 28 games, we’ve won 14 games away from home and we’re the conference tournament champions. So there isn’t much difference between us and some of the five seeds.”
The No. 9 seed Crimson Tide finished the season 8-8 after a promising start that saw them rise to No. 12 in the AP Poll. Their two Second Team All-SEC players JaMychal Green and Trevor Releford lead the Tide.
Green is a 6-foot 8-inch senior forward who averaged 14 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He was ranked by ESPN as the sixth overall prospect in the class of 2008. Releford is 6-foot sophomore guard averaging 11.9 points and two steals per game.
“Obviously Alabama is a very good team and it will take one of our better efforts of the year to advance to the next round,” Greg McDermott said.
Alabama boasts a line up similar in size to Creighton but certainly doesn’t play like it. It ranks 245th in scoring, averaging just under 65 points per game. They are also 332nd in the country in 3-point percentage. The Jays are seventh with 80 points per game and are third in the country in 3-point percentage.
The calling card of the Tide, however, is their strong defense. They rank ninth in the country in scoring defense, giving up just 57.9 points per game during the regular season. Defense has been one of the things the Jays have struggled with this season, giving up 69.5 points per game. They’re ranked 239th in the country.
If the Jays can overcome Alabama’s stingy defense, they will advance past the Tide and will most likely face the No. 1 seed in their region, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. This would pit Doug McDermott against his high school teammate and leading scorer for the Tar Heels, Harrison Barnes.
Barnes, who was a First Team All-ACC member, and Doug McDermott led Ames High School to consecutive state titles.
“It’s going to be a good chance to see him again,” Doug McDermott said. “I haven’t seen him in a while, I talk to him quite a bit. It will be fun to watch him play and hopefully match up with him.”
Creighton tips off Friday at 12:40 p.m. at Greensboro Coliseum.