Utah hosts Creighton on Wednesday night as the Bluejays land at the Huntsman Center. Creighton is 0-2 on their road trip across the plains, having lost to both Kansas and Nebraska. Wednesday’s matchup of these two teams dates back to 1988, when Utah defeated Creighton twice, once in Omaha and once in Salt Lake, by an average margin of 12 points.
Much has changed since the last time the Bluejays traveled to Utah. Creighton’s last trip to Salt Lake came in 1992, when both teams were in the Western Athletics Conference. Since that 1992 Bluejays’ victory, Creighton has gone 4-0 against Utah in the Huntsman Center. But the Bluejays now come to Utah with struggles away from home — 0-3 on the road this season.
Creighton’s strength this season has been Utah’s weakness: the three-point line. The Bluejays come in to Wednesday’s matchup shooting 203 three-pointers on the season, good for third in the Big East Conference and 21st in the nation, making nearly 40 percent of those deep balls.
“What’s interesting about that statistic is that in their losses they average 9.8 makes, and in their wins they average 10.2, so they’re consistent with it,” said Utah head coach Lynne Roberts. “For us to have success against them, we have to defend the three-point line. That’s been a point of emphasis this season. I think that’s something we need to get better at, and this [game] will be a test.”
And a test it will be. In losses this season, Utah is allowing opponents to shoot nearly 30 three-pointers per game, compared to the 20 three-point shots opponents take in Utah wins. Couple the 25 treys Creighton shoots per game with its near 40 percent clip at which it shoots them, and Utah is looking at a tough test indeed as Utah gears up for finals week.
“They’re going to be a great team. [In] a rematch from last year, I want the ‘W,'” said Utah senior Danielle Rodriguez.
While the Bluejays will pose a threat to Utah this Wednesday at home, the Utes are looking to instill consistency into their program by building off of a strong performance against CSUN last Thursday.
“I thought it was really good, but I think good is consistency,” Roberts said. “I thought we were good that one night, but let’s see how consistent we can be.”
Utah will look to remain undefeated in the Huntsman Center with a win this Wednesday against the Bluejays before traveling to take on rival BYU. With just five games left before conference play, each of these matchups mean more and more to a Utah group hungry to make a mark in the Pac 12.
Tipoff against the Bluejays will be 7 p.m. MST in the Huntsman Center.
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