Men's Basketball to Host Kennesaw State on Friday
11/24/2010 5:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game #5 vs. Kennesaw State • Friday, Nov. 26, 2010 • 7:05 p.m.
Kennesaw State Owls at Creighton Bluejays
Qwest Center Omaha (17,260) • Omaha, Neb.
Radio: KXSP 590 AM, www.bigsports590.com
Television: None
Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Next Game
Creighton (3-1) closes play in the Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge on Friday with a home game against Kennesaw State (2-4).
Tip-off at Qwest Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb. is set for 7:05 pm.
Radio Broadcast Information
KXSP (“Big Sports 590” AM) will broadcast all Creighton men's basketball games during the 2010-11 season. T. Scott Marr and former Bluejay Nick Bahe will call the action. The audio is also webcast live at www.bigsports590.com.
Television Broadcast Information
Friday's game will not be televised. It is scheduled to have a courtside monitor.
Video Webcast Available
Creighton University Athletics and Jump TV will present a live, pay-per-view video webcast of approximately 15 games this season, including Friday. To sign up for the video webcast, fans can register at http://www.gocreighton.com. Cost for a monthly pass is $10.95 and a four-month pass is $34.95.
Once registered, fans will only need to log-in with their password on game night. The video stream, which will include an audio simulcast of the Big Sports 590 (or KMTV) broadcast, begins approximately 15 minutes before tipoff featuring live video of Qwest Center Omaha and the audio of the Big Sports 590 pre-game show.
Live Stats Information
All of Creighton's games this season will have free live stats. Visit www.gocreighton.com and click on the Live Stats tab on the left-hand side of the page for links the exact link.
Home games can also be followed by those who have mobile devices with internet capability at www.gocreightonstats.com.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton is off to a 3-1 start after picking up home wins over Alabama State, Northern Arizona and Louisiana to start the season, and a tough last-second loss vs. Iowa State in Des Moines last Sunday.
The Bluejays have outrebounded foes by an average of 2.6 caroms per contest and outscored opponents 77-23 at the line through four games.
Junior guard Antoine Young (16.5 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 4.0 apg.), freshman forward Doug McDermott (13.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg.) and senior center Kenny Lawson Jr. (14.0 ppg., 7.5 rpg.) have each scored in double-figures in all four games.
Senior swingman Darryl Ashford (9.5 ppg.) came off the bench the first three games before tying his career best with 17 points on Sunday vs. Iowa State. Another swingman, Kaleb Korver, is averaging 6.8 points per game and has made 8-of-15 three-point attempts (53.3 percent).
Creighton was picked fourth in the MVC after returning four starters and 10 lettermen from last year's team that finished 18-16 and advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament semifinals.
Scouting Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State is 2-4 on the young season, including an 80-63 win over Georgia Tech on Nov. 15 that turned heads nationally. Since then, however, the Owls have lost four straight games, including Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge losses to Alabama State (74-59), Northern Arizona (74-66) and Iowa State (91-51)
Four players account for 75 percent of the scoring and 71 percent of the rebounding, a quartet topped by sophomore Markeith Cummings (18.2 ppg., 4.0 rpg.).
Also in the high-scoring group are Spencer Dixon (16.3 ppg., 4.5 apg., 2.0 spg.), LaDaris Green (7.8 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) and Aaron Anderson (8.7 ppg., 7.3 rpg.).
As a team, the Owls average 67.8 points per outing and allow 72.8. KSU shoots 31.9 percent from three-point range and 69.6 percent at the line.
The Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) is in his first season as head coach at Creighton, but is no stranger to coaching in the state of Nebraska or in the Missouri Valley Conference. McDermott was hired in April after spending the previous four seasons as head coach at Iowa State (2006-10). He has also been a head coach at Northern Iowa (2001-06), North Dakota State (2000-01) and Wayne State (1994-2000).
McDermott owns a head coaching record of 283-196 in 17 seasons, a 152-132 mark in 10 Division I campaigns and 3-1 mark at Creighton.
He is assisted by Darian DeVries, Steve Lutz and Steve Merfeld.
Tony Ingle (Huntingdon) owns a 242-195 mark in 15 years as a head coach, including a 172-145 mark in 11 seasons with Kennesaw State. While at KSU, he led the Owls to the 2003-04 NCAA Division II national title. He is assisted by Dave Houle, Che Roth and Montez Robinson.
The Series With Kennesaw State
Creighton and Kennesaw State have never met.
