Defending Champion Villanova Visits Men's Basketball on Sunday

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Game #17: Villanova Wildcats at Creighton Bluejays
Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019 • 11:00 a.m.
CHI Health Center Omaha (17,352) • Omaha, Neb.
Radio: KOZ 1620 AM, www.1620thezone.com, 101.9 FM
Television: FOX (Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson)
Series History: Villanova leads, 11-3
Last Meeting: Creighton 89, #3 Villanova 83 (OT) on Feb. 24, 2018 in Omaha, Neb.
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

Next Game
Creighton (10-6, 1-2 BIG EAST) hosts defending national champion Villanova (12-4, 3-0 BIG EAST) in a Sunday morning contest on January 13.
   Tip-off on First National Bank Court at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb., is set for 11:00 a.m.

Television Broadcast Information
Sunday's game will be televised nationally on FOX. The announcers for the game will be Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson.

Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) will broadcast all Creighton men's basketball games during the 2018-19 season, while KOOO (101.9 FM) will also broadcast all home games. John Bishop and former Bluejay Nick Bahe will call the action.
   The audio is also webcast live at www.1620thezone.com.

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 is 10-6 overall and 1-2 in BIG EAST play after Wednesday's heartbreaking 106-104 overtime loss to No. 21 Marquette. The Bluejays own a top-10 schedule, having already played 11 teams that won 21 games or more a year ago, and own impressive wins away from home at Providence and on a neutral floor over No. 16 Clemson thus far.
   Creighton ranks second nationally in three-point percentage (.442), second in total three-pointers (193), third in three-pointers made per game (12.1) and third in field goal percentage (.515).
   Creighton returns eight lettermen and two starters from last year's team that finished 21-12 and tied for third in the BIG EAST Conference with a 10-8 league record. The Bluejays advanced to its fifth NCAA Tournament in the past seven seasons, where it fell to eventual Elite Eight qualifier Kansas State.
   Creighton owns six men averaging 9.4 points per game or more, a grouping led by sophomores Ty-Shon Alexander (17.1 ppg.) and Mitch Ballock (11.2 ppg.). Alexander poured in a career-high 36 points in the win over Clemson in the Cayman Islands Classic title game, and the duo have combined for 99 three-pointers this winter.
   Coming on strong of late is junior forward Martin Krampelj (10.8 ppg., 5.8 rpg.). He's averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in CU's last six games.
   Creighton leads the BIG EAST with 51.5 percent field goal percentage, 44.2 percent three-point marksmanship, and 84.9 points per game.

Scouting Villanova
Villanova has won four games in a row, including Tuesday's 76-71 win over No. 24 St. John's, to improve to 12-4 on the season. The 3-0 Wildcats are the lone remaining unbeaten team in BIG EAST play, and in search of their fifth regular-season league title in the past six years.
   Phil Booth (17.6 ppg.), Eric Paschall (16.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) and Collin Gillespie (10.7 ppg.) lead the defending national champions in scoring, as the Wildcats are trying to replace four NBA draft picks.
   The Wildcats average 74.4 points per game and shoot 44.8 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three-point range and 73.3 percent from the field. VU outrebounds foes by 3.6 caroms per contest and allows 66.0 points per game.

The Series With Villanova
Villanova leads the all-time series with Creighton, 11-3, including a 3-2 record in games played in Omaha.
   Creighton swept the regular-season series in 2013-14 with a pair of victories by 20+ points, but the Wildcats won the next eight meetings before CU topped Nova in overtime last February.
   Greg McDermott is 3-8 against Villanova and Jay Wright. Wright is 8-3 versus Creighton.

The Creighton Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) is in his ninth season as head coach at Creighton, where he is 197-100 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 477-295 in his 25th season and is 346-231 in his 18th Division I campaign. McDermott is assisted by Preston Murphy, Alan Huss and Paul Lusk.

With A Win, Creighton Can...
- Improve 198-100 under Greg McDermott at Creighton.
- Improve to 2-7 against defending national champions with its first such win since 1947.
- Give Creighton four wins vs. Villanova since 2013-14, the most in the nation in those six seasons.
- Improve Creighton to 4-11 all-time against Villanova, but 3-3 in Omaha.

Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out Auction Underway
As part of the nationwide Coaches vs. Cancer event, men's basketball fans are encouraged to wear pink to promote cancer awareness and participate in the "Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out" game when the Bluejays host Butler on Jan. 25 (7:31 p.m., tip-off).
   Bluejay players will wear pink shooting shirts and pink jerseys for the game and fans have the opportunity to honor a friend or family member who has battled cancer or is currently battling cancer by purchasing the apparel via auction (the shooting shirt can be personalized – last name, nickname, etc.).
   Bidding is underway now, and will close at various times on Sunday, Jan. 20. To participate in the auction click on this link to place a bid: GoCreighton.com/PinkOutAuction.
   The first 16,000 fans entering the venue on Jan. 25 will receive a complimentary pink t-shirt courtesy of Methodist Health System and CHI Health. "Pink Out" t-shirts are also available for purchase at the following Lawlor's Custom Sportswear locations: Westroads Mall and the Superstore located at 84th & J Streets.
   Complimentary "Pink Out" posters will be available to fans exiting the venue after the game on Jan. 25. Last year's Creighton vs. Cancer jersey auction raised $28,796 pushing the seven-year total of amount raised to $186,360.68.
   To learn more about the Pink Out visit GoCreighton.com/PinkOut.

Unranked Villanova, A Rare Occurrence
Creighton's first game ever against a team that was ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 came in 1951 against Villanova, but Sunday marks just the third time in 15 all-time meetings between the Bluejays and Wildcats that neither team is ranked.
   In the 11 previous meetings since Creighton joined the BIG EAST, Creighton has been ranked twice while Villanova has been ranked 4th, 6th, 4th, 4th, 16th, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 1st and 3rd.

The Cats Meow
Villanova is a nation-best 177-25 record since the start of the 2013-14 season, which coincides with the reconfiguration of the BIG EAST.
   Of the 68 different schools to play Villanova in that time, only 18 have actually beaten the Wildcats.
   Creighton is one of four schools to post multiple victories over the Wildcats in that time. Creighton, Butler and Seton Hall all have three victories over Villanova, while Providence has two in that span.

