Men's Basketball Visits DePaul on Wednesday

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Game #24: Creighton Bluejays at DePaul Blue Demons
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018 • 8:15 p.m.
Wintrust Arena (10,387) • Chicago, Ill.
Radio: KOZN (1620 AM); www.1620thezone.com
Television: FS1
Series History: Series tied, 16-16
Last Meeting: Creighton 93, DePaul 58 on Feb. 11, 2018 in Rosemont, Ill.

Next Game
Creighton (17-6, 7-4 BIG EAST) makes its first trip to Wintrust Arena (10,387) in Chicago, Ill., on Wednesday as it takes on DePaul (9-13, 2-8 BIG EAST).
   Tip-off is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) will broadcast all Creighton men's basketball games during the 2017-18 season, while KOOO (101.9 FM) will also broadcast all home games.
   John Bishop and former Bluejay Josh Dotzler will call the action. The audio is also webcast live at www.1620thezone.com.

Television Broadcast Information
Wednesday's game will be televised nationally on FS1, with Jeff Levering and Len Elmore on the call.

Video Webcast Information
Live streaming video of Wednesday's game will be available via FOXSportsGo.com for desktop users, and via the FOX Sports Go app for mobile devices (iOS, Android, Kindle Fire tablets and Fire phones and select Window devices). A cable authorization may be required.
   The FOX Sports GO mobile app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store or the Windows Store, and the games are now available internationally.

Live Stats Information
All of Creighton's games this season will have free live stats. Visit www.gocreighton.com and click on the small bar graph icon on the scoreboard at the top of the page for the event of your choosing.
   Home games can also be followed by those who have mobile devices with internet capability at www.gocreightonstats.com.

Scouting Creighton
Creighton is 17-6 this year (7-4 BIG EAST) against a rugged scheduled that contains a nation-leading eight games against ranked opponents. Five of the losses came to teams that were ranked at the time (No. 22 Baylor, No. 15 Gonzaga, No. 23 Seton Hall, No. 10 Xavier, No. 1 Villanova), but the Bluejays are also one of 15 teams nationally with three wins over top-25 teams.
   Creighton is a perfect 13-0 at home, with nine double-digit victories, outscoring foes 91.8 - 67.3 in those contests in Omaha.
   Senior guard Marcus Foster (19.9 ppg.) was a unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST pick last season, when he scored 18.2 points per game. Foster led the BIG EAST in field goals made last winter and has earned Preseason All-BIG EAST acclaim this winter. He is the nation's active leader in career field goals made and eighth with 1,971 career points.
   Lockdown defender Khyri Thomas (14.5 ppg., 4.1 rpg.) was named an Honorable Mention Preseason All-BIG EAST choice in October. Thomas was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year last season and scored a career-high 24 points in the win at Northwestern.
   Senior Toby Hegner ranks fourth on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game and has scored in double-figures in seven of the last eight contests.
   Creighton's front line took a major hit on January 17th when sophomore forward Martin Krampelj (11.9 ppg., 8.1 rpg.) was lost for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Short on front-line depth, CU burned the redshirt of highly-touted Jacob Epperson on January 27th and the Aussie owns nine points and four rebounds after two games.
   Creighton is averaging 86.1 points per game this season (sixth nationally), shooting 50.3 percent from the floor (13th nationally), and 37.9 percent from three-point range. CU also owns a 1.60 assist/turnover ratio (fifth nationally) to date, and a +3.0 rebound margin.

Scouting DePaul
DePaul is 9-13 on the season and 2-8 in BIG EAST play. The Blue Demons are 5-7 in their new home, Wintrust Arena, where they have not won since Dec. 21st vs. Miami (Ohio).
   Division II transfer Max Strus leads the Blue Demons with 17.3 points per game, including a team-high 60 three-pointers.
   Also in double-figures are Marin Maric (12.8 ppg., 6.2 rpg.), Eli Cain (11.3 ppg.) and Tre'Darius McCallum (11.0 ppg., 6.1 rpg.).
   The Blue Demons average 72.8 points per game but allow 73.5 points per contest. DePaul shoots 42.4 percent from the floor, 31.9 percent from downtown and 72.3 percent at the line.

The Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) is in his eighth season as head coach at Creighton. He is 183-88 with the Bluejays. McDermott has previously been a head coach at Iowa State (2006-10), Northern Iowa (2001-06), North Dakota State (2000-01) and Wayne State (1994-2000). He owns a career mark of 463-283 in his 24th season and is 332-219 in his 17th Division I campaign. McDermott is assisted by Darian DeVries, Preston Murphy and Alan Huss.
   Dave Leitao (Northeastern, 1983) is 170-187 in his 12th year as a college head coach. He was 58-34 as DePaul head coach from 2002-05, taking the Blue Demons to two NIT's and an NCAA Tournament. He then spent four years as Virginia head coach (going 63-60), where he won the 2007 ACC title, before resigning in 2009. Leitao returned to DePaul last March, and is 27-58 in the third year of his second stint with the Blue Demons. Leitao is assisted by Tim Anderson, Bill Courtney and Shane Heirman.

The Series With DePaul
Creighton and DePaul have split 32 all-time games (16-16), but the Bluejays have won 11 of the last 12 meetings. Each of the last 10 meetings in the series have been decided by double-figures.
   Creighton is 9-1 in the series since joining the BIG EAST, including six straight victories.
   Creighton is 8-8 all-time in road meetings against the Blue Demons, but will be making its first visit to Wintrust Arena on Wednesday.
   Greg McDermott is 9-1 against DePaul. He is 4-0 against Dave Leitao, while Leitao is 0-4 against Creighton.

With A Win...
- Creighton would win its seventh straight game over DePaul.
- Creighton would reclaim the series lead over DePaul (17-16) for the first time since owning a 4-3 lead after the 1976-77 campaign.
- Creighton would improve to 23-3 on FS1 in the past two seasons.
- Creighton would win a road game at DePaul for the fifth straight season.

Against The BIG EAST
Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, DePaul is the only school where Creighton has not lost a road game.
   Creighton is unbeaten at home against St. John's, the only league team it can say that for.
Team   CU Home Games   CU Road Games
Butler   4-1   2-2
DePaul   3-1   4-0
Georgetown   4-1   1-4
Marquette   2-2   2-2
Providence   2-3   1-4
Seton Hall   3-2   2-3
St. John's   5-0   3-2
Villanova   1-3   1-4
Xavier   2-2   2-3
Total   26-15   18-24

More Points = Better Results
Creighton has won 9-of-10 meetings with DePaul since the schools became league rivals in the BIG EAST.
   It's probably not a coincidence that Creighton's 81.1 points per game against the Blue Demons is its most against any BIG EAST foe in that span.
PPG   Opponent   CU W-L
81.1   DePaul   9-1
77.9   Xavier   6-5
76.4   St. John's   8-2
76.2   Seton Hall   5-6
73.0   Marquette   4-4
72.9   Butler   6-3
71.9   Villanova   2-8
69.1   Georgetown   5-6
69.0   Providence   4-8

Balanced Effort
Creighton enters Wednesday's game with four players averaging in double-figures: Marcus Foster (19.9), Khyri Thomas (14.5), Martin Krampelj (11.9) and Toby Hegner (10.1).
   Just as impressive, all four men are shooting 50 percent or better from the field (Foster .507; Thomas .513; Krampelj .671; Hegner .546).
   Per STATS Inc., the only two major conference teams since 1996-97 that finished a season with four players averaging in double-figures with those same four men also shooting 50 percent from the field have been Purdue (1997-98) and Kansas (2000-01).

Don't I Know You?
Wednesday will be just the third time that Creighton's Greg McDermott coaches Jacob Epperson in a game that counts, but he won't have to look very far if he has any questions on the Aussie's game.
   New DePaul assistant coach Shane Heirman was Epperson's head coach at La Lumiere School last year, where he led the Lakers to the mythical national title.
   Heirman isn't the only person involved in Wednesday's game who is a former head coach at La Lumiere, as Creighton assistant Alan Huss preceded Heirman as La Lumiere's head coach from 2010-14.
   Heirman was an assistant coach to Huss at La Lumiere.

Chicago Bulls Farm Club?
The Chicago Bulls have benefited in recent years from three of Creighton's most acclaimed alums.
   Current New York Knicks forward Doug McDermott played at Creighton from 2010-14, where he was named National Player of the Year as a senior. His father, Greg, is the current Bluejays coach. McDermott spent the first three seasons of his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls.
   Former Bulls swing man Kyle Korver played at Creighton from 1999-2003, and for the Bulls from 2010-2012. Korver now plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
   Justin Patton was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, only to be traded hours later to Minnesota as part of the trade involving Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn.

Foster Chases 2,000 Career Points
Marcus Foster owns 1,971 career points (875 at Kansas State, 1,096 at Creighton) entering Wednesday's game at DePaul. The game against the Blue Demons will be the 121st game of his Bluejay career.
   With 29 points, he could become the fourth Creighton player to surpass 2,000 career points at the Division I level, joining Doug McDermott (3,150), Rodney Buford (2,116) and Bob Harstad (2,110).
   McDermott reached 2,000 points in 101 games, Buford needed 111 games and Harstad required 121 contests to reach 2,000 points.

