No. 22 Men's Basketball Meets Ole Miss For Paradise Jam Title

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Ole Miss Rebels vs. No. 22 Creighton Bluejays
Sports and Fitness Center (3,500) • St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Radio: KOZN 1620 AM, www.1620thezone.com
Television: CBS Sports Network
Series History: Ole Miss leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Ole Miss won, 75-68, on Nov. 28, 2014 in Niceville, Fla.

Next Game
No. 22 Creighton (4-0) looks to take home the Paradise Jam title on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Central when it takes on Ole Miss (4-0).
   The contest will take place at Sports and Fitness Center (3,500) at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas, USVI.

Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) will broadcast all Creighton men's basketball games during the 2016-17 season, while KOOO (101.9 FM) will also broadcast all home games. The audio is also webcast live at www.1620thezone.com.
   John Bishop and former Bluejay Brody Deren will call the action.

Television Information
Monday's game will be televised on CBS Sports Network, which can be found in Omaha on Cox Cable channel 234 and 1234 (HD).
   Darren Goldwater and Kevin Lehman will announce, with Monyka Johnigan serving as sideline reporter.

Video Webcast Information
CBS Sports Network games are available to watch on-line with some cable providers, but require a login authorization. Visit CBSSports.com/watch/cbssportsnetwork for more details.

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 No. 22 Creighton
Ranked 22nd in the Nov. 14th AP poll, Creighton is 4-0 after wins over UMKC, No. 9 Wisconsin, Washington State and UMKC.
   The Bluejays return 11 lettermen and four starters from last year's team that finished 20-15 and sixth in the BIG EAST Conference with a 9-9 league record. CU won a pair of postseason games before falling in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.
   Maurice Watson Jr. (13.5 ppg., 9.8 apg in 2016-17) leads a talented group of returners after topping the Bluejays in both scoring (14.1 ppg.) and assists (6.5 apg.) last season. He's been voted on the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team.
   A strong crop of newcomers figures to play a vital role. Marcus Foster (16.3 ppg.) averaged 14.1 points per game over two seasons at Kansas State, led Creighton with 19 points in his Bluejay debut, while fellow guard Khyri Thomas (14.3 ppg.) led CU with 18 points in Tuesday's win over No. 9 Wisconsin and has made 6-of-8 three-pointers.
   The Bluejays average 95.8 points per game (12th nationally) while shooting 55.0 percent from the field (5th nationally) and are third nationally at 47.9 percent from three-point range.

The Series With Ole Miss
Creighton is 0-1 all-time against Ole Miss, with the previous meeting taking place two years ago at the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Fla. The Rebels won that game, 75-68, behind 23 points by Jarvis Summers and 18 from Ladarius White. CU was led by Isaiah Zierden's 18 points.

The Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) is in his seventh season as head coach at Creighton. He is 145-72 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 425-267 in his 23rd season and is 294-203 in his 16th Division I campaign. McDermott is assisted by Darian DeVries, Steve Lutz and Preston Murphy.

Early Season RPI Showdown
Both Creighton and Ole Miss have impressed in the RPI rankings so far.
   According to WarrenNolan.com, Creighton ranked second nationally in the RPI while Ole Miss was in third place.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
Both Creighton and Ole Miss rank among the national leaders in points per game this season. The Bluejays rank 12th with 95.8 points per game, with the Rebels not far behind in 35th at 88.0 points per game.
   Creighton has scored 79 points or more in all four games and allowed 3-of-4 opponents to score 77 or more points. The Bluejays are ranked 24th in tempo per KenPom.com.
   Ole Miss has scored 81 points or more in all four games and allowed 3-of-4 opponents to score 83 or more points. The Rebels are ranked 48th in tempo per KenPom.com.

It Do Run, Run
Creighton ranks eighth in the KenPom.com's Adjusted Offensive rankings this year.
   According to StatBroadcast.com, the Bluejays scored in 44-of-84 possessions against Washington State, scoring an average of 1.226 points per possession and averaging 13 seconds per trip.
   In Sunday's win over NC State, the Bluejays scored on 45-of-80 possessions, scoring an average of 1.400 points per possession and averaging 15 seconds per trip.

"Power 5" Or BIG EAST?
Creighton has knocked off teams from the Big Ten (Wisconsin), Pac-12 (Washington State) and ACC (North Carolina State) in its last three games, all by double-digits.
   On Monday, it'll look to topple a team from the Southeastern Conference (Ole Miss).
   Though the BIG EAST may not be considered of the traditional "Power 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
2016-17:   1st (per WarrenNolan.com)
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

Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, Not 4, Not 5, Not 6...
Creighton placed seven men in double-figures on Sunday against North Carolina State. All five starters scored in double-figures, as did Isaiah Zierden and Zach Hanson off the bench.
   It was the second time since at least 1980-81 that Creighton has had seven men score 10 or more points in the same game, joining a win over Coppin State on Dec. 28, 2015.

