Creighton University Athletics
Sunday, November 12
Omaha, Neb.
6:00 PM
Creighton University
vs
Alcorn State
Kaleb Joseph
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Men's Basketball Seeks 2-0 Start Sunday vs. Alcorn State
11/11/2017 10:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Bluejays have won second home game of the season each of the last 21 years
Download Notes as a PDF
Game #2: Alcorn State at Creighton • Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 • 6:10 p.m.
2017 Hall of Fame Classic
CenturyLink Center Omaha (17,352) • Omaha, Neb.
Radio: KOZN 1620 AM, KOOO 101.9 FM, www.1620thezone.com
Television: FS1
Series History: Creighton leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Creighton 107, Alcorn State 61 on Nov. 8, 2013 in Omaha, Neb.
Next Game
Creighton (1-0) continues the opening weekend of its 100th season of basketball on Sunday, Nov. 12, when it hosts Alcorn State (0-1).
Tip-off on First National Bank Court at CenturyLink Center Omaha (17,352) in Omaha, Neb., is set for 6:10 p.m.
The game is the second of four contests that Creighton will play in during the 2017 Hall of Fame Classic, which continues for CU with games on Nov. 20 (UCLA) and Nov. 21 (Baylor/Wisconsin) that will be contested at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
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 Brody Deren will call the action. The audio is also webcast live at www.1620thezone.com.
Television Broadcast Information
Sunday's game against Alcorn State will be televised by FS1, with Steve Physioc and Nick Bahe on the call.
Video Webcast Information
Live streaming video of Sunday'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 returns nine lettermen and two starters from last year's team that finished 25-10 and tied for third in the BIG EAST Conference with a 10-8 league record.
The Bluejays reached the BIG EAST Tournament final for the second time in four seasons and advanced to their fourth NCAA Tournament in the past six seasons.
Senior guard Marcus Foster 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.
Junior guard Khyri Thomas (12.3 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 3.9 apg.) was named an Honorable Mention Preseason All-BIG EAST choice in October. Thomas was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year last season.
The Bluejays feature a veteran team, with fifth-year seniors Toby Hegner, Tyler Clement and Manny Suarez and fourth-year juniors Ronnie Harrell Jr. and Kaleb Joseph all in the mix for playing time.
Also back are sophomore guards Davion Mintz and Jordan Scurry and third-year sophomore forward Martin Krampelj.
Three true freshman are also in the mix for playing time, guards Ty-Shon Alexander and Mitch Ballock, as well as center Jacob Epperson.
Creighton topped Yale, 92-76, in the season-opener on Friday, as Foster (23), Thomas (22), Krampelj (12) and Hegner (11) all scored in double-figures.
Scouting Alcorn State
Alcorn State went 18-14 last season, including 11 straight wins from Jan. 16-Feb. 25.
The Braves return 11-of-14 letterwinners and two starters from that team, with Reginal Johnson (15.6 ppg., 7.1 rpg.) and A.J. Mosby (10.9 ppg., 4.7 rpg.) leading the way.
Johnson was named Preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Preseason First Team All-Conference selection. Last year Johnson was an HBCU All-America Second Team pick despite not starting a single game, and pumped in double-figures in 30 of ASU's final 31 contests.
Mosby a Preseason Second Team All-SWAC pick. In addition, sophomore Yalen Reed was the league's Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Alcorn State was picked to finish fourth in a preseason poll of SWAC media and coaches.
Mosby had 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting and Johnson added a dozen points in a 99-59 loss at LSU on Friday.
The Series With Alcorn State
Creighton is 2-0 all-time against Alcorn State, beating the Braves in Omaha 74-40 in 2004 and 107-61 in 2013.
Greg McDermott is 1-0 all-time against Alcorn State and 7-0 in his career against teams from the SWAC. He has never faced Montez Robinson.
The Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) is in his eighth season as head coach at Creighton. He is 167-82 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 447-277 in his 24th season and is 316-213 in his 17th Division I campaign. McDermott is assisted by Darian DeVries, Preston Murphy and Alan Huss.
