Tuesday, December 2
Omaha, Neb.
8:00 PM
Creighton University
vs
Nicholls
Men's Basketball Returns Home to Host Nicholls
11/30/2025 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
First meeting between Creighton & Nicholls
Game #8: Nicholls Colonels at Creighton Bluejays
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 • 8:00 p.m. • Omaha, Neb. • CHI Health Center Omaha
| LIVE VIDEO ($) | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES | NICHOLLS NOTES | PROGRAM | TICKETS |
Next Game
Creighton (4-3) opens December with a home game against Nicholls (0-6) on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Tuesday's game will be played on First National Bank Court inside CHI Health Center Omaha (17,352) and tip off at 8 p.m.
Promotional Schedule
Fusion Dance All-Stars will perform at halftime.
Five students will win Nike shoes via a raffle within the Birdcage Student Rewards program.
Tuesday is also Lil' Jays Club Night, where all members of Lil' Jays Club can receive a free ticket to the game.
Broadcast Information
Tuesday's game will air on truTV, and streamed for a fee at https://www.hbomax.com/sports.
J.B. Long, Steve Smith and Nabil Karim will announce the action.
Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) and KOOO (101.9 FM) will carry all Creighton men's basketball games during the 2025-26 season.
John Bishop and Taylor Stormberg will call the action. The audio is webcast live at www.1620thezone.com.
The game can also be heard on SiriusXM 85 as well as https://sxm.app.link/SXM85.
Live Stats Information
All of Creighton's games this season will have free live stats at http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton is 4-3 on the young season, including a 3-0 home record. The Bluejays own victories over South Dakota, Maryland Eastern Shore, North Dakota and Oregon, as well as losses to No. 19 Gonzaga, Baylor and No. 16 Iowa State.
The Jays return home on Tuesday after a 1-2 showing at the GEICO Players Era Men's Championship in Las Vegas.
Five of CU's top six scorers are newcomers, led by Josh Dix (11.7 ppg.) and Blake Harper (11.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg.). Jasen Green (9.7 ppg.) leads the returners in scoring, rebounds and assists.
Creighton is averaging 74.9 points per game and shooting 44.2 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from three-point range and 72.5 percent at the line.
Scouting Nicholls
Tuesday marks the final game of a season-opening seven-game road trip for Nicholls, which has started with losses to Kentucky, Eastern Illinois, Valparaiso, Murray State, Oklahoma State and Tulane.
The Colonels have four men averaging in double-figures, Trae English (13.5 ppg.), Jaylen Searles (13.4), Jalik Dunkley (12.0, 7.7 rpg.) and Sincere Malone (11.8, 3.0 apg., 2.0 spg.).
Nicholls shoots 39.6 percent from the floor, 29.0 percent from three-point range and 61.0 percent at the line while getting beaten by 6.8 rebounds per game.
The Series With Nicholls
Creighton and Greg McDermott have never faced Nicholls, nor Nicholls coach Tevon Sadler.
McDermott is 8-0 against teams currently in the Southland Conference, including a 5-0 record as Creighton coach.
The Creighton Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) owns a 354-174 record in his 16th season with the Bluejays. He owns a career mark of 634-369 in his 32nd season, and is 503-305 in 25 Division I campaigns.
McDermott led Creighton to its first BIG EAST regular-season title in 2019-20, taking a Bluejay team that was picked seventh in the league's preseason poll and ending the year ranked seventh nationally. The Cascade, Iowa native has coached Creighton to a share of its first regular-season BIG EAST title in 2019-20 its first Sweet 16 since 1974 in 2020-21 and its first Elite Eight since 1941 in 2022-23.
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 is assisted by Alan Huss, Derek Kellogg, Trey Zeigler, Mitch Ballock and Mike Nesbitt.
With A Win...
- Creighton would improve to 4-0 at home this season with its seventh straight home win dating to last season.
- Creighton would improve to 311-64 all-time (.829) in 375 games played at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Milestone Watch
- Nik Graves owns 992 career points and is eight shy of 1,000. Graves also owns 95 made three-pointers.
- Liam McChesney is seven rebounds short of 200 for his career.
- Josh Dix has 198 career assists and 908 career points.
- Owen Freeman owns 747 career points and is three short of 750.
- Isaac Traudt has 288 career points, leaving him a dozen shy of 300.
Coleman Returns to Omaha
The Nicholls staff features assistant coach Jovan Coleman, who served as a graduate assistant at Creighton in 2023-24.
Creighton went 25-10 in 2023-24, reaching the Sweet 16, and finishing 14-2 at home.
What We Learned in Las Vegas
Creighton went 1-2 last week in Las Vegas at thenation's premier event, the GEICO Players Era Men's Championship. The Bluejays lost to Baylor and No. 15 Iowa State before defeating Oregon to finish 11th in the 18-team event.
Six Bluejays averaged at least eight points per game, a group paced by Josh Dix (12.7 ppg.), Jasen Green (11.0 ppg.) and Hudson Greer (10.3 ppg.).
CU's biggest deficiency in Las Vegas came on the glass, where the Jays allowed 51 offensive rebounds and were out-boarded by 11.0 caroms per contest.