Tournament History
Creighton is seeking its sixth tournament title in seven years (and fourth in a preseason event) under Greg McDermott this weekend at the Paradise Jam. McDermott is 21-4 in preseason tournaments at Creighton.
   Creighton won the 2011 Dale Howard Classic (including a win over Iowa), the 2012 Las Vegas Invitational (Wisconsin & Arizona State) and the 2015 Men Who Speak Up Main Event (UMass and Rutgers).
   The Bluejays also won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in both 2012 (Illinois State) and 2013 (Wichita State).
Creighton in MTE's Under Greg McDermott
Year   W-L   Event Name
2010   3-1   Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge
2011   4-0   Dale Howard Classic
2012   4-0   Las Vegas Invitational
2013   1-2   Wooden Legacy
2014   3-1   Emerald Coast Classic
2015   4-0   Men Who Speak Up Main Event
2016   2-0   Paradise Jam
Total   21-4   Three titles

Keeping It 100
Creighton cracked the century mark in Friday's 103-77 win over Washington State, then did it again on Sunday in a 112-94 win over North Carolina State.
   Creighton is 55-2 all-time when scoring 100 or more points, with 27 straight wins.
   Creighton has scored 100+ points in consecutive games for the third time in school history, having also done it once last year and once in 1965-66.
   Creighton has never scored 100 points in three straight games.
   Creighton's 215 points over its last two games are second-most in school history for point totals in consecutive contests, trailing only the 219 in two straight games (104 & 115) in 1965-66.
   Friday's win marked the sixth straight season that Creighton has put up 100 or more points in one of its first four games of the season.
   Creighton's 112 points on Sunday were its fifth-most in school history for a game, and the most since 115 vs. Indiana State on Jan. 19, 1985. It was also the second-most points NC State has ever allowed in one game.
   Below is a list of the most points in a game in Creighton history:
Score   Opponent   Date
124-94   at Miami (Fla.)   02/10/1964
120-76   Nevada   12/21/1962
115-80   Indiana State   01/19/1985
115-82   Memphis   02/02/1966
112-94   vs. North Carolina State   11/20/2016
111-110 (2ot)   Bradley   03/11/2008

Reserve Corps
Thanks to two lopsided wins, Creighton has used its bench liberally during the Paradise Jam games in the Virgin Islands. That could pay big dividends on Monday night when the teams suit up for the third time in four days.
   In the two games at the Paradise Jam, Creighton has used its reserves for 180 minutes total. In those 90 minutes of playing time per game, the bench has averaged 42.0 points, 21.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. CU's non-starters have shot 58.5 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range.
   The Ole Miss reserves have averaged 67.5 minutes per game and 17.0 points, 18.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists while shooting 37.1 percent from the floor and 10 percent from downtown.

We're Jamming!
Creighton had five dunks on Sunday, with four coming from Justin Patton and another by Zach Hanson. Patton has 11 of CU's 16 dunks this season, with Hanson (2), Khyri Thomas (2) and Marcus Foster (1) accounting for the others.
   Last season Creighton had 58 dunks total in 35 games, the most its had in any of Greg McDermott's first six years at the helm of the Bluejays.
   Here's a look at the Creighton student-athletes with 10 or more dunks in a season under McDermott:
Most Creighton Dunks, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Year
36   Gregory Echenique   2012-13
30   Gregory Echenique   2011-12
24   Gregory Echenique   2010-11
22   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2010-11
18   Geoffrey Groselle   2015-16
14   Zach Hanson   2015-16
12   Khyri Thomas   2015-16
12   Will Artino   2014-15
11   Will Artino   2013-14
11   Justin Patton   2016-17

We're Jamming, Part II
Creighton continues to rewrite the Paradise Jam record books, with an eye on many more marks on Monday.
   On Friday vs. Washington State, Creighton tied a tournament record with 25 assists as Maurice Watson Jr. tied a tourney mark with 13 helpers in a game.
   On Sunday vs. North Carolina State, Creighton set a tournament record with 112 points in a game.
   Creighton needs 53 points to break the tournament record for points in one Paradise Jam (Wisconsin, 2012), and 10 assists to break the tournament record for assists in one Paradise Jam (Georgia Tech, 2007).
   Additionally, Creighton is currently shooting 58.8 percent from the field (80-136) and 50.9 percent from three-point range (28-55), well ahead of the existing marks of 51.6 percent from the field (Boston College, 2003) and 49.1 percent from deep (Seton Hall, 2014).

Neutral Cole Huff Is The Best Cole Huff
Cole Huff continues to shine in neutral site games as a Creighton Bluejay. The senior poured in a team-high 17 points in Friday's win over Washington State, then added 20 more against NC State on Sunday.
   In Huff's Bluejay career, he has averaged 22.0 points per contest in five neutral site games. In those contests, he has made 33-of-57 shots from the floor (57.0 percent), including 22-of-37 three-point shots (59.5 percent).
   Huff was named MVP of the Men Who Speak Up Main Event in Las Vegas last year, then scored 35 points in his Madison Square Garden debut in the BIG EAST Tournament last spring.