Montez Robinson (North Georgia College & State University, 2002) owns a 33-30 record in his third season as head coach at Alcorn State, which is also his career mark. Robinson was named 2017 SWAC Coach of the Year and has led the Braves to back-to-back 13-5 league finishes. He is assisted by Derek Thompson, Delvin Thompson and Frank Popieski.
McDermott Reaches 250 Games at Creighton
Greg McDermott will coach in his 250th game at Creighton on Sunday vs. Alcorn State, the third Bluejay basketball coach in history to reach that milestone.
McDermott enters the contest with a record of 167-82, which will give him more wins than both Dana Altman (160) and Red McManus (134) after 250 games.
Creighton Coaches To Reach 250 Games
W-L After 250 Coach Game 250 Date
134-116 Red McManus 02/08/1969
160-90 Dana Altman 01/30/2002
167-82 after 249 Greg McDermott Sunday
Happy Birthday, Old Man(ny)
Manny Suarez (born Nov. 12, 1993) turns 24 on Sunday. 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
My Favorite Martin
Martin Krampelj's first career start was a memorable one, as the redshirt sophomore had career-highs with 12 points and nine rebounds vs. Yale on Friday.
Krampelj also added four dunks, tying his career-high. Krampelj also had four slams in his last previous home game, with that coming last Feb. 28 vs. St. John's.
Good Lordy That's 40
From 2003-15, Creighton never had more than the 38 field goals it had vs. Texas Southern on Nov. 14, 2015.
In the last 12 months alone, Creighton has had five different games of 40 or more field goals, including last Friday's 40-for-68 shooting display vs. Yale.
The CenturyLink Center Omaha record for field goals in a game is 41 vs. Longwood on Dec. 9, 2016. Creighton has also had 40 field goals in a game vs. Truman State (1/14/17), Yale (11/10/17), Washington State (11/18/16) and North Carolina State (11/20/16).
What About #2?
Not only has Creighton won 23 straight home openers, but the Bluejays have also done quite well in their second home game of the season.
Creighton has won its second home game of the season each of the last 21 seasons, with 1995-96 the last time that CU didn't open 2-0 at home.
Creighton has won its second home game of the season by double-digits in each of the previous six campaigns.
20/20 Vision
Both Marcus Foster (23) and Khyri Thomas (22) scored 20 or more points in Creighton's season-opening win vs. Yale.
Creighton had not seen multiple players each surpass 20 or more points in the same season-opener since Nov. 16, 2008, when both P'Allen Stinnett (30) and Booker Woodfox (26) did it against New Mexico.
Incredibly, both Woodfox (23) and Stinnett (21) exceeded 20 points in the second half alone to fuel a Bluejay comeback from 16 points down with 10:10 to play.
That comeback came against ex-New Mexico coach Steve Alford, who now leads the UCLA team that the Bluejays will faced next Monday in Kansas City when the Hall of Fame Classic continues.
Foster Up For Citizen 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 following the 2013-14 campaign.
Foster Fills It Up
Marcus Foster finished last season with 10 or more points in each of his final 18 games, then pumped in 23 more in the opener last Friday.
His current 19-game double-figure streak is the longest by any Bluejay since Doug McDermott closed his career with 28 straight double-figure games from Dec. 3, 2013 to March 23, 2014.
Foster scored seven points or more in all 35 games last season, finishing in double-figures in 33 of them.
Fan-Tazz-Tic Shooting Streak
Khyri Thomas enters Sunday's game having made a three-pointer in each of his last 15 games dating to last season.
He's the first Bluejay to sink a trey in 15 games in a row since Rick Kreklow did so from Jan. 3-March 3, 2015.
The last Bluejay with a trifecta in 16 straight games or more is Doug McDermott, who had a streak of 16 straight from Jan. 20-March 21, 2014.
No Bluejay has made a three-pointer in 17 straight games or longer since Ethan Wragge's streak of 23 in a row from Nov. 8, 2013 - Feb. 9, 2014.
