“It’s a great opportunity for us with two Mid-Majors,” said sophomore forward Tony Bowne. “We want to go out there and gain a little respect for the Mid-American Conference. What’s a better team to do that against than Creighton?”

No. 6 Creighton and No. 11 CMU will square off at 7:20 p.m. Thursday in Salt Lake City’s West Regional, the site where 15 years ago, CMU played its last tournament game.

The Chippewas lost to UCLA in the first round in 1987, and look to extract a delayed revenge Thursday.

“We got beat out there in 1987,” said Head Coach Jay Smith, the MAC’s Coach of the Year. “Now, we have a chance to correct that. It has been a long time for us.”

While both schools are similar in size and ability, Creighton’s postseason experience makes them the favorite. The Chippewas, however, welcome their position as underdog.

“It doesn’t upset me one bit (not getting as much attention as Creighton),” said junior guard T.J. Meerman. “I like this role. They don’t know a lot about us. We want to be a Cinderella team from a small school in the middle of nowhere.”

Tournament experience may be a factor, as Creighton is entering the tournament for the fifth consecutive season. No CMU player has been to the tournament, although Smith was an assistant coach at Michigan for three Final Four’s and an NCAA Championship.

“I might have to pull out one of my rings from the Final Four to show the team,” Smith said. “I’ve been there. Done it, Seen it.”

The main chore for CMU will be stopping forward Kyle Korver, one of the NCAA’s all-time leading three-point shooters. A combination of players will see time guarding the 6-foot seven-inch player, including Bowne, Meerman, senior Mike Manciel and freshman Brandon Voorhees.

“We’re going to treat him like we would any other good shooter,” Bowne said. “We deny shooters. We get in passing lanes. We’re just going to fight through screens and try to not let him get shots. There’s no reason to be intimidated by him.”

Smith said that while Korver is Creighton’s main weapon, the Blue Jays have many other talented players. Creighton (29-4) is tied with Kentucky for the most number of wins this season.

“He’s a great player, shooter and passer,” Smith said. “It’s not going to be an easy chore. They also are good in other areas. I think the key to their team is (guard Larry) House.”

Central is in the midst of the most successful season in school history, having won a school-record 24 games, including last weekend’s MAC Tournament Championship.

“We worked real hard,” Manciel said. “A lot of guys believed in themselves and in one another. We have stayed focused.”

While the team is happy with its accomplishments up to this point, the Chippewas are not satisfied with a brief tournament appearance.

“I don’t think we’re fun to play against,” Smith said. “We’ll get after you. This team has a very good basketball IQ. They are very level-headed about everything. They’re in it to win it.”

The Blue Jays will be faced with the unenviable task of trying to guard seven-foot center Chris Kaman, the MAC Player of the Year.

“They’re going to see an agile seven-footer,” Smith said. “He can alter and change shots and has a variety of post moves inside.”

Also expected to bring offensive production will be Manciel, who was Second Team All-MAC, Honorable Mention All-MAC pick J.R. Wallace and MAC Sixth Man of the Year Whitney Robinson.

The team plans to bring the same confidence that has been exhibited all season into Salt Lake City.

“I’m glad were playing Creighton,” Bowne said. “If we play Creighton, we’ll probably go out and play Duke. We don’t expect to lose anytime soon. It’s not fun playing us. We make you work hard for every inch on the floor We’re not going to back down from anybody.”