Greg McDermott has never faced Kennesaw State, and is 2-0 against current Atlantic Sun Conference squads.
McDermott defeated Mercer and USC Upstate during his time at Iowa State.
Last Game Recap
Creighton suffered a heart-breaking 91-88 loss to Iowa State in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday in the Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge.
Creighton led 43-37 at the half and took the game's biggest lead at 51-39 a short time later. ISU would claw back to go ahead by five before the Jays tied the game with 1.6 seconds left on two Antoine Young free throws.
ISU would win the game when Jamie Vanderbeken drained a 35-foot shot as time expired.
Creighton was led by 21 points from Young and 20 from Kenny Lawson Jr., while ISU was topped by a career-best 28 points by Diante Garrett.
High Octane Setback
Despite putting up 88 points vs. Iowa State on Sunday, Creighton still came up on the short end of the scoreboard. Prior to that, Creighton had won 37 straight games when scoring 88 points or more since losing on Feb. 12, 1994.
Losing At The Buzzer
Creighton suffered the ultimate heartbreak on Sunday when Jamie Vanderbeken's 35-footer swished through the net at the buzzer, giving Iowa State a 91-88 victory.
Creighton had now lost on a shot with no time remaining since Dana Ford threw in a half-court shot to lift Illinois State to a 53-50 win on Dec. 31, 2005.
In case you were wondering, the last time Creighton hit a game-winning shot as time expired was on March 6, 2009, when Booker Woodfox's shot eliminated Wichita State in the MVC Tournament.
Fab Five
Creighton's starting line-up accounted for 86 of the team's 88 points on Sunday vs. Iowa State. In fact, the only points off the bench came with 3:42 left on a Wayne Runnels putback.
All five of Creighton's starters had 12 points or more, becoming the first starting quintet in double-figures since Jan. 31, 2007 at Bradley.
Creighton's two bench points were its fewest since also scoring two bench points on Feb. 17, 2007 vs. Drexel.
Home Sweet Home
Since the start of the 2004-05 season, Creighton is 38-1 in home games following a loss in the previous game.
The only such setback came on Jan. 6, 2009, when Northern Iowa beat Creighton at home just three days after a road loss at Ilinois State.
November Reign
Creighton has won 34 straight regular-season November home games. CU's last home loss in November came in 1989, when it fell to Coppin State on Nov. 27.
Overall, Creighton is 42-10 in regular-season November games since the start of the 1998-99 campaign.
Come A Little Bit Closer
Three of Creighton's first four games have been decided by five points or fewer, including each of the past three.
It's the first time that Creighton has played three games decided by five points or less within the first four games of the season since 1996-97.
It is also the first time that Creighton has played three straight games decided by five points or less since doing so in three straight from Jan. 24-30, 2010.
Creighton has not played four straight games decided by five points or less since Jan. 2-17, 1999.
Big 10, Big 12, Big Time
Creighton plays two teams from the Big 12 Conference (Iowa State, Nebraska) and another from the Big Ten Conference (Northwestern) in 2010-11 this season, all away from home.
The last time the Jays played three Big Ten/Big 12 teams in pre-conference action was 2004-05. In that season, Creighton beat Missouri and Ohio State on a neutral floor and also won in Lincoln, Neb., against Nebraska.
Since 1997-98, Creighton is 14-5 against the Big 12 and 3-1 against Big Ten teams in regular-season play, including a combined 10 straight home wins against those two leagues.
Jays Sweep Weekly Awards
Creighton swept the weekly awards handed out by the Missouri Valley Conference on Nov. 15, as Antoine Young was named MVC Player of the Week and Doug McDermott named MVC Newcomer of the Week.
Young averaged 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in wins over Alabama State and Northern Arizona. He opened the year with 21 points against ASU while also grabbing a career-high seven rebounds. He scored the first four points and assisted a three-pointer in the 11-0 second half run that gave Creighton the lead for good. On Nov. 14, he had 11 points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists in a win over NAU.
McDermott averaged 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in his first weekend of play. He began his career with 16 points and seven rebounds against Alabama State, becoming the first freshman to start the opener since 1997-98. He then had 10 points in Creighton's 74-70 win over Northern Arizona.
McDermott repeated his honors on Nov. 22 after averaging 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in two games last week.
McDermott is the second player in history to be named MVC Newcomer of the Week in two straight weeks to start the season, joining former Bradley star Marcellus Sommerville in 2003-04.
