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World-Herald staff writer Steven Pivovar breaks down the key matchup as well as position-by-position matchups for the Creighton-Wichita State Saturday showdown.

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Key matchup: Creighton center Gregory Echenique vs. Wichita State center Garrett Stutz

Stutz might be the most improved player in the Missouri Valley Conference, having doubled his scoring and rebounding averages from a season ago.

The 7-foot senior is averaging a team-leading 14.3 points and 8.2 rebounds, and he's been even more effective in league action as he's scoring 17.4 points and grabbing 9.6 rebounds a game.

Stutz's ability to draw double teams helps drive the Shocker offense by freeing up teammates for perimeter shots or drives to the basket.

As long as Echenique avoids getting into foul trouble, Creighton won't have to double Stutz as the 6-9, 270-pound Bluejay center is one of the few players in the league big enough to match up with the 255-pound Stutz one-on-one.

Stutz has struggled in his three previous meetings with Echenique, with a total of eight points and four rebounds. He had five points and four rebounds in the Shockers' 68-61 loss Dec. 31.

In three games against Wichita State, Echenique has 38 points and 13 rebounds. He had 12 points in Creighton's win against the Shockers, and the Bluejays will need him to be active inside on offense to help keep Wichita State from ganging up on Doug McDermott.

Echnique's ability to draw fouls could loom large, especially given his improvement at the foul line since the first meeting with the Shockers.

Echenique was shooting 48.8 percent from the line coming into the first meeting, but since then he's made 82.3 percent of his free throws.

Position-by-position matchups

POINT GUARD: Creighton's Antoine Young will look to take advantage if the Shockers' defense pays too much attention to the Bluejays' inside players. He had 19 points in the game at Wichita, but he's shooting only 34.8 percent from the field in Creighton's last seven games. Joe Ragland's decision-making sometimes draws the ire of Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, but his shot-making skills offset that. The senior is shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from 3-point range.

SHOOTING GUARD: Creighton's Jahenns Manigat has been ultra-efficient this season and had ranked third nationally in points per shot before a 2-for-10 slump that dropped his 3-point accuracy below 50 percent. Manigat has made five 3-pointers three times this season, and the Bluejays will need for him to regain his touch. Demetric Williams has started the Shockers' last 12 games, and his combo skills provide the Shockers with another playmaker in the lineup. Williams averages 5.0 points, fewest among the seven players who get the bulk of playing time for Wichita State.

SMALL FORWARD: Grant Gibbs' impact on Creighton's December win was huge. When he was on the court, the Bluejays outscored the Shockers 50-25. When he was on the bench, the Shockers held a 36-18 advantage. Gibbs is looking for a jump-start to his offensive game after back-to-back scoreless games. Toure' Murry is dangerous on both ends of the court: He's scoring 12.4 points per game and leads the team with 29 steals. His ability to get to the rim produces either easy baskets or trips to the line — nearly one-third of his points have come on free throws.

BIG FORWARD: The Shockers held Doug McDermott to 12 points in the first meeting, matching his season low. McDermott hurt Wichita State with his ability to pass out of double teams and set up teammates for easy baskets. Creighton's staff must continue to find ways to free up McDermott from the constant double- and triple-teams he's facing. Ben Smith has started the last three games, but the Shockers might consider Carl Hall to be the better matchup against McDermott. At 6-8, Hall is three inches taller than Smith. Hall also is the Shockers' second-leading rebounder at 5.5 per game.

CENTER: Creighton needs a big defensive game from Gregory Echenique, who ranks second in the Valley in blocked shots and fifth in rebounds. Echenique has scored in double figures in five of Creighton's last seven games. Garrett Stutz leads the Shockers in rebounding and scoring, but he's had his troubles in three previous meetings with Echenique. Stutz's sound decision-making in the post is one of his strengths.

BENCH: Ethan Wragge and Josh Jones are both capable of providing the Bluejays with a scoring lift, but both must shake shooting slumps. Austin Chatman continues to show improvement as Young's backup at the point, and Creighton would need Will Artino to come up big should Echenique get into foul trouble. The Shockers hope David Kyles' 5-for-5 shooting in a win over Northern Iowa shakes him out of a slump. Kyles leads the team with 49 3-pointers. Freshman Tekele Cotton is capable of providing the Shockers with some solid minutes.

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