Foster's Sprint To 1,000; Thomas Chases 1,000
Marcus Foster reached 1,000 career points at Creighton in the 54th game of his Creighton career, reaching 1,000 points in fewer games than any Bluejay since Bob Portman did it in a school-record 43 games on Feb. 8, 1968.
   The only players in Creighton history to score 1,000 points or more in their first two seasons are   now Doug McDermott (1,382), Portman (1,195), Paul Silas (1,124), Foster (1,096), Rod Mason (1,023) and Rodney Buford (1,010).
   Foster is the second Bluejay transfer from a four-year school to reach 1,000 career points at CU, joining Gregory Echenique (Rutgers). Two other junior college transfers (Mason and Johnny Mathies) have also scored 1,000 points after joining the Bluejays.
   Khyri Thomas, who owns 977 points entering Thursday, has played in 92 games as a Bluejay to date.
Games To 1,000 Points, Last 16 Bluejays
Name   CU Games to 1,000 pts.    Date
Marcus Foster   54   01/17/18
Austin Chatman   138   03/11/15
Ethan Wragge   132   01/18/14
Gregory Echenique   101   03/24/13
Doug McDermott   57   01/15/12
Antoine Young   115   12/10/11
Kenny Lawson Jr.   108   11/21/10
P'Allen Stinnett   86   01/16/10
Dane Watts   115   01/22/08
Anthony Tolliver   124   03/16/07
Johnny Mathies   91   03/03/06
Nate Funk   92   02/28/05
Kyle Korver   81   01/30/02
Ben Walker   105   01/06/01
Ryan Sears   97   12/01/00
Rodney Buford   59   03/01/97

Foster Reaches 1,000 Points at Creighton
Marcus Foster owns 1,096 points at Creighton through 58 career games, surpassing the 1,000 mark on Jan. 17 vs. No. 19 Seton Hall with a three-pointer in the final minutes. That doesn't include the 875 points that Foster scored at Kansas State his first two years of college.
   Foster is the 40th player overall to score 1,000 career points as a Bluejay, and currently ranked 32nd in program history.
   Here's the top 50 career scorers in Creighton history. In addition to Foster's chase for 1,000 points, it's worth noting that Khyri Thomas is currently 43rd.
Most Career Points, Creighton History
   Rank   Pts.   Name   Years
   1.   3,150   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   2.   2,116   Rodney Buford   1995-99
   3.   2,110   Bob Harstad    1987-91
   4.   1,983   Chad Gallagher    1987-91
   5.   1,876   Bob Portman    1966-69
   6.   1,801   Kyle Korver   1999-03
   7.   1,754   Nate Funk   2002-07
   8.   1,682   Rick Apke    1974-78
   9.   1,661   Paul Silas   1961-64
   10.   1,654   Vernon Moore    1981-85
   11.   1,575   Benoit Benjamin    1982-85
   12.   1,526   John C. Johnson   1975-79
   13.   1,500   Kevin McKenna   1977-81
   14.   1,437   Eddie Cole   1951-55
   15.   1,369   Gene Harmon   1971-74
   16.   1,361   Duan Cole   1987-92
   17.   1,342   Antoine Young   2008-12
   18.   1,313   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2006-11
   19.   1,309   Ryan Sears   1997-01
   20.   1,303   Elton Tuttle   1951-54
   21.   1,272   Bob Gibson   1954-57
   22.   1,267   Wally Anderzunas   1965-67, 1968-69
   23.   1,254   Gary Swain   1983-87
   24.   1,238   Ben Walker   1997-01
   25.   1,196   Ray Yost   1951-54
   26.   1,172   Dick Harvey   1956-59
   27.   1,155   Ethan Wragge   2009-14
   28.   1,152   Dane Watts   2004-08
   29.   1,116   Kenny Evans   1982-87
   30.   1,115   Doug Brookins   1972-75
   31.   1,115   Daryl Stovall   1978-82
   32.   1,096   Marcus Foster   2016-Pres.
   33.   1,093   Tim Powers   1964-67
   34.   1,050   Reggie Morris   1982-86
   35.   1,031   Johnny Mathies   2003-06
   36.   1,024   P'Allen Stinnett   2007-10
   37.   1,023   Rod Mason   1986-88
   38.   1,013   Austin Chatman   2011-15
   39.   1,006   Gregory Echenique   2010-13
   40.   1,004   Anthony Tolliver   2003-07
   41.   994   Chuck Officer   1960-62, 1963-64
   42.   979   Terrell Taylor   1999-02
   43.   977   Khyri Thomas   2015-Pres.
   44.   967   David Wesely   1975-79
   45.   965   Fritz Pointer   1963-66
   46.   939   Cyril Baptiste   1969-71
   47.   931   Cornell Smith   1973-77
   48.   921   Jim Berry   1955-59
   49.   915   Darryl Stovall   1978-82
   50.   914   Francis (Ick) Miller   1948-51

Marcus Foster, Bucket Getter
Marcus Foster ranks among the nation's best when it comes to putting the ball in the hole and scoring.
   Foster ranks first among the nation's active Division I players in field goals made, third in double-figure scoring games, and eighth in points. Former Bluejay Doug McDermott owns the NCAA record with 135 career double-figure scoring games.
   Here's that list, through games of February 4:
Most Career Field Goals, Nation's Active Leaders
   Rank   FG   Name, School   Next Game
   1.   710   Marcus Foster, Creighton   2/7
   2.   706   Jordan Howard, Central Arkansas   2/7
   3.   682   Jonathan Stark, Murray State   2/8
   4.   676   Bogdan Bliznyuk, E. Washington   2/9
   5.   674   Peyton Aldridge, Davidson   2/6

Most Career Points, Nation's Active Leaders
   Rank   Points   Name, School   Next Game
   1.   2,255   Jordan Howard, Central Arkansas   2/7
   2.   2,088   James Daniel III, Tennessee   2/6
   3.   2,052   Andrew Rowsey, Marquette   2/7
   4.   2,045   Trevon Bluiett, Xavier   2/6
   5.   2,013   Jonathan Stark, Murray State   2/8
   6.   2,007   Mike Daum, South Dakota St.   2/8
   7.   1,973   Chris Clemons, Campbell   2/7
   8.   1,971   Marcus Foster, Creighton   2/7

Most Career Games, 10+ Points, Active Players
   Rank   10+ Games   Name, School   Next Game
   1.   109   Jordan Howard, Central Arkansas   2/7
   2.   108   Trevon Bluiett, Xavier   2/6
   3.   102   Marcus Foster, Creighton   2/7
       102   Wesley Person, Troy   2/8

20 Point Streaks
Marcus Foster has scored 20 points or more in each of Creighton's last five games. He's just the second different Bluejay to have such a streak under Greg McDermott, who started in 2010-11.
   Other than National Player of the Year Doug McDermott (who did it six times), the last Bluejay before Foster with five (or more) straight games of 20+ points was Rodney Buford back in 1998.
Consecutive Games of 20+ Points, Since 1992-93
   Streak   Player   Dates
   14   Doug McDermott   Jan. 28-March 21, 2014
   10   Doug McDermott   Nov. 13-Dec. 22, 2011
   8   Rodney Buford   Jan. 27-Feb. 17, 1997
   8   Doug McDermott   March 22-Nov. 29, 2013
   7   Doug McDermott   Nov. 23-Dec. 15, 2012
   5   Rodney Buford   Feb. 28-Nov. 25, 1998
   5   Doug McDermott   Feb. 23-March 9, 2013
   5   Doug McDermott   Dec. 3-29, 2013
   5   Marcus Foster   Jan. 17, 2018-Pres.
   4   Kyle Korver   Dec. 21, 2002-Jan. 5, 2003
   4   Doug McDermott   Feb. 18-March 2, 2012
   4   Doug McDermott   Jan. 12-20, 2014
   4   Rodney Buford   Jan. 29-Feb. 8, 1996

Follow The Leader
Marcus Foster has led or tied for Creighton's scoring lead in each of the last seven games, averaging 22.6 points per game in that time.
    Foster's seven straight games as the team's leading scorer is the program's longest streak since Doug McDermott had five streaks of seven or more games as CU's top scorer between 2011-14.
Consecutive Games as CU's Leading Scorer
Since 1988 (includes ties)
   Games   Name   Dates
   16   Doug McDermott   Jan. 25 - March 23, 2014
   12   Bob Harstad   Dec. 10, 1988 - Jan. 28, 1989
   11   Doug McDermott   Nov. 13 - Dec. 28, 2011
   11   Doug McDermott   Dec. 3, 2013-Jan. 18, 2014
   10   Nate Funk   Jan. 12 - Feb. 10, 2007
   9   Doug McDermott   Nov. 18 - Dec. 15, 2012
   8   Rodney Buford   Jan. 27 - Feb. 17, 1997
   8   Rodney Buford   Feb. 23 - Dec. 2, 1998
   7   Rodney Buford   Jan. 2-20, 1997
   7   Booker Woodfox   Dec. 6-28, 2008
   7   Doug McDermott   Jan. 11 - Feb. 2, 2013
   7   Marcus Foster   Jan. 9, 2018 - Present

Pure Charity
Creighton is shooting 77.1 percent at the free throw line this season, which puts the Bluejays on pace to shatter the previous school-record of 75.9 percent by the 2012-13 club.
   Creighton has made 80 percent or better of its foul shots in each of the last eight games, the program's longest streak in the last 25 years, making 104-of-123 (84.6 percent) attempts in that span.
   Creighton has missed three or less free throws in each of its last five road games, and is 16-of-17 at the line (94.1 percent) in the final five minutes of those same contests.
   Creighton's 13 games this season making 80 percent or better at the line ranks tied for second nationally, and trails only Liberty (15).
   One other incredible note about the Bluejay marksmanship at the line. CU hasn't missed multiple free throws on the same trip to the line since there was 3:47 left in its win over UT Arlington way back on Dec. 18, 2017. CU has since made 108 different trips to the line since then, including 15 trips where it missed the first of multiple shots.

Nova Dials Long Distance
Villanova's first 10 shot attempts last Thursday came from three-point range, and the Wildcats ended the night 19-of-39 from downtown.
   VU's 19 three-pointers tied a school-record, and were two shy of the Wells Fargo Center and BIG EAST record set by Creighton against the Wildcats in 2014 in the Bluejays last previous trip to that venue.
   Before last Thursday, the most three-pointers Creighton had ever allowed in a game had been 16. That was also done by Villanova, and came on Feb. 3, 2016.