First Time Since 1921
It might seem hard to believe given the lineage of Creighton coaches (such as Eddie Sutton, Tony Barone, Dana Altman, Red McManus, Tom Apke, etc...) through the years, but last Wednesday night's win over Louisiana made Greg McDermott the first Creighton coach to start 3-0 on the Bluejay sidelines since 1921.
The only other men to start their Creighton careers 3-0 were the school's first three coaches. Thomas E. Mills started 6-0 in 1916-19, Eddie Mulholland started 5-0 in 1920-21, and after Mulholland abruptly resigned mid-season, Charles Kearney took over and was 3-0 before taking his first loss.
Global Sports Hy-Vee Classic
The Global Sports Hy-Vee Classic includes 10 games and is a five-team, round-robin event. Below is a summary so far:
Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge Team Standings
Iowa State 4-0
Creighton 2-1
Northern Arizona 2-2
Alabama State 1-3
Kennesaw State 0-3
Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge Game Results
Creighton 71, Alabama State 57 (11/12)
Iowa State 78, Northern Arizona 64 (11/12)
Creighton 74, Northern Arizona 70 (11/14)
Iowa State 74, Alabama State 47 (11/14)
Northern Arizona 74, Alabama State 46 (11/16)
Alabama State 74, Kennesaw State 59 (11/20)
Iowa State 91, Creighton 88 (11/21)
Northern Arizona 74, Kennesaw State 66 (11/22)
Iowa State 91, Kennesaw State 51 (11/24)
Kennesaw State at Creighton, 11/26
Doubling Up
Wayne Runnels had Creighton's first double-double of the season with his 17 point, 10 rebound performance on Nov. 14 vs. Northern Arizona. It was the senior's first double-double of his Creighton career.
Nov. 17 vs. Louisiana, senior Kenny Lawson Jr. had a double-dip with 15 points and 11 rebounds. It was the eighth double-double of Lawson's career.
'Tis The Season For Charity
Creighton has attacked the lane and the boards while racking up gaudy free throw numbers through four games.
The Bluejays have shot 77-of-95 (81.1 percent) at the line through two games, while its opponents are a combined 23-of-44 (52.3 percent) from the charity stripe. In the final three minutes of games, the Jays are 15-for-20 while opponents are just 9-for-18 at the line.
All eight Creighton players with at least one attempt from the line are shooting 66.7 percent or better, quite an improvement from last year's team that shot 72.0 percent overall.
Rare Freshman Start
With his start on Nov. 12, Doug McDermott became the first Creighton freshman to start the season-opener since Ryan Sears in 1997-98. Sears would go on to earn MVC Freshman of the Year honors, starting all 124 games of his Bluejay career and remains the MVC's all-time leader with 283 steals. Sears also dished a Creighton-record 570 career assists.
An Impressive Start
Freshman forward Doug McDermott led all players with 18 points in his Nov. 4 exhibition debut, making 6-of-9 shots from the field and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. His 18 points were the most by a Bluejay in their exhibition debut since Rodney Buford scored 24 points on Nov. 14, 1995 vs. Poznan (Poland).
McDermott was equally impressive on Nov. 12 vs. Alabama State, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting. McDermott's 16 points and seven rebounds made him the first Bluejay freshman since at least 1973 to have 15 or more points and five or more rebounds in the season-opener.
Below is a list of the most points after five games by a Bluejay newcomer since 1993-94. Doug McDermott has scored 54 games through four games thus far.
Most Points, Newcomer, First 5 Games Since 1993-94
Pts. Name, Class Year
74 Nate King, Jr. 1993-94
69 Edward St. Fleur, Jr. 1995-96
63 Ryan Sears, Fr. 1997-98
61 Darryl Ashford, Jr. 2009-10
61 P'Allen Stinnett, Fr. 2007-08
57 Ethan Wragge, Fr. 2009-10
55 Tad Ackerman, Jr. 1994-95
55 Rodney Buford, Fr. 1995-96
54 Doug McDermott, Fr. (thru 4 games) 2010-11
51 Brody Deren, So. 2001-02
51 Terrell Taylor, Fr. 1999-00
Doubling Up From The Start
Doug McDermott has scored 10 or more points in all four games this season. The last previous Creighton player to start a career with 10 or more points in each of Creighton's first four games was junior college transfer Tad Ackerman in 1994-95, who scored in double-figures the first six games he played at Creighton.