Nifty Fifty Leads To Postseason?
Creighton shot 58.8 percent from the floor on Friday, 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
Hall of Fame Classic History
This is Creighton's third appearance in the Hall of Fame Classic (2002, 2004), with both previous showings taking place when the event was known as the Guardians Classic.
The Bluejays are a perfect 9-0 in the event all-time, and were the first team to win the event twice. Other teams to win the event twice include Missouri (2001, 2011), Texas (2005, 2009) and Kansas (2012, 2016).
In 2002 Creighton defeated UT Arlington (106-50) and Furman (82-57) to start the final season at the Omaha Civic Auditorium before heading to the venerable Municipal Auditorium and defeating IUPUI (99-52) and Notre Dame (80-75). Kyle Korver was honored as the MVP, while current Bluejay radio analyst Brody Deren also earned All-Tournament Team accolades.
In 2004, Creighton beat Alcorn State (74-40) and Iona (68-62) in Omaha. The Jays then trekked to Kansas City and beat Missouri (78-54) and Ohio State (65-63 in overtime). Tyler McKinney was named Tournament MVP after setting an event record with 30 assists and draining a game-winning shot with 4.2 seconds left in the final.
Tournament Success
Creighton has had some great success in tournament play in recent seasons, especially under Greg McDermott. In McDermott's tenure, CU is 23-4 in regular-season tournament action with four titles in seven completed events.
Since 2002-03, Creighton is 37-8 (19-0 at home) with seven titles in 12 completed preseason tournaments, as seen below. Creighton last lost at home in a regular-season tournament in 1975.
Preseason Tournament Performances, Last 15 Seasons
Year Tourney (Site) W-L (Home W-L)
2002-03 Guardians Classic (Omaha/KC) 4-0 (2-0)
2004-05 Guardians Classic (Omaha/KC) 4-0 (2-0)
2006-07 Rainbow Classic (Honlulu) 2-1
2008-09 Las Vegas Classic (Omaha/Las Vegas) 4-0 (2-0)
2009-10 Old Spice Classic (Orlando) 0-3
2010-11 Hy-Vee Challenge (Omaha/Des Moines 3-1 (3-0)
2011-12 Dale Howard Classic (Omaha/Des Moines) 4-0 (3-0)
2012-13 Las Vegas Invite (Omaha/Las Vegas) 4-0 (2-0)
2013-14 Wooden Legacy (Fullerton/Anaheim) 1-2
2014-15 Emerald Coast Classic (Omaha/Niceville) 3-1 (2-0)
2015-16 MGM Grand Main Event (Omaha/Las Vegas) 4-0 (2-0)
2016-17 Paradise Jam (U.S. Virgin Islands) 3-0
2017-18 Hall of Fame Classic (Omaha/Kansas City) 1-0 (1-0)
Jays At Home Against Winless Teams
Creighton's opponent on Sunday, Alcorn State, is 0-1 on the young season. The Bluejays have won 36 straight home games against teams that are winless entering the night, winning those games by an average of 26.00 points. Fourteen of those wins came by 30 points or more, and only three were decided by single-digits.
The streak dates to a 77-70 loss versus an 0-2 SMU team on Dec. 3, 1994. That game was Dana Altman's home debut at Creighton.
Creighton has also won 100 straight home games against teams that enter the night with a record of .500 or worse, a streak that dates to Feb. 25, 2002.