How They Rank?
Last Thursday's game at No. 1 Villanova was Creighton's eighth game of the season against a top-25 team, tying it with Baylor for the most in the country. Creighton is currently 3-5 in those contests, including a 2-5 mark away from home.
   In the eight games against ranked foes, Creighton averaged 79.6 points per contest, lost the rebound battle by 2.5 caroms per game, and had 124 assists against just 96 turnovers.
   Marcus Foster (17.9), Khyri Thomas (13.9), and Martin Krampelj (11.7) have each averaged in double-figures.
   CU has led for 196:27, trailed for 109:16 and were tied for 14:17 in those 320 minutes against top-25 foes.
   Below is a list of schools with the most games this season played against AP Top 25 teams (at time of game), through February 4:
   Games   School
   8   Baylor
   8   Creighton
   8   Oklahoma State
   8   Texas
   8   Vanderbilt
   7   Indiana
   7   Kansas State
   7   Marquette
   7   Oklahoma
   7   Rutgers

Loaded Schedule Under McDermott
The Feb. 1 contest at No. 1 Villanova was Creighton's eighth different game this season against a team ranked in the top-25. This is the fourth straight season that the Bluejays have faced at least seven ranked teams in one season, after never having done it prior to Greg McDermott's arrival in 2010-11.
   The eight games this season against ranked foes tie a record previously done in 2014-15 and in 2015-16.
Most Games vs. Top 25 Teams, Season
   Games   Season   Coach
   8   2014-15   Greg McDermott
   8   2015-16   Greg McDermott
   8   2017-18   Greg McDermott
   7   2016-17   Greg McDermott
   6   1971-72   Eddie Sutton
   5   1968-69   Eddie Sutton
   5   1969-70   Eddie Sutton
   5   1981-82   Willis Reed

Top 25 Success
Creighton had four wins over top-25 teams last season, twice as many as any previous campaign in program history. This year's team owns three wins over the top-25, second-most in program history.
   This year's team is 3-5 against ranked teams, beating No. 20 Northwestern on Nov. 15th, No. 23 UCLA on Nov. 20th and No. 19 Seton Hall on Jan. 17th. The victories over the Wildcats and Bruins marked the first time in program history that CU has ever beaten top-25 foes in consecutive games.
Most Top-25 Wins, Season
   Wins   Season   Top-25 Victims
   4   2016-17   #9 Wisconsin, #12 Butler,
           #16 Butler, #22 Xavier
   3   2017-18   #20 Northwestern, #23 UCLA,
           #19 Seton Hall
   2   1973-74   #6 Marquette, #16 Louisville
   2   2001-02   #15 Florida, #17 Western Kentucky
   2   2006-07   #11 Southern Illinois, #24 Xavier
   2   2013-14   #4 Villanova, #6 Villanova
   2   2015-16   #5 Xavier, #18 Butler

Rank And File
Creighton made some school history when it defeated top-25 teams in consecutive games for the first time in November with victories over No. 20 Northwestern and No. 23 UCLA.
   Through games of February 4, Creighton is one of 15 teams nationally with three or more top-25 wins this season.
   Ranked Wins   School   Home   Road   Neutral
   6   Oklahoma   3   2   1
   5   Texas Tech   3   1   1
   4   Alabama   3   1   0
   4   Duke   1   1   2
   4   Florida   0   2   2
   4   NC State   2   1   1
   4   Xavier   3   1   0
   3   Creighton   1   1   1
   3   Clemson   2   0   1
   3   Kansas   1   1   1
   3   Oklahoma State   1   1   1
   3   Purdue   2   0   1
   3   Texas   3   0   0
   3   Virginia   2   1   0
   3   Washington   2   0   1
   2   Arizona   1   0   1
   2   Arizona State   0   1   1
   2   Arkansas   2   0   0
   2   Auburn   1   1   0
   2   Colorado   2   0   0
   2   Florida State   1   1   0
   2   Georgia   1   0   1
   2   Kansas State   2   0   0
   2   Iowa State   2   0   0
   2   Miami (Fla.)   1   1   0
   2   Michigan State   1   0   1
   2   Nebraska   2   0   0
   2   North Carolina   1   1   0
   2   Seton Hall   0   1   1
   2   SMU   0   1   1
   2   South Carolina   1   1   0
   2   TCU   1   0   1
   2   Tennessee   1   0   1
   2   Texas A&M   0   1   1
   2   Villanova   1   0   1
   2   West Virginia   2   0   0
   1   Ball State   0   1   0
   1   Boston College   1   0   0
   1   Butler   1   0   0
   1   Georgia Tech   1   0   0
   1   Gonzaga   1   0   0
   1   Houston   1   0   0
   1   Indiana   0   0   1
   1   Louisville   0   1   0
   1   Loyola (Chicago)   0   1   0
   1   LSU   0   1   0
   1   Marquette   1   0   0
   1   Michigan   0   1   0
   1   Minnesota   0   0   1
   1   Mississippi State   1   0   0
   1   New Mexico State   0   0   1
   1   Notre Dame   0   0   1
   1   Ohio State   1   0   0
   1   Oregon   0   1   0
   1   Penn State   0   1   1
   1   Providence   1   0   0
   1   Rhode Island   0   0   1
   1   Rutgers   1   0   0
   1   Saint Mary's   0   1   0
   1   San Diego State   1   0   0
   1   Seton Hall   1   0   0
   1   St. John's   1   0   0
   1   Temple   1   0   0
   1   UCF   0   1   0
   1   Utah   0   1   0
   1   Virginia Tech   1   0   0
   1   Washington State   0   0   1
   1   Western Kentucky   0   0   1
   1   Wichita State   0   1   0
   1   Wofford   0   1   0
   1   Wyoming   1   0   0

More Top 25 News
Creighton owns seven wins against the Top 25 since the start of last season, a figure that ranks tied for 10th-most nationally through games of February 4th.
   Ranked Wins   School
   13   Duke
   12   North Carolina
   9   Kansas
   9   Villanova
   8   Florida State
   8   Purdue
   8   South Carolina
   8   Texas Tech
   8   Xavier
   7   Creighton
   7   Arizona
   7   Butler
   7   Florida
   7   Gonzaga
   7   Kentucky
   7   Oklahoma
   7   Virginia
   7   West Virginia

Foster Does His Hart Impression
Last year Josh Hart was named BIG EAST Player of the Year after a tremendous senior season. Creighton's Marcus Foster is doing all he can as he fights for a similar honor.
   Here's a look at the league-only stats for player to win BIG EAST Player of the Year each of the previous four seasons, as well as some of the top candidates for this year's top individual accolade.
League-Only Stats, Last 4 BIG EAST Players of the Year
Name   PPG   RPG   APG   FG%   3FG%   FT%
McDermott, '14   27.7   7.1   1.8   .541   .463   .838
Dunn, '15   17.0   5.9   7.8   .476   .360   .679
Dunn, '16   16.2   5.4   5.9   .425   .377   .694
Hart, '17   18.2   6.5   2.9   .486   .381   .703

2017-18 League-Only Stats, Player of the Year Candidates
Name   PPG   RPG   APG   FG%   3FG%   FT%
Bluiett, XU   18.5   5.7   2.7   .421   .392   .759
Bridges, VU   17.1   5.5   2.5   .488   .393   .853
Brunson, VU   20.7   2.8   5.0   .507   .448   .822
Delgado, SHU   13.4   12.8   3.4   .463   ---   .595
Foster, CU   20.4   3.3   3.2   .497   .440   .913
Howard, MU   21.5   3.0   3.3   .430   .359   .881
Martin, BU   21.9   5.5   2.5   .474   .397   .847
Ponds, SJU   18.8   3.6   4.7   .396   .220   .775
Rodriguez, SHU   16.8   4.9   2.5   .496   .400   .727
Rowsey, MU   17.2   2.6   3.5   .371   .366   .946

Epperson Burns Redshirt
Jacob Epperson was headed towards a redshirt season, but that is no longer an option after he made his collegiate debut on January 27 against Georgetown. The decision to play the Aussie was made after much discussion among Epperson and his family after Martin Krampelj's season-ending knee injury on January 17th.
   Epperson made an immediate impact, slamming home a dunk on his first offensive possession, and he would finish the night with two points, two rebounds an assist in nine minutes of work.
   Epperson's second game was even better, as he finished with seven points, two rebounds and an assist in 17 minutes of work.
   In the last 25 seasons, Epperson is just the ninth Bluejay to make his season debut after Creighton's fifth game of the season.
Season Debut After CU's 5th Game, Last 25 Seasons
   Debut Game   Player   Year
   22 $   Jacob Epperson   2017-18
   17   Jason Ourada   1996-97
   12 $   Matt West   1996-97
   10 %   Gregory Echenique   2010-11
   8 %   Manny Gakou   2005-06
   6   Dan Kolder   1996-97
   6 $   Jimmy Motz   2001-02
   6 #   Avery Dingman   2014-15
   6 #   Ronnie Harrell Jr.   2015-16
   # injured     % ineligible     $ redshirt candidate

Technically Speaking
Greg McDermott was issued a rare technical foul   when   the   officials   booked   the   Creighton   head coach on Jan. 27 vs. Georgetown. It was just the third technical foul that McDermott   had been whistled for in eight years on the Bluejay   sideline, and his first overall since March 3, 2015 vs. Villanova. McDermott also was called for a technical foul on Jan. 17, 2015 against Providence.
   Some other facts about McDermott's technical foul...
- Greg   McDermott had   two   technical   fouls   in    his four seasons as Iowa State head coach and   five technical fouls in five years as head coach at   Northern Iowa.
- It was just the fourth technical foul issued to a Creighton coach in 252 games at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Besides three to McDermott, Dana Altman was also given one on Feb. 17, 2007.
- It was the first technical foul issued to the Creighton bench in a home win since Nov. 25, 1996 in a 70-68 victory over UMKC.
- It   was   just   the   21st   technical   foul   Creighton    has been called for in eight seasons under   Greg McDermott. Others with technical fouls include Gregory Echenique (3), Maurice Watson Jr. (3), Marcus Foster (3), Grant Gibbs (2), Justin Patton (2), Will Artino (1), Steve Lutz (1), Avery Dingman (1), Isaiah Zierden (1) and Khyri Thomas (1).

Foreign Invasion
Creighton has a pair of foreigners on its roster this season with Martin Krampelj (Slovenia) and Jacob Epperson (Australia).
   They are just the fifth duo of simultaneous international teammates at Creighton, joining Livan Pyrfrom (Bahamas) and Nerijus Karlikanovas (Lithuania) from 1999-2000, Brice Nengsu (Cameroon) and Manny Gakou (France) from 2005-07, Jahenns Manigat (Canada) and Gregory Echenique (2010-13) and Martin Krampelj (Slovenia) and Kobe Paras (Philippines).
    Creighton's only other international player on record is Colin Lubsey (1992-93, Australia).