McDermott is the first freshman to score 10 or more points in Creighton's first three games since Chad Gallagher had five in a row to start the 1987-88 campaign. Gallagher finished his career ranked third in school history in points and fifth in rebounding and was the 1991 MVC Player of the Year.
Below is a list of Creighton's longest double-figure scoring streaks to start a season since 1979-80.
Consecutive Double-Figure Scoring Games
To Start Year, Since 1979-80
Consec. Name, Class Year
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
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
7 Jim Honz, Jr. 1979-80
6 Chad Gallagher, So. 1988-89
6 Randall Crutcher, So. 1994-95
6 Tad Ackerman, Jr. 1994-95
5 Bob Harstad, Jr. 1989-90
5 Chad Gallagher, Fr. 1987-88
5 Matt Petty, Sr. 1992-93
4 Jerry Vanderheydt, Sr. 1993-94
4 Randall Crutcher, Sr. 1996-97
4 Kyle Korver, Jr. 2001-02
4 Kyle Korver, Sr. 2002-03
4 Nate Funk, Jr. 2004-05
4 Nate Funk, Sr. 2005-06
4 Doug McDermott, Fr. 2010-11
Triple Threats
The trio of Antoine Young, Kenny Lawson Jr. and Doug McDermott have each scored in double-figures in each of Creighton's first four games this winter.
No other Bluejay trio has done this each of the first four games of the season since at least 1979-80.
Active Leader
Kenny Lawson Jr. leads all active Missouri Valley Conference players with 577 rebounds, 137 blocked shots and 92 games started.
He also ranks third on that list with 1,009 career points and became the 34th member of Creighton's 1,000 point club on Nov. 21 vs. Iowa State. The only active MVC players with more points than Lawson are Bradley teammates Sam Maniscalco (1,207) and Andrew Warren (1,099).
Below is a list of Creighton all-time scoring leaders, as well as how long it took the last 10 1,000 point scorers to reach that milestone.
Most Points, Creighton History
Rk. Pts. Name Years
1. 2,116 Rodney Buford 1995-99
2. 2,110 Bob Harstad 1987-91
3. 1,983 Chad Gallagher 1987-91
4. 1,876 Bob Portman 1966-69
5. 1,801 Kyle Korver 1999-03
6. 1,754 Nate Funk 2002-07
7. 1,682 Rick Apke 1974-78
8. 1,661 Paul Silas 1961-64
9. 1,654 Vernon Moore 1981-85
10. 1,575 Benoit Benjamin 1982-85
11. 1,526 John C. Johnson 1975-79
12. 1,500 Kevin McKenna 1977-81
13. 1,437 Eddie Cole 1951-55
14. 1,369 Gene Harmon 1971-74
15. 1,361 Duan Cole 1987-92
16. 1,309 Ryan Sears 1997-01
17. 1,303 Elton Tuttle 1951-54
18. 1,272 Bob Gibson 1954-57
19. 1,267 Wally Anderzunas 1965-67, 1968-69
20. 1,254 Gary Swain 1983-87
21. 1,238 Ben Walker 1997-01
22. 1,196 Ray Yost 1951-54
23. 1,172 Dick Harvey 1956-59
24. 1,152 Dane Watts 2004-08
25. 1,116 Kenny Evans 1982-87
26. 1,115 Doug Brookins 1972-75
1,115 Daryl Stovall 1978-82
28. 1,093 Tim Powers 1964-67
29. 1,050 Reggie Morris 1982-86
30. 1,031 Johnny Mathies 2003-06
31. 1,024 P'Allen Stinnett 2007-10
32. 1,023 Rod Mason 1986-88
33. 1,009 Kenny Lawson Jr. 2006-Pr.
34. 1,004 Anthony Tolliver 2003-07
Games To 1,000 Points, Last Nine Bluejays
Name Games to 1,000 pts. Date
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
Third Time's A Charm
Creighton has won each of its first three home games in 15 of the past 16 years, including this season.
Last Wednesday's win over Louisiana was the 17th straight season that the Jays won their third home game of the year.
Red Hot Wragge
Ethan Wragge made a three-point basket in each of the last 21 games he played in last season. His streak, however, ended on Sunday when he did not attempt a shot while playing one possession late in the game.
Wragge's streak had been the longest active stretch in the MVC, fifth-longest in Creighton history, and just 10 behind the school record set by Booker Woodfox in 2008-09.
It's worth noting that Kyle Korver's second-place streak of 28 games with a trey was snapped when he did not attempt a field goal in 24 minutes of play during an 83-56 win over UNI on Feb. 9, 2002. Korver then drained a triple in 27 more games in a row, a stretch from Feb. 13, 2002 to Jan. 20, 2003.