Balanced Effort
Creighton still has not had a player produce a 20-point game this season, its longest drought to start a season since it didn't happen in the first 12 games in 2003-04.
Since Greg McDermott's 2010 arrival, Creighton has had at least one player score 20 points or more in 57.6 percent (304) of its 528 games.
Looking To Avoid A Vegas Hangover
Creighton has traditionally played well in its first home game after a playing in an MTE. After last year's Players Era Festival, the Bluejays came home to knock off No. 1 Kansas.
First Home Game After An MTE
Year MTE Site Next Home Game
2013-14 Anaheim, CA CU 82, Nebraska 67
2014-15 Niceville, FL CU 91, South Dakota 88 (2OT)
2015-16 Las Vegas, NV CU 97, W. Illinois 67
2016-17 Virgin Islands CU 92, Loyola, Md. 62
2017-18 Kansas City, MO CU 103, SIU Edwardsville 66
2018-19 Cayman Islands CU 98, Montana 72
2019-20 Las Vegas, NV CU 72, Oral Roberts 60
2021-22 Virgin Islands CU 70, SIU Edwardsville 65
2022-23 Maui, HI Nebraska 63, CU 53
2023-24 Kansas City, MO CU 109, C. Michigan 64
2023-24 Henderson, NV CU 85, Alabama 82
2024-25 Las Vegas, NV CU 76, #1 Kansas 63
2025-26 Las Vegas, NV vs. Nicholls
Three's Company
Creighton has made five or more three-pointers in 78 straight games, the nation's third-longest active streak.
CU's streak of 65 consecutive games with six or more three-pointers was snapped last Thursday vs. Oregon when the Jays made five three-pointers.
Longest Active Streaks of 5+ 3FG Made (11/20)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 104 North Florida 12/2
2. 94 Samford 12/5
3. 78 Creighton 12/2
4. 77 BYU 12/3
5. 75 Wofford 12/3
Seeking the Pefect Blend
Creighton's roster includes nine newcomers and seven returners. CU has yet to play a single possession with five returners on the floor at the same time.
# of Newcomers CU Pts.-Opp Pts. % of Pts. by CU
0 Newcomers on Floor Hasn't Happened n/a
1 Newcomer on Floor 20-13 .606
2 Newcomers on Floor 66-70 .485
3 Newcomers on Floor 163-163 .500
4 Newcomers on Floor 266-241 .525
5 Newcomers on Floor 9-9 .500
Jays At Home Against Winless Teams
Creighton's opponent on Tuesday, Nicholls, arrives with an 0-6 record. The Bluejays have won 48 straight home games against teams that are winless entering the night, winning those games by an average of 24.40 points. Seventeen of those wins came by 30 points or more, and only five 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.
Since the start of the 2002-03 season Creighton has won 144 of its last 146 home games against teams that enter the night with a record of .500 or worse.
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
0-1 Alcorn State W 109-72 11/12/17
0-0 Western Illinois W 78-67 11/06/18
0-0 East Tennessee State W 75-69 11/11/18
0-0 Kennesaw State W 81-55 11/05/19
0-2 North Dakota State W 69-58 11/29/20
0-0 Ark.-Pine Bluff W 90-77 11/09/21
0-1 Kennesaw State W 51-44 11/11/21
0-0 St. Thomas W 72-60 11/07/22
0-0 Florida A&M W 105-54 11/07/23
0-3 Texas Southern W 82-50 11/18/23
0-1 UTRGV W 99-86 11/06/24
0-6 Nicholls 8 p.m. 12/02/25
Newcomers Lead The Way
For the season, 365 of Creighton's 524 points have been scored by newcomers, an astounding 69.7 percent. This shouldn't be too much of a shock though, as only 28.0 percent of last year's points returned.
By comparison, newcomers on last year's team were responsible for only 36.6 percent of the points.
Hudson Strong
Hudson Greer made 7-of-8 shots and scored 16 points in last Monday's game vs. Baylor, an impressive showing for the true freshman who had his redshirt lifted just a few days earlier.
Greer became the first Bluejay freshman with 16 points or more in one of his first two games since Khyri Thomas scored 18 points in his collegiate debut vs. Texas Southern on Nov. 14, 2015.
McDermott's Coaching Tree
Greg McDermott's coaching tree includes 11 men who are currently a head coach at the Division I level, including three men at Power 5 schools.
Here's a list:
Darian DeVries - Indiana
Eric Henderson - Drake
Ben Jacobson - Northern Iowa
Steve Lutz - Oklahoma State
Ryan Miller - Murray State
TJ Otzelberger - Iowa State
Bryan Petersen - South Dakota State
David Richman - North Dakota State
Daniyal Robinson - North Texas
Paul Sather - North Dakota
Patrick Sellers - Central Connecticut State
If At First You Don't Succeed
Creighton scored 29 second-chance points in its season-opening win over South Dakota, 12 more than any other game last season. The last time CU had scored 29 or more second-chance points was the 2023-24 season-opener against Florida A&M.
This year's Creighton team is averaging 13.0 second chance points per game.
Since 2003-04, Creighton's highest second-chance points average has been 11.31 points per game in 2011-12, and its top average since joining the BIG EAST was 10.43 second chance points per game in 2013-14.