Pink Out Auction Raises $28,796 This Year
Creighton raised $28,796 for its January 27th "Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out" Pink Out game on vs. Georgetown. Below is the final numbers for each jersey/item in the auction this year:
#0   $3450   #1   $1135   #2   $4250
#4   $2650   #5   $1625   #11   $1425
#12   $950   #14   $944   #15   $1050
#23   $830   #24   $3500   #32   $1350
#41   $1025   #44   $1300
Basketballs: $380, 405, 400, 510, 335, 400
McDermott's Shoes: $510   McDermott's Tie: $372

Yearly Pink Out Totals
Creighton has raised $186,360.68 since the start of the 2011-12 season during its annual men's basketball Pink Out.
2011-12:   $20,600
2012-13:   $24,444
2013-14:   $48,247.11
2014-15:   $16,384.03
2015-16:   $16,527.90 (plus another $5,000 in donations)
2016-17:   $26,361.64
2017-18:   $28,796
Seven-Year Totals: $186,360.68

Creighton's Pink Out History
This year marked Creighton's eighth Pink Out, which coincides with the arrival of head coach Greg McDermott. The Bluejays are 6-2 in the event, while playing in front of an average of 17,893 fans per game, as seen below:
Date   Result   Attendance
01/29/11   Creighton 83, Indiana State 69   16,044
01/28/12   Creighton 73, Bradley 59   18,436
02/02/13   Creighton 75, Bradley 58   18,111
01/25/14   Creighton 76, Georgetown 63   18,859
01/17/15   Providence 74, Creighton 65   17,640
01/30/16   Seton Hall 75, Creighton 65   17,924
01/28/17   Creighton 83, DePaul 66   17,611

Scurry Earns A Schollie
Sophomore guard Jordan Scurry was awarded a scholarship for the 2017-18 season on January 21st during a team meeting.
   The surprise came on the same day the Dedham, Mass., native saw his beloved Boston Celtics play in person at TD Garden, while later watching the telecast as the New England native saw his Patriots rally to qualify for Super Bowl LII.
   Scurry is in his second season with the Bluejays. He's played in 24 games for CU in his two years in the program, contributing 36 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

Toby! Toby! Toby!
Toby Hegner has scored in double-figures in seven of CU's last eight games, including his last five, which is the longest streak of his career.
   Hegner is now averaging 13.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in the five games that Martin Krampelj has missed (including the Seton Hall game, when Krampelj was hurt in the first half), compared to 9.1 points and 2.6 rebounds before Krampelj was sidelined.
   Hegner's best game of the season came on January 6 at Georgetown, when he poured in a season-best 19 points, including five three-pointers in the first half as Creighton raced to a 45-21 lead.

Some Loyal Fans
Creighton has played in front of 214,755 home fans this season, surpassing the 200,000 mark for the 13th straight season.
   Creighton had never attracted more than 141,000 home fans in any season prior to the opening of CenturyLink Center Omaha, and now has done it in the past 15 seasons.
   Creighton has led its conference in home attendance every year since moving into CenturyLink Center Omaha, which is in its 15th season.
Highest Average Attendance, Creighton History
   Avg. Att.   School   Year
   17,896   Creighton   2013-14
   17,413   Creighton   2016-17
   17,155   Creighton   2012-13
   17,048   Creighton   2014-15
   16,665   Creighton   2011-12

Creighton's Most Home Fans, Season
Rk.   Year   G   Attendance   Average
1.   2015-16   19   302,887   15,941
2.   2008-09   19   302,676   15,930
3.   2010-11   22   297,161   13,507
4.   2016-17   17   296,013   17413
5.   2012-13   17   291,643   17,155
6.   2014-15   17   289,808   17,048
7.   2013-14   16   286,329   17,896
8.   2007-08   18   276,000   15,333
9.   2011-12   16   266,632   16,665
10.   2009-10   17   246,419   14,495
11.   2005-06   17   236,313   13,901
12.   2006-07   14   222,728   15,909
13.   2017-18   13   214,755   16,520
14.   2003-04   16   192,258   12,016
15.   2004-05   16   179,335   11,208
16.   2002-03   17   140,174   8,246

Baker's Dozen
Creighton has won 14 straight home games dating to last season. It's tied for CU's fourth-longest home win streak ever at CenturyLink Center Omaha, as seen below:
Longest Home Win Streaks at CenturyLink Center
Streak   Dates   Snapped by
   24   Feb. 19, 2013 - Dec. 9, 2014   Saint Mary's
   16   Feb. 9, 2005 - Jan. 31, 2006   Southern Illinois
   16   Jan. 19, 2011 - Dec. 22, 2011   Missouri State
   14   Feb. 2, 2008 - Dec. 28, 2008   Northern Iowa
   14   Feb. 28, 2017- Present   ? ? ?
   11   Nov. 22, 2003 - Feb. 4, 2004   Southern Illinois
   11   Feb. 28, 2016 - Dec. 31, 2016   #1 Villanova

Streaking, At Home
Creighton has won 14 straight games at home dating to late last season, which ranks as one of the nation's 11 longest active home winning streaks:
Nation's Longest Active Home Win Streaks (thru 2/4)
Streak   Team   Next Home Game
   38   Cincinnati   2/6
   21   Purdue   2/7
   20   Vermont   2/11
   19   UC Davis   2/8
   18   South Dakota State   2/17
   16   Virginia   2/10
   16   Nevada   2/7
   16   Saint Mary's   2/10
   15   Texas Tech   2/7
   15   Xavier   2/14
   14   Creighton   2/10
   14   Rhode Island   2/9
   14   Louisiana   2/15
   14   Oklahoma   2/5
   14   Stephen F. Austin   2/10

Over .500, Again
Creighton has been better than .500 at the midway point in league play in 21 of the last 22 seasons, including this year's 6-3 mark.
   Creighton has also gone 5-4 or better in the second half of league action in 18 of the last 21 seasons.
   Creighton has made the postseason each of the previous 19 times it's been 5-4 or better at the midway point, and missed it the only time they weren't in that span.
   Here's how Creighton's teams have fared in the various halves of the MVC/BIG EAST season since 1995-96.
Year   1st Half   2nd Half
2017-18   6-3   1-1 so far
2016-17   6-3   4-5
2015-16   5-4   4-5
2014-15   1-8   3-6
2013-14   8-1   6-3
2012-13   7-2   6-3
2011-12   8-1   6-3
2010-11   5-4   5-4
2009-10   5-4   5-4
2008-09   5-4   9-0
2007-08   5-4   5-4
2006-07   6-3   7-2
2005-06   7-2   5-4
2004-05   5-4   6-3
2003-04   7-2   5-4
2002-03   8-1   7-2
2001-02   8-1   6-3
2000-01   5-4   9-0
1999-00   5-4   6-3
1998-99   6-3   5-4
1997-98   5-4   7-2
1996-97   5-4   5-4
1995-96   4-5   5-4
Total   132-75 (.638)   127-73 (.635)

As The Schedule Turns
Last Thursday was Creighton's 11th BIG EAST game of the season, but those 11 games have come against just seven different opponents.
   The Bluejays are already finished with the regular-season series against Seton Hall (1-1), Providence (1-1), St. John's (2-0) and Georgetown (1-0 so far).
   Creighton has not yet faced DePaul nor Marquette.

#Timeout2Vote #CoachGregMcDermott
Greg McDermott is 1 of 24 Division I men's basketball coaches still participating in the eighth annual Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge, as announced by Infiniti and partners the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the NCAA and ESPN. The Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge is a four-round online bracket tournament in which coaches represent charities and compete for fan votes.
   McDermott will represent and compete on behalf Abide, an amazing charity that is an inner city nonprofit with a mission to transform Omaha one neighborhood at a time.
   To vote for McDermott each day, visit GoCreighton.com/VoteCoachMac.

Marcus' Theater
Marcus Foster has scored 25, 22, 24, 28 and 20 points in his last five games, making him the first Creighton player with three (or more) straight games of 20 or more points since Doug McDermott's streak of 14 straight games from Jan. 25 - March 21, 2014 when he was named National Player of the Year.
   DePaul is the only BIG EAST team that Foster has never scored 20 or more points against, as he had contests of 13 and 15 points a year ago.

Krampelj Out For Season With Torn ACL
Sophomore forward Martin Krampelj will miss the rest of the 2017-18 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Creighton's win over No. 19 Seton Hall on January 17th.
   Krampelj was widely regarded as one of the BIG EAST's most improved players in 2017-18, as he was averaging 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game on 67.1 percent shooting after averaging 2.8 points,.2.2 rebounds and 5.9 minutes last year.
   This is the third torn ACL for Krampelj, and second time he's injured his left knee. Surgery for Krampelj took place in Omaha on February 1st.

Jays Hold Serve
One of the keys for any team with BIG EAST title aspirations is to hold serve at home, and find a way to win road games in conference play.
   Creighton is a perfect 13-0 at home this year, and 5-0 in league play in Omaha.
   The top seven teams in the BIG EAST standings through Monday are a combined 82-10 overall at home, and a collective 30-7 at home in league play.
   The only seven home losses in conference action by those top seven teams have come by Providence (Marquette 95-90 in OT), Marquette (Xavier 91-87, Villanova 85-82, Butler 92-72 and Providence 77-75), Butler (Seton Hall, 90-87) and Seton Hall (Xavier, 73-64).
   The bottom three teams in the league standings are 0-21 against the top seven clubs in the standings at all sites this season.

He Shoots, He Scores!
Marcus Foster is shooting 50.7 percent from the field (on all shots) this year despite shooting 6.6 three-pointers per game.
   Per stats from Basketball-Reference.com, Foster is one of four Power Conference players since 1992-93 that has shot 49 percent or better overall despite attempting 6.5 three-pointers per game.
   Each of the other three men were named consensus All-Americans.
50% FG & 6.5 3FGA/Game Since 1992-93, Power Leagues
Name, School   Year   FG%   3FGA/G
Shan Foster, Vanderbilt   2007-08   .523   8.4
Marcus Foster, Creighton   2017-18   .507   6.6
Salim Stoudamire, Arizona   2004-05   .504   6.6
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma   2015-16   .501   8.7

The 1 For Sports
Wednesday's game at DePaul will air nationally on FS1, a channel that has been quite kind to Creighton in recent seasons.
   Creighton is 10-2 on FS1 this winter, and last year went 12-1 on the network.
   Creighton is 55-24 when appearing on FS1 since the network formed in 2013. CU is also 12-1 when appearing on FS2 in program history.

Foster On Midseason List For Wooden Award
Senior guard Marcus Foster landed a spot on the Midseason Top 25 for the John R. Wooden® Award presented by Wendy's®. Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 25 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for college basketball's most prestigious individual honor.
   Foster is the third Bluejay in the last five seasons to represent the Bluejays on the Wooden Award Midseason 25 list. Creighton's Doug McDermott won the Wooden Award following the 2013-14 season, while Maurice Watson Jr. was on the list of 25 last season but did not advance to the final cut.

Krampelj Replaces Patton
One of Creighton's biggest question marks entering the season was how the team would replace NBA First Round Draft pick Justin Patton. Martin Krampelj answered those questions until tearing his ACL on January 17th.
   Here's a look at the stats for the two men:
Stat   Patton   Krampelj
Year   2016-17   2017-18
PPG   12.9   11.9
RPG   6.2   8.1
BPG   1.4   0.7
APG   1.2   1.2
FG%   .676   .671
FT%   .517   .623
Double-Doubles   3   6
Dunks/Game   2.06   1.74

Overtime Optional
Creighton has played 100 games in program history that have gone to overtime, going 55-45 in those contests.
   However, the Bluejays have completed 102 straight games since last going to overtime, the longest stretch without an extra session for the program since 136 straight games from 1939-47. During that same span, Creighton's women's team has played 12 overtime periods.
   CU's last overtime contest came Feb. 4, 2015 at Xavier, a 79-72 win at Cintas Center. Creighton's longest game in program history was a 85-82 loss in triple-overtime at No. 13 DePaul on Feb. 1, 1978.
   Creighton is 5-1 under Greg McDermott in overtime games, including a 4-0 mark in conference play.
   Twelve of Creighton's last 13 games have been won by the team to score first in the extra session.