Creighton at Home vs. Winless Teams, Since 12/3/1994
Opp. W-L Opponent CU Result Date
0-4 UMKC W 75-61 12/17/94
0-1 UMKC W 70-68 11/25/96
0-0 UMKC W 81-59 11/14/97
0-0 Towson W 93-48 11/14/98
0-1 Western Illinois W 96-50 11/20/00
0-1 North Carolina A&T W 72-51 11/18/01
0-0 Texas-Arlington W 106-50 11/17/02
0-3 San Diego W 79-44 11/22/03
0-1 Bethune-Cookman W 69-49 12/03/03
0-0 Alcorn State W 74-40 11/15/04
0-0 Arkansas-Pine Bluff W 83-58 11/20/04
0-0 Arkansas-Pine Bluff W 87-55 11/19/05
0-1 Miss. Valley State W 78-42 11/13/06
0-4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff W 74-39 11/29/06
0-0 DePaul W 74-62 11/09/07
0-2 Miss. Valley State W 76-46 11/17/07
0-2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff W 82-50 11/20/08
0-9 Miss. Valley State W 82-58 12/02/08
0-7 Southern W 71-60 12/15/08
0-1 Florida A&M W 78-53 11/17/09
0-0 Alabama State W 71-57 11/12/10
0-1 Northern Arizona W 74-70 11/14/10
0-0 N. Carolina A&T W 97-65 11/11/11
0-1 Chicago State W 95-61 11/13/11
0-0 North Texas W 71-51 11/09/12
0-2 Presbyterian W 87-58 11/18/12
0-4 Longwood W 105-57 11/20/12
0-0 Alcorn State W 107-61 11/08/13
0-1 UMKC W 96-70 11/11/13
0-3 Tulsa W 82-72 11/23/13
0-0 Central Arkansas W 104-77 11/14/14
0-1 Chicago State W 84-66 11/16/14
0-1 Texas Southern W 93-70 11/14/15
0-2 UTSA W 103-78 11/17/15
0-0 UMKC W 89-82 11/11/16
0-0 Yale W 92-76 11/10/17
Season Opener History
Including last Friday's 92-76 win vs. Yale, Creighton owns a sparkling 85-15 record (.850) on opening day, including wins in 20 of its last 21 lid-lifters.
Creighton has won 12 of its last 18 season-openers by 20 or more points.
The Jays have outscored foes by an average of 86.28 to 61.06 in the last 18 openers.
Home Opener History
Including last Friday's win over Yale, Creighton is 89-11 (.890) in home openers all-time. Creighton has won 23 straight home openers since a Dec. 3, 1994 setback against SMU.
That 23-game home opener win streak is a school record, two more than the 21 straight from 1946-66 that was part of a stretch between 1936-80 where the Bluejays went 41-2 in home openers.
Opening Statements
Greg McDermott has won each of the last 16 season openers he's coached in, as he is 16-1 at the Division I level in season-openers. That includes double-digit victories in seven of eight games on the Creighton sideline. Overall as a head coach, McDermott is 21-3 in season-opening games.
That includes an impressive 99-point win (137-38) in his first game on the sidelines when he was at Wayne State.
Date School Opponent Result
1994-95 Wayne St. York W 137-38
1995-96 Wayne St. Nebraska-Omaha L 63-72
1996-97 Wayne St. St. Francis W 72-66
1997-98 Wayne St. Nebraska-Omaha W 78-76
1998-99 Wayne St. Mount Marty W 76-70
1999-00 Wayne St. South Dakota L 64-66
11/17/00 NDSU Macalester W 81-69
11/16/01 UNI vs. San Diego State L 57-71
11/22/02 UNI at Montana W 77-71
11/21/03 UNI Chicago State W 83-59
11/21/04 UNI Wayne State W 84-66
11/20/05 UNI Western Carolina W 68-46
11/10/06 Iowa State UC Riverside W 69-61
11/09/07 Iowa State Winston-Salem St. W 58-44
11/14/08 Iowa State UC Davis W 61-58
11/13/09 Iowa State Idaho State W 88-68
11/12/10 Creighton Alabama State W 71-57
11/11/11 Creighton N. Carolina A&T W 97-65
11/09/12 Creighton North Texas W 71-51
11/08/13 Creighton Alcorn State W 107-61
11/14/14 Creighton Central Arkansas W 104-77
11/14/15 Creighton Texas Southern W 93-70
11/11/16 Creighton UMKC W 89-82
11/10/17 Creighton Yale W 92-76
Hello, World
Creighton had four players that made their Bluejay debut on Friday night: Ty-Shon Alexander, Mitch Ballock, Kaleb Joseph and Manny Suarez.
