Providence @ Creighton preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 31, 2018 ) Creighton 79, Providence 68

Pretty much left for dead following a 4-9 start in conference play, Creighton may be able to reach .500 in league play and is looking every bit like a team that will be a tough out in next week's Big East Tournament. The Bluejays attempt to match their longest winning streak of the season with a fourth straight victory Wednesday when they host Providence.

Creighton dropped four straight during a 1-5 stretch from Jan. 30 to Feb. 17 to fall into last place in the league, but the Bluejays' newfound commitment to defense has started to bear fruit with a three-game winning streak, highlighted by Sunday's 66-60 upset at conference-leading Marquette. "It goes without saying that I'm really proud of our basketball team. We took a very high-powered offense in Marquette and really executed our defensive game plan almost to perfection," Creighton coach Greg McDermott told reporters. The Friars moved to 5-5 in true road games following Tuesday's 73-67 overtime victory at Butler for their second win in three contests after dropping five of the previous six. Providence is 9-5 since the schools became conference rivals in 2013-14 and has yet to be swept by the Bluejays, although Creighton took its first step toward doing so with a 79-68 road victory on New Year's Eve.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (16-13, 6-10 Big East): Sophomore center Nate Watson (12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds) matched a career high versus the Bulldogs with 21 points - a mark he reached for the second time in three outings and for the fourth time during conference action. Alpha Diallo had a modest game by his standards with 14 points and seven boards but remains one of five players from a power conference to lead his team in points (16.4), rebounds (8.0) and assists (3.1). Reserve guard Isaiah Jackson finished with 14 points Tuesday - his best effort in league play - and came up big in the extra session, burying a go-ahead 3-pointer with two minutes left before beating the shot clock with another triple with just over 30 seconds remaining to put the game away.

ABOUT CREIGHTON (16-13, 7-9): Martin Krampelj, who is vying to become the first Bluejay in 30 years to average 16 points (16.4), eight rebounds (8.0) and one blocked shot (1.0) during conference play, is also the only player in the Big East to rank among the top 10 in the league in blocks and steals (1.3) in league action. Freshman Marcus Zegarowski is 6-for-12 beyond the arc in four outings since returning from a three-game absence with a broken bone in his hand and is a 46.7 percent shooter from 3-point range - the best mark ever for a Creighton player with at least 100 attempts. Sophomore Ty-Shon Alexander extended his consecutive-games streak with at least one 3-pointer to 32 on Sunday, breaking Booker Woodfox's school record.

TIP-INS

1. Creighton's 15 steals Sunday was its most since 2012, and Marquette's 22 turnovers were the most forced by the Bluejays in a regular-season conference game since 2008.

2. The Friars rank 283rd in the country in 3-pointers per game (6.6) and haven't hit more than eight in any of their last 18 contests after doing so six times in their first 11.

3. The Bluejays have knocked down at least five 3-pointers in 65 consecutive games - the longest active streak among any major conference team.

PREDICTION: Creighton 72, Providence 65