Hosting The Champs
Villanova comes to Omaha for the second time in three seasons as the defending national champion.
   Creighton is 1-7 all-time against defending national champions, having beaten 1946 champ Oklahoma State on Feb. 8, 1947.
   Creighton is 3-4 all-time in home games against teams coming off a Final Four appearance, with the last such win coming in a 2006 over George Mason.
   Last year's win over Villanova was Creighton's first ever over in 11 tries against that season's eventual national champion.
Creighton vs. Defending NCAA Champs (All Sites)
Date   Site   Score
01/11/1946   A   Oklahoma State 53, Creighton 34
03/09/1946   H   Oklahoma State 45, Creighton 24
02/08/1947   H   Creighton 40, Oklahoma State 31
02/28/1947   A   Oklahoma State 52, Creighton 24
03/16/1962   N   Cincinnati 66, Creighton 46
02/07/1978   A   Marquette 82, Creighton 57
03/21/2008   A   Florida 82, Creighton 54
12/31/2016   H   Villanova 80, Creighton 70

Creighton Hosting Previous Season Final Four Teams (Home Only)
Date   Site   Score
03/09/1946   H   Oklahoma State 45, Creighton 24
02/08/1947   H   Creighton 40, Oklahoma State 31
03/08/1975   H   Marquette 64, Creighton 60
01/17/1980   H   Creighton 67, Indiana State 60
01/28/1980   H   DePaul 84, Creighton 73
11/25/2006   H   Creighton 58, George Mason 56
12/31/2016   H   Villanova 80, Creighton 70

Creighton vs. Eventual NCAA Champs (All Sites)
Date   Site   Score
01/11/1946   A   Oklahoma State 53, Creighton 34
03/09/1946   H   Oklahoma State 45, Creighton 24
01/02/1948   N   Kentucky 65, Creighton 23
12/10/1951   H   Kansas 65, Creighton 47
03/16/1962   N   Cincinnati 66, Creighton 46
12/21/1963   N   UCLA 95, Creighton 69
03/05/1977   H   Marquette 72, Creighton 60
01/02/2016   H   Villanova 85, Creighton 71
02/03/2016   A   Villanova 83, Creighton 58
02/01/2018   A   Villanova 98, Creighton 78
02/24/2018   H   Creighton 89, Villanova 83 (OT)

Sunday Success at CHI Health Center Omaha
Creighton has won each of its last 32 home games played on a Sunday, a streak that is more than a dozen years old.
   Creighton's last Sunday home loss was on January 9, 2005 to Southern Illinois.
   Creighton is 33-1 all-time at CHI Health Center Omaha in games played on a Sunday, and has won 38 of its last 39 Sunday home games since Feb. 4, 2002.

Nova's Last Setback of 2017-18
Villanova went 36-4 last season and won the national title, ending the year on an 11-game win streak. The Wildcats final loss last season came in Omaha, as Creighton topped Villanova 89-83 in overtime on Feb. 24, 2018.
   The loss was Villanova's only setback last season at full strength, as the Wildcats were missing Collin Gillespie, Eric Paschall or Phil Booth in each of their other three losses.

McDermott On The Wright Path
Villanova's Jay Wright owns more wins at his current school than any other current BIG EAST coach, having led the Wildcats to 434 victories in 18 seasons. That's an average of 24.11 wins per season (counting this season and this year's wins) for Wright, and a .720 winning percentage in that time.
   His counterpart on Sunday, Creighton's Greg McDermott, owns a record of 197-100 in his nine season with the Bluejays, an average of 21.89 wins per season. McDermott owns a .663 winning percentage at CU.
   Wright and McDermott are the only current BIG EAST coaches who have averaged 20 or more wins per season in their current position.
   After 16 games of his ninth season at Villanova, Wright owned 193 wins and had been to five NCAA Tournaments at VU, while McDermott owns 197 wins and has also coached CU to five NCAA bids to this point.
   Wright had a 201-96 record after exactly 297 games with the Wildcats, while McDermott is 197-100 at Creighton thus far.

Getting Streaky
Ty-Shon Alexander is one of four players in the BIG EAST to make a three-pointer in every team game this season. He's joined by Markus Howard (Marquette), Myles Powell (Seton Hall) and Phil Booth (Villanova). Powell owns a trey in a league-high 40 straight games, just ahead of Alexander (20), Howard (20) and Booth (16).

Just Call Him Trey-Shon
Ty-Shon Alexander has made a three-point basket in all 16 games he's played this season, stretching his streak dating to last year to 20 games in a row.
   Alexander's streak is the eighth-longest in Creighton history, and just 11 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 (and head coach Greg McDermott) 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 before it was snapped against Evansville (and head coach Steve Merfeld).
Consecutive Games With a 3FG, 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
   23   Ethan Wragge   11/8/13 to 2/9/14
   22   Khyri Thomas   1/28/17 to 12/5/17
   21   Ethan Wragge   1/3/10 to 3/24/10
   20   Johnny Mathies   12/22/04 to 2/28/05
   20   Marcus Foster   12/31/17 to 3/16/18
   20   Ty-Shon Alexander   2/27/18 to Present

Mintz Condition
Davion Mintz had the best offensive game of his career on Jan. 9 vs. Marquette. He was 4-for-4 in the first half, and wrapped up the game shooting 8-for-14 overall.
   The junior from Charlotte finished with career-highs in points (21), three-pointers (5), field goals (8), field goal attempts (14), three-point attempts (8) and minutes played (39).
   Mintz is now averaging 12.7 points per game in BIG EAST play and has just two turnovers in those contests.

Kaleb's Been There
Only one man on the current Creighton roster has ever had 10 or more assists in a game, and that man is Kaleb Joseph.
   As a freshman in 2014-15 at Syracuse, Joseph had 10 points and 10 assists while playing all 45 minutes in an overtime game vs. No. 7 Villanova.

