Creighton Hosts Providence in Big East Showdown

Struggling Bluejays look to avoid third season sweep against Friars

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Creighton and coach Greg McDermott are hoping to avoid a third season sweep by a conference foe when they host Providence in their home finale on Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska. The reeling Bluejays have dropped four of their last five games, including two close losses to DePaul. Meanwhile, Providence has won two straight and four of its last six games to close the gap in the Big East standings.

Why it matters

This matchup is crucial for both teams as they fight to improve their conference standing and tournament positioning. Creighton is desperate to get back to .500 and stay in the top four-five spots in the Big East, while Providence is looking to continue its late-season surge and potentially overtake the Bluejays in the standings.

The details

Creighton has been led by the play of Josh Dix, Nik Graves, and Jasen Green, but the team has struggled to close out close games, including two one-point losses to DePaul. Providence, meanwhile, has been paced by the strong play of Jaylin Sellers, Jason Edwards, and Jamier Jones, who all had big games in the Friars' recent win over Xavier.

  • Creighton and Providence will face off on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Creighton most recently lost to DePaul 72-71 on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.

The players

Greg McDermott

The head coach of the Creighton Bluejays basketball team.

Josh Dix

A player for the Creighton Bluejays who scored 15 points in their recent loss to DePaul.

Jaylin Sellers

A player for the Providence Friars who scored 27 points in their recent win over Xavier.

Kim English

The head coach of the Providence Friars basketball team.

Stefan Vaaks

A player for the Providence Friars who scored 24 points in their previous win over Creighton.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously disappointing, to lead the game virtually the whole game, and to have that transpire at the end is tough to swallow.”

— Greg McDermott, Head Coach, Creighton Bluejays (yournews.com)

“He's a bigger guard with a lot of experience just playing basketball. (He's) just another great defender on the defensive end, but offensively, just someone who can space the floor, the ability to attack the paint, get a paint touch and make a play from there.”

— Nik Graves, Player, Creighton Bluejays (yournews.com)

“It's been a season of ups and downs. Our guys have not let go of the rope. …They're going to continue to learn and get better.”

— Kim English, Head Coach, Providence Friars (yournews.com)

What’s next

The winner of this game will gain an advantage in the Big East standings and improve their chances of securing a higher seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between Creighton and Providence is a crucial late-season Big East showdown, with both teams fighting to improve their conference positioning and tournament outlook. The Bluejays are desperate to get back to .500 and stay in the top four-five spots, while the surging Friars are looking to overtake Creighton in the standings.