The Nicholls State Colonels enter this road matchup against the Creighton Bluejays facing a formidable test that demands discipline, physicality, and an unwavering commitment to effort if they hope to avoid falling into the same patterns that have defined their winless start. With significant deficiencies in shooting efficiency, defensive cohesion, and rebounding consistency, Nicholls State must approach this game with a survival-first mindset, understanding that their best chance lies not in matching Creighton’s skill or tempo but in dictating a slower, more chaotic style that keeps possessions low and forces the Bluejays into uncomfortable, contested looks. Offensively, the Colonels must prioritize shot selection and avoid the early-clock jumpers that have repeatedly triggered scoring droughts and transition opportunities for opponents; instead, they need to lean on rebounding, physical drives, and drawing fouls to generate chances at the free-throw line, while using patient ball movement to manufacture higher-quality looks. Their three-point shooting has been inconsistent, so the Colonels cannot rely on perimeter firepower to keep them in the game—only rhythm-based threes, created off drive-and-kick action or post touches, will offer any realistic chance of success. Defensively, Nicholls State must commit to a compact, disciplined structure, protecting the paint with urgency and funneling Creighton into mid-range contested attempts rather than allowing breakdowns that lead to backdoor cuts or rhythm threes. This requires a level of communication that has often been missing but must sharpen dramatically for the Colonels to avoid being overwhelmed.

They also need to rebound as a five-man unit, as Creighton’s physicality on the glass has the potential to produce significant second-chance scoring. By crashing the defensive boards, limiting putbacks, and contesting every loose ball, Nicholls can at least make Creighton work through full possessions rather than feeding on easy resets. Limiting turnovers is equally vital; live-ball errors have doomed the Colonels throughout the season, and against a team that converts transition opportunities at a high rate, every careless pass or rushed dribble risks becoming a momentum-shifting sequence. Emotionally, Nicholls State must show resilience. When Creighton inevitably builds runs fueled by the crowd and offensive execution, the Colonels must resist the urge to rush shots or abandon their structure. If they can extend possessions, fight through contact, and make the Bluejays earn every point, they can disrupt rhythm and transform parts of this contest into a grind that gives them a sliver of opportunity. Their identity in this game should be scrappy, physical, and opportunistic—capitalizing on any lapse in Creighton’s focus, turning offensive rebounds into quick putbacks, and seeking to turn defensive stops into controlled transition. While the talent gap and statistical trends clearly favor Creighton, Nicholls State can still use this matchup to build defensive habits, stabilize execution, and prove they can compete through adversity. A disciplined, slowed, physical approach gives them their best chance to stay competitive, limit the scoring gap, and extract meaningful progress even in a challenging environment.