Uconn Huskies vs Creighton Bluejays Picks and Predictions January 18th 2025

No. 14 UConn Hosts Creighton in Big East Showdown

The No. 14 UConn Huskies return home aiming to remain unbeaten on their court as they take on Creighton in a pivotal Big East battle on Saturday. Both teams were projected as the top two in the Big East preseason poll, making this a must-watch showdown between conference contenders.

UConn Looking to Stay Perfect at Home

The Huskies (13-4, 5-1 Big East) are coming off a 68-60 road victory over Georgetown, bouncing back from their tough loss to Villanova on Jan. 8. Head coach Dan Hurley believes that the hard-fought win in Washington, D.C., helped energize his team as they head back to Storrs.

“Being able to play a great big game on the road at Georgetown when they’ve got a real good team, that kind of energized us coming out of that Villanova loss,” Hurley said.

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UConn boasts a perfect 8-0 record at home, and they’ll look to protect their home court once again against a Creighton squad that has had their number in recent matchups.

Karaban Leading the Charge

Alex Karaban has been UConn’s most consistent offensive force this season, leading the team with 16.1 points per game. After enduring what he described as the “lowest of lows” when he missed two clutch free throws against Villanova, he bounced back in dominant fashion against Georgetown with:

• 19 points
• Six rebounds
• Four assists
• Two blocks
• One steal

He also knocked down four three-pointers, marking the sixth time this season he has reached that mark.

Hurley was full of praise for Karaban’s resilience.

“This is the winningest player in college basketball, one of the greatest players in UConn history and we knew we’d get this type of a response from him,” Hurley said. “Because this guy is one of the best players in college basketball.”

Beyond Karaban, Solo Ball has emerged as another key contributor, scoring in double figures in all but two games this season. His 15-point effort against Georgetown further showcased his ability to step up in big moments.

Defensive Intensity a Key Factor

UConn’s defense has been a strength, and they showcased that against Georgetown, forcing 15 turnovers—their highest total since November. The Huskies will need to maintain that defensive tenacity against a Creighton squad that thrives on outside shooting.

Creighton Riding Momentum into Storrs

The Bluejays (11-6, 4-2 Big East) arrive in Storrs with confidence after a dominant 84-64 win over Providence on Tuesday. Creighton controlled the game, leading for nearly the entire contest as they picked up their sixth straight Big East victory.

Kalkbrenner and Ashworth Leading the Way

The Bluejays are powered by their veteran duo of Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth, who each scored 20 points in the win over Providence. Kalkbrenner leads the team with 17.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while Ashworth is averaging 17.3 points and has hit a three-pointer in 35 consecutive games.

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott emphasized the importance of his senior leaders.

“They’ve played their whole careers for this,” McDermott said. “Their teammates know what they’re going to get out of them every single day.”

Role Players Making an Impact

While the stars have been reliable, Creighton’s depth players stepped up in the win over Providence. Isaac Traudt and Mason Miller combined for six three-pointers in the second half, giving the Bluejays a much-needed boost from beyond the arc.

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Miller, who led the Big East in three-point shooting last season at 45.5%, has struggled this year, making just 17.2% of his three-point attempts. However, his resurgence against Providence was an encouraging sign.

McDermott emphasized how crucial Miller and Fedor Zugic (recently cleared by the NCAA) will be for Creighton’s stretch run.

“If we’re gonna reach our ceiling, we need Mason to play at the level that he can,” McDermott said. “And we need Fedor to kind of catch up.”

Head-to-Head History

Creighton has had the upper hand in this matchup, winning seven of the nine meetings since UConn joined the Big East in 2020. However, the Huskies have defended their home court well, winning two of the three matchups at Gampel Pavilion, the site of Saturday’s game.

A Crucial Big East Battle

With both teams vying for position in the Big East standings, this game could prove pivotal as the season progresses. UConn’s home dominance and Creighton’s recent surge make for an exciting showdown between two of the conference’s best teams.

Can UConn stay unbeaten at home, or will Creighton continue its recent dominance in this matchup? Saturday’s battle in Storrs will provide the answer.