Playing With A Lead
Creighton has done a good job of starting the game strong this season and playing with a lead, with the exception of its last two road losses.
   At home this year, the Bluejays have led for 87.7 percent of the time this season while trailing just 8.7 percent of the time.
   Creighton has trailed for just 45:04 of 520 possible minutes at home this season, and has not trailed in six of its home wins this season.
Opponent   Leading   Trailing   Tied
Yale   39:29   0:20   0:11
Alcorn State   36:22   2:45   0:53
SIU Edwardsville   39:46   --   0:14
North Dakota   38:11   --   1:49
Nebraska   15:53   19:20   4:47
Maryland Eastern Shore   39:43   --   0:17
UT Arlington   37:18   1:22   1:20
USC Upstate   38:32   0:55   0:33
Providence   39:03   --   0:57
St. John's   22:01   15:34   2:25
Butler   39:10   --   0:50
#19 Seton Hall   39:19   --   0:41
Georgetown   31:21   4:48   3:51
Total   456:08   45:04   18:48

More On The Score
As if the above note isn't impressive enough, keep in the mind the following...
   Creighton has trailed after the second media timeout in just two home games this season (Nebraska and St. John's), and has not trailed in the final 9:31 of any home game this year.
   Creighton's first BIG EAST team in 2013-14 went a perfect 16-0 and never trailed in the second half of any home game.
   In 252 all-time games at CenturyLink Center Omaha, Creighton has not trailed 73 different times, including 21 of its last 49 home games and six of its last 11 home contests.

Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 806 straight games since a 59-53 loss at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993. The streak is the nation's 19th-longest active streak.
   Creighton's last win without making a three-point basket came on March 3, 1991 when the Jays went 0-for-2 from three-point range in a 71-66 win over Southern Illinois in the championship game of the MVC Tournament.
   Below is a list of the nation's longest active three-point streaks, through February 5th.
Longest Active 3-Point Streak, Through 2/5
   Rk.   Streak   School   Next Game
   1.   1,036   Kentucky   2/6
   2.   1,029   UNLV   2/7
   3.   1,022   Vanderbilt   2/7
   4.   1,007   Duke   2/8
   5.   965   Arkansas   2/6
   6.   959   Western Kentucky   2/8
   7.   951   East Tennessee State   2/10
   8.   942   Pacific   2/8
   9.   928   Oakland   2/9
   10.   916   Texas   2/7
   11.   895   Princeton   2/6
   12.   866   Marshall   2/8
   13.   857   Baylor   2/6
   14.   837   Gonzaga   2/8
   15.   834   LIU-Brooklyn   2/8
   16.   820   Cornell   2/9
   17.   818   Mount St. Mary's   2/8
   18.   809   Tennessee State   2/8
   19.   806   Creighton   2/7
   20.   804   East Carolina   2/7

Triple Trivia
During Creighton's current streak of 806 straight games with a three-pointer, the Bluejays have drained 6,158 trifectas, an average of 7.60 treys per game.
   That's not surprising since during the streak, Creighton has made exactly 7 three-pointers 128 times, more than any figure.
   Only four times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 202 occasions the Bluejays have made 10 or more trifectas, including a BIG EAST record 21 on Jan. 20, 2014 at Villanova.
Team 3FG During Creighton's 3-Point Streak
1: 4 times   11: 42 times
2: 15 times   12: 41 times
3: 30 times   13: 32 times
4: 67 times   14: 9 times
5: 94 times   15: 6 times
6: 86 times   16: 6 times
7: 128 times   19: 1 time
8: 108 times   20: 1 time
9: 72 times   21: 1 time
10: 63 times

Scoring In Bunches
Creighton has scored 1,980 points through 23 games, to rank sixth nationally with 86.1 points per contest.
   The 1,980 points are the second-most points the team has ever scored in its first 23 games of any season, trailing only the 1965-66 club.
Most Points Through 23 Games, Creighton History
   Points   Year   Final W-L (Postseason)
   2,059   1965-66   14-12
   1,980   2017-18   17-6 so far
   1,966   1963-64   22-7 (NCAA)
   1,952   2016-17   25-10 (NCAA)
   1,941   1970-71   14-11

CenturyLink Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 252 regular and postseason contests at CenturyLink Center Omaha all-time in the 15-year-old facility.
   The Bluejays own a 210-42 (.833) record all-time at the facility, and have never lost there on a Thursday (7-0) or Friday (14-0).
   Creighton's Nov. 25 win over SIU Edwardsville was the program's 200th at the facility, coming in its 242nd home game. CU's 100th win came on Nov. 17, 2010, a 63-58 win over Louisiana.
   Creighton has outscored its opponents 19,535-16,352 in games at CenturyLink Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.63 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 73 different times, including 21 of its last 49 home games.
   Creighton is also 26-24 all-time in the 50 games at CLCO in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 7-9 when down by 10+ points at halftime at The Link, and 33-22 when trailing at halftime at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
   Creighton is 113-24 (.825) at CenturyLink Center Omaha under Greg McDermott, including a 65-4 record vs. non-conference teams.
   Factor in a 17-0 home mark at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in 2002-03 and two wins at the Civic in the 2010 CIT, and the Bluejays are 230-42 (.846) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.

All The Three's
Creighton drilled 19 three-point shots in its Dec. 20 home game vs. USC Upstate, third-most in a game in program history. That's one of three games this season with 16 or more three-pointers.
   Here's a list of the games with 16 or more treys.
Most 3FG in a Game, Creighton History
   Rank   3FG   Opponent   Date   Score
   1.   21   at #4 Villanova   1/20/2014   W 96-68
   2.   20   Chattanooga   2/19/2005   W 100-69
   3.   19   USC Upstate   12/20/2017   W 116-62
   4.   16   Evansville   1/4/1999   L 79-84
       16   Drake   1/8/2013   W 91-61
       16   Chicago State   12/29/2013   W 90-58
       16   vs. Ole Miss   11/21/2016   W 86-77
       16   Alcorn State   11/12/2017   W 109-72
       16   at Georgetown   01/06/18   W 90-66

Foster Does It All
Marcus Foster is averaging 19.9 points and 2.8 assists per game this year. Only two previous Creighton players have averaged more than 19.0 points and 2.5 assists per game for a full season.
Seasons With 19 PPG, 2.5 APG, Creighton History
Name   Year   PPG   APG
Rick Apke   1976-77   19.8   2.9
Rod Mason   1987-88   20.3   3.4
Marcus Foster   2017-18   19.9   2.8

Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 17 victories under Greg McDermott after trailing by double-figures at some point, and overcame a pair of second half 10-point deficits on Jan. 3 vs. St. John's. Nine of those comebacks have come away from home.
   On the other hand, CU is 160-14 under McDermott when putting together double-digit leads, including wins 148 of the last 158 times.
Double-Digit Comebacks Under Greg McDermott
Deficit   Opponent   Date
18   #18 Oklahoma   11/19/14
17   at San Diego State   11/30/11
16   at Evansville   02/16/13
14   Evansville   02/21/12
13   at Saint Joseph's   11/16/13
13   Xavier   01/12/14
12   Saint Joseph's   12/11/10
12   at DePaul   01/17/16
11   at Wichita State   12/31/11
11   Northern Iowa   01/10/12
11   vs. Alabama   03/16/12
11   vs. Ole Miss   11/21/16
10   UAB   11/14/12
10   vs. Drake   03/02/12
10   at Nebraska   12/07/14
10   South Dakota   12/09/14
10   St. John's   01/03/18

Foster A Candidate For Senior CLASS Award
Marcus Foster is one of 30 NCAA men's basketball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court that were selected as candidates for the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate basketball.
   To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.
   An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
   Each of the 30 candidate classes will be narrowed to fields of 10 finalists in February, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
   Foster is the eighth Creighton Men's Basketball student-athlete to make the Senior CLASS cut in recent seasons, joining Kyle Korver (2002-03), Anthony Tolliver (2006-07), Dane Watts (2007-08), Josh Dotzler (2008-09), Kenny Lawson Jr. (2010-11), Doug McDermott (2013-14) and Maurice Watson Jr. (2016-17). Former Creighton men's soccer goalkeeper Brian Holt won the 2011 Senior CLASS Award, while McDermott won the 2014 Senior CLASS Award on the hardwood.
   The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four® and NCAA Women's Final Four® this spring. For more information on each of the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.

Nationally Elite
Creighton ranks in the top 20 of 10 categories nationally, through games of February 4th.
   Perhaps the most impressive figure on the list is in defensive rebounds per game, where CU is fourth with 29.87 per game. No team nationally has finished a season averaging more than 31.30 defensive rebounds per game in the last five seasons, and last year CU was 63rd with 26.69 per game.
Category   Rank   Stat
Defensive Rebounds/Game   4th   29.87
Assist/Turnover Ratio   5th   1.60
Assists Per Game   6th   18.3
Scoring Offense   6th   86.1
Total Assists   9th   421
Fewest Personal Fouls   11th   349
Personal Fouls/Game   12th   15.2
FG Percentage   13th   .503
FT Percentage   16th   .771
3FG/Game   18th   10.3

We Can Play Defense, Too
Creighton limited Maryland Eastern Shore to just 36 points and 23.6 percent shooting on Dec. 15.
   Creighton had not held an opponent under 40 points since Indiana State (38) on March 2, 2008, and the 36 were the fewest by a Bluejay opponent since Illinois State scored 35 on Jan. 13, 1986.
   Indiana State (10-43, 23.3%), in that same 2008 game, had also been the last CU foe to shoot 25 percent or less from the field.
   Both the points scored and the field goal percentage are the lowest marks in the history of Century Link Center Omaha.
   While Creighton's offense gets all the attention, the Bluejay defense has made huge strides in recent seasons, especially when you consider the move to the BIG EAST. Here's where CU has ranked in KenPom.com's adjusted defensive ratings under Greg McDermott.
Year   Adj. D   Adj. D Rating   Team W-L
2010-11   103.5   174th   23-16 (CBI)
2011-12   102.7   166th   29-6 (NCAA)
2012-13   96.5   66th   28-8 (NCAA)
2013-14   102.5   124th   27-8 (NCAA)
2014-15   102.6   138th   14-19
2015-16   97.6   49th   20-15 (NIT)
2016-17   96.5   46th   25-10 (NCAA)
2017-18   98.7   63rd   17-6 so far