Consecutive Games With a 3-Pointer, CU History
Streak Name Dates
31 Booker Woodfox 11/25/08 to 3/23/09
28 Kyle Korver 2/4/01 to 2/6/02
27 Kyle Korver 2/13/02 to 1/20/03
25 Rodney Buford 1/25/97 to 1/10/98
21 Ethan Wragge 1/3/10 to 3/24/10
20 Johnny Mathies 12/22/04 to 2/28/05
Lawson Moves Up The Charts
With 11 points vs. Alabama State on Nov. 12, Kenny Lawson Jr. became the seventh player to score 500 or more points at Qwest Center Omaha. Lawson, who now stands at 527, ranks fifth in Qwest Center Omaha scoring history. Nate Funk holds the facility record with 735 career points.
Lawson (298 rebounds) also ranks in second place on the Qwest Center Omaha rebound list, trailing only Dane Watts (351).
Lawson had two blocks on Nov. 17 vs. Louisiana, giving him 72 in his career at Qwest Center Omaha. That's a facility record, one more than the former mark held by Anthony Tolliver. The top shot blockers in Bluejay history (at all sites) are listed below:
Most Blocked Shots, Creighton History
Blk. Name Years
411 Benoit Benjamin 1982-85
183 Chad Gallagher 1987-91
138 Brody Deren 2001-04
137 Kenny Lawson Jr. 2006-Pres.
136 Anthony Tolliver 2003-07
The Four-Point Play
Few plays in basketball are as rare as the four-point play, which happen only when a player is fouled while making a three-point shot and then hits the ensuing free throw.
On Nov. 14 against Northern Arizona, senior Kaleb Korver did it midway through the first half. He became the first Bluejay to do record a four-point play since P'Allen Stinnett did it at Dayton on Nov. 14, 2009.
Before Stinnett's magic, Creighton had not had a player convert a four-point play in a regular-season game since Johnny Mathies vs. Evansville on Jan. 22, 2006.
According to Harvey Pollack's NBA Statistical Yearbook, Kaleb's older brother, Kyle Korver, has just three four-point plays to his credit in his eight-year NBA career.
Qwest To Be The Best, 100 Times Over
Creighton has played 118 regular and postseason contests at Qwest Center Omaha all-time in its eight seasons at the facility.
The Bluejays own a 100-18 (.847) record all-time at the facility, including a perfect 23-0 figure on Wednesday's, a 6-0 mark on Thursday's and a 2-0 mark on Friday's.
Creighton has outscored its opponents 8,702-7,368 in games at Qwest Center Omaha, an average margin of 11.3 points per game. The 18 losses have been by a combined 99 points (5.5 ppg.). Creighton has led wire-to-wire 25 different times.
Creighton's win on Nov. 17 vs. Louisiana was its 100th all-time at the facility, coming in just 118 games. By comparison, Creighton needed 138 games to reach 100 wins at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
Big Shoes To Fill
Creighton's Greg McDermott replaced the school's all-time wins leader, Dana Altman, who was named head coach at Oregon in April. The winningest coach in school history, Altman was 327-176 in 16 years at Creighton, leading the program to seven NCAA Tournaments and 13 straight postseason bids.
Altman's win total ranks third in Missouri Valley Conference history and he was named coach of the Missouri Valley Conference's All-Centennial Team in 2007.
Quick Starts Key To Playing in Postseason
Creighton has started off 3-0 (or better) in 11 of the past 13 seasons, including this season. Each of Creighton's last 11 3-0 starts have been culminated in a postseason tournament appearance at the end of the year.
Father/Son Duo
Doug McDermott is the only player in Creighton men's basketball history to play for his father, head coach Greg McDermott. The previous closest relationship between a player/coach had been when Rick Apke (1974-78) played for his older brother, head coach Tom Apke (1974-81).
Return Of The Mac
Greg McDermott is the 10th MVC head coach to coach at two different league schools and first since Ken Hayes got hired away from Tulsa to go to New Mexico State in 1975.
He is the first to go to a different league and coach there, then come back to the MVC.
McDermott went 90-63 in five years at Northern Iowa from 2001-06, advancing to the NCAA Tournament each of his final three seasons.
Lawson Up For Senior CLASS Award
Senior center Kenny Lawson Jr. is one of 30 candidates nationwide for the Senior CLASS Award. The award – presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year in 10 sports – focuses on the “Four C's” of classroom, character, community and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who remain committed to their university and pursue the many rewards that a senior season and complete college education brings.
