Creighton arrives in New York with a prolific offense that is averaging 81.2 points per game against teams that would combine to allow 69.0 points per game, thereby making the Blue Jays 12.2 points per game better than average offensively. What is even more impressive is the fact that Creighton is 6-3 SU and ATS on the road where the Blue Jays are averaging 78.4 points per game on 48.3% shooting from the field and 45.2% from beyond the arc. Overall, Creighton possesses a decent 6.9 points per game advantage over St. John’s defense, which is 5.3 points per game better than average (67.2 points per game to teams that would combine to average 72.5 points per game).
However, St. John’s is 10-3 at home this season where the Red Storm are limiting opponents to just 64.5 points per game on 38.5% shooting from the floor and 30.1% from three-point territory. St. John’s is also playing some of the best basketball in the Big East as the Red Storm are 4-1 SU and ATS over their last five games, including road wins over both Butler (69-52) and Providence (86-76). The Red Storm also dominated Marquette (74-59) on February 1.
St. John’s is averaging 73.2 points per game against teams that would combine to allow 68.8 points per game, thereby making the Red Storm 4.4 points per game better than average offensively. However, similar to their defensive numbers, the Red Storm become more efficient at home where they are averaging 75.6 points per game on the year. With Creighton standing at 5.9 points per game better than average defensively (65.6 points per game to teams that would combine to average 71.5 points per game), the Red Storm find themselves at a 1.5 points per game disadvantage offensively tonight.
The Red Storm are also looking to avenge a 63-60 loss to Creighton on January 28, and coach Steve Lavin’s squad are looking more and more like a legitimate Big East contender. “We have to come out fast,” said forward Sir’Dominic Pointer. “Currently we are playing with a great rhythm and doing well. In the Creighton game, we started off slowly and picked it up in the second half, but in the last two games we’ve started off fast from the start and that’s what we have to keep doing. That’s how we are going to contend in the Big East.”
Pro Edge Sports Pick: St. John’s (+3) (-110)