Creighton is knocking on Auburn’s door. This is what March is all about! The number nine seed is all set to challenge the No.1, and no one knows who will come out on top. The Bluejays (25-10) are fresh off an upset victory against Louisville, while Auburn’s throne (29-5) has looked a little shaky this month. Surprisingly enough, this is the first time that Bruce Pearl and Greg McDermott will be coaching against each other in their long, illustrious careers.

Everyone knows Bruce Pearl’s track record in the NCAA Tournament. The Auburn head coach has consistently proved that he can get his team to the Big Dance, but he’s never been able to capitalize on his opportunities. On the other hand, Creighton and Greg McDermott have been quite well-settled, making the Sweet Sixteen four times in five years. This matchup will surely set the tone for March Madness going forward. So let’s take a look at the important details— lineups, predictions, and more!

Who will be taking the field? Injury report and starting 5

Let’s start with the injury report for both teams. Creighton looks to be healthy and geared up for the matchup against Auburn! The Tigers, on the other hand, have suffered a key injury to Chris Moore. According to Bruce Pearl, his status is unknown as of now, and it will be a game-time call whether he plays or not. Now, onto the potential starting fives:

Creighton:

• Ryan Kalkbrenner
• Jackson McAndrew
• Steven Ashworth
• Jamiya Neal
• Jasen Green

Auburn

• Denver Jones
• Chad Baker-Mazara
• Miles Kelly
• Dylan Cardwell
• Johni Broome

For Creighton, Jamiya Neal will be the X-Factor! The six-foot-five guard put on an absolute offensive clinic against the Cardinals, scoring 29 points on efficient shooting splits from the floor. For Auburn, however, the perimeter players Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones will be quite important. If the Tigers manage to get going from three, it won’t be much of a contest on Saturday.

Everyone is looking towards Johni Broome and Ryan Kalkbrenner as the two frontcourt dominated teams are getting ready to rumble. On one hand, there’s a NPOY candidate in Broome, while Kalkbrenner has proved his versatility and dominance throughout the entire regular season.

Creighton vs Auburn: Preview and predictions

There are a few games in March Madness that you just know are going to be special, and this is definitely one of them. Gregg McDermott and Creighton will be looking to topple Auburn’s throne, as they move onto the second-round with a lot of momentum. On the other hand, Bruce Pearl’s team hasn’t been doing too well in recent games. They are currently 2-3 this month, with Pearl far from satisfied with their showing against Alabama State in the Round of 64.

Both teams have the same blueprint–their big men dominate inside the paint, creating spacing for the shooters to thrive. Kalkbrenner has been on the good side with his all-around ability, but Johni Broome is Johni Broome. The six-foot-ten forward is nearly unstoppable on offense, and is a glass-cleaning machine! He has averaged nearly 19 and 10 for the season so far. The Creighton big outscores him by a whisker, but Broome’s dominance is well-documented.

According to ESPN’s matchup predictor, Auburn has a 76.5% chance of winning the game. Barttorvik, on the other hand, laid out their score predictions at 80-71 in favor of the Tigers, giving them an 81% chance of winning the game.

Even though the numbers are skewed in Auburn’s favor, it’s still anybody’s game on Saturday! There’s no doubt that Bruce Pearl and his Tigers have been consistent this season, but the head coach hasn’t been able to convert in March so far. It will be interesting to see how Greg McDermott and his Bluejays approach the game.

And for the question on everyone’s minds, you can catch all of the action on Saturday, March 22nd, 7PM EST! Auburn and Creighton will be battling it out in the Rupp Arena with their fates on the line. Who will win? Can Auburn beat their first weekend curse? Or will the Bluejays cause a great upset in this year’s bracket? Only time will tell.