We're Jamming!
Creighton owns 69 dunks already this season, which its second-most in any season under Greg McDermott, but still well behind the 144 last season that ranked fourth-most nationally.
   Here's a look at the Creighton student-athletes with 20 or more dunks in a season, and 19 or more dunks in a career, under McDermott:
Most Creighton Dunks, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Year
72   Justin Patton   2016-17
36   Gregory Echenique   2012-13
33   Martin Krampelj   2017-18
30   Gregory Echenique   2011-12
24   Gregory Echenique   2010-11
23   Marcus Foster   2016-17
22   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2010-11

Most Creighton Dunks, Career, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Years
90   Gregory Echenique   2010-13
72   Justin Patton   2016-17
47   Martin Krampelj   2015-Pres.
41   Marcus Foster   2016-Pres.
39   Khyri Thomas   2015-Pres.
38   Will Artino   2011-15
32   Zach Hanson   2013-17
25   Geoffrey Groselle   2012-16
22   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2010-11
19   Doug McDermott   2010-14

Most Creighton Dunks, Team, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Year   Team W-L
144   2016-17   25-10 (NCAA)
69   2017-18   17-6 so far
58   2015-16   20-15 (NIT)
56   2010-11   23-16 (CBI)
54   2012-13   28-8 (NCAA)
42   2011-12   29-6 (NCAA)
35   2013-14   27-8 (NCAA)
29   2014-15   14-19

Chairmen Of The Boards
Martin Krampelj (153 rebounds) and Ronnie Harrell Jr. (148) both have more rebounds this season than they in their careers before 2017-18, by a large margin.
   Harrell had 49 rebounds last year (in 26 games) and entered this season with 125 career caroms in 55 games played.
   Krampelj owned 69 rebounds in 29 games a year ago and entered this season with 89 rebounds in 36 career contests.
   Krampelj, who had 26 points and 19 rebounds in Creighton's 21 games against BIG EAST foes last year (including 5 DNP's), had 86 points and 62 rebounds in CU's first seven league games this season before suffering a season-ending injury.

Ronnie On The Spot
Ronnie Harrell Jr. continues to provide a spark off, with much of his best work coming on the glass.
   Harrell owned 10 or more rebounds in consecutive games against Nebraska and Maryland Eastern Shore, both in a reserve role. Harrell is the only Bluejay reserve with consecutive games of 10 or more rebounds in the last 25 years.
   Harrell is one of six Creighton players to have 10 or more rebounds off the bench in a game under Greg McDermott, and the only player to do it more than once in a season or three times in a career.
Most Rebounds Off The Bench Under McDermott
   Reb.   Min.   Player   Date
   14   20   Will Artino   02/14/15
   11   25   Ronnie Harrell Jr.   12/21/15
   11   30   Ronnie Harrell Jr.   12/09/17
   10   25   Wayne Runnels   11/14/10
   10   22   Will Artino   02/13/14
   10   29   James Milliken   11/25/14
   10   23   Devin Brooks   01/21/15
   10   17   Toby Hegner   12/07/16
   10   22   Ronnie Harrell Jr.   12/15/17
   10   28   Ronnie Harrell Jr.   12/28/17

100 And Counting...
Creighton's 116 points against USC Upstate on Dec. 20th were its most since 1964, and the third-highest scoring game in program history.
   The 116 points were also a CenturyLink Center Omaha record, and third time this season that the Bluejays have scored 109 or more points.
Creighton's Highest Scoring Games, By Points
Date   Opponent   W   L   CU   Opp.
02/10/64   at Miami (Fla.)   W       124   94
12/21/62   Nevada   W       120   76
12/20/17   USC Upstate   W       116   62
01/19/85   Indiana State   W       115   80
02/02/66   Memphis   W       115   82
12/09/16   Longwood   W       113   58
11/20/16   vs. North Carolina State   W       112   94
03/11/08   Bradley (2OT)   W       111   110
12/05/17   North Dakota   W       111   68
12/17/07   Houston Baptist   W       110   73
12/16/67   Wisconsin-Milwaukee   W       109   81
11/12/17   Alcorn State   W       109   72

Double-Digits x 15
Marcus Foster scored in double-figures in each of Creighton's first 15 games of the season, the first Bluejay to start his senior season with 15 straight games of 10 or more points since Bob Harstad had 27 straight in 1990-91.
   Doug McDermott had been the last player with nine straight double-figure games to start any season, doing so in all 35 games of his 2011-12 sophomore season that ended with First Team All-America accolades.
   Below is a list of Creighton's longest double figure scoring streaks to start a season since 1979-80, where you can see that Foster (2016-17 and 2017-18) and McDermott (2010-11 and 2011-12) are the only men to start consecutive seasons with eight or more double-figure contests since 1979-80.
CU's Consecutive Double-Figure Scoring Games
To Start Year, Since 1979-80
   Consec.   Name, Class   Year
   all 35   Doug McDermott, So.   2011-12
   all 32   Vernon Moore, Sr.   1984-85
   28   Benoit Benjamin, Jr.   1984-85
   27   Bob Harstad, Sr.   1990-91
   16   Rod Mason, Sr.   1987-88
   15   Marcus Foster, Sr.   2017-18
   13   Rodney Buford, Sr.   1998-99
   12   Gary Swain, Sr.   1986-87
   10   Chad Gallagher, Sr.   1990-91
   9   Rodney Buford, So.   1996-97
   8   Benoit Benjamin, Fr.   1982-83
   8   Gregory Brandon, Sr.    1983-84
   8   Doug McDermott, Fr.   2010-11
   8   Justin Patton, Fr.   2016-17
   8   Marcus Foster, Jr.   2016-17

Friendly Confines
Creighton has scored 103 points or more in four of 13 home games this season, and 75 points or more in all 13 home contests.
   Creighton is averaging 91.8 points per home game this season, outrebounding foes by 7.1 caroms per contest, shooting 54.0 percent from the floor, and holding foes to 39.9 percent shooting.
   In the second half of home games this season, Creighton has outscored teams 612-459 (47.1-35.3) and shot 54.6 percent from the field. In the second half, Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas are a combined 28-for-55 from three-point range (50.9 percent), compared to CU's opponents who are 38-for-156 (24.4 percent) from downtown after the break.
   Below is a list of seasons with the most 100+ point games in Creighton history
Most 100 Point Games in a Season, Creighton History
   Rank   Games   Year   Team W-L
   1.   7   1965-66   14-12
   2.   5   1971-72   15-11
       5   2017-18   17-6 so far
   4.   4   2015-16   20-15
       4   2016-17   25-10
   6.   3   1989-90   21-12

100 Grand Passed
Creighton has drawn 214,755 home fans this season, an average of 16,520 per contest.
   This season marks the 16th straight season of 100,000 or more home fans for the program, a streak that started in the final season (2002-03) of the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
   Creighton has led its conference in home attendance each of the last 14 completed seasons, and is once again leading the way in the BIG EAST in 2017-18.

McDermott Earns 175th Win at Creighton
With a Dec. 18 win over UT Arlington, Greg McDermott became the second coach in program history to record 175 wins on the Bluejay sideline, as only Dana Altman (327) has previously reached that milestone.
   McDermott reached the mark in his 259th game on the Bluejay sideline, whereas Altman didn't win his 175th game at CU until his 274th contest.
   McDermott needed 71 games at Creighton to win his 50th contest and 134 games to earn his 100th win.
McDermott's Milestone Wins at Creighton
W-L Milestone   Opponent   Date
25-16   Chicago State   11/13/11
50-21   vs. Evansville   03/03/12
75-29   at Bradley   02/27/13
100-34   at Butler   02/15/14
125-58   vs. Massachusetts   11/25/15
150-72   at Nebraska   12/07/16
175-84   UT Arlington   12/18/17

Give Me Five
Creighton has had three or more players score 10+ points in all 23 games this season.
   In Creighton's last non-conference game on Dec. 20 vs. USC Upstate, six men scored in double-figures for the first time since on Dec. 20, 2016 at Arizona State.
   In Creighton's Dec. 31 win over Providence, the Bluejays had all five starters finish in double-figures for the first time since last year's BIG EAST home opener on Dec. 28, 2016 vs. Seton Hall.
   Creighton has had four men average in double-figures in each of the last two seasons.
   Last year, Marcus Foster (18.2), Justin Patton (12.9), Maurice Watson Jr. (12.9) and Khyri Thomas (12.3) all put up double-digits on a nightly basis.
   In 2015-16 it was Watson (14.1), Cole Huff (11.3), Geoffrey Groselle (11.2) and Isaiah Zierden (10.2).
   Before 2015-16, Creighton had not previously had four men finish the year scoring in double-figures since 1979-80, when Kevin McKenna, Jim Honz, George Morrow and Daryl Stovall did so.

My Favorite Martin
Martin Krampelj did not have a double-double in the first 44 games of his career, but turned in consecutive double-doubles on Dec. 5 (North Dakota) and Dec. 9 (Nebraska).
   Krampelj became the first Creighton player with point/rebound double-doubles in consecutive contests since Doug McDermott on March 1 and March 4, 2014.    Krampelj leads CU with six double-doubles this season.
   McDermott's performance on Feb. 9 and 13 of 2013 was also the last previous time a Bluejay had 11 or more rebounds in consecutive games. Krampelj also had 11 rebounds in three straight games from Jan. 3-9, 2018, the first Bluejay to accomplish that since McDermott from Nov. 30-Dec. 10, 2011.