Below is a look at how Creighton's current players have done in their regular-season and Creighton debuts in a Division I uniform.
Name Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Min.
Foster• (@CU) 19 1 2 0 28
Thomas• 18 3 0 2 26
Krampelj 11 8 2 0 14
Harrell 8 4 2 1 13
Foster• (@KSU) 8 4 2 0 30
Ballock 5 4 0 1 20
Joseph (@SU)• 4 5 7 2 23
Hegner 4 3 1 0 21
Clement 3 1 1 1 9
Scurry 3 1 0 0 5
Suarez (@FORD) 3 0 0 0 8
Suarez (@CU) 2 1 0 0 5
Jefferson (@UNM) 2 0 1 0 8
Joseph (@CU) 2 0 0 1 4
Mintz 0 0 0 0 8
Alexander 0 0 5 1 12
•indicates game started
Suarez Doubles Up
In the two public exhibition games, Manny Suarez had per-40 minute averages of 37.2 points and 27.6 rebounds per game.
Suarez had a double-double on Nov. 3 vs. UNC Pembroke with 13 points and 12 rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench. One week earlier, Suarez provided 14 points and eight rebounds in 11 minutes of work.
In two seasons at Division II Adelphi University (Garden City, N.J.), Suarez averaged 15.1 points and 8.6 rebounds in 58 contests. He produced 20 double-doubles in that time, with single-game highs of 32 points and 17 rebounds. He had career per-40-minute averages of 24.0 points and 13.6 rebounds per game for the Panthers.
Limited by an ankle injury, Suarez had two points and a rebound in his regular-season debut as a Bluejay during five minutes vs. Yale.
November Reign
Creighton is a perfect 55-0 all-time in regular-season home games that take place on or before Nov. 26th.
Creighton has won 58 of its 59 regular-season November home games since 1990, falling only to Boise State in 2012.
Overall, Creighton is 79-15 in regular-season November games at all sites since the start of the 1998-99 campaign.
Creighton has also won 73 of its last 76 regular-season non-conference home games against unranked foes since falling to Drexel on Feb. 17, 2007.
Big Margin Can Lead To Big Things
Creighton beat Yale, 92-76, in last Friday's 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
Two Of The Best
A pair of Creighton players were recently ranked among the best in college basketball in some 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.
Silas To Enter College Hoops Hall of Fame
Creighton alum Paul Silas will be enshrined into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City on November 19th.
In addition to Silas, the elite class includes Wake Forest's Tim Duncan, Winston-Salem State's Cleo Hill, Indiana's Scott May, Purdue's Rick Mount, Gonzaga's John Stockton 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. He grabbed 33 rebounds ("only" the sixth-most of his career) on Dec. 21, 1963 against then-No. 6 UCLA.
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. Caleb Swanigan led all of college hoops with four games of 20+ boards.
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.
Mr. Versatility
Ronnie Harrell Jr. spent the majority of his playing time as a point guard in CU's final two games last year, but look for the versatile junior to play the forward position this season.
Harrell snared 13 rebounds in 21 minutes against Nebraska-Omaha on Oct. 26, including 10 rebounds in the second half alone.
Last season Toby Hegner's nine rebounds in the second half at Nebraska were the most for any half by one individual. In fact, no Bluejay had collected 10 or more rebounds in any half since Doug McDermott had 10 by halftime vs. Louisiana in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
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).
#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 fifth in NBA history with 2,077 three-pointers and is sixth in league history with 43.1 percent marksmanship from three-point range (through November 10th). 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 9.9 points per game this year and shooting 45.9 percent from downtown.
Tolliver is averaging 6.7 points and 2.9 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 8.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game this season.
Creighton's newest NBA product is Justin Patton, who is now with the Minnesota Timberwolves but currently injured. 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.
