First-Place Bluejays Host Bradley Friday in Women's Hoops
1/20/2010 10:17:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game 16 vs. Bradley • Friday, Jan. 22 • 7:05 p.m.
Bradley Braves at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 1180 AM, www.koilam1180.com • Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Creighton leads 32-6
Last Meeting: Bradley won 75-67, Feb. 19, 2009 in Peoria
• The game can be heard on KOIL AM 1180 in Omaha and online at www.koilam1180.com. Brad Burwell and Sara Cizek Going will call the action.
• Live stats for this game and all home games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
• Live video for all home games are available for an annual fee of $69.95 or a monthly fee of $11.95. More information is available at www.gocreighton.com.
• Fans are invited to a pregame spaghetti feed at the Billy Blues Alumni Grill (inside the Harper Center, 20th & California on campus) before Friday's game. The event runs from 5-7 p.m. and costs just $5 for adults and $3 for CU students and children.
• Creighton's last four wins have come by an average of 28.5 points, with none closer than 22 points.
• Kellie Nelson was named the MVC Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 21 points and shooting 17-of-20 (.850) from the field in Creighton's two road wins last week.
• Nelson is leading the Jays with 17.2 points per game in her last five contests.
• Megan Neuvirth needs five rebounds to move into second place on the CU career rebounding charts.
• Chevelle Herring averaged 17.5 points and made 9-of-17 (.529) three-pointers against Bradley last year.
• Creighton is 32-6 all-time against Bradley, but just 4-3 in the last seven meetings. CU owns a 15-3 edge in games played in Omaha.
Scouting the Bluejays
The Bluejays are the preseason favorites in the MVC, returning seven letterwinners and four starters from last year's team which finished 22-12 and advanced to the WNIT for the fifth time in seven years ... CU leads the league and ranks 12th in the NCAA with 8.0 three-pointers per game ... Four Bluejays are averaging double figures, led by MVC Preseason Player of the Year, senior forward Megan Neuvirth, who is the reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year. Neuvirth leads the team with 12.7 points and 2.3 steals per game and tops all active MVC players in career rebounds (820) and steals (246) ... Junior forward Sam Schuett tops the team in rebounds (7.9) and free-throw percentage (.854) ... Schuett and junior center Kellie Nelson are tied for the team-lead with 14.7 ppg in MVC play ... Junior guard Kelsey Woodard has 175 career three-pointers, including a team-best 35 this year... Senior point guard Chevelle Herring, a second-team all-MVC honoree last year, leads the team with 2.8 assists per game.
Scouting the Braves
Bradley has won five of its last seven games and three straight MVC contests after an 0-2 Valley start ... Eleven active Braves average at least 12 minutes per game ... The Braves lead the MVC in rebounding (43.1), rebounding margin (+7.1), blocked shots (5.4) and field goal percent defense (.370) ... BU ranks last in the league in free-throw percentage (.605) and turnover margin (-7.4), committing a league-high 23.3 turnovers per game ... Freshman Katie Yohn leads the team with 10.1 points per game – the only Brave in double figures – and tops the team with 30 three-pointers ... Raisa Taylor averages 9.1 points and leads the team with 35 assists and 21 steals ... Sonya Harris adds 7.5 points and team-leading 9.7 rebounds and 33 blocked shots.
The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) is in his eighth season as head coach, where he has led his team to five WNIT postseason appearances and four 20-win seasons. He owns a career record of 141-97 (.592). In 2003 he became the winningest rookie coach in school and MVC history and led the Jays to the 2004 WNIT Championship. Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. He is 11-3 all-time against Bradley. Bradley is coached by former UNO head coach Paula Buscher (Missouri State, 1986). Buscher, the dean of MVC coaches and 2009 MVC Coach of the Year is 124-150 (.453) in her 10th season with the Braves, while she is 167-188 (.470) in her 13th year as a collegiate head coach.
CU-BU Series History
Creighton has dominated the all-time series with Bradley, as the Bluejays own a 32-6 lead in the series. The Jays are 15-3 against BU in Omaha, including three straight wins at home. The Jays are 4-3 against BU since the Braves snapped an 18-game losing streak in the series in 2006.