Lawson is the one of two MVC men's athletes named this year (joining Bradley guard Dodie Dunson), but the fourth Creighton candidate since 2003. Kyle Korver was a finalist for the award in 2003, while Anthony Tolliver was a finalist in 2007. Both were also named Senior CLASS All-Americans. In addition, Dane Watts was a candidate in 2008 but did not advance to the final stage.
Creighton, which also has Sam Schuett as a candidate for the women's award, is one of just five schools nationally (Creighton, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Lehigh and Duke) with a candidate on both the men's and women's side.
The 2011 men's candidate class includes three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans from a year ago, nine student-athletes on the preseason watch list for the John R. Wooden Award, 16 players with grade point averages of 3.0 and above and eight from teams ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 25. It also includes 2010-11 Creighton opponents Dodie Dunson (Bradley), Jimmer Fredette (BYU) and Cameron Jones (Northern Arizona).
Preseason MVC Poll
Creighton has been picked fourth in the preseason poll of MVC coaches, SID's and media. Wichita State was a near-unanimous pick to win the league, garnering 33-of-39 first-place votes and 382 points overall.
Missouri State was second with 313 points and one first-place vote.
Northern Iowa (289, 1 first-place vote), Creighton (282) and Bradley (264, 2) rounded out the upper half of the league.
In sixth was Illinois State (165), where it was followed by Indiana State (136), Drake (120), Southern Illinois (120) and Evansville (73).
Creighton senior Kenny Lawson Jr. is one of five men on the preseason all-MVC team. He's joined on the team by UNI's Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Wichita State's Toure' Murry, Bradley's Sam Maniscalco and Missouri State's Kyle Weems.
Lawson was also named Preseason MVC Player of the Year. He is the third Bluejay to be honored since 2001, joining Kyle Korver (2002-03) and Nate Funk (2006-07).
Who Are These Guys?
Creighton returns four starters (Kenny Lawson Jr., Antoine Young, Darryl Ashford and Casey Harriman) from last year's team that finished 18-16.
Creighton's roster contains players who made 123 starts a year ago, the first time the Jays have returned 120 or more starts since the 2006-07 team that was also the program's most recent to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Returning Returning Starts Final
Year Starters From Previous Year W-L
2010-11 4 123 ? ? ?
2009-10 3 106 18-16
2008-09 3 83 27-8
2007-08 1 44 22-11
2006-07 4 120 22-11
2005-06 4 134 20-10
2004-05 2 58 23-11
2003-04 3 101 20-9
2002-03 5 159 29-5
2001-02 2 65 23-9
2000-01 3 90 24-8
1999-00 3 84 23-10
1998-99 3 84 22-9
1997-98 4 72 18-10
1996-97 4 126 15-15
1995-96 4 100 14-15
1994-95 2 52 7-19
1993-94 3 73 7-22
1992-93 2 64 8-18
1991-92 2 51 9-19
1990-91 4 132 24-8
1989-90 4 127 21-12
1988-89 4 123 20-11
1987-88 3 83 16-16
1986-87 2 65 9-19
1985-86 1 48 12-16
1984-85 4 124 20-12
1983-84 3 72 17-14
1982-83 3 77 8-19
1981-82 2 78 7-20
1980-81 4 112 21-9
Going For 20, Again
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 11 of the last 12 seasons, an unprecedented feat in Missouri Valley Conference history that puts the Jays among an exclusive group, nationally.
Just five schools nationally have had 20 or more wins each of the last 12 years: Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas and Syracuse.
Creighton is one of six schools with 20 or more wins in 11 of the past 12 years. That list consists of Creighton, Kent State, Kentucky, Texas, Utah State and Xavier.
That's better than traditional powers Arizona, Connecticut, Memphis and Michigan State (10 each), ahead of Pittsburgh and Wisconsin (9 each) and even better than Louisville (8).
Army of Iowans
Every Creighton team since 1988-89 has had at least one Iowa native, and this season is no exception.
Creighton has six players from Iowa on this season's team, continuing a long trend of relying on some of the Hawkeye State's top preps. CU's native Iowans this season include seniors Casey Harriman (Ida Grove) and Kaleb Korver (Pella) as well as redshirting sophomore Grant Gibbs (Marion) and freshmen Doug McDermott (Ames), Kody Ingle (Altoona) and Will Artino (Waukee).
