Creighton University
24-12,14-6Big East
Princeton
23-9,10-4Ivy League
Creighton is ELITE!! Torrid Shooting Leads Men's Basketball Past Princeton, 86-75
3/24/2023 11:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kalkbrenner, Alexander and Scheierman combine for 62 points
The victory pushed the Bluejays to 24-12 on the season, while Princeton's season came to a close at 23-9. Creighton advances to face No. 18 San Diego State on Sunday, March 26 at 1:20 p.m. Central on CBS.
After starting the game 2-of-5 with a pair of turnovers, Creighton caught fire as the Bluejays hit their next eight shots to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 24-16 lead. Scheierman was the engine for the Bluejays' early surge as the Nebraska native delivered eight points on a pair of three-pointers and a driving layup.
Princeton, however, answered Creighton's challenge, making 9-of-11 shots from the field as the Tigers climbed in front 37-33. Creighton responded with a 12-1 run behind five points from Kalkbrenner to reclaim the lead, 45-38 with under one minute left in the first half. The Tigers refused to give ground, scoring the next five before a pair of free throws by Kalkbrenner sent the squads to the locker room with Creighton holding a 47-43 edge at the half.
The Bluejays asserted their will early in the second half with a 9-2 run to push their lead to 56-45. Kalkbrenner delivered the Bluejays' first five points of the half, while Ryan Nembhard and Scheierman capped the early run. Creighton's lead grew to as much as 16 at 68-52 (12:28), but Princeton continued to fight as the Tigers trimmed the Bluejay edge to 73-65 with 4:59 remaining.
Down the stretch Alexander put the game away with a critical three-ball, giving Creighton a 76-65 advantage, and four free throws in the final minute.
Kalkbrenner led Creighton with 22 points, while Scheierman delivered 21 and Alexander had 19. The Bluejays closed the game 32-of-55 from the field (58.2%), including 23-of-31 from inside the arc (74.2%). CU also shot 81.8 percent from the line, sinking 13-of-16 attempts.
Princeton got a game-high 26 points from Ryan Langborg and center Tosan Evbuomwan added 24 points and nine assists. Princeton shot 30-of-65 (46.2), but just 11-of-28 (39.3%) in the second half.
NOTES: Greg McDermott won his 300th game as Creighton head coach, improving to 300-149 in 13 seasons on the Bluejay sideline … Creighton improved to 18-24 all-time in the NCAA Tournament while reaching the final eight for the first time since 1941, when only eight teams made the field … Greg McDermott is now 9-7 in eight NCAA Tournament appearances at Creighton, making him responsible for half of CU's NCAA Tournament wins in program history … Creighton tied a program record with its sixth neutral site win of the season … Creighton is now 2-0 all-time against Princeton, having won 63-54 on Dec. 29, 1961 in the only previous meeting … The BIG EAST is now 49-2 all-time in NCAA Tournament games against teams seeded No. 15 or worse, with the losses coming in 1991 (Richmond over Syracuse) and in 2013 (Florida Gulf Coast over Georgetown) … BIG EAST teams have now won eight straight NCAA Tournament games played in the state of Kentucky, and BIG EAST teams are also 8-0 against Ivy League teams (5-0 vs. Princeton) in the NCAA Tournament at all sites … Princeton fell to 1-6 all-time in the Regional Semifinal, while playing in that round for the first time since 1965 ... Creighton is the first No. 6 seed to reach the Elite Eight since USC in 2021 … Creighton is 5-3 all-time against San Diego State, including a 72-69 overtime win over the Aztecs in the First Round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas ... Creighton made a three-pointer for the 984th straight game, while Princeton made one for the 1,019th straight game. Those figures rank 13th and 10th-longest nationally among active streaks .. Baylor Scheierman had a three-pointer for the 46th straight game dating to last year, and extended his Creighton record streak to 36 in a row … Creighton (47) scored 40+ points in the first half of an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since March 12, 1978, when it had 48 vs. DePaul … Ryan Kalkbrenner has scored 10 points or more in each of CU's last 20 games, the longest streak by any Bluejay since Marcus Foster did it 33 games in a row in 2017-18.
NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Regional Semifinal - Princeton vs Creighton
Friday, March 24, 2023
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
KFC Yum! Center
Creighton Bluejays
Coach Greg McDermott
Ryan Kalkbrenner
Baylor Scheierman
Sweet 16 Postgame Media Conference
Creighton - 86, Princeton - 75
GREG McDERMOTT: We defeated a really good basketball team. If you didn't care who won, you had to appreciate the brand of basketball that both teams are playing.
