Kansas basketball will take on the Creighton Bluejays this Tuesday, and the Jayhawks will have to stop Christian Bishop.
After losing their season opener, Kansas basketball has rattled off four wins in a row over Saint Joseph’s, Kentucky, Washburn, and North Dakota State. The Jayhawks have a big game coming up on Tuesday against Creighton, who is currently No. 9 in the nation. The Bluejays will likely move up in the poll that’s released on Monday, and a big reason why has been the play of Christian Bishop.
The junior forward stands at six-foot-seven and is from Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Despite only averaging about 18 minutes per game this season, he’s currently leading Creighton in scoring with 15 points per game. Nearly all of Bishop’s points come from the paint or the free throw line. His field goal percentage is sitting at 81 percent, and he’s hitting over 90 percent of his free throws so far.
The good news for Kansas basketball is that they’re a good defensive team that’s gotten better with every game they’ve played this season. Kansas will also be Creighton’s first big-time game this season, considering North Dakota State has been the best opponent the Bluejays have faced thus far.
Similar to the Jayhawks, Creighton has favored a small ball lineup this season. That means Bishop will probably be battling Jalen Wilson or David McCormack depending on what lineup is in for Bill Self. Both of those Jayhawks have proven to be solid defenders, and both will have a height advantage, especially McCormack. If Kansas can limit Bishop’s scoring, it should give the Jayhawks an excellent chance to pick up the win over Creighton.
If the Jayhawks are in fact able to get the win, it could be a huge resume booster for Kansas. Along with Villanova, the Bluejays are a favorite to win the Big East conference. Kansas and Creighton are set to tip-off at 4:00 PM (CST) in Allen Fieldhouse on December 8.