First Half Blitz
Creighton led 60-36 at halftime on Friday vs. Washington State. The 60 points were the most by the Bluejays in one half since scoring 60 points in the second half vs. Massachusetts on Nov. 25, 2015.
   The last time Creighton had 60+ points in the first half of a game came Nov. 17, 2015, when CU led 61-37 at halftime over UTSA.
   In Sunday's romp over NC State, Creighton put up 54 and 58 in consecutive halves.

Assist Leader
Not only is Maurice Watson Jr. is the nation's active leader in assists with 678, but he's also third in steals (166), sixth in assist/turnover ratio (2.08) and 11th in field goals made (512).
   Below is a look at the national active leaders in assists and steals, through Nov. 20th.
Active Leaders in Career Assists
1.   Maurice Watson Jr., Creighton   678
2.   Monte Morris, Iowa State   575
3.   Alec Wintering, Portland   491
4.   Marquis Wright, Siena   463
5.   Bryce Alford, UCLA   458

Active Leaders in Career Steals
1.   Paris Lee, Illinois State   186
2.   Monte Morris, Iowa State   178
3.   Maurice Watson Jr., Creighton   166
   Justin Robinson, Monmouth   166
   Marquis Wright, Siena   166

What's With The Fans?
Don't be surprised at the contingent that heads to the US Virgin Islands to support Creighton this week at the Paradise Jam
   The team chartered to St. Thomas on a 174-seat plane that had every seat filled, and it's possible a 100-250 more fans that travelled commercially are on there way as well.
   Last season, Creighton ranked 10th nationally by averaging 15,941 fans per home game.

Double-Digit Duo
Both Marcus Foster and Justin Patton have scored in double-figures during each of Creighton's first four games this season.
   In the last 22 years, the only previous newcomers to score in double-figures during CU's first four games have been Doug McDermott (8 straight in 2010-11) and Maurice Watson Jr. (5 in 2015-16).

Shooting Stars
Creighton has shot 55.0 percent from the field this season, and an equally impressive 47.9 percent from three-point range.
   Zach Hanson has shot 88.9 percent from the field this year (16-18).
   Fellow big man Justin Patton is shooting 72.0 percent from the field, with 11 dunks among his 18 made field goals.
   Of CU's long-range marksmen, Khyri Thomas (7-12) is shooting 58.3 percent from three-point range, with Maurice Watson Jr., (57.1 percent), Cole Huff (56.3 percent) and Isaiah Zierden (63.6 percent) also lighting it up from deep.

Unbeaten No More
Creighton is off to a 4-0 start. Impressively, all four victories are by teams that were unbeaten coming in to the match. UMKC was 0-0, Wisconsin was 1-0, Washington State was 2-0 and NC State was 3-0.
   Monday's foe, Ole Miss, enters with a 4-0 mark.

BIG EAST in the Paradise Jam
Creighton's participation in the Paradise Jam marks the 11th straight year at BIG EAST has participated in the event, which began in 2001. Last year DePaul went 1-2 in the event.
   Five previous BIG EAST teams have won the Paradise Jam title, a list that consists of Seton Hall (2014), Marquette (2011), Connecticut (2008), Boston College (2003) and Miami (2001).

All-Around Excellence
Creighton is ranked on the hardwood, but also excels in several other sports as well.
   In fact, Creighton, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan State and Kentucky are the nation's only five schools that currently have a ranked team in men's basketball (AP poll), men's soccer (NSCAA poll) and women's volleyball (AVCA poll).
   All three ranked Creighton teams won on Sunday. Volleyball closed out a perfect 18-0 BIG EAST slate with a win vs. Villanova, men's soccer advanced to the Sweet 16 with an NCAA Tournament road win at Kentucky, and No. 22 men's basketball whipped North Carolina State, 112-94.

Watson Dishes Baker's Dozen
Maurice Watson Jr. dished 13 assists in Friday's win over Washington State, with those helpers accounting for 34 Bluejay points.
   Making his showing all the more impressive is that Watson did not play in the final 15:18 of the contest, and logged just 21 minutes of clock overall.
   Watson's 13 assists are tied for fifth-most in Creighton history for one game, and one shy of his Creighton high set last season in a road win at Seton Hall.
   Watson now owns two career games with 13+ assists, while no other Bluejay has done it in the past 20 years.
   Creighton's school record for assists in a game is 17, done twice by Ralph Bobik (1971-74).
   Watson is just the third Bluejay since 1990 to have consecutive games of 10 or more assists, joining Grant Gibbs (Dec. 19 & 22, 2011) and Duan Cole (Jan. 27 & 30, 1990).
   Watson leads the nation with 39 total assists this year, with 9.8 assists per game.

No. 22 Men's Basketball Meets Ole Miss For Paradise Jam Title

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Foster

Geoffrey Groselle

Zach Hanson

Cole Huff

Justin Patton

Khyri Thomas

Maurice Watson Jr.

Isaiah Zierden