We're trying to do what they do. They're trying to do what we do. Take care of the basketball. Take good shots. Make things tough at the rim.
And, you know, at halftime we shot 62%. We were only up four. I'm not sure how much it had to do with us. It had a lot to do with Princeton and their ability to space us and make us make mistakes. It felt like we were just a little more tuned in late in the first half and into the second half.
You have to be ready at all times when you are guarding them, but the ball move. We had some assists. Found a way to get it to Kalk down low and get some easy ones.
But really proud of the team. We've taken a step that nobody that's ever worn a Creighton uniform has ever taken. That's really special stuff. Kyle Korver talked to us before the game about an opportunity to make history, and this is a really fun group to do it with.
But not much time for celebration. As I told Arthur, I want him to go to the Final Four, but I want him to go on our team plane. Not to fly there on his own to watch his brother. So we've got some work to do the next 40 hours.
THE MODERATOR: Start with questions.
Q. Ryan, just what does this mean? You know, second Sweet 16 berth, now making Creighton history. What does this all mean to you?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I mean, it's just at the end of the day there are eight teams left. To be one of those eight teams is just crazy. It means what we worked for all year. It's what you work for since you get here on campus in the summer, and it's just all the hard work paying off now.
Q. For Greg and Ryan, Greg it looked like you pulled Ryan out of one of those time-outs in the first half and said something to him, and then Ryan was really aggressive right after that. Could you guys talk about just what the message was and what happened after that?
GREG McDERMOTT: His version may be different than mine. We'll see.
I didn't like the look on his face, and I knew he was frustrated. We missed a couple of opportunities to get him the ball, and he missed a couple of opportunities to finish when we did. And I just explained to him that I don't care what happened on the last play. In this huddle our team needs your face to look like a leader's face. To his credit, he maybe didn't like it, but he did it and started playing pretty well after that.
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I mean, yeah, that's basically what he told me. Just sometimes I get frustrated and stop playing with joy, and he just basically told me to get that frustrated look off my face and play with a little joy and have fun and fixed it after that.
Q. Greg, whoever wins here on Sunday is going to go to the Final Four for the first time. There's no No. 1 seeds in the Elite Eight for the first time. What do you think that says about the game and where we are right now?
GREG McDERMOTT: I mean, it probably speaks to the transfer portal and NIL and how it's going to be tough to predict on any given season who is good and who is not because of who is coming and who is going.
We were fortunate to have the core of our team back and then added a very important part in Baylor. That's allowed us to move forward, but college basketball is -- there's as much parity as there's ever been, and it makes it fun. It's going to make it exciting.
It's pretty ironic, you know, San Diego State and ourselves shared a charter to Maui. Brian and I sat across the aisle from each other from San Diego to Maui and Maui and back, and we talked on the way out about wanting to meet in the championship of Maui and then we would be okay with one of us winning and one of us losing.
So it's pretty ironic that we're going to meet with an opportunity to go to the Final Four. I've got tremendous respect for him. Steve Fisher has been a dear friend for a long time. A lot of respect for that program.
So it's going to be a fun Sunday.
Q. Ryan, it feels like I'm always saying it takes a lot to get you fired up, but it felt like early on there Princeton was trying to get under your skin. It looked like you were, like, pumping iron. What was that? Can you explain that to me? What was going through your head during that?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I don't know. I just got in the moment, man, and sometimes I just let a little more emotion than I usually have out. I don't know. Sometimes I don't think before I do stuff like that. I couldn't really explain it very well.
Q. Baylor, it felt like you couldn't miss there for a while. Even the kind of shrug you let off after you banked that three. What was going through your head when you hit that one?
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: I was just thankful it went in. When it came out of my hand, I knew it was way off. I'm just glad it went in.
Yeah, you know, it's fun. Obviously tonight it was my night. Like I've been talking about the whole time, you know, each different player steps up in any given night, and that's what makes us so difficult to guard. Just playing with a lot of joy, like Kalk said.
Q. Coach, the performance that Baylor had, especially on the shooting end, is that kind of the player you expected to recruit in the offseason?
GREG McDERMOTT: His shooting has very little to do with the player I recruit and what I was expecting. He is a basketball player that happens to be a good shooter, and he hasn't shot it to the level that he would like to this year on a consistent basis, but he and I have been talking all year that it only takes one game. At some point in the season when we need you, all your hard work is going to pay off. Very similar message that I've told Francisco all season, and he had his game last weekend.
So I was excited about him being part of our team because of who he is and that he is a really good complete basketball player. He just happens to be a good shooter.