CU currently ranks 74th nationally in offensive rebound percentage (.357). Per KenPom.com, the last time Creighton's finished in the top 100 was way back in 1998-99 when it was 34th at .397. CU has been 278th, 274th, 280th, 165th, 258th and 295th nationally the previous six seasons.
Deep Thoughts
Greg McDermott talked in the off-season about how this year's squad figured to be the deepest team he's ever had at Creighton, and the early results have proven him right.
Creighton's bench has outscored foes 178-159 this season. That +19 figure would be CU's best year-end mark since 2018-19.
Creighton's bench has accounted for 33.97 percent of CU's scoring, and 25.43 points per game. That's the most bench points per game since the 2015-16 club averaged 26.4 points per game. CU's best figure in the last 20 seasons came in 2007-08, when the Jays averaged 36.91 bench points per game and actually outscored the starting line-up (34.61 ppg.).
Creighton entered this season with 48 straight wins when scoring 17 or more bench points, but are just 3-3 this year when scoring 18 points or more off the bench.
Postseason Success
Creighton has won at least one NCAA Tournament game in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. That makes CU one of four teams in the country to have a win in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments, joining Baylor, Gonzaga and Houston.
This is the first time that Creighton Basketball has won an NCAA Tournament game in five straight years. The only other CU program in any sport to win an NCAA Tournament game in five straight seasons is Creighton Volleyball (2015-19).
Even though a certain NCAA bid was wiped away in 2020 by COVID-19, Creighton has still appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments (2021-25).
The only previous time that Creighton has appeared in five straight NCAA Tournaments was from 1999-2003.
Creighton is one of 13 teams to have appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments (2021-25). That list consists of Alabama, Baylor, Connecticut, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, San Diego State, Tennessee and Texas.
Ain't Too Proud To Brag
Creighton has won 20 or more games in each of the past 10 seasons, tied for the nation's fourth-longest active streak. Kansas leads the way with 36, followed by Gonzaga (28) and Belmont (15). The others with 10 (like Creighton) include Oregon and Houston.
Creighton has won 22 games or more in six straight seasons. Only Gonzaga (28) and Houston (8) have longer streaks.
Creighton is one of two schools to have men's and women's basketball programs to both own 22 wins or more each of the previous four seasons, a list that includes Creighton and UConn.
Creighton is one of two teams in the nation with 25 or more wins in both men's basketball and women's basketball each of the previous two seasons. That list consists of Creighton and Gonzaga.
Most Consecutive 20-Win Seasons
Team Consec. 20-Win Seasons (entering 2025-26)
Kansas 36
Gonzaga 28
Belmont 15
Oregon 15
Creighton 10
Houston 10
Most Consecutive 22-Win Seasons
Team Consec. 22-Win Yrs. (entering 2025-26)
Gonzaga 28
Houston 8
Creighton 6
25 of 27 Seasons With 20 Wins
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 25 of the previous 27 seasons, a feat that puts the Jays among an exclusive group, nationally.
Entering 2025-26, just two schools have had 20 or more wins each of the previous 27 years: Gonzaga and Kansas. Duke has done it 26 times, Creighton and Kentucky 25 times each.
Most 20-Win Seasons, Previous 27 Seasons
Team 20-Win Seasons (Entering 2025-26)
Gonzaga 27
Kansas 27
Duke 26
Creighton 25
Kentucky 25
Arizona 23
Florida 23
Michigan State 23
BYU 22
Memphis 22
North Carolina 22
Ohio State 22
Wisconsin 22
Two Dozen, Cousin
Creighton is one of 15 schools to have won 24 games or more in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024- 25. That group consists of Alabama, Arizona, Charleston, Connecticut, Creighton, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, Houston, Purdue, Saint Mary's, Tennessee, Utah State and VCU.
Sweetness!
Creighton is one of just nine teams to have reached at least three of the last five Sweet 16s.
Houston has done it each of the previous five seasons, while Alabama, Arkansas and Gonzaga have done it four times each.
Doing it three times in the previous five seasons are Duke, Michigan, Purdue, Tennessee, UCLA and Creighton.
Most Sweet 16's, Previous Five Seasons
# Team Years
5 Houston 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
4 Alabama 2021 - 2023 2024 2025
4 Gonzaga 2021 2022 2023 2024 -
3 Creighton 2021 - 2023 2024 -
3 UCLA 2021 2022 2023 - -
3 Duke - 2022 - 2024 2025
3 Michigan 2021 2022 - - 2025
3 Purdue - 2022 - 2024 2025
3 Tennessee - - 2023 2024 2025
League Of Their Own
Creighton has finished with a .500 mark or better in league play 29 times in the previous 30 seasons, one of seven schools nationally that can say that.
The only BIG EAST teams to finish .500 or better in league play each of the previous 10 seasons are Creighton and Villanova.
Creighton is also the only "Power 5" school with an active streak of six years or longer with 12 or more league wins.
