For Creighton, the first glimpse of life without Mo Watson was not pretty

The Bluejays simply can't replace the Watson, and mercurial Marquette took advantage

In its first full game without its best player, Creighton did not show itself all that well.

So, yes, there's some reason for immediate concern if you're a Bluejays fan.

On Monday, CU lost All-American candidate Mo Watson, Jr. for the season with a torn ACL. He was leading the nation in assists (8.5 per game) and was the grease, and engine, for Greg McDermott's top-10-rated offense.

Creighton's first game without Watson was fortunately at home, against a Marquette team that might well wind up being in the NIT this year. Or maybe the NCAA Tournament? The outlook for the Golden Eagles looks better, and the horizon for Creighton looks a little darker, after how both teams played against each other on Saturday.

Marquette won 102-94, and the game wasn't that close. This was one of the most important outcomes of the day. It's not like Creighton had to go on the road in the league and try to steal a win. Creighton's been really good at home this season, only losing to No. 1 Villanova, and yet the team looked inconsistent on offense, to start, and helpless on defense. Marquette shot 12 of 24 from 3-point range and 60 percent from the field.

Creighton eventually got its offense going, and if we're being completely honest, this was a performance that was absolutely good enough in that respect. But if you saw the game, you saw a Creighton team that looked just a little different, a little off. It's fair to connect that to not having Watson on the floor. He was a great leader, always composed and very mature in running scheme.

So I don't lay blame on the Jays at all for this. Watson was a top-five player of value in college basketball. He is not replaceable this season, and Creighton changing how it wants to run its offense is something that will be an overhaul, even if it's done with systematic tweaking. We'll see if it happens.

Marquette happened to have an incredible night from the floor, and Creighton lacks a defense to push back on that. Now the Golden Eagles will try to establish themselves for NCAA Tournament consideration. Villanova comes to town next.

As for the Jays:

What Creighton loses without Watson

1. The most prolific assist-maker in college basketball. Watson's career is done, and he has 801 dimes to his name. The next-closest player at any level of college basketball is 713 by a Division III player. At the D-I level? Iowa State senior Monte Morris is nearly 150 behind Watson.

2. Heading into Saturday's game, Watson was responsible for 630 of Creighton's 1,648 points this season. That's nearly 40 percent of Creighton's offense.

3. He led Creighton in assists in every game he played in, except the Xavier game, because he left in the first half.

4. Creighton's 18-1 start was the best to begin a season in program history.

5. Creighton's No. 7 ranking in this week's AP poll is the highest in program history.

6. With Watson in the lineup, Creighton ranked No. 2 in America in field-goal percentage.

7. Creighton did not lose on the road or on a neutral court with Watson. Creighton won its first five road games of the season, something that had not happened at Creighton since the 1942-43 season.