Q. For the players. It felt like for a while there that Princeton's zone had threw you off. I guess what was the point you guys felt like you maybe broke through?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I don't remember exactly when we broke through and kind of got in rhythm with that. I think, you know, obviously that's why teams go to zone to try to throw you off, and they maybe got us a few possessions where we didn't necessarily handle it as well as we could.
Once we got acclimated to it, I thought we attacked it well and got a few good looks. Almost a highlight dunk out of Art a time or two. But I think once we settled in, we did a solid job against them.
BAYLOR SCHEIERMAN: Like he said, I think we got some pretty good looks early on. We just didn't hit them, and I think they go to that kind of change the pace of the game a little bit. We got some open looks, and we didn't capitalize on them, and it kind of allowed them to get back in the game.
Like Kalk said, we kind of settled down, and we were looking inside more, and he was sealing down low to get some easy baskets.
Q. Tosan, their big man, obviously a tough cover. Can't really help the way you would want to, Kalk, when he is on the floor. How difficult was that matchup, and I guess how did you feel the second half went in that regard?
RYAN KALKBRENNER: I just think he is more unique than most of the fives we play just because -- I guess he is more of a forward, but as far as my matchup because he has such good ball skills and can drive it and shoot it a little bit. Really good passer. Kind of, like, Ighodaro on Marquette in that sense.
It's just one of those things we just have to watch a bunch of film on him and get used to what he does and prepare as good as you can because he is different than most players I match up against.
NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Regional Semifinal - Princeton vs Creighton
Friday, March 24, 2023
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
KFC Yum! Center
Princeton Tigers
Coach Mitch Henderson
Ryan Langborg
Tosan Evbuomwan
Sweet 16 Postgame Media Conference
Creighton - 86, Princeton - 75
MITCH HENDERSON: I can't believe I've coached almost 24 years now, and this is so rare to come across a group like this led by Ryan and Tosan and Keeshawn, Konrad and Jacob. They allowed us to coach them and then which allowed us to coach the younger guys and let them develop.
I'm so proud of them. The school is so proud of them. You look at this is such a successful year. It's such a year of joy for our program. These guys have done something that no one has ever done, and I know that last time there's some really great Princeton teams in the past, but this is a really, really special team. It's such an honor to be around them on a day-to-day basis.
We fought. It's a heck of a team. We fought all the way to the end, but came up short. That does not define us one bit. This is a very special group, and I love them, love being their coach.
THE MODERATOR: Let's start with questions.
Q. Mitch, there was more orange in the crowd today than any other color. Your fans gave you a sustained standing ovation as you left the court at the end of the game. If you and maybe the players could say what that meant to you in that moment.
MITCH HENDERSON: That means everything. We told everybody, wait until you see. We talked to our fans in the hotel before we came over and did a lot of interviews this week, on TV, never got worked up or nervous. I was so fired up before coming over here. It was the coolest thing.
You know, this group right here, they made -- we love our school, and we feel really good about the school, but we felt the love.
RYAN LANGBORG: Yeah, I mean, we wouldn't be here without the fans, without the alums, everybody that's come to support us.
Man, I mean, every time we hit a couple of shots, they're going nuts, and it gives us all the confidence in the world. I'm very thankful for everyone who is supporting us.
Q. Tosan, so many people saw you for the first time this month. What do you hope they learned about you and this team?
TOSAN EVBUOMWAN: You know, I'm sure -- I'm hopeful that they watched those games and, you know, saw the great team that we are and the great talents that we have.
We have very talented guys, and we really gel well together as a group. It's our style of play, selfless basketball. We'll see how far it goes. I'm just so proud of my team, proud of this guy. He has been unbelievable, you know, all year, and especially as his level just raised so much these past few weeks.
Yeah, he deserves a lot more, you know, I think, from the Ivy League in terms of recognition. But it clearly doesn't mean anything to him. And he came out and he has played the last few weeks and, you know, just put us on his back. He has been unbelievable.
Q. Tosan, this is for you as well. It feels a little trivial to ask this now, but given the run of success and kind of burst into the limelight, I know you are an international student, but has there been any interest in NIL deals that's suddenly come your way because of this tournament run?
TOSAN EVBUOMWAN: Yeah, I'm navigating that very carefully with my status. Yeah, there's been some stuff, but, yeah, navigating it carefully.
Q. Anything fun that you can hint at?
TOSAN EVBUOMWAN: Not really, to be honest, because, again, there's not a whole lot I can do. You know, it's a fun part of, I think, the game now. But it's not really I think what it's about for us, you know.
Q. For Coach as well as the student-athletes. Coach, you talked about the fan base and the support. Just what this entire season from start to finish has meant to you as you reflect on the journey. And to the student-athletes, just what this has been like for you to not only to put Princeton on the map but the Ivy League as well.