Most Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Last 30 Seasons (Entering 2025-26)
Seasons Team
30 Duke
30 Kansas
30 Gonzaga
29 Creighton
29 Kentucky
29 Michigan State
Consecutive Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Power 5 Schools (Entering 2025-26)
Seasons Team
36 Kansas
30 Duke
14 Oregon
13 Villanova
10 Creighton
10 Houston
10 Florida
Consecutive Seasons 12+ League Wins
Power 5 Schools (Entering 2025-26)
Seasons Team
6 Creighton
Coaching Consistency Is Key
Between women's basketball coach Jim Flanery (455) and men's basketball coach Greg McDermott (354), Creighton is the nation's only school with a pair of active head coaches with at least 350 victories at their current school.
Flanery (hired in 2002) and McDermott (2010) also make Creighton one of three schools to have the same men's and women's basketball head coaches each of the last 15 seasons, joining Boise State (Leon Rice and Gordy Presnell) and Northern Iowa (Ben Jacobsen and Tanya Warren).
Jacobsen played on teams McDermott assisted at North Dakota from 1989-93 and later replaced McDermott as head coach at UNI In 2006, while Warren was a former Creighton player and assistant and is one of two women in program history to have her number retired.
Stability is Key
One reason for Creighton's extended run of success has been the continuity within its coaching staff. The Bluejays have had just two head coaches in the last 32 years, Dana Altman (1994-2010) and Greg McDermott (2010-Present).
Here's a list of major conference schools to have a coach with 300 wins at that school, and their predecessor also had 300 wins at the school:
School Former Coach Current Coach
Creighton Dana Altman Greg McDermott
Kansas Roy Williams Bill Self
Michigan State Jud Heathcote Tom Izzo
Purdue Gene Keady Matt Painter
Long Run
Greg McDermott is in his 16th season on the Creighton sideline in 2025-26. That's tied for the 15th-longest active run of any men's coach with his current team.
Most Consecutive Years as Head Coach, Current Team
Years Name School
1995-Pr. Tom Izzo Michigan State
1998-Pr. Greg Kampe Oakland
1999-Pr. Mark Few Gonzaga
1999-Pr. James Jones Yale
2001-Pr. Randy Bennett Saint Mary's
2002-Pr. Bill Self Kansas
2003-Pr. Scott Drew Baylor
2005-Pr. Matt Painter Purdue
2006-Pr. Ben Jacobsen Northern Iowa
2006-Pr. Bill Coen Northeastern
2007-Pr. Mark Schmidt St. Bonaventure
2007-Pr. Brent Reed Lehigh
2007-Pr. Tommy Amaker Harvard
2009-Pr. LaVelle Moton North Carolina Central
2010-Pr. Greg McDermott Creighton
2010-Pr. Andy O'Toole Robert Morris
2010-Pr. Tad Boyle Colorado
2010-Pr. Leon Rice Boise State
2010-Pr. Dana Altman Oregon
2010-Pr. Russell Turner UC Irvine
2010-Pr. Brad Brownell Clemson
The McDermott Era
Greg McDermott owns 354 wins at Creighton since his arrival in 2010-11. It's the eighth-most of programs that have had the same coach the entire time.
Schools With Most Wins Since 2010-11, Only 1 Coach
(Through games of Dec. 1)
Rk. Wins School Coach Next
1. 459 Gonzaga Mark Few 12/5
2. 432 Kansas Bill Self 12/2
3. 392 Saint Mary's Randy Bennett 12/7
4. 381 Michigan State Tom Izzo 12/2
5. 374 Oregon Dana Altman 12/2
6. 366 Purdue Matt Painter 12/2
7. 362 Baylor Scott Drew 12/2
8. 354 Creighton Greg McDermott 12/2
National Ranks In The McDermott Era
Below is where Creighton ranks nationally since the start of the 2010-11 season among teams to have played 150 or more Division I games, per Basketball-Reference.com.
2010-11 to Nov. 28, 2025
Category CU Stat CU Rank
3FG Made 4,721 2nd
2FG Percentage .552 3rd
FG Percentage .476 4th
Assists 8,476 5th
3FG Percentage .371 6th
FG Made 14,433 7th
Points 40,36 9th
Wins 354 23rd
Winning Percentage .670 31st
Among The Best
CBS Sports conducted a pair of surveys during the summer that highlight Greg McDermott as one of the best in the country at what he does.
Who is the best X's and O's coach in college basketball right now? (Asked to roughly 100 coaches)
1. Matt Painter (Purdue): 19%
2. Dan Hurley (UConn): 18%
3. Greg McDermott (Creighton): 16%
4. Kelvin Sampson (Houston): 7%
5. Ben McCollum (Iowa): 5%
6. Randy Bennett (Saint Mary's): 4%
Tom Izzo (Michigan State): 4%
Dusty May Michigan): 4%
Bill Self (Kansas): 4%
10. Rick Barnes (Tennessee): 2%
Chris Collins (Northwestern): 2%
Grant McCasland (Texas Tech): 2%
Nate Oats (Alabama): 2%
Rick Pitino (St. John's): 2%
Mark Schmidt (St. Bonaventure): 2%
Others: 7%
Who are the best college basketball coaches? (Asked to 6 CBB writers)
1. Dan Hurley, Connecticut
2. Kelvin Sampson, Houston
3. Rick Pitino, St. John's
4. Bill Self, Kansas
5. Matt Painter, Purdue
6. Nate Oats, Alabama
7. Todd Golden, Florida
8. Tom Izzo, Michigan State
9. Mark Few, Gonzaga
10. Scott Drew, Baylor
11. Jon Scheyer, Duke
12. Dusty May, Michigan
13. Rick Barnes, Tennessee
14. John Calipari, Arkansas
15. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
16. Mark Pope, Kentucky
17. Greg McDermott, Creighton
18. Grant McCasland, Texas Tech
19. Brad Underwood, Illinois
20. Pat Kelsey, Louisville
21. TJ Otzelberger, Iowa State
22. Chris Beard, Ole Miss
23. Mick Cronin, UCLA
24. Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's
25. Shaka Smart, Marquette
And 1. Ben McCollum, Iowa
Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 1,063 straight games. That ranks as the nation's 10th-longest active streak.