Full House
Creighton is averaging 16,520 fans per home game this season, good for sixth-best nationally.
   Last season Creighton averaged 17,413 fans per home game, fifth-best in the country, and a figure that would have ranked 17th best in the NBA, ahead of 14 franchises.
   Last year was the 12th straight season that CU has been among the nation's top 25 in average home attendance, and the sixth straight season in the top-10 nationally in attendance, as well.
2017-18 Attendance Leaders (through 2/4)
   Rk.   School   Average   Next Home
   1.   Kentucky   21,575   2/6
   2.   Syracuse   20,453   2/11
   3.   North Carolina   17,862   2/8
   4.   Louisville   17,570   2/5
   5.   Wisconsin   17,268   2/11
   6.   Creighton   16,520   2/10
   7.   Kansas   16,358   2/6
   8.   Tennessee   15,981   2/13
   9.   Arkansas   15,928   2/6
   10.   Nebraska   15,365   2/10

Tough At Home
Creighton has won 22 straight non-conference home games dating to a Dec. 2, 2015 loss to Arizona State.
   On a national basis, that ranks as the 12th-longest streak, per recent research from the NCAA
Non-Conference Home Win Streaks (Through 2/12)
   Rank   Streak   School   Next Home N-C Game
   1.   139   Duke   Next Season
   2.   47   Arizona   Next Season
   3.   43   Butler   Next Season
   4.   38   Texas Tech   Next Season
   5.   35   Villanova   Next Season
   6.   32   SMU   Next Season
   7.   29   Evansville   Next Season
   8.   28   Seton Hall   Next Season
   9.   26   South Dakota State   Next Season
       26   Florida State   Next Season
   11.   23   William & Mary   Next Season
   12.   22   Creighton   2/13
       22   IPFW   Next Season
   14.   18   Marshall   Next Season

Shooters Shoot
Since Greg McDermott was hired eight years ago at Creighton, the Bluejays have shot 50 percent or better from the field in 121 games. That ranks fourth nationally, trailing only Gonzaga (139), Kansas (124) and Saint Mary's (122).
   In those eight years, Gonzaga has shot 49.5 percent from the field, just ahead of Kansas (48.4%) and Creighton (48.2%). Belmont (48.2%) and Saint Mary's (48.1%) round out the top five.

Putting Up The Points
Creighton scored 116 points on Dec. 20th vs. USC Upstate, third-most in school history, and the-most ever recorded by the Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
   Creighton has now scored 116 points or more four times in the last 13 months (113 vs. Longwood; 112 vs. North Carolina State, 111 vs. North Dakota and 116 vs. USC Upstate), after not doing it a single time from 2008-09 to 2015-16.
   The school record for points in a game by Creighton is 124, done on Feb. 10, 1964 at Miami (Fla.) in a 30-point win.
   Per Basketball-Reference.com, Creighton's 20 games of 100+ points since 2010-11 (when Greg McDermott was hired) are third-most in the nation, as seen below.
Most 100+ Point Games Since 2010-11 (thru 2/4)
   Rank   100 Pt. Games   Team
   1.   28   VMI
   2.   23   North Carolina
   3.   20   Creighton
   4.   19   Indiana
       19   Charleston Southern

Silas Enters College Hoops Hall of Fame
Creighton alum Paul Silas was enshrined into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City on Sunday, November 19th.
   In addition to Silas, the elite class included Gonzaga's John Stockton, Wake Forest's Tim Duncan, Winston-Salem State's Cleo Hill, Indiana's Scott May, Purdue's Rick Mount, and Duke's Jay Williams join former Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Wisconsin-Platteville coach Bo Ryan to form the Class of 2017.
   Silas remains one of the most dominant rebounders in college basketball history. Following a season with the freshman team, Silas pulled down 1,751 rebounds for Creighton from 1961 to 1964 – a number that currently ranks sixth in Division I history and first among three-year players.
   He's also third all-time at Creighton with a career average of 20.5 points per game, and earned various All-America accolades in each of his three varsity seasons, including Academic All-America recognition from CoSIDA. The Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Famer won three NBA titles as a player in the 1970s, and later coached four different NBA franchises.
   Silas' No. 35 jersey was retired by Creighton, and he joins Bill Russell, Julius Erving, Kermit Washington and Artis Gilmore as one of five players in NCAA history to average at least 20 points (20.5) and 20 rebounds (21.6) during his college career.
   Silas owns the top 22 single-game rebounding totals in Creighton history, with a high of 38 vs. Centenary on Feb. 19, 1962.
   Silas owns more rebounds (1,751) than any player in the last 55 years (by comparison, Lehigh's Tim Kempton led all active rebounders at the end of 2016-17 with 1,095 career rebounds).
   Last year, across all of Division I, there were only 36 games where an individual grabbed 20+ rebounds. Purdue's Caleb Swanigan led all of college hoops with four games of 20+ boards.

Silas Not The First
Paul Silas is the fifth person with Creighton connections to enter the College Basketball Hall of Fame. He joined the following...
   Eddie Hickey, a 2006 inductee into the coaches wing, won 126 games as head coach at Creighton from 1935-43 and 1946-47.
   Willis Reed, a 2006 inductee as a player (at Grambling State), won 52 games as head coach at Creighton from 1981-85.
   Arthur A. Schabinger, a 2006 inductee as a contributor, won 165 games as head coach at Creighton from 1922-35.
   Eddie Sutton, a 2011 inductee into the coaches wing, won 82 games as head coach at Creighton from 1969-74.

Road Openers
Creighton improved to 5-3 under Greg McDermott in its first true road game of the season with this year's win at Northwestern, and 14-10 in the last 24 years in the initial road game.
   The road opener has been the barometer for Creighton's postseason plans in the previous nine years. Creighton has made the NCAA Tournament the four times it has won the road opener, and missed the tournament the other five seasons.
Creighton in Road Openers, Last 9 Years
Year   Opponent   Score   CU in NCAA's?
2008-09   Ark.-Little Rock   L 69-71   No (NIT)
2009-10   #21 Dayton   L 80-90   No (CIT)
2010-11   Northwestern   L 52-65   No (CBI)
2011-12   UAB   W 70-60   Yes
2012-13   Nebraska   W 64-42   Yes
2013-14   Saint Joseph's   W 83-79   Yes
2014-15   Tulsa   L 64-77   No
2015-16   #14 Indiana   L 65-86   No (NIT)
2016-17   Nebraska   W 77-62   Yes
2017-18   #20 Northwestern   W 92-88   ? ? ?

Happy Birthday, Old Man(ny)
Manny Suarez turned 24 on November 12th. He's nearly 14 months older than his next-closest teammate, Tyler Clement (Dec. 25, 1994).
   Per a list compiled by Northwestern State SID Doug Ireland, Suarez is the nation's 14th-oldest active player, with six men above him having served a church mission while in school.
NCAA's Oldest Players (as of 11/12/17)
Age (Yrs-Days)   Name, Current School   Key
   25-309   Josh Boutte, Sam Houston State
   25-275   Gibson Johnson, Hawai'i   C
   25-145   Zach Nelson, Utah Valley   C
   24-354   Isaac Neilson, Utah Valley   C
   24-347   Kyle Brown, Cornell   C
   24-298   Ron Patterson, IUPUI
   24-284   Dusty Baker, Weber State   C
   24-228   Ronald Delph, Florida Atlantic
   24-215   Jalan West, Northwestern State
   24-175   David Collette, Utah   C
   24-132   Kevin Mickle, Ohio
   24-27   Isaiah Brock, Oakland
   24-5   Peter Ryckbosch, DePaul
   24-0   Manny Suarez, Creighton
   23-346   Quinn Taylor, Utah State   C
KEY: C = served church mission

Foster Up For Naismith Award
Creighton men's basketball senior Marcus Foster has been named one of 50 candidates for the Citizen Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced. A list of 30 midseason candidates will be released on Feb. 14, 2018 before the 50th presentation of the award April 1, 2018.
   A senior from Wichita Falls, Texas, Foster was a unanimous All-BIG EAST selection last year after leading Creighton with 18.2 points per game a year ago. He ranked among the league leaders in scoring after posting the highest scoring average for a Bluejay newcomer since 1970. Foster's 638 points were the 10th-most in CU history and the most ever by a Bluejay newcomer in their debut season on the court.
   Creighton has had one previous winner of the Naismith Trophy, as Doug McDermott collected the hardware for both following the 2013-14 campaign.

Foster Up For Jerry West Award
Creighton men's basketball guard Marcus Foster is one of 20 preseason candidates for the 2018 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, which is bestowed by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
   Last year Foster was one of five finalists for the award.
   Named after Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player Jerry West, the annual honor in its fourth year recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I men's college basketball.
   Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award include Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017) Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).

Heeeeeeerrrrrreeeeee's Ronnie
Ronnie Harrell Jr.'s 15 rebounds vs. No. 23 UCLA on Nov. 20th were three more than his previous career-high, and the most by a Bluejay in any game since Doug McDermott had 15 boards vs. Tulsa on Nov. 23, 2013.
   Harrell's 14 defensive rebounds were the most by any Bluejay since Kenny Lawson Jr. had 18 rebounds (14 defensive) vs. Saint Joseph's on Dec. 11, 2010.

Nifty Fifty Leads To Postseason?
Creighton shot 58.8 percent from the floor on November 10th, the program's best mark in a season-opener since blistering UT Arlington 106-50 on 59.4 percent shooting to open the 2002-03 season.
   Creighton has made the postseason all eight times in the previous 25 seasons in which it has made at least 50 percent of its field goal attempts to open the year. The last time that didn't hold true was 1991-92, when CU shot 51.0 percent in the opener but finished just 9-19.
CU Season-Opener Field Goal Percentage Over 50%
Since 1992-93
FG%   Year   Opponent   Postseason
.541   1997-98   UMKC   NIT
.524   1998-99   Towson State   NCAA
.569   2000-01   Western Illinois   NCAA
.594   2002-03   UT Arlington   NCAA
.500   2012-13   North Texas   NCAA
.556   2013-14   Alcorn State   NCAA
.528   2015-16   Texas Southern   NIT
.508   2016-17   UMKC   NCAA
.558   2017-18   Yale   TBD

Big Margin Can Lead To Big Things
Creighton beat Yale, 92-76, in the season-opener.
   Of Creighton's 20 all-time NCAA Tournament teams, nine have scored 90 or more points in their season-opener.
   Here's a look at Creighton's last eight teams to score 90 or more in a season-opener.
               Final   Post-
   Score   Opponent   Date   W-L   Season
   92-76   Yale   11/10/17   TBD   TBD
   93-70   Texas Southern   11/14/15   20-15   NIT
   104-77   Central Arkansas   11/14/14   14-19   --
   107-61   Alcorn State   11/08/13   27-8   NCAA
   97-65   N. Carolina A&T   11/11/11   29-6   NCAA
   106-50   Texas-Arlington   11/17/02   29-5   NCAA
   96-50   Western Illinois   11/20/00   24-8   NCAA
   93-48   Towson State   11/14/98   22-9   NCAA
   93-47   UT-San Antonio   11/30/90   24-8   NCAA