Last Year Against Bradley
The Bluejays and Braves split the season series with each team winning on its home court. CU won 61-46 in Omaha last Jan. 25 before losing 75-67 in East Peoria last February. Chevelle Herring scored 20 points and Kelsey Crites had a career-high 10 rebounds in the win. Bradley did not make a field goal for the first 7:26 of the second half as the Jays built on their halftime lead. The Jays led by as many as 21 points in the win, while Herring tied a career-high with five three-pointers. At BU, the Jays surrendered a regular-season high 75 points in an eight-point loss that snapped CU's 11-game winning streak. Kelsey Woodard scored 17 of her team-best 19 points in the first half. The roles were reversed in the CU loss, as the Jays suffered a nearly six-minute field goal drought early in the second half, allowing BU to pull away. BU led by as many as 19 as all five Brave starters scored double figures. CU was 18-of-45 (.400) from three-point range combined in the two games.
Bluejay Individuals vs. Braves
Chevelle Herring averaged 17.5 points against Bradley last year to raise her career scoring average against BU to 12.4 points in five meetings. She is 12-for-25 (.480) from three-point range against the Braves. Kelsey Woodard averaged 16.5 points against BU last year and averages 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game against the Braves in her career. Sam Schuett averaged a double-double against BU as a freshman in 2006-07 (12.5 p, 11 r), while she averages 9.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game against the Braves in her career. Megan Neuvirth averages 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game against Bradley.
Nelson Named MVC Player of the Week
Kellie Nelson was named the MVC Player of the Week on Jan. 18 after two career-high scoring games at Evansville (Jan. 14) and Southern Illinois (Jan. 16). The center scored 19 points at UE and followed with 24 points at SIU. For the week she made 17-of-20 (.850) shots from the field and averaged 21.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Nelson Ratings
Junior center Kellie Nelson is Creighton's leading scorer over its last five games, averaging 17.2 points per game in that span – better than her previous career-high of 16 set as a freshman. She is shooting 68.1 percent from the field in that time, making 32-of-47 shoots from the floor, while she is 22-of-30 at the free-throw line for 73.3 percent. Over her last five games she has twice set a new career-high in scoring (19 at Evansville, 24 at SIU), set a career-high with nine field goals at SIU, blocked a career-high four shots against Wichita State and set career-highs going 9-for-12 at the free-throw line against Missouri State.
Winning Big
Creighton's last home victory was its largest MVC win in school history and the largest margin of victory under Jim Flanery (89-48 over Wichita State, Jan. 7). Two of Creighton's last three road wins have been the largest road winning margin by the Jays under Flanery. CU's last four wins have come by an average of 28.5 points per game, with none closer than 22 points. Even with a 15-point loss on its ledger in Valley play, the Jays are out-scoring MVC opponents 71.2 to 52.8, a margin of 18.3 points.
Life on the Road
Creighton has enjoyed life on the road in the MVC thus far, winning its first four Valley road games by an average of 21 points. CU's 26-point win at Evansville last week was its largest margin of victory in a road game under Jim Flanery, topping its 25-point win over Illinois State in its previous road win. The Jays' last three road wins have come by at least 22 points and an average of 24.3. Creighton's 84 points at SIU last Saturday marked its most points scored in a road game since an 89-79 win at Memphis on Dec. 6, 2006.
Balanced Attack
Four players are now averaging double figures on the season for the Bluejays, led by Megan Neuvirth's 12.7 points. Five Bluejays scored in double figures in their win at Southern Illinois (Jan. 16), the first time the Jays had five players with at least 10 points since six players reached that mark against Missouri State on Jan. 8, 2009.
Neuvirth's Knee
All Bluejay fans held their collective breath when Megan Neuvirth left the game at Evansville (Jan. 14) with about two minutes remaining in the first half, heading straight to the locker room with an apparent right knee injury. Neuvirth did not return to the court in the second half at UE. After a limited practice on Jan. 15 she was back in the lineup at Southern Illinois (Jan. 16), notching her second double-double of the year with 12 rebounds, 10 points and season-high six assists in 32 minutes.
The Rebounding Record
With 820 boards, Megan Neuvirth needs just five rebounds to move past Shannon Struby's 824 and into second place on the Creighton career rebounding chart. She is currently 124 rebounds shy of the school record 924 set by Pam Gradoville. Should Neuvirth continue to average the 7.1 boards per game she is currently pulling down and the Bluejays play at least three postseason games, she is on pace to become the leading rebounder in school history.
Sam's Streak
Junior forward Sam Schuett enters the weekend having made her last 26 free-throw attempts to move her percentage to a team-best 85.4 at the stripe. She has made her first 16 attempts in league play to lead the MVC. The MVC record for consecutive free-throws made is 53, while Schuett is just one make shy of cracking the MVC top-10 for consecutive freebies made. She has not missed a free-throw since going 5-for-6 at Kansas (Dec. 13).