Creighton's last game without a three-pointer came at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993, when the Jays were 0-for-5. 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 (12/1)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 1,272 Duke 12/2
2. 1,268 UNLV 12/7
3. 1,198 East Tennessee State 12/2
4. 1,175 Oakland 12/3
5. 1,170 Texas 12/3
6. 1,169 Pacific 12/3
7. 1,106 Marshall 12/3
8. 1,102 Gonzaga 12/5
9. 1,090 Princeton 12/3
10. 1,063 Creighton 12/2
11. 1,054 Long Island 12/2
12. 1,049 Mount St. Mary's 12/3
Nifty Fifty Leads To Postseason?
Not counting 2019-20, when there was no postseason, Creighton has made the postseason each of the 12 most recent times in which it has made at least 50 percent of its field goal attempts to open the year.
Ten of those postseason trips were NCAA Tournament berths. 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.
Creighton has shot 50 percent or better in 10 of its last 14 season-openers, including 50 percent (37-for-74) on Wednesday vs. South Dakota.
CU Season-Opener Field Goal Percentage 50+%
Since 1993-94
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 NCAA
.524 2019-20 Kennesaw St. Postseason Ccd.
.585 2021-22 Ark.-Pine Bluff NCAA
.567 2023-24 Florida A&M NCAA
.600 2024-25 UTRGV NCAA
.500 2025-26 South Dakota ? ? ?
The Push For 90
Of Creighton's 26 all-time NCAA Tournament teams, 13 have scored 90 or more points in their season-opener.
Put another way...of CU's 20 teams (before 2025-26) to score 90 points in an opener, 13 would reach the NCAA Tournament.
Here's a look at Creighton's 12 most recent teams (before 2025-26) to score 90 or more points in a season-opener:
Final Post-
Score Opponent Date W-L Season
93-47 UT-San Antonio 11/30/90 24-8 NCAA
93-48 Towson State 11/14/98 22-9 NCAA
96-50 Western Illinois 11/20/00 24-8 NCAA
106-50 Texas-Arlington 11/17/02 29-5 NCAA
97-65 North Carolina A&T 11/11/11 29-6 NCAA
107-61 Alcorn State 11/08/13 27-8 NCAA
104-77 Central Arkansas 11/14/14 14-19 --
93-70 Texas Southern 11/14/15 20-15 NIT
92-76 Yale 11/10/17 21-12 NCAA
90-77 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 11/09/21 23-12 NCAA
105-54 Florida A&M 11/07/23 25-10 NCAA
99-86 UTRGV 11/06/24 25-11 NCAA
92-76 South Dakota 11/05/25 ? ? ? ? ? ?
Preseason All-BIG EAST Votes Revealed
The Creighton men's basketball team was picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Conference in the annual survey of league coaches, which was unveiled as part of 2025 BIG EAST Media Day on October 21.
It marks the fourth straight year the Bluejays have been tabbed for a top-three finish and the third time CU has been picked exactly third in the BIG EAST poll, having also happened in 2013-14 as well as 2016-17.
Defending league champion St. John's garnered 7-of-11 first place votes and was chosen atop the poll with 97 points, just ahead of Connecticut. The Huskies collected four first place votes and 94 points. Creighton was third with 80 points, just ahead of Providence (64) and Marquette (60). The second half of the league poll consists of Georgetown (57), Villanova (50), Xavier (33), DePaul (29), Butler (26) and Seton Hall (15).
Creighton finished 25-11 overall and 15-5 in BIG EAST play last season and returns starters Jackson McAndrew (7.8 ppg., 4.4 rpg.) and Jasen Green (4.9 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) along with a talented crop of newcomers.
Three of those newcomers join McAndrew with Preseason All-BIG EAST accolades, giving CU four honorees for the first time since its 2022-23 team that eventually finished the season in the Elite Eight. Owen Freeman was voted a Preseason All- BIG EAST First Team selection and Josh Dix was a Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team choice. McAndrew and Nik Graves were both Preseason All-BIG EAST Third Team honorees.
Freeman is the eighth different Bluejay to earn Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team recognition, and first to do it prior to playing a game with the Bluejays. It also means CU has had a First Team pick each of the last four seasons, as Trey Alexander was chosen prior to 2023-24 and Ryan Kalkbrenner was honored each of the previous three campaigns.
Creighton has matched or exceeded its preseason projection in all but one season since joining the BIG EAST in 2013-14, the best showing in the league in that time. The Bluejays are seeking a 10th straight finish in the top four of the league standings.
