No. 14 Creighton most probably shall be shorthanded in its bid to dance again from its first setback of the younger season when it faces San Diego State on Tuesday afternoon within the Gamers Generation Pageant in Las Vegas.
The provision of Steven Ashworth is in query after the senior guard sustained a proper ankle damage all the way through the Bluejays’ 74-63 setback to in-state rival Nebraska on Friday.
Ashworth matched his scoring reasonable via totaling 16 issues in opposition to the upstart Cornhuskers. He trails most effective Giant East Preseason Participant of the Yr Ryan Kalkbrenner (21.4) for peak honors at the crew, whilst Ashworth’s 6.4 assists lead the membership.
“We don’t have any thought how lengthy Steven’s going to be out,” Creighton trainer Greg McDermott mentioned. “I feel it will be some time.”
The timing of the damage is difficult for the Bluejays (4-1), who’ve a hectic slate forward. Creighton will sq. off in opposition to No. 23 Texas A&M on Wednesday at Las Vegas and some other opponent within the match on Saturday sooner than going through top-ranked Kansas on Dec. 4.
Nebraska clamped down on Kalkbrenner, forcing the Bluejays to navigate clear of the 7-foot-1 superstar middle and check out their success from the fringe.
“Nice defensive plan to stay the ball out of the paint,” McDermott mentioned. “After they do this, now we have gotta take benefit and make some 3-point photographs, and clearly we did not shoot it really well.”
The Bluejays made simply 12 of a program-record 42 makes an attempt from 3-point vary. Texas Tech switch and Las Vegas local Pop Isaacs highlighted his season-high 25-point efficiency via connecting 5 occasions on 12 photographs from past the arc.
Kalkbrenner, who erupted for a career-high 49 issues within the season opener, completed with a paltry 4 issues — all loose throws — for his lowest scoring output since Christmas 2022 in opposition to DePaul.
“I feel that what this crew has proven up to now isn’t what its ceiling is,” Kalkbrenner mentioned. “I do know we’ve much more in us than what now we have proven.”
San Diego State (2-1) is easily rested since losing an 80-67 determination at house to Gonzaga on Nov. 18.
Nick Boyd amassed 23 issues and 9 rebounds sooner than exiting with 13 mins to play because of muscle cramps.
“I began cramping in the second one part when I used to be about to test again in,” Byrd mentioned, in keeping with the San Diego Union-Tribune. “That is why they held me out the remainder of the sport. It was once simply most certainly that I did not in point of fact do anything else on my ankle all week. It was once simply getting a little bit dehydrated. I will take (accountability) for that one.”
Boyd averages a team-leading 14.7 issues in keeping with sport for the Aztecs, who will want all arms on deck taking into consideration they face Oregon on Wednesday at Las Vegas and some other foe on Saturday.
“We’ve a tall process forward folks,” San Diego State trainer Brian Dutcher mentioned. “That is all just right for us, in November. We wish to have the opportunity to win those video games. However this may increasingly serve us smartly transferring ahead, irrespective of the outcome.”
–Box Degree Media