Talented Prep Backcourt
Connor Cashaw has watched a ton of Villanova basketball over the years while supporting Jalen Brunson, his former classmate at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill.
   While Brunson scored 1,667 points and won two NCAA titles at Villanova from 2015-18, Cashaw was scoring 1,016 points at Rice University. Both men are exemplary student-athletes who graduated college in three years, with Brunson turning pro and Cashaw transferring to Creighton over the summer.
   Not surprisingly, Stevenson High School won the Class 4A state title in 2015, with Cashaw averaging 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
   Other famous alums from Stevenson High include Tamika Catchings, Andrea Jaeger, Ted Musgrave, Rob Ryan and Rex Ryan.

My Favorite Martin
When Creighton and Villanova held their first meeting last season on February 1, 2018, Martin Krampelj was back in Omaha undergoing the third ACL of his career.
   What a difference a year makes.
   Krampelj on Wednesday had his sixth straight game where he scored in double-figures, finishing with 19 points and eight rebounds in a career-high 36 minutes.
   In the past six games, Krampelj leads Creighton with 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He's shot 67.9 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from the line, and 60 percent from the line, a vast improvement from the first 10 contests when he was still regaining his form.
When   FG%   3FG%   FT%   RPG   PPG   DUNKS
First 10 Games   .474   .182   .563   4.4   7.4   11
Last 6 Games   .679   .429   .600   8.0   16.5   16

Nifty Fifty Approaches
Sophomores Ty-Shon Alexander and Mitch Ballock will play in their 50th college game on Sunday vs. Villanova. Alexander owns 457 career points, while Ballock has scored 420 points.
   Here's how some other recent high-profile Bluejays have scored after 50 games in Blue & White.
Points After 50 Games at CU (Select Players)
   Points   Name   First Season
   1,195   Bob Portman   1966-67
   1,069   Paul Silas   1961-62
   929   Marcus Foster   2016-17
   860   Doug McDermott   2010-11
   837   Rod Mason   1986-87
   820   Rodney Buford   1995-96
   750   Benoit Benjamin   1981-82
   625   Bob Harstad   1987-88
   610   Chad Gallagher   1987-88
   535   Kyle Korver   1999-00
   457*   Ty-Shon Alexander   2017-19
   420*   Mitch Ballock   2017-19
   329   Nate Funk   2002-03
   116   Anthony Tolliver   2003-04
* through 49 games

Set The Alarm Clock...and Hoop
Sunday's game vs. Villanova will start at 11 a.m. Central, tying it for the earliest gametime under Greg McDermott.
   Creighton's only other 11 am local start under McDermott came on March 19, 2016, when the Bluejays throttled Wagner 87-54 in the Second Round of the NIT.
   Below is a look at all Creighton games to start at 12 p.m. or earlier at the site where the game has been held since 2010-11.
12 pm Local Starts Or Earlier Under Greg McDermott
Day   Time   Opponent   CU Result
01/16/11   12 pm ET   at Indiana State   L 59-61
12/10/11   12 pm ET   at Saint Joseph's   L 71-80
03/08/13   12 pm CT   vs. Drake   W 65-53
02/07/15   12 pm ET   at St. John's   L 66-84
02/14/15   12 pm CT   Marquette   W 77-70
03/19/16   11 am CT   Wagner   W 87-54
01/17/16   12 pm CT   at DePaul   W 91-80
12/31/16   12 pm CT   #1 Villanova   L 70-80
01/14/17   12 pm CT   Truman State   W 101-69
01/06/18   12 pm ET   at Georgetown   W 90-66
01/05/19   12 pm ET   at Butler   L 69-84

Giving It 100
Creighton lost a 106-104 game to Marquette on Wednesday, bringing up a number of numbers related to the century mark.
   Creighton fell to 63-3 all-time when scoring 100 or more points, while Greg McDermott fell to 21-1 as a Division I head coach when his teams score 100 or more points.
   Creighton had won 36 straight games when scoring 100 points or more, dating to a Feb. 26, 1977 loss (108-105 in double-OT) at North Texas.
   It was Creighton's first ever home loss when scoring 100 or more points.
   Creighton fell to 2-38 all-time when allowing 100 points or more. CU's last win when allowing triple-digits came on March 1, 2008, when the Bluejays beat Bradley 111-110 in double-OT.
   Creighton had not scored 100 points in a league game since a 100-59 win over St. John's on Feb. 28, 2016.
   Creighton has never scored 100 points in consecutive conference games, and last scored 100+ in consecutive contests on Nov. 18, 2016 (103 vs. Washington State) & Nov. 20, 2016 (110 vs. North Carolina State).
   Creighton's 104 points were its most ever against a ranked team, surpassing the 101 scored vs. No. 6 Villanova on Feb. 16, 2014.
   Marquette's 106 points scored tied the most ever by a ranked team against Creighton, as No. 10 Tulsa also did it on March 2, 1982.
   Creighton has now scored 100 or more points 22 times since Greg McDermott's hiring, the fifth-most nationally as seen below:
Most Games With 100+ Points Since 2010-11
   Rk.   100+ Pt. Games   School
   1.   29   VMI
   2.   27   North Carolina
   3.   23   The Citadel
       23   Gonzaga
   5.   22   Creighton

Working Overtime
Wednesday was Creighton's first overtime game of the season, and its first in BIG EAST regular-season action since an 89-83 victory over No. 3 Villanova on Feb. 24, 2018.
   Creighton is now 56-47 all-time in overtime games, including a 29-14 mark at home, a 7-4 mark at CHI Health Center Omaha, a 2-1 mark in BIG EAST games and a 6-3 record under Greg McDermott.
   Creighton's 19 points in the extra session were its most in any overtime period since scoring 20 points in a 90-84 overtime win over Saint Joseph's on Dec. 9, 2007.
   Creighton's first overtime game on record finished with a 20-19 final score. Wednesday's overtime featured Marquette outscoring CU 21-19 in the extra session alone.
   Wednesday marked the 15th time in Creighton's last 16 overtime games that the team to score first in OT went on to win the game.
   Creighton has not played consecutive overtime games since December of 2014, when it beat South Dakota in double-OT before falling four days later to Saint Mary's.

