Creighton riding high in Big East

OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton’s first season in the Big East just might end up being the best in the program’s nearly 100-year history.

The Bluejays are in first place at the halfway point of the conference schedule. They also are ranked No. 12 nationally, are projected to be as high as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament and have the leading candidate for national player of the year in Doug McDermott.

Nine days after its last game — the longest break on the conference schedule for any Big East team — the Bluejays open the second half of league play tonight (6, FS1) at home against a DePaul team that’s lost five straight and is tied for last place.

Creighton (18-3, 8-1) shares the lead with Villanova, which the Bluejays beat by 28 points on the road last month.