Creighton's BIG EAST Preseason Poll History
Year Preseason Actual Preseason All-BIG EAST
2013-14 3rd 2nd Doug McDermott (POY, 1st)
2014-15 9th T-9th -
2015-16 9th 6th -
2016-17 3rd T-3rd Maurice Watson Jr. (1st); Marcus Foster (HM)
2017-18 5th T-3rd Marcus Foster (1st); Khyri Thomas (HM)
2018-19 9th T-3rd Martin Krampelj (HM)
2019-20 7th T-1st Ty-Shon Alexander (1st)
2020-21 2nd 2nd Marcus Zegarowski (POY, 1st); Mitch Ballock (2nd)
2021-22 8th 4th -
2022-23 1st 3rd Ryan Kalkbrenner (1st); Arthur Kaluma (2nd)
Ryan Nembhard (2nd); Baylor Scheierman (HM)
2023-24 2nd T-2nd Ryan Kalkbrenner (1st); Trey Alexander (1st)
Baylor Scheierman (2nd)
2024-25 2nd 2nd Ryan Kalkbrenner (POY, 1st); Steven Ashworth (3rd)
2025-26 3rd ? ? ? Owen Freeman (1st); Josh Dix (2nd)
Jackson McAndrew (3rd); Nik Graves (3rd)
NBA Jays
There are five former Creighton players in the NBA this season.
Former Creighton All-American Doug McDermott is with the Sacramento Kings as he begins his 12th year in the NBA. He was a Lottery pick in 2014 by the Denver Nuggets.
Baylor Scheierman is in his second year with the Boston Celtics after being a First Round pick in 2024.
Trey Alexander, who was named 2024-25 G-League Rookie of the Year in the Denver Nuggets organization, is now on a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.
There is palpable buzz around Ryan Kalkbrenner, a Second Round pick of the Charlotte Hornets, in his rookie campaign.
Lastly, former Creighton point guard Ryan Nembhard is on a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Nembhard played two years at Creighton before finishing his career at Gonzaga.
These men give Creighton at least one NBA player for the 42nd time in the last 43 seasons.
Other famous Bluejays to play in the NBA in the past include Paul Silas, Kyle Korver, Benoit Benjamin and Anthony Tolliver.
Who's Back?
With Creighton returning only seven of the 15 men who appeared in a game last season -- including its top three scorers -- much of the production is gone.
Below is a breakdown of what is back:
Stat Returners Departures
3FG Made 135 (39.2%) 209 (60.8%)
Minutes 2661 (36.7%) 4589 (63.3%)
Rebounds 426 (34.4%) 811 (65.6%)
Starts 61 (33.9%) 119 (66.1%)
Steals 43 (33.1%) 87 (66.9%)
Points 761 (28.0%) 1956 (72.0%)
Assists 112 (18.2%) 503 (81.8%)
Blocks 28 (17.4%) 133 (82.6%)
Charges Taken 2 (16.7%) 10 (83.3%)
McChesney On The Mend
Liam McChesney is a rare seventh-year junior who saw his first regular-season action in 979 days on Nov. 5 against South Dakota. He played just over four minutes, collecting a rebound and a blocked shot but missing both field goal attempts.
McChesney began his career in 2019-20 when he redshirted at Utah State. He played in three games at Utah State in 2020-21 before suffering a season-ending broken ankle.
The Prince Rupert, Canada native then transferred to Illinois State, where he played in 60 games and made 27 starts for the Redbirds in two seasons from 2021-23.
McChesney transferred to High Point to play for then-Panther head coach Alan Huss (now Creighton's associate head coach and head coach in waiting), but was sidelined after a preseason medical evaluation revealed an issue with one of his heart valves, which led to heart surgery that has caused him to miss the past two seasons as his weight dropped 208 to 172 pounds.
McChesney transferred to Creighton this summer and continues his comeback.
Preseason Top 25
The Creighton men's basketball team was ranked 23rd in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll, the fourth straight season the Bluejays have been ranked among the nation's best in the preseason.
This year's announcement marks the eighth time in program history the writers have voted CU to the Top 25 in the preseason, joining 2006-07 (No. 19), 2012-13 (No. 16) and 2016-17 (No. 22), 2020-21 (No. 11), 2022-23 (No. 9), 2023-24 (No. 8) and 2024-25 (No. 15). All seven of those teams would end up in the NCAA Tournament, with three of the four most recent squads making the Sweet 16.
Creighton's best ranking in program history is seventh, done five times (Jan. 16, 2017, March 10, 2020, March 18, 2020, Jan. 7, 2021 and Nov. 28, 2022).
Including this year's preseason ranking, Creighton has now been ranked 148 times in program history, with 120 of those under the direction of Greg McDermott. Creighton is 180-78 all-time as a ranked team, including a 146-66 mark under McDermott. Creighton has now been ranked at least one week in 12 of McDermott's 16 seasons on The Hilltop after doing it just five different seasons in program history before his 2010 arrival.
Creighton has been one of 11 schools ranked in the Top 25 of the Preseason AP poll each of the last four years, joining Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Creighton was one of three BIG EAST Conference schools in the poll, joining No. 4 Connecticut and No. 5 St. John's.
Among Creighton's non-conference opponents in the poll are preseason No. 21 Gonzaga and preseason No. 16 Iowa State.
