cferraro04
Sensei
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 2,374
- Reaction Score
- 12,696
GENERAL COMMENTS:
Analyzing Creighton can be challenging in some ways. On one hand, their win-loss record at this early stage has probably eliminated them from participating in the NCAA's big dance. It likely makes it even more difficult for them to qualify for the 48-team WNIT. On the other hand, they shoot the three ball comparatively with UConn: UConn shoots 9.6 per game, and Creighton shoots 9.7 per game. They rebound the ball competitively with UConn as well. UConn averages 37.3 rebounds per game, and Creighton averages 36 rebounds per game. Free throws are also competitively close, with UConn averaging 9.6 free throws per game and Creighton averaging 10.8 free throws per game. Both are low-turnover teams with UConn turning the ball over 12.5 times per game and Creighton turning it over 13.8 times per game. This stat, however, probably will be different after tomorrow's game as I fully expect UConn to remain at or around 12-13 turnovers while Creighton's ability to take care of the basketball will come under fire when it faces UConn's high-octane defense.
However, from there, the comparisons all swing in UConn's favor. UConn averages 89.6 points per game, and they steal the ball 15.9 times per game. UConn's defense is ranked number 2 in scoring defense at 51.6 points per game; number 4 in Opponent field goal %, holding opponents to 34.7 percent; and number 5 in steals per game with 15.9 steals per game; number 8 in turnovers forced per game at 25.44 turnovers forced per game. Creighton, on the other hand, is ranked number 7 in points allowed per game at 67.1 per game; 57th in opponents' effective field goal % at 47.6 %; 121st in opponents' three-point shooting percentage at 32.2%. There is no need to do more with regards to defense...I think you get the picture. UConn is the top of the heap when it comes to defense, and Creighton's defense is not top-tier at all.
Creighton's RPI Index = 136; its SOS rating is 74; and its NET ranking is 102.
UConn's RPI index is 1; its SOS rating is 6; and its NET ranking is 1.
Because of Creighton's balanced scoring in the starting five, it will pose few challenges for UConn's starting five as we move down the line-up. However, as noted above, UConn's highly vaunted defense will create chinks in Creighton's ability to maintain a balanced scoring attack on UConn. Look for UConn to be highly disruptive to Creighton's offense, frustrating Creighton and causing them to cough up the basketball. This game will further dash Creighton's post-season hopes, as this will be their 10th loss on a still-young season.
PLAYER MATCH UPS:
Serah Williams, 6'4" - Senior Forward vs Grace Befeli, 6'1" - Graduate Forward - Grace averages 7.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 9 blocks. Serah will need to put a body on Grace, box her out and limit her rebounds. Serah averages 7.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .9 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. Hopefully, this will be a game where Serah can continue to build on her improvement and her comfort and ease within the UConn system. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Sarah Strong, 6'2" - Sophomore Forward vs Neleigh Gessert, 6'0" - Freshman Guard - This is a mismatch where Sarah is too strong (no pun intended) and too talented for Neleight and I don't see any way that Neleigh will be able to contain Sarah. Neleigh averages a respectable 12.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, .9 assists, .8 blocks, and she is a prolific three-point shooter, averaging 3.2 threes per game. Sarah needs to be careful that she is spending so much time chasing Neleigh around the perimeter and isn't available for rebounding...UConn will need Sarah's rebounding to offset Creighton's balanced attack on the glass. Sarah averages a team-high 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. She also averages 1.75 three-pointers per game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Azzi Fudd, 5'11" - Graduate Guard vs Ava Zediker, 5'10" - Freshman Guard - Ava has started in 11 of Creighton's 16 games. She is only a freshman who will be matched up against a veteran, quality upperclassman. Ava is averaging a team high 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and she shoots the three-ball at .8 per game. Azzi also needs to box out on defense and prevent Ava from getting 5 plus rebounds. Azzi is averaging 17.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.4 steals, and .5 blocks per game. Azzi is also shooting lights out from three as she averages 3.2 threes per game and is shooting the three-ball at a .486 clip. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Ashlynn Shade, 5'10" - Junior Guard vs Kennedy Townsend, 5'10" - Senior Guard - Kennedy is a good all-around guard who averages 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and she shoots the three at 2.6 per game. Ashlynn averages 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and shoots the three at 1.3 three-pointers per game. While Ashlynn's defense is really good, and UConn's team defense is incredible, and at the risk of disturbing the UConn nation's ardent defense of Ashlynn.
SLIGHT ADVANTAGE - CREIGHTON
KK Arnold, 5'9" - Junior Guard vs Allison Heathcock, 5'11" - Sophomore Guard - Allison averages 8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and shoots the three-ball at 1.3 per game. KK completely outplayed her St. John's assignment and proved her pregame match-up analysis to be wrong. It is becoming clear that statistical analysis, when it comes to KK, can be frustratingly complicated and challenging, as her defense tends to skew her opponent's statistics downward. KK averages 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. She is beginning to shoot the three-pointer better as the season goes along; however, she is currently averaging .5 three-pointers per game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
FIRST THREE OFF THE BENCH:
Creighton:
Elizabeth Gentry, 6'3" - Sophomore Center - 6.6 points, 3.5 rebounds per game;
Kendall McGee, 5'10" - Freshman Guard - 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals per game;
Norah Gessert, 6'0" - Freshman Guard - 4.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and shoots the three-ball at 1 per game.