Other past notable Iowans include Kyle Korver and Pierce Hibma (Pella), Ryan Sears (Ankeny), Brody Deren (Harlan), Tyler McKinney (Urbandale), Nate Funk (Sioux City) and Michael Lindeman (Iowa Falls).
Creighton has played at least one Iowa native in 515 straight games. That streak dates to a Feb. 5, 1994 win against Wichita State.
Long-Distance Streak Alive
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in a league-best 539 straight games since a 59-53 loss at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993. That's the longest active streak in the MVC.
10 Conference Wins x 14
Last season's Creighton team extended its MVC record by winning 10 or more league games for a 14th consecutive season.
On a national basis, the only other current school with at least 14 straight years of 10 or more league wins is Kansas (16).
Postseason x 13
Creighton has made the postseason in 13 consecutive seasons, the longest streak of postseason bids in MVC history.
The only 10 schools to make the postseason in each of the last 13 years are Creighton, Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan State, Oklahoma State and Syracuse.
Full House
Creighton averaged 14,495 fans per game, which ranked 15th nationally, in 2009-10. Creighton averaged 15,883 in 15 games at Qwest Center Omaha before two CIT crowds below 5,000 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium dropped the average precipitously.
Creighton has now finished in the top-15 of the national attendance leaders in each of the last four seasons.
2009-10 Attendance Leaders (FINAL)
Rk. School Average
1. Kentucky 24,111
2. Syracuse 22,152
3. Louisville 19,397
4. Tennessee 19,168
5. North Carolina 17,786
6. Wisconsin 17,230
7. Maryland 16,792
8. Memphis 16,498
9. Kansas 16,433
10. Marquette 15,617
11. Indiana 15,296
12. Illinois 14,870
13. Michigan State 14,759
14. Texas 14,629
15. Creighton 14,495
16. Ohio State 14,181
Highest Season Home Attendance, MVC History
Home Att. School Year
302,676 Creighton 2008-09
276,000 Creighton 2007-08
246,419 Creighton 2009-10
236,313 Creighton 2005-06
222,728 Creighton 2006-07
192,258 Creighton 2003-04
191,440 Louisville 1974-75
Highest Average Attendance, MVC History
Avg. Att. School Year
15,930 Creighton 2008-09
15,909 Creighton 2006-07
15,333 Creighton 2007-08
14,495 Creighton 2009-10
13,901 Creighton 2005-06
13,674 Louisville 1974-75
Consistent Challengers
Nine of Creighton's last 13 teams have finished either first or second in The Valley's regular-season race. Two of the four that didn't won the MVC Tournament.
The Bluejays won the MVC in 2000-01 and tied for the title in 2001-02 and 2008-09. CU was second in the MVC in 1997-98 and 2006-07, tied for second in the MVC in 1998-99, 2003-04 and 2005-06, and finished tied for third in 2004-05. The 1999-00 club was fourth in the MVC, but won the MVC Tournament.
Creighton's MVC Finishes, Last 13 Years
1st Place 2000-01
Tied for First 2001-02 (won MVC Tourn.), 2008-09
2nd Place 1997-98, 2002-03 (won MVC Tourn.), 2006-07 (won MVC Tourn.)
Tied for 2nd 1998-99 (won MVC Tourn.), 2003-04, 2005-06
Tied for 3rd Place 2004-05 (won MVC Tourn.)
4th Place 1999-00 (won MVC Tourn.); 2007-08; 2009-10
Learning From Past Losses
Creighton heads into the 2010-11 season looking to rebound from a quarterfinal round loss to Bradley in the 2010 MVC Tournament.
Each of Creighton's previous three quarterfinal round losses (1998, 2004, 2006) saw the Bluejays claim the Arch Madness crown the following spring.
Creighton's six conference tournament titles in the past 12 years trail only Gonzaga, Duke and Winthrop nationally.
Foreign Invasion
Creighton has a pair of foreigners on the roster for just the third time in school history with Canadian Jahenns Manigat and Venezuelan Gregory Echenique. Echenique is the nation's only returning Venezuelan who also played NCAA ball last season.
The last pair of simultaneous international teammates at Creighton was Brice Nengsu (Cameroon) and Manny Gakou (France) from 2005-07.
Creighton's other international players on record include Livan Pyfrom (1999-2001, Bahamas), Nerijus Karlikanovas (1998-2000, Lithuania) and Colin Lubsey (1992-93, Australia)
Team of the Decade?