Records Fell
Here's a list of some of the various records that were broken on Wednesday:
- Among the single-game arena records set or tied by Marquette's Markus Howard were points (53), three-pointers (10), field goal attempts (26) and turnovers (9).
- Marquette's 16 three-pointers tied a CHI Health Center Omaha record for three-pointers by a non-Creighton team.
- Markus Howard's 53 points were a Marquette record, a BIG EAST record and a record for a Bluejay opponent in one game. The legendary Bevo Francis held the previous mark for a CU opponent, scoring 49 points for Rio Grande on Jan. 23, 1954.

Philly's Finest
Creighton has several alums who have made a dent in professional sports in the Philadelphia area.
   Darin Ruf starred at Creighton from 20069 and played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2012-16. He spent last summer playing for the Samsung Lions in South Korea.
   Kyle Korver starred at Creighton from 1999-2003 and played his first four NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he quickly became a fan favorite. Korver was an All-Star four winters ago with the Atlanta Hawks and now plays for the Utah Jazz.
   Justin Patton is in the Philadelphia 76ers organization after being included in the Jimmy Butler trade earlier this season. Patton was at Creighton from 2015-17, developing into the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and a First Round Draft Pick by the Chicago Bulls. He is currently sidelined with a broken foot and awaiting his season debut.
   Fabian Herbers was drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Union in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft and played for the Union for three seasons before being traded last month to the Chicago Fire. Herbers was a two-time BIG EAST Player of the Year, a runner-up for the MAC Hermann Trophy, and led the nation in assists and points for Creighton in 2015. He owns four goals and nine assists in his MLS career.
   Other Creighton alums who have spent time in the last dozen years on the roster of a Philadelphia team include Greg Jordan (Philadelphia Union soccer) and Tim Gradoville (Philadelphia Phillies).

Challenging Start To League Play
Creighton opened BIG EAST play with road games at Providence and Butler, but now returned home to host a pair of games this week against the two teams picked atop the league preseason poll. It's part of a challenging start to league play, as each of Creighton's first five games are against a team picked to finish in the upper division of the league, while the sixth is a road contest against a vastly improved Georgetown team that is currently 10-5.
   Creighton is the only school to start league play with five straight games against teams picked in the top five of the preseason poll.
   Creighton was the only team in the BIG EAST that has consecutive road games to start league play this season.
   In the previous 36 seasons, starting with 1982-83 Creighton had started with two straight road tilts just twice previously in that time (1994-95 and 2014-15).
   Creighton and Seton Hall are the only two schools in the BIG EAST with four of its first six league games on the road this season.

Triple That
Creighton has made 10 or more three-pointers in 11 of its last 13 games, shooting 164-for-374 (.439) from deep in that time.
   In this run, CU has shot better than 38.5 percent from deep in all but two of those games, and shot 43.8 percent from distance or better 10 times.
   Creighton has made 10 or more three-pointers 121 times (second nationally since 2010-11) in 297 games under Greg McDermott, winning 94 of those (77.7 percent).
   Since joining the BIG EAST, Creighton has averaged 14.00 three-pointers per game and shot 53.2 percent from deep in three victories over Villanova, compared to 7.00 three-pointers per game while shooting 30.4 percent in eight losses against the Wildcats.
   Since 2013-14, Villanova has allowed 6.4 three-pointers per game on 31.2 percent shooting from deep in its 177 wins, but yielded 8.2 three-pointers per game on 42.5 percent marksmanship in its 25 losses.

The "Three"-Placements
Coming into the season, many were left wondering how Creighton was going to replace three of its top four three-point shooters from a season ago (Marcus Foster, Khyri Thomas, Toby Hegner), among others, as the Bluejays were left trying to replace 229 of its 343 three-pointers from last year.
   The answer has been quite well, thank you.
   Creighton's newcomers this season have combined to shoot 51-for-106 (48.1 percent) from three-point range this season, as Connor Cashaw, Marcus Zegarowski and Damien Jefferson are all making 46 percent or better from long-range, and Samson Froling is 3-for-9 in limited attempts.

Always Impressing
Since the reconfiguration of the BIG EAST in 2013, Creighton and Providence are the only teams to meet or exceed their poll prediction each season.
   Providence was picked to finish third this season, with Creighton slotted ninth.
   Under eight previous seasons under Greg McDermott, Creighton has exceeded its preseason poll placement on three occasions, matched its expectation four times, and in 2011-12 were picked first in the MVC but finished second.
Preseason Polls Under Greg McDermott
Year   League   Preseason Poll   Finish
2010-11   MVC   4th   T-4th
2011-12   MVC   1st   2nd
2012-13   MVC   1st   1st
2013-14   BIG EAST   3rd   2nd
2014-15   BIG EAST   9th   T-9th
2015-16   BIG EAST   9th   6th
2016-17   BIG EAST   3rd   T-3rd
2017-18   BIG EAST   5th   T-3rd
2018-19   BIG EAST   9th   TBD

60 Percent Club
Since Greg McDermott's hiring in 2010, the Bluejays have shot 60 percent or better from the field on 23 occasions, tied with Gonzaga for the most in the nation according to data listed at Basketball-Reference.com.
Most Games Shooting 60% Since 2010-11
   Rk.   60% Games   School
   1.   23   Creighton
       23   Gonzaga
   3.   21   Kansas
   4.   20   Michigan State
       20   Indiana

The Race To 75
Creighton has scored 75 or more points in each of its 10 victories this season, and in 15 straight wins dating to last winter.
   Creighton has averaged 95.3 points in three all-time wins over Villanova, but 62.6 in 11 losses against the Wildcats.

