Villanova Visits Creighton in Omaha with Revenge on the Line
Villanova travels to Omaha on Saturday, February 14, with a chance to right the wrongs from an earlier loss to Creighton. Tip is set for 2: 30 PM ET at the CHI Center, where the Wildcats (19-5, 10-3) will try to slow a Creighton offense that erupted after halftime in their January meeting.
Game details and context
Villanova enters the matchup ranked 30th in the NET, while Creighton sits at 80th. Records stand at 19-5 for the Wildcats and 13-12 for the Blue Jays, with Villanova favored on the spread in books that have varied between short lines. The outcome has implications for Villanova’s seeding picture and for Creighton’s hopes of climbing the conference standings late in the slate.
What happened in the Jan. 7 meeting
The teams last met on January 7, when Creighton turned a tight game into a second-half offensive onslaught en route to a 76-72 victory. Creighton scored 46 points after halftime and repeatedly cleaned up misses with offensive rebounds. Villanova’s offense was capable—shooting struggled from deep, but turnovers were low—yet it was the second-half defensive breakdown that swung the result.
Creighton’s recent form and lineup changes
Creighton is 3-6 since that win, with narrow victories over Georgetown, Seton Hall and Xavier (combined margin of five points) and several lopsided losses to quality conference opponents. The Blue Jays have shuffled their starting five: 6'7" Blake Harper and guard Nik Graves have been inserted as starters in place of two 6'4" sophomores who began the January meeting. Harper’s size and mid-range scoring gave Villanova trouble previously, and Graves has been getting increased minutes after a stretch in which freshman Hudson Green did not play but has since seen his role grow. Green’s increased usage and Graves’ insertion complicate scouting for the Wildcats.
Villanova’s keys: tighten defense, crash the glass
The Wildcats’ pressing need is defensive adjustment. In the January loss, Creighton scored on nearly every possession after halftime and repeatedly won the battle for offensive rebounds. Villanova cannot allow second-chance points at the same clip. Containing Creighton’s mid-range drivers—who exploited smaller defenders in the previous meeting—and limiting offensive rebounds will be priority one.
Offensively, Villanova showed resilience earlier in the season: the Wildcats limited turnovers to five in the first meeting and got a big second-half scoring effort from one of their primary creators. Consistent shot selection and attacking Creighton’s vulnerability around the rim will be crucial. Interior scoring and rebounding from the Wildcats’ bigs can tilt the possessions in their favor, while a better night from deep would remove defensive attention and open lanes for cutters and finishers.
Matchup advantages and what to watch
Matchup analytics favor Villanova in half-court execution: Creighton has been susceptible to quality attack-and-kick actions and dribble-jumpers, while Villanova’s creators thrive in quick-read situations and pick-and-roll or cut-and-roll actions that produce high-value opportunities. If Villanova controls pace and keeps play in the half-court, shot quality should favor the Wildcats.
Keep an eye on rotation depth and the impact of Creighton’s lineup tweaks. Harper’s size can disrupt smaller wings, and Graves’ recent minutes make him a live X-factor. For Villanova, look for the primary guard creators to dictate tempo and for the bigs to contest offensive rebounds and finish at the rim.
Outlook
This is a ripe opportunity for Villanova to avenge the January loss and pad its résumé with a road win against a team capable of sudden offensive spurts. Success will hinge on defensive adjustments, rebounding discipline and whether Villanova can force the Blue Jays out of the comfortable rhythm they found in the prior meeting. Expect a strategic, half-court battle where possession-by-possession execution will decide the final margin.
