Saturday Jan 7 Basketball Picks: Creighton Bluejays vs Bradley Braves
Saturday, January 07, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
Two teams headed in different directions collide when No. 24 Creighton Bluejays visits Bradley Braves in a Missouri Valley Conference game. Creighton has won five of six, while Bradley has dropped six straight decisions.
Creighton, which reached the championship series of last year's College Basketball Invitational, has lived up to the preseason hype that called the Bluejays the team to beat in the Missouri Valley.
Creighton has been one of the top offensive teams in the nation and ranks first in 3-point percentage (45.1), third in assists per game (19.6), fourth in field goal percentage (50.6) and sixth in scoring (83.1). Creighton leads the all-time series 42-41 and has won 19 of the last 24 meetings.
- Creighton Bluejays @ Bradley Braves
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 7, 2012
Where: Carver Arena, Peoria, Illinois
TV: ET, KMTV (Creighton), ESPN3
The Bluejays have opened as 12-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Creighton Bluejays (12-2): The Bluejays have been led by sophomore forward Doug McDermott, who leads the conference in scoring (23.9, second in the NCAA), rebounding (8.4) and 3-point percentage (58.0) and has five double-doubles. Antoine Young and Gregory Echenique are both honorable mention all-MVC picks. Young averages 11.9 points and 4.1 assists and Echenique averages 9.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Grant Gibbs, a transfer from Gonzaga, averages 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
Bradley Braves (5-10): The Braves have had trouble scoring points, averaging only 63.9 per game and they're shooting just 42.9 percent from the floor and 29.1 percent on 3-pointers. Taylor Brown leads the team in scoring (15.3) and grabs 6.8 rebounds. Jordan Prosser is second in the Missouri Valley with 8.3 rebounds and averages 9.5 points. Also scoring in double figures are Walt Lemon Jr. (12.0) and Dyricus Simms-Edwards (11.9).
1. In the last 32 meetings, Creighton is 15-1 when holding Bradley to 65 or fewer points.
2. Bradley has won the last 23 meetings when it scores 70 or more.
3. Echenique needs two blocks to move into eighth place on the career list. He has 77 in two seasons.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Bluejays 82, Braves 68.
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antoine young - bradley braves - carver arena - creighton bluejays - doug mcdermott - dyricus simms-edwards - grant gibbs - gregory echenique - jordan prosser - taylor brown
