Cal Poly SLO @ Creighton preview

Creighton will look to continue its stellar play in regular season tournaments when it goes to battle against visiting Cal Poly pm Friday in a campus game of the Las Vegas Invitational. Since 2002-03, the Blue Jays have gone 42-9 overall and 21-0 at home while winning eight titles in 14 regular-season tournaments.

This matchup of the Big East versus the Big West features two of the top teams in the country in 3-point shooting. The Bluejays, who ranked 13th in the nation from beyond the arc entering Thursday at 43.2 percent, have always been a strong 3-point shooting team under coach Greg McDermott, making 38.6 percent in his nine-plus seasons, but that has especially been the case in regular season tournaments as they have hit 42.3 percent in 34 games. Ty-Shon Alexander and Marcus Zegarowski lead this season's club, combining to make 21-of-39, including 8-of-13 in Saturday's victory over Louisiana Tech. The Mustangs have been a touch better from deep for coach John Smith, making 44.6 percent, good for seventh in the country, but their problem has been free throw shooting at 57.1 percent.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT CAL POLY (1-3): A trio of young players in freshmen Kyle Colvin and Colby Rogers,and sophomore Tuukka Jaakkola have made an impact in the early going for the Mustangs, who are coming off a 6-23 campaign. Jaakkola, a 6-10 forward from Finland, has scored eight or more points in every game - including a career-high 13 in a 79-48 loss to Saint Mary's on Sunday, and is shooting 60.9 percent on the season. Colvin, who is playing in his hometown of San Luis Obispo, Calif., has enjoyed two solid games with a combined 26 points and 14 rebounds and two difficult games, while the same can be said for Rogers, who has put up 31 points and 10 rebounds on the season while shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range.

ABOUT CREIGHTON (2-1): After spending his freshman season as more of a complementary player, Zegarowski has assumed a primetime role this season for the Bluejays. The 6-2 guard from Hamiton, Mass., who scored in double figures 17 times last season but had only one 20-point game, is healthy after dealing with a hip injury and it shows as he is averaging 17.5 points, 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds. "I feel more comfortable, especially now that I have a year under my belt," Zegarowski told the media. "Going into the season healthy and had a pretty productive summer. I hope to improve on my leadership qualities."

TIP-INS

1. Kelvin Jones, who is averaging four offensive rebounds per game - tied for 26th in the country, had seven offensive boards against Michigan to equal the most in a game for Creighton under McDermott.

2. Creighton will take on North Florida at home Sunday in the tournament before heading to Las Vegas to meet San Diego State, and Iowa or Texas Tech.

3. Since 2010-11, when McDermott took over as coach, the Bluejays are second in the NCAA in made 3-pointers (2,826), third in 3-point shooting (38.6 percent), and fourth in field-goal percentage (48.1) and total assists (5,186).

PREDICTION: Creighton 83, Cal Poly 68