Walker: Three takes from No. 10 Creighton’s win over Villanova

Creighton closed the regular season with a nail-biter in Philadelphia. Here are three takeaways from the No. 10 Jays’ 69-67 win at Villanova on Saturday afternoon:

Jays can’t afford streakiness moving forward

Thanks to one of Trey Alexander’s signature mid-range jumpers with less than a second left, Creighton won’t enter the postseason on the heels of a heartbreaker.

CU is one of the best teams in the country when it’s firing on all cylinders. Stretches like those are what make people believe the Jays can make another deep postseason run, what had the Jays up by 24 after the first 10 minutes.

They hit a cold spell after opening the game 11 of 16 from the field, including 8 of 12 from beyond the arc. And CU went cold again at different points in the second half, but especially late, allowing Villanova to use a 12-0 run to get within a possession with under a minute left.

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It didn’t matter once Alexander — 17 points, six rebounds — called game. It’ll matter in March when the stakes are higher, though.

Extended rest finally works in CU’s favor

Coach Greg McDermott said ahead of Thursday’s practice that the Jays needed the extra days off. They had guys who were dealing with the bumps and bruises that accrue through the regular season. But rest, for whatever reason, hasn’t always helped CU.

The Jays entered Saturday 12-0 with two days between games, a typical weekly schedule in the Big East. They were 2-4 with four more days between games. But Creighton, which has four players averaging 30-plus minutes, took advantage of the five days between last week’s win over Marquette and beating Nova.

These Jays are better when the ball moves

Creighton was white hot out of the gates. The Jays made their first 11 shots via eight assists to go up 24 after the first 10 minutes. That ball movement is the exact thing that threw Villanova’s defense out of sync and got CU the looks its offense is designed to create.

That went away when the Wildcats started to switch on all of the Jays’ actions, but it returned when they needed it to midway through the second half.

The Wildcats clawed their way back into the game. Then Ryan Kalkbrenner grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked it out. Two different Jays touched it before swinging it to Francisco Farabello, who buried a look in the corner to, if only for that moment, silence a hostile crowd.

Photos: Creighton men’s basketball hosts Marquette in final home game of season

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5) celebrates afterr a late 3-pointer in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Steven Ashworth (1) is enveloped by Marquette’s Ben Gold (12) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

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Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) defends against Marquette’s David Joplin (23) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

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Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) shoots the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

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Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) celebrates a play in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

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Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dives for the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

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Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5), Baylor Scheierman (55) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) are honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) slams into Marquette’s Ben Gold (12) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Steven Ashworth (1) calls for a timeout after fighting for the ball on the floor in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) gets caught between Marquette’s Zaide Lowery (10) and Marquette’s David Joplin (23) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Marquette’s David Joplin (23) walks off the court for a timeout in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Steven Ashworth (1) fights for the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Jasen Green (0) controls the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton head coach Greg McDermott talks with an official during the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) keeps the ball from Marquette’s Stevie Mitchell (4) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton head coach Greg McDermott calls out to his team in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Marquette’s Tre Norman (5) rushes off the court following a timeout in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) drives past Marquette’s Tre Norman (5) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton cheerleaders perform during a break in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) reacts after missing a pass in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton head coach Greg McDermott talks with Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) celebrates a play in the final few minutes of the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) slams into Marquette’s David Joplin (23) in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Marquette head coach Shaka Smart watches his team in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Jasen Green (0) controls the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) shoots the ball in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5) goes for two points with Marquette’s Zaide Lowery (10) on him in the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) hugs Creighton head coach Greg McDermott after being taken out in the final minute of the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Francisco Farabello (5) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman (55) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) is honored on Senior Day following the Marquette vs. Creighton men’s basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 2, 2024. Creighton won the game 89-75.

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