INDIANAPOLIS – Creighton is looking forward to achieving his first Sweet 16 since last year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament was canceled because of COVID-19.
Monday’s 72-58 victory over Ohio was worth the wait.
“It’s a phenomenal feeling,” said junior guard Marcus Zegarowski, “We work – that’s a two-year thing for us. We took that away from us last year, and everything we’ve been through this year has been for moments like this, and I’m happy to have capitalized and succeeded. “
Creighton was 24-7 last season and finished as the country’s No. 7 team in the final AP vote.
“The journey of the past two years with this core group of guys has been incredible and, as I told them before the game, this is where they should be,” said coach Greg McDermott, “
Creighton had a record of 0-8 in the round of 16 before Monday night’s victory, which was the worst record of any team in that round, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information.
The Jays were led by Zegarowski, who made 20 points out of 7 out of 16 shots. Junior striker Christian Bishop was also a major contributor, with a one-two with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
One of the keys to Creighton’s victory was keeping junior goalkeeper Jason Preston in check offensively with just four points from 1 of 10 shots. He also contributed nine rebounds and seven assists in 40 minutes.
“I played one of the worst games of my career today, but I will be forever grateful for that experience, for the lessons I learned from all of that,” he said.
Preston, who stopped being an athlete in high school and became a potential professional, did not say whether he would enter the NBA draft.
“I can’t think about it right now,” he said. “I will take this day after day, pray about it, talk to God about it, talk to the coach [Jeff] Boals about it. We will weigh our options and see what we will do. “
Creighton will face Gonzaga in the next round, his first showdown since 2018, when Zegarowski was a freshman.
“I remember that game,” said Zegarowski of the 103-92 loss to the Bulldogs on December 1, 2018. “We were on the rise in the second half. To win them, we have to play really, really well for 40 minutes. We can’t have outbreaks where we miss or miss a mission … They’re a great team and, like I said, they don’t have any weaknesses, so for us to mess up a game, plan defense or give a wrong shot in the attack will only help them. “
“I’m still confident,” he said. “I feel ready. We will be ready.”