At Home in The Valley
Creighton is 17-3 at home in MVC play since the start of the 2007-08 season, going 8-1 in both of the previous two seasons. Prior to their loss to Missouri State (Jan. 9), they were 17-0 in Valley play at home against teams not from Des Moines in that span, as Drake handed the Jays their lone MVC home loss in both 2007-08 and 2008-09. CU will look to avoid multiple home MVC losses for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
Home is Where the Wins Are
The Bluejays have won 16 of their last 19 home games and are 77-26 (.748) at home under Jim Flanery. The Jays are now 71-22 (.763) all-time on-campus (5-2 at D.J Sokol Arena, 26-12 at Kiewit Fitness Center and 40-8 at Vinardi Athletic Center). The Bluejays played 301 of their first 428 recorded home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium where they posted a 213-88 (.708) record. Despite all of the moving, Creighton has managed to post a 316-119 (.726) recorded home record all-time at 12 different “home” sites.
Top-Ranked Defense
Creighton's defense ranks atop the MVC, allowing just 58.7 points per game, including just 52.8 in Valley play. The Jays allowed just 45.3 points per game in their first three MVC games before Missouri State scored 82 on Jan. 9. MSU snapped a streak of six straight games where CU's MVC opponents failed to reach 50 points. Over that six-game span, the Jays allowed just 43.2 points per game.
Defensive Lapse
Creighton allowed Missouri State to score 82 points on Jan. 9, the most points scored by a Bluejay opponent in more than two years. No Bluejay foe had reached 80 points in a game since Kansas scored 91 points on Nov. 27, 2007. The 82 points were the most scored by a Bluejay foe in MVC play since Indiana State's 89 points on Dec. 31, 2006 and the most scored by a Bluejay visitor since Wichita State had 83 (in a CU win) on Jan. 7, 2006.
Turnovers to Points
In CU's losses this year, the Jays have been out-scored 116-71 (-45) in points off turnovers for an average of minus-nine points per loss. In wins, the Jays own a 175-118 (+57) edge in points off turnovers, an average of plus-5.7 per win.
Bluejays Set School Record for FG%
Creighton shot a school record 64 percent from the field in their win over Wichita State (Jan. 7), surpassing the old mark of 63.9 percent set at Bradley on Jan. 24, 1994. The Bluejays made 32-of-50 shots, including 16-of-22 (.727) in the second-half of the record-setting performance. It proved to be Creighton's best shooting performance since shooting 63.2 percent from the field at Bradley on Feb. 8, 1996.
Neuvirth Reaches 1,000 Career Points
Senior forward Megan Neuvirth became the 20th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points when she made a layup early in the second half against Wichita State (Jan. 7). She's the first new member of the 1,000-point club since Ally Thrall in 2008 and is now ranked 19th in school history with 1,037 career points.
Largest Valley Win
Creighton's 89-48 win over Wichita State (Jan. 7) marked the largest winning margin in an MVC game in school history, besting the 37-point margin over Missouri State on Jan. 6, 2002. The margin was also the largest in any game under head coach Jim Flanery, just one game after the Jays notched their largest winning margin in a road game under Flan (+25 at Illinois State) – only to see that road winning margin topped at Evansville (+26) on Jan. 14.
MVC Home Openers
Creighton moved to 14-4 all-time in its first MVC home game of the season, including 7-1 under Jim Flanery with an 89-48 win over Wichita State (Jan. 7). Creighton has won eight of its last nine MVC home debuts. The Jays' average winning margin in their last three MVC home openers is 35.3 points.
Team Highs
Creighton established numerous season-highs in its 89-48 win over Wichita State (Jan. 7). The Jays had season highs in points (89), points in a half (45), field goals (32), assists (25), field goal percentage (.640) and three-point percentage (.583).
Live and Die by the Three
Creighton ranks 12th in the NCAA with 8.0 three-pointers per game, but the Jays have done considerably better from long range in wins than losses. CU is shooting 39.5 percent (98-248) from three-point range, an average of 9.8 threes per game, in wins. In losses, the Jays have made only 22-of-87 for 25.3 percent at an average of 4.4 per game.
Schuett Named MVC Player of the Week
Junior Sam Schuett enjoyed her return to MVC play for the first time in two years by being named MVC Player of the Week (Jan. 4) after averaging 17 points and nine rebounds in wins at Indiana State (Dec. 31) and Illinois State (Jan. 2) to open the MVC season. Against the Sycamores, Schuett scored a season-high 19 points and made a career-best five three-point field goals. At Illinois State she had 15 points and a career-best 14 rebounds for her second double-double of the season, eighth career.
