Before Creighton stumbled to the No. 1 team in the country in UConn last Wednesday, they'd claimed four straight convincing victories.
On the road at Georgetown was a 17-point win. Next, defeating No. 23-ranked Providence at home by nine. What followed the win over Providence was a complete derailing of DePaul, winning by 26 points before edging St. Johns by a single point at home four days later.
It was a strong stretch the Bluejays weathered, as an upset victory over UConn was too much to live up to – ultimately falling 62-48.
But on Saturday night, Creighton recouped, as its draft hopefuls Ryan Kalkbrenner and Trey Alexander persevered and helped the Bluejays rally to a 97-94 victory in triple overtime over Seton Hall – a hyper gritty performance to come out on top on the road.
This win brings Creighton to a 14-5 record on the season, sitting well in the No. 18 spot in the country.
But more notably, this game further advanced Kalkbrenner's and Alexander's draft stock, as both showed out and displayed their ability to help grind out a win.
Kalkbrenner, the 7-foot-1, 270-pound senior center, showcased his presence as one of the best bigs in college basketball – tallying a career-high seven blocks and 28 points on 12-of-23 shooting in an immense 54 minutes of play.
For Alexander, it was a 23-point, eight-rebound, seven-assist outing, adding three 3-pointers going 50% from distance – breaking a fairly large shooting slump for the 6-foot-4 guard, as he'd only shot 2-of-15 from long range in his last three games.
He also appeared in the box score defensively, tying a career-high three blocks and adding a steal as well.
As Alexander's junior season slowly winds down, he could continue to rise up draft boards if he continues this pace of play as an efficient, wise decision-maker who plays to his own devices.
Currently, he's looked at as a late first to second-round pick, but that could change pending the rest of the season – possibly becoming a lottery to mid-first placement, as he possesses a lot of maturity and the tools to be an immediate impact in the NBA.
Kalkbrenner is projected as a possible second-round selection, being one of the most efficient and dominant big men in the NCAA. If he can continue to drop 20-plus points in competitive games while maintaining his impressive rim protection, that could also shift for the 7-foot-1 senior.
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