2023 NCAA Tournament: ELITE 8 FULL PREVIEW: No. 6 Creighton vs No. 5 San Diego State I CBS Sports

Looking ahead to Sunday's regional finals in the South. It's Creighton in San Diego State. Looking to make the final four for the first time in their respective schools histories. And then Jim Larenega looking to take Miami to where he led George Mason back in 2006. They'll have to get past the highest seed remaining in the tournament. Texas. Joe Mousseau, Rustayler here in the HQ studio on a Saturday.

Looking ahead to an elite eight Sunday with Chip Patterson and Kenny White. Guys, let's start in the South region. What's the storyline we should be following most closely when Creighton and San Diego State match up with a final four berth on the line? Chip? I'm going to be looking at Creighton's three point shooting. We saw obviously that was the downfall for Alabama against this elite San Diego State defense. The Crimson Tide go three for 27. Yikes from behind the arc. And that contributes to the number one overall seed getting bounced from the NCAA tournament.

And the reason why this is a big storyline is that Creighton has shown us incredible three point shooting at times this season. Baylor Shireman is absolutely fantastic. Trey Alexander number 23 right there. He can fill it up. And Nemhard had a terrific performance in the second round win against Baylor. And so when you've got so many different capable three point shooters, you know that that ceiling is there. But again, there have been times this season where Creighton's three point shooting disappears entirely.

So seeing that that was what did in Alabama, whether Creighton is going to be its ceiling or its floor in terms of shooting from behind the arc, that dictates who will be advancing to the final four. Died by it. That tends to be the question for three point shooting teams at this point by the numbers guys. A little between these two. Creighton giving two, ticking up from one and a half to shortly ago. Totals 134. Kenny, how are you approaching the South Region final? Yeah, it's going to be a really fun game to watch.

I'm going under the total here. Two great defenses really led by San Diego State's defense fourth ranked in the country. They're number 70 in offensive efficiency. So you we know the strength that has always been the Aztecs key is defense. Brian Dutcher a great defensive coach. Pace wise, you know, average, they ran a little bit early in the year, but as conference got going, they slowed things down a little bit. I see a very slow pace here in transition defense Aztecs, the 23rd best transition D in college basketball.

They will get back and number three in the country defending the three and that's why they gave Alabama fits. They're going to give Creighton some fits shooting that three ball as well. So I went under the total 133 and a half. I'm going to take Creighton and I'm going to lay these points. I just think there's too many buckets out there and not enough buckets for San Diego State who got a great performance out of Tremble against Alabama. Matt Bradley was okay. Normally Bradley is their go to guy, but there's just too many options on the Jays for a go to guy.

Whether it is Nempart, whether it is Alexander, whether it is Shireman or of course our 7-1 big man Ryan Kaulkbrenner who oh by the way, was his first team all big East averages 15.7 points per game and leads the daggum nation in field goal percentage. I just think that when you start going down the list of if our alpha isn't working, if plan A isn't working, what are the next options? What is the counter punch? Where do we pivot to? Creighton's got so many answers to all of the questions. I have been too high on this team all season long. I thought that they got downgraded when Ryan Kaulkbrenner had mononucleosis, but since he has returned to action they have been a top 10 team in the entire country. So I'm going to go with the Jays. I will lay the short number and see in the way the movement is going on.

I would snap it up now because if this gets like north of 3, heaven forbid, then that might be a little too rich. So let's get Creighton and let's snap it up now. you.

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