Creighton was also ranked 23rd in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll.
Let's Go On A Run
Creighton unleashed a 23-0 run on Iowa State during its exhibition meeting, turning an early 8-4 deficit into a 27-8 lead over a span of just under seven minutes (6:57).
Dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season, it was Creighton's largest run in any game, including exhibitions. Below is that list.
Longest Creighton Runs Since 2021-22
Run Opponent (Score change) Date
23-0* #16 Iowa State (4-8 to 27-8) 10/17/25
21-0* Upper Iowa (32-29 to 53-29) 10//30/21
20-0 Texas Southern (61-44 to 81-44) 11/18/23
19-0 vs. #11 Providence (37-27 to 56-27) 3/11/22
19-0 Georgetown (0-0 to 19-0) 03/01/23
18-0 Houston Christian (19-9 to 37-9) 11/13/24
*exhibition game
Who Are These Guys?
Creighton returns 61 starts from last year's team (31 by Jackson McAndrew, 25 by Jasen Green, 4 by Isaac Traudt, 1 by Ty Davis), its fewest since the 2021-22 team returned just two starts.
Returning Returning Starts Final
Year Starters From Previous Year W-L
2025-26 2 61 ? ? ?
2024-25 3 105 25-11
2023-24 3 111 25-10
2022-23 3 104 24-13
2021-22 0 2 23-12
2020-21 5 124 22-9
2019-20 4 136 24-7
2018-19 2 57 20-15
2017-18 2 72 21-12
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
Among The Best
Creighton owns more BIG EAST wins (82) than any other school in the last six seasons, 11 more than Marquette and Villanova's 71.
Since the league's 2013 realignment, Villanova has 161 league wins to lead the BIG EAST by a wide margin, but Creighton's 138 league victories are second-most.
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2019-20 to 2024-25)
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 82 35 .701
Villanova 71 42 .628
Marquette 71 45 .612
UConn 69 27 .719
Providence 64 50 .561
Seton Hall 59 57 .509
Xavier 59 51 .536
St. John's 59 57 .509
Butler 45 73 .381
Georgetown 24 89 .212
DePaul 18 95 .159
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2013-14 to 2024-25)
Team W L Pct.
Villanova 161 60 .729
Creighton 138 87 .613
Xavier 125 93 .573
Marquette 123 101 .549
Providence 122 100 .550
Seton Hall 112 112 .500
Butler 99 127 .438
St. John's 99 125 .442
Georgetown 70 151 .317
UConn 69 27 .719
DePaul 43 178 .195
McAndrew Set A Freshman Record
Jackson McAndrew made 69 three-pointers last season, the most in Creighton history by a freshman and ahead of some impressive names.
McAndrew also became the first freshman in BIG EAST history to make a three-pointer in 19 different conference games of the same season.
Most 3-Pointers Made by a Creighton Freshman
3FG-FGA 3FG% Name Year
69-195 .354 Jackson McAndrew 2024-25
68-157 .433 Ethan Wragge 2009-10
63-161 .391 Ryan Sears 1997-98
63-145 .434 Kyle Korver 1999-00
60-141 .426 Marcus Zegarowski 2018-19
47-116 .405 Doug McDermott 2010-11
46-118 .390 Rodney Buford 1995-96
45-125 .360 Toby Hegner 2014-15
44-135 .326 Mitch Ballock 2017-18
41-105 .390 Jahenns Manigat 2010-11
Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 30 victories since the start of the 2010-11 season after trailing by double-figures at some point.
Fourteen of those 30 comebacks have come away from home.
If you're curious, CU's largest comeback win since 2000 came on Jan. 28, 2006, when the Jays trailed 25-6 early before rallying to beat Wichita State on a buzzer-beater by Anthony Tolliver.
CU's Double-Digit Comebacks Under McDermott
Deficit Opponent Date
18 #18 Oklahoma 11/19/14
17 at San Diego State 11/30/11
17 vs. DePaul 03/13/25
16 at Evansville 02/16/13
16 at Seton Hall 01/27/21
16 SIU Edwardsville 11/27/21
15 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 11/09/21
14 Evansville 02/21/12
14 vs. San Diego State 03/17/22
13 at Saint Joseph's 11/16/13
13 Xavier 01/12/14
13 #22 Xavier 12/23/20
12 Saint Joseph's 12/11/10
12 at DePaul 01/17/16
12 East Tennessee State 11/11/18
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
11 vs. Connecticut 03/12/21
11 DePaul 01/22/22
11 St. John's 12/31/24
10 UAB 11/14/12
10 vs. Drake 03/02/12
10 at Nebraska 12/07/14
10 South Dakota 12/09/14
10 St. John's 01/03/18
10 at DePaul 02/07/18
10 Bemidji State 02/13/18
10 Georgetown 02/23/25
Triple Trouble
During Creighton's current streak of 1,063 straight games with a three-pointer, the Jays have drained 8,563 trifectas, an average of 8.06 treys per game.
Only five times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 326 occasions the Bluejays have made 10 or more trifectas, including three games of 20 or more.
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, the Bluejays are 106-28 when making eight or more three-pointers, compared to a 38-36 mark when making seven treys or fewer.
