INSIDER
What To Watch: Remaining Final Four spots up for grabs
Read full article: What To Watch: Remaining Final Four spots up for grabs… Gonzaga is seeking to become the first team to make it to the Final Four unbeaten since Kentucky in 2015. 11 seed UCLA (21-9), East Region final, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. … UCLA is back in a regional final for the first time since earning three straight Final Four berths from 2006-08. 6 seed Texas (21-9), Hemisfair Region final, Alamodome, San Antonio. … Texas is in a regional final for the first time since 2016 and seeking its first Final Four appearance since 2003.
Unbeaten Zags keep rolling with 83-65 rout of Creighton
Read full article: Unbeaten Zags keep rolling with 83-65 rout of CreightonNembhard had 17 points and eight assists, both season highs, to keep the NCAA Tournament's top overall seed rolling Sunday with a 83-65 rout of fifth-seeded Creighton in the West Region semifinals. Defensively, the Zags held Creighton to 40 points over the final 30 minutes as they methodically turned a 27-25 game into a blowout. “They just play so fast, so efficient with everything they do," said Marcus Zegarowski, who led Creighton with 19 points. That just about finished off Creighton as the Zags moved within three wins of becoming the first undefeated national champion since Indiana in 1976. Gonzaga: The Zags have won their first three tournament games by a combined 77 points.
Zegarowski, Creighton beat Ohio 72-58 to reach NCAA Sweet 16
Read full article: Zegarowski, Creighton beat Ohio 72-58 to reach NCAA Sweet 16(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.
No. 5 Creighton beats 12th-seeded UCSB 63-62 with clutch FTs
Read full article: No. 5 Creighton beats 12th-seeded UCSB 63-62 with clutch FTs“It felt really good to step up to the line and hit those two big free throws,” Bishop said. He received a one-game suspension and returned for the Big East Tournament last week. AdThe Bluejays' season will continue Monday in the West Region against 13th-seeded Ohio thanks to some unlikely clutch foul shooting. Creighton grabbed the lead back with 3:08 remaining when Bishop finished a pick-and-roll with a reverse two-handed dunk to make it 59-58. BIG PICTUREUC Santa Barbara: The Gauchos started fast, making nine of their first 12 shots and taking a 23-15 lead.
Ewing, Georgetown take Big East, NCAA bid with stunning rout
Read full article: Ewing, Georgetown take Big East, NCAA bid with stunning routGeorgetown is champion of the Big East again, with the greatest Hoya of them all leading the way. AdNow he is the first person in Big East history to be the most outstanding player on a Big East Tournament champion and coach a team to a Big East Tournament title. 8 seed to win the Big East Tournament and the lowest seed since Connecticut did it as a No. That seems unlikely for these Hoyas, who entered the Big East Tournament with a losing record. UP NEXTThe Hoyas likely give the Big East four teams in the NCAA Tournament along with Creighton, Villanova and UConn.
No. 17 Creighton tops UConn 59-56 to reach Big East finals
Read full article: No. 17 Creighton tops UConn 59-56 to reach Big East finals(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK – The most accurate shooting team in the Big East was having a hard time buying a bucket. The second-seeded Bluejays (20-7) will play eighth-seeded Georgetown Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in their third Big East final since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season. They came in shooting 48.7% to lead the Big East. Creighton will look for its first Big East Tournament championship a little more than a week after McDermott was suspended by the school for making racially insensitive remarks to his team. Creighton: Zegarowski struggled to find his groove most of the game against Cole and UConn's tough perimeter defense.
Creighton's McDermott reinstated after 'plantation' remark
Read full article: Creighton's McDermott reinstated after 'plantation' remarkMcDermott created a firestorm for twice using the term “plantation” as part of an analogy urging team unity. McDermott will be with team for the Big East Tournament this week and the NCAA Tournament that begins next week. “Let me be clear: Coach McDermott's use of the ‘plantation’ analogy was egregious and has absolutely no place in our society. I can’t have anybody leave the plantation,” McDermott told the players, using a term evocative of slavery and the antebellum South. Rasmussen announced McDermott had been indefinitely suspended the next night, with McDermott tweeting that he merited the suspension.
No. 19 Creighton rolls past No. 5 'Nova behind Zegarowski
Read full article: No. 19 Creighton rolls past No. 5 'Nova behind ZegarowskiThe Bluejays pulled away early in the second half of the meeting of the Big East's top two teams. Early in the second half, Zegarowski made a move to get Gillespie to go the other way, then swished a one-handed floater in the lane. The Wildcats had shot 70% in the second half of that game and a season-best 63% overall. The Wildcats weren't nearly as good at CHI Health Center, shooting 33% in the second half and 37.5% for the game. Creighton: This was the performance the Bluejays had been looking for from Zegarowski, who had been up and down following offseason knee surgery.
Late dunk lifts No. 11 Creighton to win over Providence
Read full article: Late dunk lifts No. 11 Creighton to win over ProvidenceZegarowski, 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.
Villanova top choice in Big East ahead of Creighton
Read full article: Villanova top choice in Big East ahead of CreightonNEW YORK – Villanova is the pick to win the Big East again, according to the league's coaches. The Wildcats, who shared the regular-season title last year with Creighton and Seton Hall, received nine first-place votes on Wednesday. Creighton, led by preseason player of the year Marcus Zegarowski, was picked second. UConn, which returns to the conference after a seven-year absence, was predicted to come in fourth — just ahead of Seton Hall. The Golden Eagles are expecting big things out of first-year power forward Dawson Garcia, who was chosen as the preseason conference freshman of the year.