UConn:
Blanca Quinones, 6'2" - Freshman Forward - 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and is hitting 1.14 three-pointers per game;
Kayleigh Heckel, 5'9" - Sophomore Guard - 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game;
Allie Ziebell, 6'0" - Sophomore Guard - 6.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.4 three-pointers per game.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN
REST OF THE BENCH:
Creighton:
Tara Dacic
UConn:
Jana El-Alfy
Kelis Fisher
ADVANTAGE - UCONN
COACHING:
Jim Flanery begins his 24th year as Creighton’s head coach in 2025-26 after taking the Bluejays to their fourth consecutive, and eighth overall, NCAA Tournament last season. Flanery is Creighton’s all-time victory leader, entering the season with a record of 453-275 (.622).
Flanery has guided Creighton to eight of the 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in women’s basketball history, reaching the Big Dance in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The 2021-22 campaign was historic for the Bluejays as Creighton reached the Elite Eight with victories over Colorado, at No. 8 Iowa, and over No. 10 Iowa State. Creighton also reached the NCAA Second Round in 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2024, as well as claiming the program’s first BIG EAST regular-season title in 2017.
Under Flanery, the Bluejays have reached 20 wins or more 12 times and have been to the postseason 18 times, including a stretch of 11 consecutive years from 2008-2018. Flanery also led Creighton to a pair of appearances in the WNIT Final Four (2003 & 2004), capturing the 2004 WNIT Championship. Flanery has four conference titles, capturing the BIG EAST regular-season crown in 2017, the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships in 2003 and 2013, and the 2012 MVC Tournament Championship.
Before Flanery’s tenure, Creighton teams made 200 three-pointers in a single season twice. Including 2023-24, the Bluejays have eclipsed 200 treys in a season during 18 of their 22 campaigns at the helm, including a single-season record with 334 trifectas in 2021-22.
INTANGIBLES:
This game is being played in Omaha, Nebraska...quite a trip for UConn, but I wouldn't assign that much of an advantage to Creighton over it being a home game. There is too much size, talent, statistical gap, and experience on UConn for Creighton to overcome.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN
SCORE:
UCONN - 92
CREIGHTON - 51
MOV - 41
Analyzing Creighton can be challenging in some ways. On one hand, their win-loss record at this early stage has probably eliminated them from participating in the NCAA's big dance. It likely makes it even more difficult for them to qualify for the 48-team WNIT. On the other hand, they shoot the three ball comparatively with UConn: UConn shoots 9.6 per game, and Creighton shoots 9.7 per game. They rebound the ball competitively with UConn as well. UConn averages 37.3 rebounds per game, and Creighton averages 36 rebounds per game. Free throws are also competitively close, with UConn averaging 9.6 free throws per game and Creighton averaging 10.8 free throws per game. Both are low-turnover teams with UConn turning the ball over 12.5 times per game and Creighton turning it over 13.8 times per game. This stat, however, probably will be different after tomorrow's game as I fully expect UConn to remain at or around 12-13 turnovers while Creighton's ability to take care of the basketball will come under fire when it faces UConn's high-octane defense.
However, from there, the comparisons all swing in UConn's favor. UConn averages 89.6 points per game, and they steal the ball 15.9 times per game. UConn's defense is ranked number 2 in scoring defense at 51.6 points per game; number 4 in Opponent field goal %, holding opponents to 34.7 percent; and number 5 in steals per game with 15.9 steals per game; number 8 in turnovers forced per game at 25.44 turnovers forced per game. Creighton, on the other hand, is ranked number 7 in points allowed per game at 67.1 per game; 57th in opponents' effective field goal % at 47.6 %; 121st in opponents' three-point shooting percentage at 32.2%. There is no need to do more with regards to defense...I think you get the picture. UConn is the top of the heap when it comes to defense, and Creighton's defense is not top-tier at all.
Creighton's RPI Index = 136; its SOS rating is 74; and its NET ranking is 102.
UConn's RPI index is 1; its SOS rating is 6; and its NET ranking is 1.
Because of Creighton's balanced scoring in the starting five, it will pose few challenges for UConn's starting five as we move down the line-up. However, as noted above, UConn's highly vaunted defense will create chinks in Creighton's ability to maintain a balanced scoring attack on UConn. Look for UConn to be highly disruptive to Creighton's offense, frustrating Creighton and causing them to cough up the basketball. This game will further dash Creighton's post-season hopes, as this will be their 10th loss on a still-young season.
