This is a big week for Creighton forward Justin Carter.

The senior is hoping to use the five days between games to strengthen his right knee and perhaps regain some of the explosiveness he lost when he injured it Nov. 8.

He wants to be as close to full strength as possible for Saturday’s game at George Mason. It marks a homecoming for Carter: The George Mason campus in Fairfax, Va., is about 28 miles from his home in Gaithersburg, Md.

“My mom called me this morning, and she said 18 members of my family are going to be there,’’ Carter said. “Some of my friends have said they’re coming, as well as some of the coaches from my high school.

“This is a game I really want to play well in, but I know I can’t do any selfish things. I just have to play my game and not get overwhelmed by the other stuff.’’

The last time Creighton played back East was last December when the Bluejays faced St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia. Saturday’s game, though, will be in Carter’s backyard, about 35 minutes from where he starred in football and basketball at Watkins Mill High School.

Carter worked hard during the offseason and appeared set to become one of the team’s leaders. Then came the misstep in Creighton’s last exhibition game, when Carter’s knee buckled late in the second half against UNO. He partially tore his medial collateral ligament, which sidelined him for the first three regular-season games.

He turned in a strong performance in his season debut, scoring 21 points in an overtime loss to Michigan in the first game of the Old Spice Classic. He followed that with a 10-point game in a loss to Xavier but has scored only six points in the last two games — a loss to Iona and Sunday’s win over Nebraska.

“We need to get J.C. healthy,’’ Creighton coach Dana Altman said. “I think it’s getting more and more noticeable that he’s not moving as quick as he did.’’

Carter returned to practice Wednesday after being restricted to working on his shooting on Tuesday. The Bluejays didn’t practice Monday.

“Coach wanted me to take a couple of days off,’’ Carter said. “I’d rather not, but I guess he doesn’t feel comfortable with me having the brace on. He figures it’s holding me back a bunch.

’The frustrating aspect of the injury, Carter said, is that it’s forced him back to square one.

“I worked hard during the summer to get my fitness and strength up,’’ he said. “I think it’s coming back gradually. I can still dunk but I’ve lost some of my explosiveness on cuts and reacting on the defensive end.’’

Contact the writer:

679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com

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