Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Creighton Bluejays Picks and Predictions November 30th 2024

No. 21 Creighton Looking to Halt Skid vs. Notre Dame

Creighton Aiming for a Rebound After Tough Stretch

No. 21 Creighton (4-3) is looking to snap a three-game losing streak when it faces Notre Dame (4-3) in the seventh-place game of the Players Era Festival on Saturday in Las Vegas. Despite recent setbacks, head coach Greg McDermott remains focused on unity and perseverance.

“Same thing I’ve told my teams for 36 years, teams who point fingers lose. And we’re not going to do that,” McDermott said after Wednesday’s 77-73 loss to No. 20 Texas A&M.

Creighton found positives in that defeat, including a standout performance from freshman Jackson McAndrew, who tallied a season-high 16 points and made three 3-pointers. Pop Isaacs led the team with 25 points and six assists, while Steven Ashworth added 14 points after returning from an injury. Ryan Kalkbrenner contributed nine points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks.

McAndrew, averaging 9.4 points per game, is emerging as a key player.

“I think his ceiling is ridiculously high,” McDermott said of the 6-foot-10 forward. “He hasn’t even scratched the surface yet.”

Creighton’s offense continues to revolve around Isaacs (16.2 points per game), Ashworth (15.7), and Kalkbrenner, who leads the team with 18.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a streak of 21 games with at least one block — the longest active streak in the nation.

Notre Dame Facing Challenges Without Markus Burton

Notre Dame is also coming off a loss, having fallen 65-54 to No. 6 Houston on Wednesday. The Fighting Irish battled valiantly despite being without their star player, Markus Burton, who sustained a knee injury earlier in the tournament.

Burton, the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, averages a team-high 18.2 points per game and is expected to miss at least a week. His absence was felt against Houston, though Tae Davis stepped up with 22 points and eight rebounds.

Free Picks for College Hoops Fans! See what our experts suggest with free NCAAB picks.

Head coach Micah Shrewsberry remains optimistic about Burton’s recovery.

“We are thankful that Markus will be back at full strength,” Shrewsberry said. “I have full faith in our athletic trainer and our entire medical staff to put Markus in the best position to return to the court when it is the right time.”

Without Burton, Notre Dame will lean on Braeden Shrewsberry (15.1 points per game), Davis (14.1), and Matt Allocco (10.3) to provide scoring.

Key Matchup: Kalkbrenner vs. Davis in the Paint

A pivotal battle will take place in the post, where Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner — a defensive anchor — will face Notre Dame’s Tae Davis, who is coming off a strong offensive performance. Kalkbrenner’s shot-blocking ability could prove decisive against a Notre Dame team adjusting to life without Burton.

What’s at Stake

Both teams are eager to snap their respective three-game losing streaks and build momentum heading into the next phase of the season. For Creighton, a win would reaffirm its Top 25 status, while Notre Dame aims to prove it can compete even without its top scorer.