PLAYER OF THE WEEK — Doug McDermott – Senior – Creighton
McDermott did not lead his team to a 2-0 week, but his numbers were still impressive. Averaging 27.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in the most recent pair of games, McDermott yet again showed why he is the Big East’s most prolific scorer. He is shooting 49.6 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from three-point land and 89.6 percent at the foul line and averaging 25.3 points per game overall. He has been held to single-digit scoring only once this season and held under 20 points just four times.
GAME OF THE WEEK — Villanova at Creighton – Sunday – 4 p.m. CST
Villanova’s embarrassing 96-68 loss to Creighton Jan. 20 still lingers in the back of the Wildcats’ minds. The only two nationally ranked teams in the Big East will battle for the coveted No. 1 seed in the standings; as of Monday, the Bluejays were 9-2 and the Wildcats were 9-1.
Expect plenty of offense, as both teams average more than 80 points per game. Creighton is ninth in the nation in field goal percentage (49.2) and a three-point threat all season. The Bluejays made 21 three-pointers in their last meeting with Villanova and scored their first 27 points on threes.
However, Villanova won five straight games while Creighton faltered at St. John’s Sunday. Another 28-point blowout would be surprising.
Jay Wright picks up 400th career win
Villanova coach Jay Wright earned his 400th career victory in his team’s 70-53 triumph over Seton Hall Friday night. The 52-year-old Wright took the Wildcats’ head coaching job in 2001 and has compiled 278 wins in his tenure. He guided Villanova to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet Sixteens, one Elite Eight and one Final Four appearance.
Wright will be considered a strong candidate for National Coach of the Year considering how good the Wildcats have been (21-2, 9-1 Big East). The team performed well above expectations after being pegged to finish fourth in the conference. Villanova is setting itself up nicely for a run in next month’s NCAA Tournament, but the team has just one tourney win over the last four years.
DePaul back to its struggling ways
When DePaul began its Big East campaign with a respectable 2-3 record, all indications pointed to an improved season for the Blue Demons. It has not panned out this way, however, as DePaul is currently on a six-game losing streak and has slipped near the bottom of the standings. The Blue Demons have lost by an average of 13.7 points per loss in the skid.
DePaul’s road does not get any easier, as the team hosts Villanova Wednesday and then travels to Providence and Xavier. All three teams sports records above .500. Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young (31.2 ppt combined) are entertaining to watch, but little has gone DePaul’s way to make them any legitimate threat. Monday’s announcement that Melvin left the university did little to help matters.
This will in all likelihood be another disappointing season for the Blue Demons, who have not had a winning record since 2007 and have not qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 2004.