In addition, May graduates Cole Huff and Isaiah Zierden were each selected in the 2017 NBA G League Draft on Oct. 21st. Huff is now on the Greensboro Swarm roster, while Zierden was cut.
Who Are These Guys?
Creighton returned two regular starters (Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas) from last year's team that finished 25-10. Creighton's roster contains players who made 72 starts a year ago (35 by Foster, 35 by Thomas and 12 by Davion Mintz), and a combined 147 career starts as Bluejays. That doesn't factor in the 57 starts for Marcus Foster at Kansas State, the 30 starts at Syracuse for Kaleb Joseph, one start at Fordham and 57 starts at Adelphi for Manny Suarez, or six starts at New Mexico for Damien Jefferson.
Eleven of Creighton's last 12 teams to return 101 or fewer starts from the previous season still went on to reach the postseason.
Returning Returning Starts Final
Year Starters From Previous Year W-L
2017-18 2 72 ? ? ?
2016-17 4 130 25-10
2015-16 1 64 20-15
2014-15 1 49 14-19
2013-14 4 144 27-8
2012-13 4 140 28-8
2011-12 3 101 29-6
2010-11 4 123 23-16
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
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
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, entering 2017-18.
2010-11 to 2016-17
Category Stat NCAA Rank
FG Percentage .480 4th
3FG Made 2,079 6th
3FG Percentage .387 4th
Assists 3,991 6th
FG Made 6,612 12th
Wins 166 T-29th
Winning Percentage .669 41st
Going For 20, Again
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 17 of the last 19 seasons (including 2016-17), 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.
Shooting Stars
Creighton ranked second in the nation in field goal percentage last year, connecting at a 50.5 percent clip. Only UCLA (52.1 percent) was better.
Creighton also shot the ball well in league play, draining BIG EAST best 49.4 percent of its attempts, the best mark in league play since Creighton shot 49.9 percent in 2013-14, and the best mark by a non-Creighton team in BIG EAST action since Georgetown (.505) in 2006-07.
Creighton started the season by making 58.8 percent of its attempts vs. Yale.
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).
Full House
Creighton averaged 17,413 fans per home game last season, fifth-best nationally. That figure would rank 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.
2016-17 Attendance Leaders (FINAL)
Rk. School Average
1. Kentucky 23,462
2. Syracuse 21,181
3. Louisville 20,846
4. North Carolina 18,067
5. Creighton 17,413
6. Wisconsin 17,286
7. Maryland 16,628
8. Kansas 16,395
9. Indiana 16,364
10. North Carolina State 15,907
Some Loyal Fans
Creighton attracted 296.013 fans at home in 2016-17, surpassing 200,000 fans for the 12th straight season. CU's average of 17,413 was second-most in program history, while the 296,013 fans were the fourth-most ever.
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 14 seasons.
Creighton has led its conference in home attendance every year since moving into CenturyLink Center Omaha, which is opening 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
Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 784 straight games since a 59-53 loss at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993. The streak was the nation's 20th-longest active streak through the end of the 2016-17 season.
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 entering 2017-18.
Longest Active 3-Point Streaks Entering 2017-18
Rk. Streak School Next
1. 1,013 Kentucky 11/10
2. 1,006 UNLV 11/11
3. 999 Vanderbilt 11/10
4. 984 Duke 11/10
5. 937 Arkansas 11/10
6. 936 Western Kentucky 11/10
7. 927 East Tennessee State 11/10
8. 917 Pacific 11/12
9. 900 Oakland 11/10
10. 893 Texas 11/10
11. 874 Princeton 11/12
12. 843 Marshall 11/10
13. 840 La Salle 11/11
14. 835 Baylor 11/10
15. 813 Gonzaga 11/10
16. 808 LIU-Brooklyn 11/10
17. 801 Cornell 11/10
18. 792 Mount St. Mary's 11/10
19. 785 Tennessee State 11/10
20. 783 Creighton 11/10
21. 782 East Carolina 11/12
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.
