Seton Hall Faces Creighton in Crucial Big East Matchup

Pirates look to bounce back after loss to Villanova, keep NCAA Tournament hopes alive

Feb. 7, 2026 at 12:15am

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Seton Hall (16-7, 6-6 Big East) heads to Omaha to take on Creighton (12-11, 6-6) in a crucial Big East matchup. The Pirates are coming off a 72-60 loss to Villanova, which has put their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy. Creighton has also struggled recently, losing three straight games. Both teams are looking to get back on track and keep their postseason aspirations alive.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for both teams' NCAA Tournament hopes. Seton Hall is currently on the bubble, and a loss to Creighton could further damage their chances of making the Big Dance. Creighton is also fighting to stay in the tournament picture, and a win over the Pirates could give them a much-needed boost.

The details

In the loss to Villanova, Seton Hall struggled from the three-point line, making just 2 of 17 attempts. The Pirates don't have a dominant scorer, with their top three scorers - Adam 'Budd' Clark, A.J. Staton-McCray, and Tajuan Simpkins - all averaging around 11 points per game. Creighton has also had its issues, losing three straight games, including a 76-68 loss to Georgetown on Wednesday. The Bluejays don't have a standout scorer either, with Josh Dix, Austin Swartz, Jasen Green, and Nik Graves all averaging double figures.

  • Seton Hall lost to Villanova 72-60 on Wednesday.
  • Oklahoma State upset No. 16 BYU 99-92 on Wednesday, which hurt Seton Hall's NCAA Tournament hopes.
  • Seton Hall and Creighton will face off on Saturday in Omaha.

The players

Shaheen Holloway

Seton Hall's head coach.

Greg McDermott

Creighton's head coach.

Adam 'Budd' Clark

Seton Hall's leading scorer, averaging 11.6 points per game.

A.J. Staton-McCray

Seton Hall's second-leading scorer, averaging 11.5 points per game.

Tajuan Simpkins

Seton Hall's third-leading scorer, averaging 11.0 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“They make their threes, we don't. And that's what happened tonight.”

— Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall head coach

“I told them at halftime they had nine (offensive) rebounds and no second-chance points ... that's fool's gold. The 16 turnovers for us is just out of character. A lot of them were just foolish turnovers.”

— Greg McDermott, Creighton head coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing an NCAA Tournament berth, while the loser will have work to do to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The takeaway

This matchup between Seton Hall and Creighton is a crucial one for both teams as they look to solidify their NCAA Tournament resumes. The Pirates and Bluejays have both struggled recently, and this game could go a long way in determining which team is able to secure a spot in the Big Dance.