PLAYER MATCH UPS:
Serah Williams, 6'4" - Senior Forward vs Grace Befeli, 6'1" - Graduate Forward - Grace averages 7.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 9 blocks. Serah will need to put a body on Grace, box her out and limit her rebounds. Serah averages 7.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .9 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. Hopefully, this will be a game where Serah can continue to build on her improvement and her comfort and ease within the UConn system. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Sarah Strong, 6'2" - Sophomore Forward vs Neleigh Gessert, 6'0" - Freshman Guard - This is a mismatch where Sarah is too strong (no pun intended) and too talented for Neleight and I don't see any way that Neleigh will be able to contain Sarah. Neleigh averages a respectable 12.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, .9 assists, .8 blocks, and she is a prolific three-point shooter, averaging 3.2 threes per game. Sarah needs to be careful that she is spending so much time chasing Neleigh around the perimeter and isn't available for rebounding...UConn will need Sarah's rebounding to offset Creighton's balanced attack on the glass. Sarah averages a team-high 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. She also averages 1.75 three-pointers per game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Azzi Fudd, 5'11" - Graduate Guard vs Ava Zediker, 5'10" - Freshman Guard - Ava has started in 11 of Creighton's 16 games. She is only a freshman who will be matched up against a veteran, quality upperclassman. Ava is averaging a team high 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and she shoots the three-ball at .8 per game. Azzi also needs to box out on defense and prevent Ava from getting 5 plus rebounds. Azzi is averaging 17.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.4 steals, and .5 blocks per game. Azzi is also shooting lights out from three as she averages 3.2 threes per game and is shooting the three-ball at a .486 clip. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
Ashlynn Shade, 5'10" - Junior Guard vs Kennedy Townsend, 5'10" - Senior Guard - Kennedy is a good all-around guard who averages 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and she shoots the three at 2.6 per game. Ashlynn averages 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and shoots the three at 1.3 three-pointers per game. While Ashlynn's defense is really good, and UConn's team defense is incredible, and at the risk of disturbing the UConn nation's ardent defense of Ashlynn.
SLIGHT ADVANTAGE - CREIGHTON
KK Arnold, 5'9" - Junior Guard vs Allison Heathcock, 5'11" - Sophomore Guard - Allison averages 8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and shoots the three-ball at 1.3 per game. KK completely outplayed her St. John's assignment and proved her pregame match-up analysis to be wrong. It is becoming clear that statistical analysis, when it comes to KK, can be frustratingly complicated and challenging, as her defense tends to skew her opponent's statistics downward. KK averages 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. She is beginning to shoot the three-pointer better as the season goes along; however, she is currently averaging .5 three-pointers per game. ADVANTAGE - UCONN
FIRST THREE OFF THE BENCH:
Creighton:
Elizabeth Gentry, 6'3" - Sophomore Center - 6.6 points, 3.5 rebounds per game;
Kendall McGee, 5'10" - Freshman Guard - 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals per game;
Norah Gessert, 6'0" - Freshman Guard - 4.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and shoots the three-ball at 1 per game.
UConn:
Blanca Quinones, 6'2" - Freshman Forward - 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and is hitting 1.14 three-pointers per game;
Kayleigh Heckel, 5'9" - Sophomore Guard - 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game;
Allie Ziebell, 6'0" - Sophomore Guard - 6.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.4 three-pointers per game.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN
REST OF THE BENCH:
Creighton:
Tara Dacic
UConn:
Jana El-Alfy
Kelis Fisher
ADVANTAGE - UCONN
COACHING:
Jim Flanery begins his 24th year as Creighton’s head coach in 2025-26 after taking the Bluejays to their fourth consecutive, and eighth overall, NCAA Tournament last season. Flanery is Creighton’s all-time victory leader, entering the season with a record of 453-275 (.622).
Flanery has guided Creighton to eight of the 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in women’s basketball history, reaching the Big Dance in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The 2021-22 campaign was historic for the Bluejays as Creighton reached the Elite Eight with victories over Colorado, at No. 8 Iowa, and over No. 10 Iowa State. Creighton also reached the NCAA Second Round in 2013, 2017, 2018, and 2024, as well as claiming the program’s first BIG EAST regular-season title in 2017.
Under Flanery, the Bluejays have reached 20 wins or more 12 times and have been to the postseason 18 times, including a stretch of 11 consecutive years from 2008-2018. Flanery also led Creighton to a pair of appearances in the WNIT Final Four (2003 & 2004), capturing the 2004 WNIT Championship. Flanery has four conference titles, capturing the BIG EAST regular-season crown in 2017, the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships in 2003 and 2013, and the 2012 MVC Tournament Championship.
Before Flanery’s tenure, Creighton teams made 200 three-pointers in a single season twice. Including 2023-24, the Bluejays have eclipsed 200 treys in a season during 18 of their 22 campaigns at the helm, including a single-season record with 334 trifectas in 2021-22.
INTANGIBLES:
This game is being played in Omaha, Nebraska...quite a trip for UConn, but I wouldn't assign that much of an advantage to Creighton over it being a home game. There is too much size, talent, statistical gap, and experience on UConn for Creighton to overcome.
ADVANTAGE - UCONN
SCORE:
UCONN - 92
CREIGHTON - 51
MOV - 41