Sophomores From Downtown
Ty-Shon Alexander was the first player in Creighton history to make multiple three-pointers in each of the first eight games of a season before he went 1-for-4 beyond the arc at Nebraska.
   Here's a look at Creighton's most three-pointers per game for a season (minimum 10 games).
Creighton's Most 3-Pointers Per Game, Season
   3FG/G   3FG   GP   Name   Year
   3.79   129   34   Kyle Korver   2002-03
   3.15   82   26   Tad Ackerman   1994-95
   3.14   110   35   Ethan Wragge   2013-14
   3.125   50   17   Ty-Shon Alexander   2018-19
   3.125   100   32   Kyle Korver   2001-02
   3.06   49   16   Mitch Ballock   2018-19
   2.88   95   33   Marcus Foster   2017-18

3-Pointers, By Average
Creighton has made 12.06 three-pointers per game so far this season, easily its most ever. The Jays had never averaged more than 8.76 triples in any season before Greg McDermott's arrival.
   Here's a look at the most three-pointers per game in Creighton history. Of note is that each of the six completed seasons on this list ended with 21 or more wins and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Creighton's Most 3-Pointers Per Game in a Season
   3FG/G   Season   3FG   GP   W-L (Postseason)
   12.06   2018-19    193   16   10-6 so far
   10.39   2017-18   343   33   21-12 (NCAA)
   10.17   2013-14   356   35   27-8 (NCAA)
   8.76   1999-00   289   33   23-10 (NCAA)
   8.69   2016-17   304   35   25-10 (NCAA)
   8.62   2004-05   293   34   23-11 (NCAA)
   8.53   2012-13   307   36   28-8 (NCAA)

Triple Trivia
During Creighton's current streak of 832 straight games with a three-pointer, the Jays have drained 6,456 trifectas, an average of 7.76 treys per game.
   That's not surprising since during the streak, Creighton has made exactly 7 three-pointers 130 times, more than any figure.
   Only four times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 221 occasions the Bluejays have made 10 or more trifectas, including three games of 20 or more.
   Creighton has made five or more three-pointers in 52 straight games (since shooting 4-20 from deep vs. Providence on 3/9/17), and has made at least one three-pointer before halftime in 203 consecutive contests (since 0-7 at Drake on 1/23/13).
Team 3FG Made During Creighton's 3-Point Streak
1:    4 times   2: 15 times   3: 30 times
4:    67 times   5:   94 times   6: 87 times
7:   130 times   8:   109 times   9: 75 times
10: 65 times   11: 47 times   12: 45 times
13: 35 times   14: 12 times   15:   6 times
16: 6 times   17: 1 time   19:   1 time
20: 1 time   21: 1 time   22: 1 time

All The Three's
Creighton drilled a program-record 22 three-point shots in its Dec. 20 home game vs. Coe, one year to the day after it made 19 treys vs. USC Upstate which now ranks as the fourth-most in a game in program history.
   CU's recordbreaking three-pointer came with 31.4 seconds left by Marcus Zegarowski. One night earlier, Zegarowski's brother Michael Carter-Williams hit a trey with 30.3 seconds left as the Houston Rockets set the NBA single-game record with 26 three-pointers made.
   Here's a list of Creighton's all-time games with 16 or more treys.
Most 3FG in a Game, Creighton History
   Rank   3FG   Opponent   Date   Score
   1.   22   Coe   12/20/2018   W 110-60
   2.   21   at #4 Villanova   01/20/2014   W 96-68
   3.   20   Chattanooga   02/19/2005   W 100-69
   4.   19   USC Upstate   12/20/2017   W 116-62
   5.   17   #21 Marquette   01/09/2019   L 104-106 (ot)
   6.   16   Evansville   01/04/1999   L 79-84
       16   Drake   01/08/2013   W 91-61
       16   Chicago State   12/29/2013   W 90-58
       16   vs. Ole Miss   11/21/2016   W 86-77
       16   Alcorn State   11/12/2017   W 109-72
       16   at Georgetown   01/06/2018   W 90-66

3 > 1
Creighton ranks as one of the highest scoring teams in the nation this year despite not making many trips to the foul line thus far.
   The Bluejays have made 193 three-pointers this season, compared to 192 free throws.

Scoring In Bunches
Creighton has scored 1,359 points through 15 games to rank 17th nationally with 84.94 points per contest. That puts this year's team on pace to be CU's highest-scoring club in nearly 50 years (1970-71).
Most Points Per Game, Season
   Rk.   PPG   Season   Final W-L (Postseason)
   1.   88.23   1965-66   14-12 (None)
   2.   84.94   2018-19   10-6 so far (TBD)
   3.   84.17   1963-64   22-7 (NCAA)
   4.   83.96   1970-71   14-11 (None)
   5.   83.52   2017-18   21-12 (NCAA)
   6.   82.83   1964-65   13-10 (None)
   7.   82.00   1968-69   13-13 (None)
   8.   81.83   2016-17   25-10 (NCAA)
   9.   80.89   1976-77   21-7 (NIT)

Not Your Ordinary Freshman
Marcus Zegarowski had a season-high 20 points on Dec. 20 vs. Coe. His season average of 10.3 points per game ranks fourth among BIG EAST freshmen.
   Zegarowski is attempting to become one of six Creighton freshmen in the past 25 seasons to average at least 10 points per game.
   This is the fifth straight season that Creighton has had a freshman with a 20-point game.
Freshmen With 20+ Point Games, Last 25 Seasons
   20+ Point Games   Name   Season
   6   Rodney Buford   1995-96
   6   Doug McDermott   2010-11
   5   Justin Patton   2016-17
   4   P'Allen Stinnett   2007-08
   3   Kyle Korver   1999-00
   2   Terrell Taylor   1999-00
   1   Ryan Sears   1999-00
   1   Ben Walker   1999-00
   1   Ethan Wragge   2009-10
   1   Toby Hegner   2014-15
   1   Khyri Thomas   2015-16
   1   Mitch Ballock   2017-18
   1   Marcus Zegarowski   2018-19

Most Points Per Game, CU Freshmen, Since 1994-95
   PPG   Name   Season
   14.9   Doug McDermott   2010-11
   14.5   Rodney Buford   1995-96
   12.9   Justin Patton   2015-16
   12.6   P'Allen Stinnett   2007-08
   10.54   Ryan Sears   1997-98
   10.50   Marcus Zegarowski   2018-19

