MBB Minute – Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner returned from a three-game absence and helped end a six-game losing skein with a 78-56 home win against Butler. It was the only BIG EAST game on Thursday’s schedule.
 
Kalkbrenner scored a game-high 19 points on 8-9 shooting from the field. Baylor Scheierman made all-around contributions with 14 points, a game-high eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocked shots. The Bluejays (7-6, 1-1 BIG EAST) fell behind 16-7 before a pair of 8-0 runs gave them a 40-34 edge at halftime.
 
Butler (8-5, 0-2) got 14 points from Chuck Harris, but he was the only Bulldog to reach double figures in scoring. The Bulldogs struggled with their shooing from 3-point range, making only 2-of-12. Butler is off until a home meeting with Providence on Dec. 29.
 
The Bluejays will host DePaul on Christmas Day on FOX at 4:30 p.m. ET. The contest will be the BIG EAST’s first conference game played on Christmas.
 
The Blue Demons go into the game with a 6-6 record and are 0-1 in league play. Javan Johnson ranks fourth in the league with a 16.9 scoring mark. Newcomer Umoja Gibson ranks first in steals (2.3), second in free throw shooting (.904) and fourth in assists (5.3).