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Championship. Legacy. Bracketology. Shockers. Not necessarily in that order.

That's a full plate Saturday at the CenturyLink Center, when Creighton and Wichita State get together for a little game of five-on-five.

In this storied rivalry, there would be blood in a hot-dog eating contest. The Jays and Shox have had their moments in basketball — Booker Woodfox, anyone? — but none of them seems bigger than what will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday in front of an expected screaming-room only crowd.

At stake is first place in the Missouri Valley Conference. These two Valley titans separated themselves from the pack a few weeks ago, and the rest of the season shaped up as a monthlong staredown.

Creighton blinked. The Jays come home with two straight losses. Their one-game lead is now a one-game deficit.

The task is simple: beat Wichita, pull back into a tie and try to win out, thereby ensuring at least a share of the Valley title and locking up the No. 1 seed in the Valley tournament.

Lose, and the Shockers all but clinch the Valley on Creighton's floor.

If that happens, you might even see Gregg Marshall, the head Woo-Shock himself, do a jig on the C-link dance floor. Oh, the horror.

We knew it might come to this. Actually, this date was circled on the calendar as a possible Valley championship game, game of the year, Arch Madness Appetizer, etc. These two were that good coming into the season. This rivalry, fueled by Marshall's blue paranoia, is that hot at the moment.

What we didn't know is what else would be on the table.

Back in November, the Jays were the favorites to win the league. But then they went and raised the bar during the last few months.

Wins against Iowa, San Diego State and Northwestern. At Wichita State. Eleven straight W's, up to last Saturday.

Doug McDermott, doing his best Larry Bird imitation on most nights. Dougie, national player of the year candidate. Creighton's first first-team All-American? Sports Illustrated in town.

Creighton, a No. 4 seed in Bracketology. Then projected to No. 3. RPI in the teens. National media calling once a week. beautiful basketball flowing like a water color.

Best Creighton team in the past 20 years? Who ya got, these Jays or Kyle Korver's?

Hmm. What about underachievers?

A season that seemed to go on forever has seemingly reached a crossroads Saturday.

Win and the legacy season moves forward.

Lose? The Jays not only don't win a ring, they likely tumble in any NCAA bracket scenario. (To an eight or nine seed?) And the margin for error becomes ever so thin. Any more losses and people will be bringing up Selection Sunday 2009, when the Jays were left out with 26 wins and an RPI in the 30s.

I think Creighton has enough quality wins that it's safely in the NCAA field. But you never say never with the mid-majors. Every win counts, especially quality wins.

But really, a loss Saturday changes how this season looks and feels. It takes an edge away. Maybe it could be saved by a sweep in St. Louis. Maybe with a win or two in the NCAAs.

It's amazing that you could even consider this season a disappointment. Did anyone expect 21-4 and all of the national accolades? If you say yes, uncross your fingers. You're lying.

And yet it will feel like an underachievement — until March — if Creighton doesn't get at least a share of the Valley hardware. The Jays put themselves in that position. Now they have to answer to it.

Here's the thing: It's the same team that won 11 straight. Northern Iowa played its game of the year and hit a shot. CU's shots didn't fall at Evansville. Teams are starting to defend the Jays differently. Now Greg McDermott has to adjust back. That's why I say value the regular-season title. It's hard to win.

Meanwhile, give the Shox their props. They blinked at Drake, but that's it. Marshall's men are road warriors. They're playing with house money today. But their coach is perpetually wound tight. And there is that blue paranoia. Do the Shox expect to win today? Or expect another shoe to drop against Creighton?

On the other hand, will the Jays play with urgency? Will they panic? Confidence at home? The weight of expectations can make a team go one way or the other.

They've been tough this year. But in a championship drive, proving toughness is like a StairMaster.

"It's crunch time," said Doug McDermott. "We know what we have to do. This is what you play for."

Today, that's everything.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com

twitter.com/tomshatelOWH

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