The Creighton Bluejays managed to finish third in a very tough Big East conference, but they didn't exactly help themselves down the stretch by going 6-7 in their final 13 games.

Why is this particular stretch significant? Well, because right before that set of games, they lost key a key frontcourt player in Martin Krampelj to a torn ACL. Krampelj was the team's leading rebounder and third-leading scorer.

This doesn't mean you should count them out in their first-round matchup, though. Creighton (11.81) actually has a solidly higher nERD rating than their Round 1 opponent, the Kansas State Wildcats (9.82).