We're Jamming!
Creighton already has 43 dunks this season, with 27 of those coming by Martin Krampelj.
   Here's a look at the Creighton student-athletes with 20 or more dunks in a season, or 19 or more dunks in a career, under Greg McDermott (since 2010-11):
Most Creighton Dunks, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Year
72   Justin Patton   2016-17
36   Gregory Echenique   2012-13
33   Martin Krampelj   2017-18
30   Gregory Echenique   2011-12
29   Marcus Foster   2017-18
27   Martin Krampelj   2018-19
24   Gregory Echenique   2010-11
23   Marcus Foster   2016-17
22   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2010-11
20   Khyri Thomas   2017-18

Most Creighton Dunks, Career, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Years
90   Gregory Echenique   2010-13
74   Martin Krampelj   2015-Pres.
72   Justin Patton   2016-17
52   Marcus Foster   2016-18
51   Khyri Thomas   2015-18
38   Will Artino   2011-15
32   Zach Hanson   2013-17
25   Geoffrey Groselle   2012-16
22   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2010-11
19   Doug McDermott   2010-14

Most Creighton Dunks, Team, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Year   Team W-L
144   2016-17   25-10 (NCAA)
107   2017-18   21-12 (NCAA)
58   2015-16   20-15 (NIT)
56   2010-11   23-16 (CBI)
54   2012-13   28-8 (NCAA)
43   2018-19   10-4 so far
42   2011-12   29-6 (NCAA)
35   2013-14   27-8 (NCAA)
29   2014-15   14-19

When Three-Pointers Fall, Creighton Excels
Creighton is shooting 44.2 percent from three-point range this season, good for second-best nationally.
   In Greg McDermott's first eight seasons at Creighton, all five of his teams to shoot 37 percent or better from deep would go on to make the NCAA Tournament, and his lone team to shoot below 35 percent from downtown missed the postseason.
Creighton's National 3FG% Rank Under McDermott
Year   3FG% Rank   3FG%   W-L (Postseason)
2010-11   59th   .369   23-16 (CBI)
2011-12   3rd   .424   29-6 (NCAA)
2012-13   2nd   .414   28-8 (NCAA)
2013-14   1st   .414   27-8 (NCAA)
2014-15   165th   .345   14-19
2015-16   146th   .352   20-15 (NIT)
2016-17   17th   .396   25-10 (NCAA)
2017-18   75th   .372   21-12 (NCAA)
2018-19   2nd   .442   10-6 so far

Free Falling
Despite a team of star marksmen from behind the arc, Creighton ranks just 300th nationally this year at the free throw line with its 65.5 percent accuracy.
   The free throw woes have yet to cost the Bluejays too much, as CU has shot 79.1 percent (34-43) in the last five minutes of the second half (or overtime) from the stripe during its eight games decided by 12 points or less.
   This year's struggles would definitely seem like and aberration, as the Bluejays rank 51st nationally in free throw percentage at 72.2 percent since Greg McDermott took over in 2010.

Offense Is Clicking
Creighton's offense has been even hotter than the weather in the Cayman Islands in the last 13 games.
   Creighton has averaged 88.2 points per game in that span, shooting 52.3 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from three-point range (making 164 three-pointers) and 66.1 percent at the line.
   Bluejay sophomores Ty-Shon Alexander, Damien Jefferson, Mitch Ballock and Jacob Epperson have combined to average 41.5 points per game in that time while shooting a collective 49.9 percent from the field and draining 44.0 percent of its 216 shots from three-point range.

Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 20 victories under Greg McDermott after trailing by double-figures at some point, none larger than the 18-point deficit the Bluejays overcame against then-No.18 Oklahoma on Nov. 19, 2014. Ten of those 20 comebacks have come away from home.
   Creighton owns 11 victories since 2000 in which it has won after overcoming a deficit of 15 points or more, as seen below:
Overcoming Double-Digit Deficits, Since 2000
Deficit   Opponent   Date
19   Wichita State   01/28/06
18   #17 Western Kentucky   11/27/01
18   #18 Oklahoma   11/19/14
17   Missouri State   02/12/03
17   DePaul   11/09/07
17   Rhode Island   03/18/08
17   at San Diego State   11/30/11
16   TCU   01/26/03
16   at Drake   02/04/06
16   New Mexico   11/16/08
16   at Evansville   02/16/13
15   Wichita State   02/02/08

100,00 Fans, Again
With 153,485 fans to date, this season marks the 17th straight season of 100,000 or more home fans for the program. The streak that started in the final season (2002-03) of the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
   Creighton has led its conference in home attendance each of the last 15 completed seasons, and is once again leading the way in the BIG EAST in 2018-19.

Challenging Schedule
Eight of Creighton's 13 non-conference opponents this season won 22 or more games last season, while a ninth foe (Oklahoma) reached the NCAA Tournament.
   East Tennessee State (25-9 last year), Ohio State (25-9), Boise State (23-9), Georgia State (24-11), Clemson (25-10), Montana (26-8), Gonzaga (32-5) and Nebraska (22-11) all won 22 or more times a year ago, and combined for a 202-72 record (.737) in 2017-18.

Sophomore Stars
Three of Creighton's top six scorers this season are sophomores, Ty-Shon Alexander (17.1 ppg.), Mitch Ballock (11.2 ppg.) and Damien Jefferson (9.4 ppg.).
   Of Creighton's 1,359 points this season, the sophomore class has scored 646 of them (47.5 percent).
   Creighton's freshmen have scored 20.2 percent, the juniors 24.7 percent and the seniors 7.7 percent.

Alexander The Great
Ty-Shon Alexander's performance against No. 16 Clemson on Nov. 21 was historic for a number of reasons.
- Alexander's 36 points were the most by any Bluejay in a game since Doug McDermott had 45 points on March 8, 2014 vs. Providence. Since Greg McDermott was hired in 2010, the only other Bluejay with a game of 36 points or more is Doug McDermott, who did it eight times.
- Alexander's 36 points were the most by a Bluejay sophomore since McDermott had 36 points vs. Long Beach State on Feb. 18, 2012.
- Alexander's 36 points were the most by a player against Clemson since North Carolina's Harrison Barnes had 40 points in the 2011 ACC Tournament against the Tigers. Barnes was a former high school teammate of McDermott.
- Alexander is the first Bluejay to shoot 100 percent from the free-throw line with 11 attempts or more since McDermott was 13-for-13 at the stripe on Dec. 17, 2013 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. No player had done that against Clemson since South Carolina's Chuck Eidson on Feb. 12, 2003.
- Alexander's 36 points vs. Clemson required just 16 field goal attempts. That's the fewest number of shot attempts to score 36+ points by a Creighton player since Bob Harstad had 38 points on 13-of-13 shooting in a win over UTSA on Nov. 30, 1990.
- Alexander's seven three-point baskets were the most by a Bluejay in one game since Cole Huff had seven on March 10, 2016 vs. Seton Hall, and the most by any Clemson opponent since Charlotte's Ian Anderson on Nov. 22, 2008.