Holy Schuett
Forward Sam Schuett has recorded three double-doubles in her last five games, including 13 points and 11 rebounds at Evansville (Jan. 14). She also posted back-to-back double-doubles, with 15 points and career-best 14 rebounds at Illinois State (Jan. 2) and 12 points and 13 rebounds against Wichita State (Jan. 7). Schuett averaged a double-double through three MVC games at 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She enters the week shooting 50 percent (28-56) from the field, 45.7 percent (16-35) from three-point range and is a perfect 16-for-16 at the free-throw line in MVC play, while leading the team with 14.7 points and 8.8 boards in Valley play.
By the Boards
Creighton out-rebounded Wichita State 42-20 on Jan. 7, the largest rebounding margin by the Bluejays since they were plus-23 against Evansville on Feb. 17, 2008. Sam Schuett actually out-rebounded the Shockers in the first half 9-7, as WSU did not have a rebound until nearly six minutes into the contest. WSU's 20 boards were the fewest by an opponent under Jim Flanery and the fewest dating back to box scores through 1991-92.
Flan Likes Jan.
Head coach Jim Flanery are 4-1 this January, moving Flan's record in the month to 44-17 (.721) all-time. It is by far his most successful month, as his next best winning percentage in a single month is .636 (March). His all-time record in the other four months of the basketball season is 97-80 (.548).
Toughest Schedule, Best RPI in MVC
Creighton has once again managed to put together the most difficult schedule in the Missouri Valley Conference. CU's strength of schedule (SOS) peaked at 11 on Jan. 10, but it still remains the best in the MVC at 40. The Jays' MVC-best RPI is 47, dropping 15 spots after wins over Evansville (304) and Southern Illinois (272) last week. The average SOS of the nine MVC teams outside of Creighton is 152 – including three teams with an SOS of worse than 200. Bradley's SOS this week is a league-worst 239, while its RPI stands at 215. (All figures according to CollegeRPI.com through games on Jan. 18).
Three For All
Creighton continues to lead the MVC and ranks 12th in the NCAA this week with 8.0 three-point field goals per game. Of the Bluejays' 15 field goals at Indiana State (Dec. 31), 11 were three-pointers and they followed with 10 more at Illinois State. They have now posted back-to-back games with at least 10 three-pointers twice this year and six times under Jim Flanery. The Bluejays are 5-0 this year when making at least 10 three-pointers and 29-11 when making 10-plus threes under Flanery.
Jays Post Largest Road Wins Since 2002
Creighton's 25-point win (69-44) at Illinois State (Jan. 2) was the largest winning margin in a Bluejay road game since Jan. 14, 2002 and the largest under head coach Jim Flanery. That mark stood for 12 days, before the Jays won at Evansville (Jan. 14) 63-37 for a 26-point winning margin. The previous best road margin under Flan was a 23-point win at UC Irvine (80-57) on Dec. 20, 2002. The Jays did post a 27-point win against Stephen F. Austin on a neutral court in Nov. 2003. CU has logged 22 20-plus point victories under Flanery, including seven on the road.
Next to 1,000?
Kelsey Woodard and Chevelle Herring hope to join Megan Neuvirth with 1,000 career points this year and in doing so will become the first trio of Bluejays to reach the 1,000 point plateau in the same season. Woodard currently has 957 points and Herring has 921. Woodard is aiming to become the first junior to reach 1,000 career points at CU since Angie Janis did so in 2004-05.
Steady Chevy
Chevelle Herring had a solid four-assist, zero-turnover game for the Bluejays in their win at Illinois State (Jan. 2), marking the first time in her career she had more than two assists in a game with zero turnovers. It was also just the second time in her last 47 games she did not have a turnover and the sixth time in her career finishing without a turnover while playing at least 20 minutes.
Let's Be Frank
Senior forward Katie Frank earned her first career start at UC Davis on Nov. 27, after coming off the bench in her first 73 career games. She's been helpful this season, with 17 assists in 15 games, including a career-best four against Wichita State (Jan. 7). She has already eclipsed her single-season high of eight helpers, which she needed 31 games to reach last year. She had 13 career assists in 69 games, before dishing 17 this year.
Good Losses?
