The No. 9-seed Creighton Bluejays start their March Madness journey against the No. 8-seed Illinois Fighting Illini in the first round this Saturday, March 22.
The Bluejays (26-6) are making their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 11th appearance overall. They are coming off a runner-up finish in the BIG EAST tournament, with a 16-2 conference record. Despite falling to UConn in the championship match, Creighton enters the national dance ranked No. 23 in the latest AP poll, having lost only six times this season—all to NCAA Tournament teams. Five of those defeats came at the hands of top-10 opponents ([2] UConn three times, [1] UCLA, [3] Kansas State, and [10] South Dakota State—rankings listed as current bracket seedings).
Creighton Head Coach Jim Flanery, in his 23rd season leading the program, has guided the team to consistent success. The Bluejays boast two All-BIG EAST First Team selections in Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly, while Molly Mogensen earned an Honorable Mention. Jensen was also named an All-America Honorable Mention by the Associated Press.
The Fighting Illini (21-9) enter the tournament after a tough Big Ten Tournament loss to Nebraska. Head Coach Shauna Green has guided Illinois to its second NCAA appearance under her three-year tenure with the program. The Illini finished 11-7 in Big Ten play, tying for fifth place in the overall standings. Illinois has been a well-rounded team all season, recording three ranked wins—the most in a single campaign since 1999-2000—while also setting a new program record with an eight-game Big Ten winning streak. Their ranked victories came against then-ranked Iowa, Maryland, and Florida State.
The Illini will likely rely on Genesis Bryant (15.1 PPG), Kendall Bostic (15.9 PPG), and Adalia McKenzie, who recently recorded a season-high 10 assists in the loss against Nebraska. Bostic, a 6-foot-2 forward, averages 11.1 rebounds per game and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team this season.
An important battle in this game will be Creighton’s high-scoring perimeter attack against Illinois’s strong inside presence. Coach Flanery acknowledged the challenge, stating, “They’ve got a little more of an inside presence, obviously with Bostic. We have post players, but mostly they’re perimeter post players.” Creighton’s ability to hit outside shots while limiting Illinois’ success in the paint will be a deciding factor.
Both teams excel at the free throw line, ranking in the top five nationally. Lauren Jensen stressed its importance: “Free throws can make or break a game. Illinois is good at drawing fouls, so we have to be smart defensively.” Morgan Maly noted the aspect of pace of play as well: “Illinois likes to take their time bringing the ball up, and we’re going to look to run as much as possible.”
Over the last 10 games, the Bluejays have been 8-2, averaging 67.8 points, 30.8 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 60.8 points per game.
Conversely, the Fighting Illini have been 6-4 over the last 10 games, averaging 68.6 points, 31.3 rebounds, 15.6 assists, 5.3 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.2% from the field and holding their opponents to an average 66.2 points per game.
On paper, these teams appear evenly matched, with Creighton averaging 72.1 PPG while allowing 63 and Illinois scoring 71.2 PPG while holding opponents to 61.7. This game will likely be a tightly contested battle, where execution and composure on the big stage will determine who advances. Flanery summed it up best: “It’s a real even game. Both teams should be prepared, and I think it’s going to be a really competitive game.”
Catch the Jays today, March 22. Tip-off is set for 6:15 P.M. CT at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The game will also be airing on ESPNews.