Greg McDermott is 45-2 as a Division I head coach when his teams score 90 or more points, including a 39-2 mark on the Creighton sideline.
Creighton is 57-2 all-time when scoring 100 points or more, including 25 straight wins since a 1977 loss to North Texas State.
Multiple Choices
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.
Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 16 victories under Greg McDermott after trailing by double-figures at some point. Nine of those comebacks have come away from home.
On the other hand, CU is 145-12 under McDermott when putting together double-digit leads, including wins 133 of the last 141 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
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
McDermott Ranks Second On CU Wins List
Greg McDermott currently has 167 victories at Creighton, good for second place on CU's all-time wins list.
McDermott's .671 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. 167-82 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. 18,494 Illinois State 02/09/13
10. 18,458 Evansville 12/29/12
11. 18,436 Bradley 01/28/12
12. 18,323 DePaul 02/07/14
13. 18,160 Central Arkansas 11/14/14
14. 18,145 Marquette 01/21/17
15. 18,111 Bradley 02/02/13
16. 18,084 Seton Hall 12/28/16
17. 18,078 Tulsa 11/23/13
18. 18,073 Drake 01/08/13
19. 18,032 #12 Butler 01/11/17
20. 17,971 #19 Butler 02/16/15
Très Bien
Since 2011-12, Creighton is 62-51 (.549) when shooting 40.00 percent or worse from three-point range. While respectable, that pales in comparison to CU's 80-14 (.851) mark the last seven years when shooting better than 40.00 percent from downtown.
Lower the standards to 30%, and it's still impressive. Creighton is 124-36 in the last seven years when shooting 30 percent or better from deep, compared to 19-30 when shooting 29.99 percent or less.
CenturyLink Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 240 regular and postseason contests at CenturyLink Center Omaha all-time in the 15-year-old facility.
The Bluejays own a 198-42 (.825) record all-time at the facility, and have never lost there on a Thursday (7-0) or Friday (13-0).
Creighton has outscored its opponents 18,433-15,553 in games at CenturyLink Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.00 points per game. Creighton has led wire-to-wire 67 different times, including 15 of its last 37 home games.
Creighton is also 25-24 all-time in the 47 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 31-22 when trailing at halftime at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Creighton is 101-24 (.808) at CenturyLink Center Omaha under Greg McDermott, including a 58-4 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 218-42 (.838) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
Home Run
Since Greg McDermott took over in 2010, Creighton is averaging 79.51 points per home game (9,939 points in 125 home games), a figure that climbs to 83.66 points in non-conference home games (5,187 points in 62 home games).
Creighton is 84-2 all-time at CenturyLink Center Omaha when scoring 80 or points and has won 82 straight non-conference home games when scoring 80 or more points, dating to a 90-85 loss to Nebraska on Dec. 7, 1991.
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
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
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.
Clear Bag Policy Comes to CenturyLink on 12/31
Starting December 31, 2017, CenturyLink Center Omaha will adopt new clear bag regulations for all arena events including Creighton University men's home basketball games. Bags permitted under the policy include clear plastic, vinyl or PVC totes.
Additionally, small clutch-sized bags will also be allowed inside the arena after a proper security inspection. However, oversized bags or purses will no longer be allowed inside the premises.
After observing the success and ease of transition with arenas and venues across the state, MECA and Creighton University believe the updated policy to be the best safety practice for the thousands of fans who loyally attend each basketball game, and countless concert-goers who walk through the doors at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Here are the main bullet-points of the new bag policy, effective on December 31 when the Bluejays host Providence (1:30 p.m., tip-off):
• Clear plastic bags, measuring 12 inches tall, 12 inches long, and 6 inches wide
• Small or clutch-sized purses or wallets, not exceeding 4.5 inches tall by 6.5 inches long
• One-gallon, clear plastic freezer bags are permitted (Ziploc bag or similar)
• No large purses, bags, backpacks or fanny-packs will be allowed inside
• MECA staff members are not allowed to hold bags during an event
• Exceptions will be made for bags with medical necessity after appropriate inspection
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