Creighton lost its final three non-conference games, but each of the three opponents were ranked in the top 25. The average RPI of the four teams CU lost to in non-conference play is currently 16.5 – Nebraska (4), Oklahoma (6), Kansas (29) and Marquette (27).
Career Milestone Updates
• Sam Schuett recorded her 500th career rebound against Wichita State (Jan. 7).
• Schuett is six three-pointers shy of becoming the 15th player at CU with 100 career three-point field goals.
• Megan Neuvirth started the season ranked sixth in school history with 211 career steals, but now ranks fifth with 246 swipes.
• Neuvirth grabbed her 800th career rebound against Missouri State (Jan. 9), ranking third in CU history with 820 after starting the season ranked seventh with 714 boards.
• Neuvirth became the 20th player in CU history to score 1,000 career points, doing so against Wichita State (Jan. 7) and she now ranks 19th in CU history in scoring.
• Kelsey Woodard became the eighth player in school history to reach 150 career three-point field goals earlier this season, and has moved from eighth into fifth in CU history with 175 career triples.
• Woodard scored her 900th point at Indiana State (Dec. 31).
• Chevelle Herring scored her 900th career point against Oklahoma (Dec. 20).
Bluejays & Bison Can't Beat Blizzard
The Christmas Blizzard that hit much of the midwest cost Creighton its final non-conference game of the season, as its game with North Dakota State on Dec. 28 was cancelled. The contest was called off when NDSU notified Creighton it was unable to get its players back to Fargo from Christmas break in time to make the trip down I-29 to Omaha. The teams were unable to find a suitable date to reschedule this year and the Bison will be put back on the Creighton home schedule next season. Fans with tickets to that game can redeem them for any home game this season.
Jensen Ties School Record
Freshman Ally Jensen tied a school record by making a three-point field goal in each of her first seven career games. The guard equalled the school mark established by Laura Spanheimer in 2001-02, before going 0-for-2 from long range at Kansas (Dec. 13).
Hot Starts
Creighton got off to one of its best starts under eighth-year head coach Jim Flanery this year. CU's 5-1 start was its best start through six games since the 2000-01 team opened 5-1. At 5-2, the Jays matched the 2002-03 team, which went on to open the year 9-2. Of the previous seven teams to open the season with at least four wins in their first five games, six have gone on to win at least 20 games.
Neuvirth's High-Scoring Double-Double
Megan Neuvirth grabbed her 14th career double-double, first of the season, at Nebraska (Dec. 9), finishing one point shy of a career-high with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Her 11 field goals and 21 field goal attempts were both career-highs.
Record Setting Day From Long Range
Creighton tied and set school records and tied an MVC record in its 63-61 overtime win at UC Davis on Nov. 27. The Bluejays unloaded a school-record 41 three-point attempts (surpassing the former mark by four), which also tied the MVC record set by Illinois State against Air Force on Nov. 26, 2003. CU tied the school record by making 16 three-pointers, originally done against Oral Roberts on Dec. 16, 1989. The 16 treys tie for the fourth-most ever by an MVC team.
More Three Info
In Creighton's record-tying effort against UC Davis, the Bluejays made 10-of-20 three-point shots in the first half alone. But it was after halftime they truly relied on the three-ball, as the Jays did not make any “two-point” field goals in the second half, all of their 15 points came from behind the arc and their only non-three-point field goal after halftime was Kelsey Woodard's game-winning, left-handed layup at the buzzer in overtime. Woodard finished 6-for-12 from three-point range, while Sam Schuett made four, Ally Jensen added three, Chevelle Herring had two and Megan Neuvirth had one triple to contribute to tying the school record.
Not Done With 3FG Notes Just Yet
Creighton's 55 three-pointers through its first five games were the most ever in a five-game span in school history. In addition to the school-record tying 16 triples at UC Davis (Nov. 27), the Bluejays also set a school record for three-pointers in a two-game span, draining 28 over its first two games this year – 13 against Arkansas State (Nov. 13) and 15 against Davidson (Nov. 15).
Pulling Rank
The Bluejays played three straight ranked teams from Dec. 9-20, losing to No. 24 Nebraska, No. 23 Kansas and No. 15 Oklahoma. The Jays are 1-12 against the top-25 under Jim Flanery.
The State of Basketball in Nebraska
Creighton's starting lineup every game this year has featured all Nebraska natives – the first time in recorded school history the Bluejays have started five home state players. In fact, seven of CU's 10 players on this year's roster are from Nebraska – Bellevue natives Chevelle Herring (East) and Kelsey Woodard (West), Omaha products Jasmin Corbin (Millard West) Kellie Nelson (Westside) and Sam Schuett (Millard West), along with Katie Frank (South Sioux City) and Megan Neuvirth (West Point Central Catholic).
