The Bracketology Report: Creighton

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Editor's note: Each week Bracketology Insider will take an in-depth look at teams headed for the NCAA Tournament ... or not.

Week in review
Creighton (No. 33 RPI, No. 213 SOS) rebounded from a surprising loss at Northern Iowa (No. 124 RPI, No. 199 SOS) Wednesday with a solid 72-53 win over Evansville (No. 252 RPI, No. 84 SOS) on Saturday, the Bluejays' 26th straight win at home. Creighton took a 19-point lead early in the second half, and the Purple Aces never seriously challenged the rest of the way. Brody Deren, a 6-foot-8 senior, led four teammates in double figures with 15 points.

Three days earlier, Deren, with 14 points, was the only effective Bluejay against NIU, which made 12 3-pointers and knocked Creighton from the ranks of the unbeaten, 82-73. Ironically, the upset came just two days after Creighton entered the Top 25.

Freshman Brooks McKowen made six of the 3-pointers and finished with 24 points for Northern Iowa, which never trailed after a 15-2 run in the later stages of the first half.

Coming up
Wednesday, Creighton travels to Wichita State (No. 88 RPI, No. 59 SOS), where the Bluejays suffered one of their three MVC losses a year ago, 80-74. The Shockers scored the game's final seven points to erase a late Creighton lead. The Bluejays did avenge that loss by beating Wichita State twice in a six-day span, including a one-point victory in the MVC tournament semifinals.

The Shockers enter this game having lost two of three, including a one-point defeat at home to Indiana State last Saturday. Wichita State was the pre-season Missouri Valley favorite in many quarters, so this game may be doubly dangerous for the visitors.

Creighton is back in Omaha this Saturday against a reeling Illinois State club (No.206 RPI, No. 44 SOS). The Redbirds enter the week on something of a tough-luck, six-game losing streak. Included in the skid is a 56-55 loss to Creighton. It took a free throw by sophomore Johnny Mathies with 1.4 seconds left to allow the Bluejays to escape that night. Deren led the way with 12 points in a game in which Creighton shot just 41 percent and trailed at one time, 50-38.

"Planting seeds"
The Bluejays are No. 33 this week on The Bracketology Report national seeding chart. That's down from 31 last week and makes Creighton a true No. 9 seed.

It's like walking up the down escalator for Creighton and other quality mid-majors. No matter how fast they move (or how many wins they get in their respective conferences), they are probably going to move backward in the national picture. Until the Bracket Buster on Feb. 21, the Bluejays have no one on the schedule to help them.

All Creighton -- and others like them -- can hope for is to keep winning and for those teams they've already beaten to do the same.

Season breakdown (13-1, 5-1)
All RPI data through Sunday, Jan. 18

Date      Opponent            Result     Opp.RPI    Opp.SOS
11/22     San Diego           79-64        255        86
11/29     St. Bonaventure     83-63        127        27
12/3      Bethune-Cookman     69-49        313        290
12/6      Delaware State      77-48        195        134
12/10     Nebraska            61-54        64         80
12/13     @Fresno State       70-62 (ot)   70         33
12/20     Ark.-Little Rock    91-66        212        267
12/22     @Wyoming            66-61        95         39
12/30     SW Missouri State   59-54        97         158
1/5       @Bradley            66-49        163        179
1/7       @Illinois State     56-55        206        44
1/11      Drake               78-67        154        131
1/14      @Northern Iowa      73-82 (L)    124        199
1/17      Evansville          72-53        252        84
1/21      @Wichita State                   88         59
1/24      Illinois State                   206        44
1/28      @Indiana State                   210        279
2/1       @Evansville                      252        84
2/4       Northern Iowa                    124        199
2/7       Southern Illinois                39         135
2/11      Bradley                          163        179
2/14      @Drake                           154        131
2/18      Indiana State                    210        279
2/21      Bracket Buster/TBA
2/24      @Southern Illinois               39         135
2/28      @SW Missouri State               97         158
3/1       Wichita State                    88         59
3/5       MISSOURI VALLEY TOURNAMENT

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Charlie Creme projects the women's NCAA Tournament bracket for ESPN.com.