CenturyLink Center Omaha Dramatics
Creighton is 7-7 in games with a game-winning go-ahead score in the final 10 seconds at CenturyLink Center Omaha, which opened in the fall of 2003.
Creighton's Go-Ahead Scores in Wins at CLCO, Last 10 Seconds
Date   Opponent   Score   Player/Score   Time
11/26/05   Dayton   W 91-90*   Funk FG   :5.7
01/28/06   Wichita St.   W 57-55   Tolliver FG   :0.0
11/25/06   George Mason   W 58-56   Watts FT   :7.5
03/18/08   Rhode Island   W 74-73   Witter 3FG   :3.2
01/13/10   Southern Illinois   W 71-69   Young FG   :1.3
02/18/12   Long Beach St.   W 81-79   Young FG   :0.3
01/28/14   St. John's   W 63-60   McDermott 3FG   :2.8
*double-overtime

Opponent Go-Ahead Scores in CU Losses at CLCO, Last 10 Seconds
Date   Opponent   Score   Player/Score   Time
03/20/06   Miami (Fla.)   L 53-52   G. Diaz FT   :2.6
01/20/07   Southern Illinois   L 58-57   B. Mullins FG   :4.1
01/10/15   #19 Seton Hall   L 68-67   S. Gibbs 3FG   :2.2
02/16/15   #19 Butler   L 58-56   R. Jones FG   :1.9
03/07/15   Xavier   L 74-73   D. Davis FT's   :6.3
01/12/16   #12 Providence   L 50-48   K. Dunn FG   :0.0
02/22/17   Providence   L 68-66   K. Cartwright 3FG   :2.4

Two Of The Best
A pair of Creighton players were ranked among the best in college basketball in preseason rankings of top-100 players.
   CBSSports.com lists Marcus Foster as the nation's 31st-best player and Khyri Thomas as 70th-best.
   NBCSports.com listed Foster as the No. 21 player, and Thomas as 67th-best nationally.
   ESPN.com did a list of the nation's top 50 players, and Foster finished 30th in that voting.

#ProJays
For the first time since 1969-70, Creighton has four NBA players at the same time as Kyle Korver (Cleveland Cavaliers), Anthony Tolliver (Detroit Pistons), Doug McDermott (New York Knicks) and Justin Patton (Minnesota Timberwolves) are all in the league.
   Including 2017-18, Creighton has now had an NBA player in 34 of the last 35 years.
   Korver ranks fourth in NBA history with 2,162 three-pointers and is seventh in league history with 43.07 percent marksmanship from three-point range (through February 4). He set a single-season NBA mark that still stands with his 53.6 percent shooting from three-point range in 2009-10, and is the only player in league history to lead the NBA in three-point percentage four times. Korver is averaging 9.1 points per game this year and shooting 42.5 percent from downtown.
   Tolliver is averaging 7.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game this season for the Pistons, his 11th NBA organization.
   McDermott is in his fourth season in the NBA, and first with the New York Knicks. He was traded to the Knicks with Enes Kanter in exchange for All-Star Carmelo Anthony. McDermott is averaging 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season.
   Creighton's newest NBA product is Justin Patton, who is now with the Minnesota Timberwolves organization but currently healing a broken foot. Patton redshirted in 2015-16 before turning pro and being the 16th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. Patton was then part of the Jimmy Butler trade to end up in Minneapolis, and on December 24th was recalled to the Timberwolves from the G-League affiliate in Des Moines, only to be sent down two days later.
   Patton will become the 14th different player in history with Creighton ties to play in the NBA.
   The two-day stretch in December marked the first time since 1969-70 that Creighton has had four NBA players at the same time.

Among The Nation's Best
Below is where Creighton ranks nationally in the since Greg McDermott took over in 2010-11, per Basketball-Reference.com, through games of February 4th.
2010-11 to Present
Category   Stat   NCAA Rank
FG Percentage   .482   3rd
3FG Percentage   .387   3rd
3FG Made   2,317   4th
Assists   4,412   5th
FG Made   7,326   13th
Wins   183   29th
Winning Percentage   .675   35th

Racking Up The Victories
In 99 previous seasons of Bluejay Basketball, last season was the sixth team to earn 25 or more wins.
   Of Creighton's six seasons in history with 25 or more wins, Greg McDermott has coached four of those in the previous six years.
Most Creighton MBB Wins, Season
       Pre   Pre-Post   Postseason
Year   Final W-L   Tourney   Season   Tournament
2002-03   29-5   26-4   29-4   NCAA
2011-12   29-6   25-5   28-5   NCAA
2012-13   28-8   24-7   27-7   NCAA
2008-09   27-8   25-6   26-7   NIT
2013-14   27-8   24-6   26-7   NCAA
2016-17   25-10   23-8   25-9   NCAA
1990-91   24-8   20-7   23-7   NCAA
2000-01   24-8   23-6   24-7   NCAA
1921-22   23-5   23-5   23-5   didn't exist
1973-74   23-7   21-7   21-7   NCAA
2001-02   23-9   19-8   22-8   NCAA
1999-00   23-10   20-9   23-9   NCAA
2004-05   23-11   20-10   23-10   NCAA
2010-11   23-16   18-14   19-15   CBI
*Bold italics indicates Greg McDermott teams

All-Tourney Duo
Creighton's Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas were both named to the 2017 Hall of Fame Classic All-Tournament Team in November.
   Foster averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in two games in Kansas City, while Thomas averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the championship rounds.
   Foster has now played in three tournaments since coming to Creighton, and been named All-Tournament in each one, as he was recognized last season in the Paradise Jam (MVP) as well as the BIG EAST Tournament.

Going For 20, Again
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 17 of the last 19 seasons (entering 2017-18), a feat that puts the Jays among an exclusive group, nationally.
   Just three schools nationally have had 20 or more wins each of the last 19 years: Duke, Gonzaga and Kansas.
   Kentucky and Florida have each done it in 18 of the last 19 seasons.
   Along with Arizona, Syracuse and Xavier, Creighton is one of four schools with 20 or more wins in exactly 17 of the past 19 years.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go
Creighton averaged 81.83 points per game in 2016-17, and its 2,864 points a year ago were a school-record. This year's team is averaging 86.5 points per game.
   Greg McDermott is 53-2 as a Division I head coach when his teams score 90 or more points, including a 47-2 mark on the Creighton sideline.
   Creighton is 62-2 all-time when scoring 100 points or more, including 35 straight wins since a 1977 loss to North Texas State.

Preseason BIG EAST Poll
Creighton was picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST Conference according to a preseason poll of league coaches. Villanova was picked first with 80 points and eight first-place votes, while Seton Hall and Xavier, Providence round out the top four. After Creighton, St. John's, Marquette, Butler, Georgetown and DePaul rounded out the bottom half.
   Creighton guard Marcus Foster was named Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, while Khyri Thomas was picked to be a Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention choice.
   Since the reconfiguration of the BIG EAST in 2013, Creighton, Providence and Villanova are the only teams to meet or exceed their poll prediction each season.

McDermott Ranks Second On CU Wins List
Greg McDermott currently has 183 victories at Creighton, good for second place on CU's all-time wins list.
   McDermott's .675 winning percentage is Creighton's best since Arthur A. Schabinger's .714 win rate more 80 years ago.
   Below is a list of the most victorious Creighton coaches in program history.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton History
Rk.   W-L   Name   Years
1.   327-176   Dana Altman   1994-2010
2.   183-88   Greg McDermott    2010-Pres.
3.   165-66   Arthur A. Schabinger    1922-35
4.   138-118   John J. "Red" McManus    1959-69
5.   130-64   Tom Apke   1974-81

Top-20 Crowds
Here's a look at Creighton's top-20 home crowds all-time.
      Rank   Att.   Opponent   Date
   1.   18,868   Providence   03/08/14
   2.   18,859   Georgetown   01/25/14
   3.   18,831   #1 Villanova   12/31/16
   4.   18,797   #6 Villanova   02/16/14
   5.   18,742   Seton Hall   02/23/14
   6.   18,735   Wichita State   02/11/12
   7.   18,613   Wichita State   03/02/13
   8.   18,525   Marquette   12/31/13
   9.   18,518   Georgetown   01/27/18
   10.   18,494   Illinois State   02/09/13
   11.   18,458   Evansville   12/29/12
   12.   18,436   Bradley   01/28/12
   13.   18,323   DePaul   02/07/14
   14.   18,160   Central Arkansas   11/14/14
   15.   18,145   Marquette   01/21/17
   16.   18,111   Bradley   02/02/13
   17.   18,084   Seton Hall   12/28/16
   18.   18,078   Tulsa   11/23/13
   19.   18,073   Drake   01/08/13
   20.   18,032   #12 Butler   01/11/17

BIG EAST Playing Big
Though the BIG EAST may not be considered of the traditional "Football 5" Conferences due to its lack of big time football, the performance of the league has been big time for a long time.
   The league has owned a top-five RPI in the NCAA RPI rankings in every season since 2000-01, as seen below:
BIG EAST in Conference RPI Rankings (after 2/4)
2017-18:   1st (via WarrenNolan.com)
2016-17:   3rd
2015-16:   4th
2014-15:   3rd
2013-14:   4th
2012-13:   2nd
2011-12:   2nd
2010-11:   1st
2009-10:   3rd
2008-19:   4th
2007-08:   5th
2006-07:   5th
2005-06:   3rd
2004-05:   2nd
2003-04:   4th
2002-03:   5th
2001-02:   3rd
2000-01:   3rd

Home Run
Since Greg McDermott took over in 2010, Creighton is averaging 80.37 points per home game (10,930 points in 136 home games), a figure that climbs to 85.19 points in non-conference home games (5,878 points in 69 home games).
   Creighton is 94-2 all-time at CenturyLink Center Omaha when scoring 80 or points and has won 88 straight non-conference home games when scoring 80 or more points, dating to a 90-85 loss to Nebraska on Dec. 7, 1991.

Eight Out Of 19 Tourney Titles
Creighton owns eight league tournament titles in the last 19 years. On a national basis, the only schools that can claim this are Gonzaga (15), Duke (11), Winthrop (10), Kentucky (9), Creighton (8), Kansas (8) and New Mexico State (8).

Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season went on sale on October 18th.
   Fans can purchase single-game tickets at CenturyLink Center Omaha Box Office, Ryan Athletic Center, by calling Ticketmaster or visiting Ticketmaster.com, and charging by phone at (800) 745-3000. Only upper bowl seats will be available for any regular-season game.
   For more information, call the Creighton Ticket Office at (402) 280-JAYS.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tyler Clement

Jacob Epperson

Marcus Foster

Ronnie Harrell Jr.

Toby Hegner

Martin Krampelj

Jordan Scurry

Manny Suarez

Khyri Thomas