Creighton ends Princeton’s Cinderella run in Sweet 16

Creighton used its measurement, 3-point capturing and a swarming second-half protection to finish the March Insanity run of Princeton, beating the Fifteenth-seeded Tigers 86-75 on Friday evening within the Candy 16.

The sixth-seeded Bluejays (24-12) superior to their first regional last since they had been a part of an eight-team NCAA Event in 1941. Creighton will play No. 5 seed San Diego State in Sunday’s South Area last, with every group in search of its first Ultimate 4.

Ryan Kalkbenner, the two-time Large East defensive participant of the 12 months, scored 22 factors to guide the Bluejays to their sixth win in seven video games. Baylor Scheierman made 5 3s and completed with 21 factors.

“Kalk, he impacts us on the rim on each ends of the ground and defensively offers a lot for us,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott stated. “I believed he actually bought going late within the first half and carried it over to the second half. Baylor simply performs at each degree. He could make the mid-range. He shoots the three. He sees the ground extremely properly, and consider it or not, he’s develop into a fairly good defender.”

 Ryan Langborg led the Tigers (23-9) with 26 factors and Ivy League participant of the 12 months Tosan Evbuomwan with 24 factors, six rebounds and 9 assists.

Princeton shook up brackets in every single place by beating No. 2 seed Arizona within the first spherical, then blew out seventh-seeded Missouri final weekend in Sacramento, California.

Enjoying in its first Candy 16 since 1967, Princeton hoped to develop into the primary Ivy League champion to make the Elite Eight since Penn’s Ultimate 4 run in 1979, the primary Tigers squad to succeed in the Ultimate 4 since Invoice Bradley led them there in 1965, and the second straight No. 15 seed to play in a regional last. Saint Peter’s final 12 months turned the primary 15 seed to attain that feat.

Princeton’s offense bore no resemblance to the back-cutting, deliberate type that outlined the late Pete Carril’s teaching tenure. As a substitute, the Tigers went toe to toe in opposition to Creighton’s fast-paced offense till they stalled out at the beginning of the second half.

Ryan Kalkbrenner #11 of the Creighton Bluejays reacts in the course of the first half within the Candy 16 spherical of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Event in opposition to the Princeton Tigers at KFC YUM! Heart on March 24, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky. (Rob Carr/Getty Pictures)

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Creighton used a 9-2 run to take a 56-45 lead, a four-minute stretch throughout which Princeton coach Mitch Henderson known as two timeouts, and Evbuomwan drew his third foul.

The Bluejays wouldn’t cease. When Princeton reduce the deficit to 61-52, Creighton answered with seven extra factors, and the Tigers could not get nearer than seven factors after that.

“Princeton’s actually good at establishing their tempo, so that you’ve simply bought to take them out of it,” Kalkbrenner stated. “Their complete purpose is to take us out of our tempo.”

After beating North Carolina State and third-seeded Baylor in Denver final weekend, drawing confidence from not needing oxygen masks like their opponents, Creighton eradicated the all of the sudden well-liked Ivy Leaguers. Now, the Bluejays are one win away from the nationwide semifinals.

Ryan Kalkbrenner #11 of the Creighton Bluejays reacts after dunking in opposition to Zach Martini #54 of the Princeton Tigers in the course of the first half within the Candy 16 spherical of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Event at KFC YUM! Heart on March 24, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky.  (Andy Lyons/Getty Pictures)

“It’s been wonderful, it’s been a dream come true. This is the reason I got here to Creighton within the first place, to make a run with this group of men,” Scheierman stated. “It’s simply been an unbelievable expertise. I’m trying ahead to persevering with that on Sunday.”