Below is the records for each MVC school since the start of the 2000-01 season, ranked by overall winning percentage. Creighton leads the MVC overall with 228 wins in the decade, as well as 10 postseason appearances:
MVC Standings (2000-01 to end of 2009-10)
MVC only All Games
Team W L Pct. W L Pct.
Creighton 125 55 .694 228 98 .699
Southern Illinois 124 56 .689 217 108 .668
Northern Iowa 99 81 .550 186 130 .589
Wichita State 95 85 .528 181 137 .569
Missouri State 93 87 .517 181 138 .567
Bradley 87 93 .483 170 152 .528
Illinois State 86 94 .478 168 142 .542
Drake 76 104 .422 149 157 .487
Indiana State 59 121 .328 124 183 .404
Evansville 56 124 .311 110 184 .374
Postseason Appearances by MVC Teams
(Since 2000-01)
Team NCAA NIT CBI CIT Total
Creighton 5 4 0 1 10
Southern Illinois 6 1 0 0 7
Wichita State 1 4 1 0 6
Northern Iowa 5 0 0 0 5
Bradley 1 2 1 1 5
Missouri State 0 3 0 1 4
Illinois State 0 4 0 0 4
Indiana State 1 0 1 0 2
Drake 1 0 0 1 2
Evansville 0 0 0 1 1
Piling Up The Points, and Wins
Creighton has won 67 straight home games when scoring 68 points or more since Feb. 5, 2005.
Creighton has also won 44 straight games when scoring 90 points or more, dating to Jan. 11, 1988.
Creighton has won 15 straight when scoring 100 points or more, dating to Feb. 26, 1977.
Last Season Recap
Creighton finished 18-16 on the season, winning a pair of games in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament before falling in the semifinals. Creighton's 10-8 league mark was good for fourth place, the Jays 13th straight year of a fourth-place finish or better.
Individually, Kenny Lawson Jr. was a second-team all-MVC pick and led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Justin Carter ranked second on the team in both scoring and rebounding, while Antoine Young topped the team in assists and steals.
Academically Tops In The MVC Too
For the sixth time in the eight-year existence of the award, Creighton University has been recognized with the 2009-10 MVC All-Academic Award. Bluejay student-athletes posted a 3.33 cumulative grade-point average over the 2009-10 academic calendar. Creighton previously shared the award in 2003-04, and were the outright winners in 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Creighton had four men's basketball players earn Dean's List (3.50 GPA or better) accolades last year; Matthew Dorwart, Kaleb Korver, Derek Sebastian and Taylor Stormberg.
NBA Jays
Kyle Korver and Anthony Tolliver give Creighton a pair of alums in the NBA for the third straight year.
Korver plays for the Chicago Bulls and is in his eighth year in the NBA, including previous stops in Philadelphia and Utah.
Tolliver plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves and is in his third year in the NBA, including previous stops with Cleveland, San Antonio, New Orleans, Portland and Golden State.
Creighton has now had an NBA player in 27 of the last 28 years, and 44 of 47 seasons since 1964-65.
Shuttle Service Provided Again
Chief Bus will provide complimentary shuttle service from the Creighton University campus to Qwest Center Omaha for all men's basketball home games this season. The service is available to all fans, not just Creighton students.
The shuttle will start 75 minutes before tip-off and shuttles will continue to operate the route during the game. The three designated stops for pick-up around the CU campus are: 24th & California (nearside/southbound); 20th & Cass (nearside/eastbound) and at Billy Blues Alumni Grill (outside the Mike & Josie Harper Center in the turnaround which is on the east side of the building).
The shuttle will then go eastbound on Capitol Avenue and then go north up 10th Street for drop-off at the Qwest Center Omaha convention center entrance. The route is designed for each shuttle driver to make a roundtrip every 15 minutes.
Following the game's conclusion, the shuttle will start at the Qwest Center Omaha convention center entrance on 10th Street and loop the original route with the first of three stops at 24th & California Streets.
Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for the 2010-11 season went on sale on November 1st at 10 am.
Fans can purchase tickets in advance at Qwest Center Omaha Box Office, Ryan Athletic Center, all Ticketmaster locations (Baker's, Younkers), Ticketmaster online at http://www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster and charging by phone at (800) 745-3000. Only upper bowl seats will be available for any game and cost is $12 for adults and $8 for youth ages 3-18 (children two and under are free).
For more information, call the Creighton Ticket Office at (402) 280-JAYS.