It's Raining Threes
Creighton made 28 three-pointers in its first two games of the season – setting a school record for three-pointers in a two-game span. The previous mark also came in the first two contests of a season, when the 2004-05 team drained 27 threes (14,13) in its first two games. The Jays have now made at least 10 three-pointers in a game 38 times under Jim Flanery (since 2002-03).
Sam She Is
Junior Sam Schuett has returned to her rebounding form after missing all of last year while taking a medical redshirt because of an ankle injury. The Omaha native is averaging 11.9 points and leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per game. She has five games with at least 10 rebounds and has four double-doubles to lead the team this year.
Cleaning the Glass
Creighton owned a 53-36 rebounding edge over Arkansas State (Nov. 13) in its season-opener, including an impressive 36-16 advantage in the first half. CU's 53 boards were its most in a regulation contest since nabbing 53 rebounds against Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 10, 2005.
The 20-20-20 Precedent
Creighton has won at least 20 games in each of its previous two seasons. Taking a look at CU history, every time the Jays have won 20 games in a season, it has come in groups of at least three – winning at least 20 in three straight years (1985-87), four straight years (1991-94), three straight years (2002-04) and now two straight (2008-09) – setting a standard for this year's team to live up to.
Welcome to a Home!
Creighton's season-opener marked its first regular-season home game on campus since March 7, 1992 – an 81-69 win over Wyoming in the Vinardi Athletic Center (Old Gym). The 1991-92 team played four of its 14 home games at the Old Gym.
About the New Facility
Creighton will play all of its home games at the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena this year, a 75,600 square-foot facility which seats approximately 2,950 fans. In addition to the arena, the facility also includes a locker room, weight room and training room for the student-athletes and houses coaches' offices, meeting rooms, athletic staff offices, a media work room and much more. More information can be found on the facility in the first four pages of the 2009-10 Women's Basketball Media Guide.
Last Home Game of the 00's
Creighton's loss to No. 15 Oklahoma on Dec. 20 proved to be its final home game of the decade. The Jays enjoyed their most successful decade at home in school history, winning 101 of their 135 home games for a .748 winning percentage from 2000 to 2009.
Creighton Home Records by Decade
W L Pct.
1970s 30 12 .714
1980s 91 37 .711
1990s 93 35 .727
2000s 101 34 .748
Decade Breakdown
Creighton's 185 wins last decade were the most of any decade in school history, topping the 1990s 177 wins. The Jays posted a .595 winning percentage in the 00s compared to a .621 winning percentage in the 90s. See the chart below:
Bluejays by Decade
W L Pct.
2000s 185 125 .597
1990s 177 108 .621
1980s 151 132 .534
1970s 60 52 .536
Decade of Success
In the recently concluded decade, the Bluejays won 59.7 percent of their games, going 185-125. The only MVC team to win more last decade was Drake, with 191 wins and a 61.9 winning percentage.
Preseason Picks
The Bluejays have been picked as the preseason favorites in the MVC preseason poll as voted on by league coaches, media and sports information directors. CU received 34 of a possible 40 first-place votes and 393 of 400 points in the poll. This marks just the third time in 18 seasons as MVC members that the Jays are preseason favorites. CU was picked to win the title in 2002-03 and would go on to share the regular-season crown that year. The 1994-95 team was also picked first, but would finish fourth.
Welcome to Creighton
The Bluejays welcome two freshmen to the team this season. Jasmin Corbin is a Omaha Millard West product, where the 5-foot-6 guard played for one season alongside redshirt junior Sam Schuett. Corbin had 10 points, making 3-of-6 three-pointers in CU's exhibition. Ally Jensen, from Ames, Iowa, attended Ballard High School, where the 5-foot-7 guard owns school records for career three-pointers (220) and steals (261).
Exhibition Summary
Creighton played just one exhibition game for the third time in the last four years, but also played a closed door scrimmage at Iowa on Nov. 1. The Bluejays defeated Nebraska-Omaha, 80-57, on Nov. 5 at D.J. Sokol Arena. Kelsey Woodard's 17 points led five Bluejays in double figures, as all 10 CU players played at least 12 minutes in the game. Megan Neuvirth led the team with seven rebounds and six steals, while Kelsey Crites came off the bench to lead the Jays with five assists.
