After completing a very respectable out-of-conference schedule and beating DePaul in the Big East opener, Villanova will face their toughest test of the season tomorrow at Creighton. The top 10, undefeated matchup highlights a strong weekend slate of college hoops, and one team will emerge with their undefeated record intact and with an early leg-up in the Big East.

The Wildcats will be heading into a hostile environment similar to the one they saw in their victory over Purdue. In addition to the crowd, Nova will be contending with one of the best offenses in the country. Creighton is averaging 89.8 points per game, good for 8th best in the country. They share the ball extremely well, and their 18.6 assists per game is also a top 10 mark. The Bluejays are also one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country (44.5%), and Nova must be tight on the perimeter and make Creighton earn their three-point buckets.

Creighton, as expected, is being fueled by their backcourt. The trio of Marcus Foster, Maurice Watson Jr., and Khyri Thomas has been phenomenal for the Bluejays and will provide a stiff test for Guard U.

Foster’s talent was a given entering the season, but he was hounded by off-court questions and the issues that ultimately led to his transfer from Kansas State. Those questions seem to have been put to rest, as Foster is leading the Creighton in scoring at 18.8 points per game. He chips in 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists, while shooting 51% from the field and 39% from three.

Not to be outdone, senior Maurice Watson Jr. has put on a clinic from the point guard spot. He is averaging 13.5 points per game to go along with 2.5 rebounds and an impressive 9.1 assists. He is shooting 49% from the floor and a scorching 53% from three. He has also been disruptive on the defensive end, grabbing 1.7 steals per game. One negative for Watson is that he has been a bit turnover prone. He is averaging 3.8 turnovers a game, and committed 10 in a Creighton victory over Arizona State. Forcing Watson to be a bit loose with the ball is one way Nova can slow the Creighton offense.

Foster and Watson were expected to be excellent this year, and have lived up to those expectations. The performance of sophomore Khyri Thomas was a bit more of an unknown, and his stellar play has only bolstered what was already one of the strongest backcourts in the country. Thomas is averaging 12.9 points to go along with 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals. Thomas has been incredibly efficient, shooting 61% from the floor and 53% from three.

While the backcourt has met expectations, the frontcourt has exceeded them, and has played a major role in the Bluejays rising from the fringes of the top 25 all the way to the top 10. Senior Cole Huff and freshman Justin Patton have anchored the frontcourt for Creighton. The Bluejays will be missing 6-9 Zach Hanson, who has been a solid contributor in the frontcourt, as he nurses an ankle injury. 6-10 Toby Hegner has seen increased minutes in Hanson’s absence.

Huff is averaging 9.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. He also has a decent stroke from the behind the arc, evidenced by his 51% mark from three.

Patton has been a true revelation for Creighton. He is putting up 12.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. At 7-0, he is a matchup nightmare. He is shooting a blistering 74% from the floor, and although he doesn’t take many threes, he has shown an ability to knock it down from deep, connecting at a 51% clip.

Creighton is one of the most offensively efficient teams in the country. They shoot the ball incredibly well, and can score in a variety of ways. Like Villanova, they have a number of players who can hurt you on the offensive end.

Nova will need to limit and contest Creighton’s looks from three and try to force turnovers. Neutralizing Patton will be key as well. In addition, the Wildcats will need to limit their own turnovers and shake their habit for sleepy starts.

All signs point to a classic Big East battle and an excellent basketball game. The intensity should be through the roof as both teams look to extend their undefeated starts and get an early jump in the Big East standings. The winner will get a huge boost not only in confidence and in the Big East race, but in the eyes of the selection committee as well. It will be interesting to see how Villanova responds to its biggest test of the season so far as they come off a bit of a shaky performance against DePaul.