MITCH HENDERSON: We were a work in progress all season. We really got to play our best basketball here as of late. Both Ryan and Tosan played very limited minutes as freshmen. They missed their entire sophomore year. Played two years basically.
What this team and these guys at the helm have been able to do is really historic in a number of different ways. I got to play four years of college basketball at Princeton. These guys played two and a half. It's just amazing. It's amazing what they've done.
RYAN LANGBORG: Yeah, just I think the Ivy League and a lot of other schools around the same kind of conferences, I think we deserve the recognition. You've seen kind of years in a row where teams, 15 seeds and things are making runs. I think it just shows that there's not a lot that separates us from everyone else.
You have a tough group who is bonded and the best of friends, you play with joy, anything can happen.
Q. Coach, if you could talk a little bit about Creighton's size and length and what kind of challenges that posed for your team and what that forced you guys to have to do to compete tonight?
MITCH HENDERSON: We had seen great size and length against Arizona, but we haven't seen Kalkbrenner's agility and the speed, the way they're getting him the ball in different positions.
I had said we want him to be 10 for 20, not 18 for 20, and he was 9 for 12. I thought he was the key. They just got easy baskets when they needed them.
I thought the last four minutes of the first half was crucial swinging their way, and we couldn't get back into the game. They're really well-coached. Coach McDermott, he does a great job. They know exactly what they are, and they're very well-oiled, as we had expected.
Q. This question is for Coach and for both players. That was a fast-paced game, especially the first half. I think there were 90 points scored in the first half. Although you guys were right in it, was that the pace you wanted this game to be played at?
MITCH HENDERSON: No. Thought it was -- we were really concerned at halftime about their transition baskets. We thought we played excellent on offense. Three turnovers. We were playing well.
Again, that last couple of minutes of the first half, but it was very difficult to figure out how to get stops, and they were just right top of us.
So, yeah, too many quick possessions. I mean, we had five turnovers on the game. We got ten more shots than they did. We just couldn't stop them.
RYAN LANGBORG: I think transition hurt us. I think it was pretty evident out there. But, I mean, I'm just proud of what we've done and going to try not to think about it too much. But, yeah, if we got back on defense a little more, I think it would have been a little better, but...
Q. Mitch, just I wanted to get a word on your two seniors up there. They combined for 48 points tonight and certainly the way that they went out and what you thought about their performance.
MITCH HENDERSON: I mean, Ryan in the last four weeks has just, in my opinion, been one of the best players in the tournament, the Ivy League tournament, NCAA tournament. He has just been terrific. His confidence level rose throughout the tournament, and so did ours.
He is so tough, and such an underrated defender. Tough as nails. Such a pleasure to coach him.
And Tosan, you know, we've talked a lot about you, Tosan, but, you know, these guys were just terrific. And the fight comes from within, and when the seniors are tough, when the seniors fight, it trickles down to the whole group.
So thankful to be associated with them.
Q. Ryan, you mentioned playing with joy, and in these last 12 days you seemed to have really embraced that. Is that something that you as players talk to each other about, about how you're going to approach this tournament experience?
RYAN LANGBORG: Honestly, no. I think it's we've been -- I think, as Coach says, we try to be together as much as we can, but I think that just comes from our bond. The Ivy League is special. We've been best friends for four years, us seniors. We just spend so much time together. We know we play our best when we're not thinking and just having fun.
We're just celebrating buckets and happy for each other, that's when our momentum goes, that's when our confidence builds.
Q. This is for Tosan and Ryan. I apologize if this was asked earlier. When you look back a month or so from now and think about these last two weeks, can you put into words, you know, what will go through your mind?
TOSAN EVBUOMWAN: I didn't hear that.
Q. A month or so plus from now, when you think about what you guys accomplished in this run in March here, what's going to go through your mind? What will you reflect on the most?
TOSAN EVBUOMWAN: Yeah, for me I'm sure it will be a lot of pride. You know, we created great memories with one another, and I think that's what it's all about. You know, being able to look back and be proud of something which you've done together as a unit.
We're going to -- our bond was great. We're going to have an even greater bond, and it's going to be special. I'm sure it will last all of our lifetimes, everybody on the team, top to bottom.
Yeah, I'm just very thankful to be in this position and be in this position with my teammates and coaching staff. You know, I wouldn't want to be here with anyone else.
RYAN LANGBORG: Yeah, just super proud of this guy and everyone else on the team that's led us to this point, and I think we've just got to celebrate it, know it's something special, and just continue to enjoy this moment for the rest of our lives. Yeah, that's bonded us forever.
