The rematch between No. 11 Creighton and No. 9 Villanova began in a similar fashion as the first meeting, with Creighton knocking down a 3-pointer on each of its first two possessions.
However, from that point on the game played out in an entirely different way, and the Jays still rolled 101-80.
In the previous meeting between the top two teams in the Big East, Creighton connected on its first nine 3-point attempts on its first nine possessions, and never looked back. On Sunday, however, the Jays made two fewer 3-pointers than the Wildcats – and still won by 21.
“It was just really good team basketball,” senior forward Doug McDermott said. “We didn’t have that crazy outburst … I thought we were good in all areas. We found a way to just dig in defensively, win the battle of the rebounds. There weren’t many areas where we struggled, so I think it’s just as impressive [as the first game].”
Following in the wake of the shooting display in the first game, the Bluejays anticipated tighter defense on the perimeter, and that’s exactly what they got from Villanova. Creighton attempted only 15 3-pointers (making nine), but the Jays were able to take advantage of the tight defense in other ways.
“Our message to the guys this week is we have to be in attack mode,” Creighton head coach Greg McDermott said. “Against their pressure, we want to attack … and we’re attacking to score. We got some great contributions from a lot of guys, and that’s what made this happen.”
The Jays dominated the points in the paint category, doubling up on Villanova 44-22. Creighton shot a blistering 25-38 (65.8 percent) from inside the arc and also took advantage of the Wildcats’ miscues, winning the points off turnovers category 20-7.
The bench came through for Creighton as well with 39 points from the reserves, including a career-high 13 from freshman guard Isaiah Zierden and 12 from junior guard Devin Brooks. The reserves were pressed into extra duty when senior starting guards Jahenns Manigat and Avery Dingman each picked up two first half fouls.
“It was just focus,” Zierden said about the bench’s performance. “We were ready when our numbers were called, and we just have to keep working. Jahenns and Grant picking up those fouls was huge, but we tried to do our best in picking up where they left off.”
With the seniors on the bench for the rest of the half, the reserve guards helped stretch the lead from four when Gibbs and Manigat took a seat with a little more than 10 minutes to go to 13 at the break.
“We scored 11 out of 13 possessions to end the half, and I’m not sure [Gibbs and Manigat] were on the floor,” Greg McDermott said. “Just, defensively they were sound, offensively they were making plays that fit their game … In that situation, you’re sitting over there with two of your starters, you’re thinking ‘if we can keep this four or five point lead, let’s rest them, but if it gets back to even I was probably going to go back with one or both, and the bench ended up extending that lead.”
The momentum carried over into the second half as the Jays continued to execute and built up the lead to as many as 25 before they settled in for a 21-point win.
It was a total team effort by the Jays, but even so, the evening belonged to Doug McDermott, who has made a habit of stepping up in big games against talented opponents.
“I live for these kinds of games,” McDermott said. “These are the best. Especially playing against a top 10 team here in Omaha. I don’t think any of us ever thought we’d see this day. So you have to get fired up for this kind of game and atmosphere.”
The national player of the year frontrunner exploded for 22 points in the first half before finishing with game highs in points with 39 (on 13-17 shooting) and rebounds with seven. With 13:23 on the clock, McDermott drilled a tough 3-pointer to pass Larry Bird on the all-time scoring list and move into 13th, 19 points behind Tyler Hansbrough.
In typical McDermott fashion, Doug was very humble when asked about passing one of the legends of the game.
“It’s pretty crazy,” McDermott said. “That’s one of my idols. But … imagine if he had the 3-point line and he stayed for four years, he’d be way ahead of me. It’s really cool, just to be in that category with some of those guys, and I’m enjoying it. I play with some unbelievable guys that find me in good spots so they deserve just as much credit as I do.”
Villanova head coach Jay Wright was effusive in his praise for Doug McDermott after the game. Wright helped coach Team USA over the summer and saw McDermott play against the best of the best among the pros and do very well.
“Sometimes you watch a guy in college and try to think about how’s that going to transfer to the NBA, but I saw it and everything he does here in college, he did this summer with those guys,” Wright said. “I think he’s as complete a player – and I do not use that term lightly – as complete a player with size as I’ve ever seen … He’s the best post player that we’ve played against, and the he’s best perimeter player, and maybe one of the best passers. And he’s 6-foot-8, 6-foot-9. I think he’s as good of a basketball player as I’ve seen.”
The win moves Creighton (21-4, 11-2 in conference) back into first place in the Big East and gives them the season sweep over Villanova (22-3, 10-2), the other team vying for the conference title. However, Greg McDermott said the Jays still have a long way to go before accomplishing their goal of winning the Big East.
“It’s important today,” McDermott said. Come March, I would think that two wins over a team as highly thought of as Villanova can do nothing but help you, but if I’m also not mistaken, Villanova has four of their last six at home, and the Bluejays have three of their last five on the road, so there’s a long road to go here.”