Auburn Triumphs Over Creighton to Advance to Sweet Sixteen

Bruce Pearl’s Candid Words Inspire Victory
Bruce Pearl didn’t mince words after Auburn’s initial tournament victory over Alabama State. “We won’t beat Creighton playing the way we played tonight,” he candidly confessed to reporters.

A Sweet Sixteen Showdown Awaits
On Saturday night, the Tigers rose to the challenge, defeating ninth-seed Creighton 82-70. Despite the Blue Jays’ commendable effort against the tournament’s top seed, Auburn did enough to extend their season. This victory sets the stage for a faceoff with Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen, marking Auburn’s first advancement past the second round of the NCAA tournament since their 2019 Final Four appearance.

The Energy Returns

One of the main gripes from Pearl and several Auburn players after the Alabama State win was the team’s lackluster energy.

However, against Creighton, Auburn quickly demonstrated a revived intensity and urgency reminiscent of their early-season form. Their defense was tenacious, and while the Blue Jays scored some early three-pointers, Auburn improved by forcing turnovers and causing an early shot clock violation.

Though Auburn started cold from the field, their defensive vigor and performance on the boards kept them competitive in the first half. Securing eight offensive rebounds in the initial 20 minutes compared to Creighton’s single rebound led to 13 vital second-chance points for Auburn.

They maintained this tenacity in the second half, cooling down Creighton’s shooting spree. Offensively, Auburn capitalized when it mattered most, highlighted by Denver Jones’ crucial and-1 score with just over a minute remaining.

Weathering the Blue Jay Storm

Creighton picked up exactly where they left off against Louisville, excelling in shooting.

In the first half, the Blue Jays nailed nine of their fourteen three-point attempts, claiming a two-point halftime lead. This was spearheaded by Steven Ashworth and Jackson McAndrew, who joined forces for 23 first-half points, hitting 8 out of 10 from beyond the arc.

Their previous match against Louisville mirrored this shooting success, as Creighton hit 11 long-range shots from 24 attempts, setting the stage for Saturday’s performance.

Despite Auburn ranking fifth nationally in three-point defense, Creighton’s proficiency tested them. The Blue Jays entered the game with a season-long 34.2% three-point accuracy, ranking 11th in attempts.

However, Creighton’s shooting efficiency waned in the second half, allowing Auburn to seize control and eventually pull away.

Dominance in the Paint

While Auburn didn’t rely on their three-point shooting prowess on Saturday, they didn’t need to.

Instead, they manhandled Creighton in the paint, outscoring them 42-24 and securing 11 offensive rebounds. Even against one of the tallest teams in the country, Auburn matched and exceeded the Blue Jays’ presence inside.

Johni Broome may not have had his best scoring night with just eight points on 4-for-13 shooting, but his five offensive rebounds were instrumental in Auburn’s dominance on the boards.

By concluding with 19 second-chance points, vastly outpacing Creighton’s six, Auburn exhibited the gritty performance they needed to recover from their lackluster appearance against Alabama State.