(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – Marcus Zegarowski and his Creighton teammates battled through a close call — along with a few jitters — to open the NCAA Tournament. Zegarowski scored 20 points to help Creighton beat Ohio 72-58 on Monday, securing the program's first trip to the round of 16 in 47 years. It hurts right now, but it’s going to be a great memory someday.”BIG PICTUREOhio: This was the Bobcats' first NCAA Tournament trip since 2012's surprise run to the Sweet 16. Creighton: The Bluejays had never won back-to-back games in the same NCAA Tournament. He also came up with some key late plays to keep Creighton in control after Ohio clawed back within 65-56.

Creighton coach Greg McDermott shouts during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Villanova, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)OMAHA, Neb. – Five Creighton basketball players explained in a short pregame video Saturday why they were hurt by coach Greg McDermott's remarks in his locker room talk following a loss last weekend. AdCreighton players hadn't commented publicly about McDermott's remarks until five Black players spoke in the pregame video at CHI Health Center. Let's start the conversation.”The video ended in silence with all the Creighton players locked arm in arm on the court. “A lot of guys in that locker room were hurting from it, and I was hurting from what he said," Zegarowski said.

McDermott’s use of a phrase evoking slavery overshadowed what was expected to be fantastic showdown between the top two teams in the Big East. 10 Villanova capture the Big East title with a 72-60 win over 14th-ranked Creighton. “The pain I saw in their eyes was immense,” McDermott said after the game. The Big East title was a formality on the Main Line — Villanova is 114-26 with two national titles since the conference was reconfigured in 2013. BIG PICTURECreighton: McDermott isn’t off the hot seat yet.

Zegarowski, Jefferson and Ballock combined for 52 of the Bluejays’ points. Creighton led by as many as 13 with about seven minutes left in the second half. Creighton inbounded quickly, and Zegarowski pushed the ball up the floor and found the trailing Bishop for the dunk. Providence had just one turnover in the opening nine minutes of the half, but gave it away over the final 11 minutes. But it was a positive sign to see Jefferson, Zegarowski and Ballock assertive while still getting their teammates involved.