The St. John's University (N.Y.) Red Storm are riding a 5-game win streak, averaging 81.4 points per game over that stretch, and they'll look to keep that momentum going against the Creighton Bluejays, who are struggling to find consistency, having gone 1-4 in their last 5 games, averaging just 67 points per game. St. John's has been impressive on both ends of the floor, outscoring their opponents by an average of 11.6 points per game over their last 5, while Creighton has been outscored by an average of 9.2 points per game. This disparity in form is a significant factor heading into their matchup at Madison Square Garden, where St. John's has been nearly unbeatable, with a 13-1 record in conference play.
St. John's has been led by their high-powered offense, which has scored 79 points or more in 4 of their last 5 games, including a 92-point outburst against Butler. Meanwhile, Creighton has struggled to find their footing on offense, scoring 69 points or fewer in 3 of their last 5 games. The Bluejays' defensive struggles have been just as concerning, as they've allowed 76.2 points per game over their last 5, including an 85-point drubbing at the hands of UConn. St. John's, on the other hand, has been stingy on defense, allowing just 69.8 points per game over their last 5. With these trends in mind, it's clear that Creighton must find a way to slow down St. John's' offense and get their own scoring going if they hope to pull off the upset.
Key Matchups
One player to watch in this matchup is St. John's' leading scorer, who has been on a tear lately, averaging 22.5 points per game over his last 5. He'll be matched up against Creighton's top defender, who has been struggling to contain opposing team's top scorers, allowing them to average 20.8 points per game over his last 5. On the other side, Creighton's leading scorer has been cold lately, averaging just 12.5 points per game over his last 5, and he'll need to find his shot against a St. John's defense that has been lockdown lately. The individual matchups matters in this game, as both teams look to exploit each other's weaknesses and come out on top.
As we look ahead to the matchup, it's clear that St. John's has the momentum and the form on their side. The Red Storm have been dominant at home, with a 13-1 record in conference play, and they'll look to use that to their advantage against a Creighton team that has struggled on the road. St. John's has also been impressive in Quad 1 games, with a 3-4 record, and they'll look to add another quality win to their resume. Creighton, on the other hand, has struggled in Quad 1 games, with a 1-8 record, and they'll need to pull off a major upset if they hope to boost their tournament chances.
CHD Scout Prediction
Creighton
70
St. John's
83
The CHD Scout prediction has St. John's winning by 12.9 points, with an 85.9% win probability, and it's easy to see why. St. John's has been the better team all season, with a 20-5 record and a 13-1 mark in conference play. They've also been more consistent, with a 5-game win streak and an average margin of victory of 11.6 points per game over their last 5. Creighton, on the other hand, has been inconsistent, with a 13-13 record and a 7-8 mark in conference play. They've also struggled to score, averaging just 67 points per game over their last 5, and they'll need to find a way to slow down St. John's' offense if they hope to keep the game close.
The Red Storm's offense has been nearly unstoppable lately, with 4 players averaging double figures in scoring over their last 5 games. They've also been impressive from beyond the arc, shooting 38.5% from 3-point range over their last 5 games. Creighton, on the other hand, has struggled to defend the 3-point line, allowing opponents to shoot 36.2% from beyond the arc over their last 5 games. This could be a major factor in the game, as St. John's looks to use their outside shooting to stretch Creighton's defense and create scoring opportunities.
Tournament Stakes
A win for St. John's would be another quality addition to their tournament resume, and would likely solidify their position as a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They would also maintain their position atop the conference standings, with a 14-1 record in conference play. A loss, on the other hand, would be a significant setback for the Red Storm, and would give Creighton a much-needed quality win to boost their tournament chances. For Creighton, a win would be a major upset, and would give them a much-needed boost to their tournament resume. They would also improve their record in Quad 1 games, which would be a significant factor in their tournament seeding. A loss, on the other hand, would be a significant blow to their tournament chances, and would leave them needing to win out to have any hope of making the tournament.
The tournament implications of this game are significant, and both teams want to come out on top. St. John's want to maintain their position as one of the top teams in the conference, while Creighton want to pull off a major upset and boost their tournament chances. The game will be a crucial test for both teams, and will have real consequences for their tournament seeding. With the Red Storm's high-powered offense and the Bluejays' defensive struggles, it's likely that this game will be a high-scoring affair, with plenty of action and drama. The crowd at Madison Square Garden will be electric, and both teams want to feed off that energy and come out on top. In the end, it's likely that St. John's' offense will be too much for Creighton to handle, and the Red Storm will come out on top, 83-70.