Auburn Tigers vs Creighton Bluejays Picks and Predictions March 22nd 2025

Big Men Take Center Stage as Auburn Faces Creighton in South Region Clash

Top-seeded Auburn got a scare in its NCAA Tournament opener, but now the Tigers aim to assert themselves early as they prepare for a high-stakes second-round matchup with ninth-seeded Creighton on Saturday night at Rupp Arena.

Auburn (29-5) eventually pulled away from No. 16 Alabama State after a sluggish first half, using a 9-0 spurt before the break and a 17-7 run to start the second to avoid a historic upset. Still, head coach Bruce Pearl knows that kind of slow start won’t cut it against a surging Creighton squad.

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“We won’t beat Creighton playing the way we played (against Alabama State),” Pearl said. “We know we can tighten things up… we’re going to look at it a little bit and go, ‘OK, this is how we’re going to (do things) on Saturday against a much better, much bigger, much different kind of a basketball team.’”

Creighton (25-10) looked far more composed in its opening-round win over No. 8 Louisville. The Bluejays dropped a dominant 19-2 run in the first half that left their opponent rattled and unable to recover. With the win, Creighton now has a shot to reach the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year and solidify its place as a March mainstay.

Big Man Battle Will Define the Outcome

The most intriguing storyline heading into Saturday’s matchup is the heavyweight showdown between Auburn’s Johni Broome and Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner. Broome, who recorded his 19th double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in the first round, now holds the Auburn program record for double-doubles in just three seasons.

“It means a lot to solidify my name in Auburn history and kind of give back to the university,” Broome said.

But standing across from him is Kalkbrenner, a towering 7-foot-1 force and four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. The Bluejays designed their defensive game plan around funneling opposing drives directly into Kalkbrenner’s reach, and it worked flawlessly against Louisville.

“You have a four-time Defensive Player of the Year at the basket waiting for them,” said Creighton coach Greg McDermott. “He did a phenomenal job, as he always does, protecting the basket and making it difficult.”

This inside matchup is expected to tilt the balance of the game. Auburn excels at attacking downhill, but Creighton’s defensive structure dares teams to challenge Kalkbrenner at the rim.

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Guard Play and Composure in the Spotlight

Beyond the bigs, guard play will be crucial—especially in managing momentum swings. Creighton’s floor general Steven Ashworth played the role of stabilizer in their opener, notching 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists while keeping the crowd in check during key stretches.

“I felt like it was my job as the point guard to make sure that when they were going on runs, when the crowd tried to get into it, I tried to settle things down,” Ashworth said.

Creighton’s recent experience in high-pressure tournament settings—this being their fourth potential Sweet 16 berth in five years—could give them the mental edge if the game turns tight in the final minutes.

If you’re looking for reliable college basketball predictions on this pivotal second-round clash or other March Madness showdowns, be sure to check out the latest expert NCAAB picks.