On The Rebound
Damien Jefferson had to sit out last year after transferring in from New Mexico, but he made up for lost time on the glass in the season-opener.
   Jefferson grabbed 12 rebounds in just 23 minutes of work, breaking his previous high by three.
   Jefferson's 12 rebounds were the most by any Creighton player in their debut since Cyril Baptiste snared 17 boards in 1969.
   In his second game at CU, Jefferson had 14 points and two blocked shots vs. East Tennessee State. The two blocks were a career-high, while the 14 points matched his previous best (at the time).

Playing With The Lead
In 266 games at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time, Creighton has not trailed in 74 of those contests, a staggering 27.8 percent of the time.
   Under Greg McDermott at home, Creighton is 122-29 and hasn't trailed in 49 of those games.

CHI Health Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 266 regular and postseason contests at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time in the 16-year-old facility.
   The Bluejays own a 219-47 (.823) record all-time at the facility, and have never lost there on a Friday (15-0).
   Creighton's Nov. 25, 2017 win over SIU Edwardsville was the program's 200th at the facility, coming in its 242nd home game. CU's 100th win came on Nov. 17, 2010, a 63-58 win over Louisiana.
   Creighton has outscored its opponents 20,749-17,364 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.73 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 74 different times, including 22 of its last 63 home games.
   Creighton is also 28-27 all-time in the 55 games at the arena in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 7-10 when down by 10+ points at halftime in the facility, and 34-24 when trailing at halftime at CHI Health Center Omaha.
   Creighton is 122-29 (.808) at CHI Health Center Omaha under Greg McDermott, including a 72-6 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 237-47 (.835) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.

Among The Nation's Best
Below is where Creighton ranks nationally in the nine seasons since Greg McDermott took over in 2010-11, per Basketball-Reference.com.
2010-11 to January 9, 2019
Category   Stat   NCAA Rank
FG Percentage   .484   2nd
3FG Percentage   .389   3rd
3FG Made   2,615   3rd
Assists   4,837   4th
FG Made   8,107   10th
Wins   193   32nd
Winning Percentage   .666   37th

Preseason BIG EAST Poll Picks CU Ninth
Creighton has been picked to finish ninth in a preseason poll of BIG EAST coaches.
   Villanova earned 8-of-9 possible first place votes and finished ahead of Marquette and Providence. St. John's and Butler rank fourth and fifth, while the bottom half consists of Xavier, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Creighton and DePaul.
   Creighton is one of two schools (Providence) to match or exceed its preseason prognostication every year since the reconfiguration of the BIG EAST.
   St. John's junior guard Shamorie Ponds was tabbed Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year, and Providence's David Duke and Villanova's Jahvon Quinerly shared Preseason Freshman of the Year laurels.
   Creighton's Martin Krampelj was a Preseason Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST pick.

#ProJays
For the first time ever, Creighton has five NBA players at the same time as Kyle Korver (Utah Jazz), Anthony Tolliver (Minnesota Timberwolves), Doug McDermott (Indiana Pacers, Justin Patton (Philadelphia 76ers) and Khyri Thomas (Detroit Pistons) are all in the league.
   Including 2018-18, Creighton has now had an NBA player in 35 of the last 36 years.
   Korver ranks second among all active players (Stephen Curry) and ranks fifth in NBA history with 2,278 three-pointers. He's also second among active players (Stephen Curry, again) and seventh all-time in league history with 43.1 percent marksmanship from three-point range. 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. He is shooting 39.2 percent from downtown and averaging 9.0 points per game this season.
   Tolliver is averaging 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game on 40.0 percent shooting from deep this season for the Timberwolves.
   McDermott is in his fifth season in the NBA, and first with the Indiana Pacers. He's averaging 6.8 points per game on 41.0 percent three-point shooting this year.
   Patton was traded on Nov. 10 from Minnesota to Philadelphia, but currently rehabbing an injured foot. Patton redshirted in 2015-16 before turning pro and being the 16th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. He spent most of last year in the G-League, but did score two points in his lone NBA appearance last April.
   Creighton's newest NBA product is Khyri Thomas, who was the 38th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers before being traded minutes later to the Detroit Pistons. Thomas was a two-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. He scored three points in his NBA debut on Nov. 9th and after seven games is averaging 3.1 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

Full House
Creighton averaged 17,000 fans per home game last season, good for fifth-best nationally. This year Creighton is averaging 17,054 fans per game at home, good for fifth place.
   Last year was the 13th straight season that CU has been among the nation's top 25 in average home attendance, and the seventh straight season in the top-10 nationally in attendance, as well.
2018-19 Attendance Leaders (through 1/9)
   Rk.   School   Average   Next Home
   1.   North Carolina   20,808   1/12
   2.   Kentucky   20,426   1/12
   3.   Syracuse   19,802   1/12
   4.   Tennessee   17,499   1/15
   5.   Creighton   17,054   1/13
   6.   Wisconsin   17,050   1/11
   7.   Kansas   16,191   1/14
   8.   Nebraska   15,503   1/10
   9.   Marquette   15,101   1/12
   10.   Michigan State   14,797   1/21

Some Loyal Fans
Creighton played in front of 306,000 home fans last season, surpassing the 200,000 mark for the 13th straight season.
   Creighton had never attracted more than 141,000 home fans in any season prior to the opening of CHI Health Center Omaha, and now has done it in the past 16 seasons.
   Creighton has led its conference in home attendance every year since moving into CHI Health Center Omaha, which is in its 16th 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
   17,054 so far   Creighton   2018-19
   17,048   Creighton   2014-15
   17,000   Creighton   2017-18
   16,665   Creighton   2011-12

Creighton's Most Home Fans, Season
Rk.   Year   G   Attendance   Average
1.   2017-18   18   306,000   17,000
2.   2015-16   19   302,887   15,941
3.   2008-09   19   302,676   15,930
4.   2010-11   22   297,161   13,507
5.   2016-17   17   296,013   17,413

Going For 20
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 18 of the last 20 seasons (entering 2018-19), 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 20 years: Duke, Gonzaga and Kansas.    Kentucky and Florida have done it in 19 of the last 20 seasons.
   Creighton, Xavier, Syracuse and Arizona each are in the 18-of-20 seasons club.

Eight Out Of 20 Tourney Titles
Creighton owns eight league tournament titles in the last 20 years. On a national basis, the only schools that can claim this are Gonzaga (16), Duke (11), Winthrop (10), Kentucky (10), Kansas (9), New Mexico State (9) and Creighton (8).

Home Run
Since Greg McDermott took over in 2010, Creighton is averaging 81.16 points per home game (12,255 points in 151 home games), a figure that climbs to 85.38 points in non-conference home games (6,660 points in 78 home games).
   Creighton is 101-5 all-time at CHI Health Center Omaha when scoring 80 or points and had won 90 straight non-conference home games since Dec. 7, 1991 when scoring 80+ points before falling 103-92 to No. 1 Gonzaga on Dec. 1.

Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 832 straight games since a 59-53 loss at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993. The streak is the nation's 17th-longest active streak.
   Creighton's last win without making a three-point basket came on March 3, 1991 when the Jays went 0-for-2 from three-point range in a 71-66 win over Southern Illinois in the championship game of the MVC Tournament.
   Below is a list of the nation's longest active three-point streaks.
Longest Active 3-Point Streaks (through 1/9)
   Rk.   Streak   School   Next Game
   1.   1,054   UNLV   1/16
   2.   1,045   Vanderbilt   1/12
   3.   1,034   Duke   1/12
   4.   989   Arkansas   1/12
   5.   988   Western Kentucky   1/12
   6.   976   East Tennessee State   1/10
   7.   966   Pacific   1/10
   8.   954   Oakland   1/10
   9.   943   Texas   1/12
   10.   917   Princeton   1/12
   11.   894   Marshall   1/12
   12.   882   Baylor   1/12
   13.   865   Gonzaga   1/10
   14.   859   LIU-Brooklyn   1/10
   15.   845   Cornell   1/19
   16.   840   Mount St. Mary's   1/10
   17.   832   Creighton   1/13
   18.   829   Tennessee State   1/10
   19.   825   East Carolina   1/10

McDermott Ranks Second On CU Wins List
Greg McDermott currently has 197 victories at Creighton, good for second place on CU's all-time wins list.
   McDermott's .663 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.   197-100   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

Scoring In Bunches
Creighton scored 2,756 points and ranked 12th nationally with 83.5 points per contest last season.
   The 2,756 points rank tied for fourth-most in program history for one season, and were 128 behind the 2,864 points that the 2016-17 team scored to establish the record.
   This year's team has averaged 84.94 points per game to date.
   Greg McDermott is 58-4 as a Division I head coach when his teams score 90 or more points, including a 52-4 mark on the Creighton sideline.
   Creighton is 63-3 all-time when scoring 100 points or more, and had a streak of 36 straight wins when scoring triple-digits since a 1977 loss to North Texas State snapped in the Jan. 9 loss to Marquette (106-104).

CHI Health Center Omaha Dramatics
Creighton is 7-8 in games with a game-winning go-ahead score in the final 10 seconds at CHI Health Center Omaha, which opened in the fall of 2003.
Creighton's Go-Ahead Scores in Wins at
CHI Health Center Omaha, 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
CHI Health Center Omaha, 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
02/10/18   #5 Xavier   L 71-72   Q. Goodin FT's   :0.3

Top-20 Crowds
Here's a look at Creighton's top-20 home crowds all-time, which features five games from last year. This season's Gonzaga game ranks fifth on that list, and was the best-attended non-conference home game in program history.
      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.   18,759   #1 Gonzaga   12/01/18
   6.   18,742   Seton Hall   02/23/14
   7.   18,735   Wichita State   02/11/12
   8.   18,613   Wichita State   03/02/13
   9.   18,525   Marquette   12/31/13
   10.   18,518   Georgetown   01/27/18
   11.   18,495   Marquette   02/17/18
   12.   18,494   Illinois State   02/09/13
   13.   18,458   Evansville   12/29/12
   14.   18,436   Bradley   01/28/12
   15.   18,323   DePaul   02/07/14
   16.   18,321   #3 Villanova   02/24/18
   17.   18,257   #5 Xavier   02/10/18
   18.   18,191   DePaul   02/27/18
   19.   18,160   Central Arkansas   11/14/14
   20.   18,145   Marquette   01/21/17

BIG EAST Playing Big
Though the BIG EAST may not be considered of the traditional "Football 5" Conferences due to its lack of big time football, the performance of the league has been big time for a long time.
   The league has owned a top-five RPI in the NCAA RPI rankings in every season since 2000-01, as seen below:
BIG EAST in Conference RPI Rankings
2018-19   3rd
2017-18:   2nd
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

Clear Bag Policy Now In Place
CHI Health Center Omaha has adopted 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 CHI Health Center Omaha.
   Here are the main bullet-points of the new bag policy.
•   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.

Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for the 2018-19 season went on sale on October 16th.
   Fans can purchase single-game tickets at CHI Health 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.

Defending Champion Villanova Visits Men's Basketball on Sunday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ty-Shon Alexander

Mitch Ballock

Connor Cashaw

Jacob Epperson

Marcus Foster

Samson Froling

Toby Hegner

Damien Jefferson

Kaleb Joseph

Martin Krampelj

Davion Mintz

Khyri Thomas

Marcus Zegarowski