Team 3FG Made During Creighton's 3-Point Streak
1: 5 times 2: 19 times 3: 36 times
4: 75 times 5: 105 times 6: 113 times
7: 154 times 8: 134 times 9: 96 times
10: 91 times 11: 67 times 12: 64 times
13: 50 times 14: 26 times 15: 9 times
16: 9 times 17: 4 times 18: 1 time
19: 2 times 20: 1 time 21: 1 time 22: 1 time
McDermott Is Wins Leader
Greg McDermott has 354 victories at Creighton, passing his predecessor Dana Altman (327) for the most in program history in CU's Nov. 13, 2024 win vs. Houston Christian.
McDermott broke a different record on Jan. 21, 2025 at DePaul when he coached his 504th game on the Bluejay sideline, breaking the mark of 503 held by Altman.
McDermott's .670 winning percentage is Creighton's best since Arthur A. Schabinger's .714 win rate from 90 years ago.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton MBB History
Rk. W-L Name Years
1. 354-174 Greg McDermott 2010-Pres.
2. 327-176 Dana Altman 1994-2010
3. 165-66 Arthur A. Schabinger 1922-1935
4. 138-118 John J. "Red" McManus 1959-1969
5. 130-64 Tom Apke 1974-1981
CHI Health Center Omaha Dramatics
Creighton is 8-8 in contests with a game-winning go-ahead score in the final 10 seconds at CHI Health Center Omaha, which opened in 2003.
The last time such a game happened was in 2020 when Creighton's Marcus Zegarowski hit a shot with 3.2 seconds left to beat Providence.
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
01/18/20 Providence W 78-74 Zegarowski 3FG :3.2
*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.
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. 18,571 DePaul 01/22/24
10. 18,525 Marquette 12/31/13
11. 18,519 #8 Seton Hall 03/07/20
12. 18,518 Georgetown 01/27/18
13. 18,509 Villanova 02/04/23
14. 18,495 Marquette 02/17/18
15. 18,494 Illinois State 02/09/13
16. 18,475 Nebraska 11/22/24
17. 18,458 Evansville 12/29/12
18. 18,436 Bradley 01/28/12
19. 18,430 Seton Hall 01/25/25
20. 18,323 DePaul 02/07/14
CHI Health Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 374 regular and postseason contests at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time in the now 23-year-old facility.
The Bluejays own a 310-64 (.829) record all-time at the facility.
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 29,404-24,543 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 13.00 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 94 different times, including once this year (Maryland Eastern Shore).
Incredibly, Creighton hasn't trailed in its home opener in 10 of the past 25 seasons (2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2016-17 and 2019-20).
Creighton is also 34-37 all-time in the 71 games at the arena in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 8-12 when down by 10+ points at halftime in the facility, and 42-30 when trailing at halftime at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Creighton is 213-46 (.822) at CHI Health Center Omaha under Greg McDermott and hasn't trailed in 67 of those games. In that same span, CU owns a 110-10 home record (.917) 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 328-64 (.837) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
Home Run
Under Greg McDermott Creighton is averaging 80.74 points per home game (20,911 points in 259 home games), a figure that climbs to 84.23 points in non-conference home games (10,107 points in 120 home games).
Creighton is 157-7 all-time at CHI Health Center Omaha when scoring 80 or points.
Perfect 10
Greg McDermott has guided his team to the NCAA Tournament 10 times at Creighton. That put him in the company of some of the greatest coaches in CU Athletics history, and most among basketball coaches.
McDermott is one of three head coaches in Creighton history to lead 10 or more NCAA Tournament teams.
Name Sport NCAA's @CU
Kirsten Bernthal Booth Volleyball 14
Bob Warming Men's Soccer 11
Greg McDermott Men's Basketball 10
Jim Flanery Women's Basketball 8
Dana Altman Men's Basketball 7
Brent Vigness Softball 7
Firing On All Cylinders
Creighton finished the 2024-25 season ranked 35th overall by KenPom.com. That included the nation's No. 33 offense, and No. 44 defense.
Creighton has finished with a top-25 offense per KenPom eight times and a top-25 defense three times in 15 completed seasons under Greg McDermott.
Year Off. Rating Def. Rating Overall Rank
2010-11 66 174 98
2011-12 5 166 28
2012-13 5 66 15
2013-14 2 124 17
2014-15 59 138 79
2015-16 43 76 40
2016-17 32 46 28
2017-18 25 58 30
2018-19 47 83 55
2019-20 3 78 12
2020-21 25 32 22
2021-22 112 19 50
2022-23 23 14 12
2023-24 9 24 11
2024-25 33 44 35
2025-26 (11/29) 59 69 56
Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 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.
For more information, call the Creighton Ticket Office at (402) 280-JAYS.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 • 8:00 p.m. • Omaha, Neb. • CHI Health Center Omaha
| LIVE VIDEO ($) | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES | NICHOLLS NOTES | PROGRAM | TICKETS |
Next Game
Creighton (4-3) opens December with a home game against Nicholls (0-6) on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Tuesday's game will be played on First National Bank Court inside CHI Health Center Omaha (17,352) and tip off at 8 p.m.
Promotional Schedule
Fusion Dance All-Stars will perform at halftime.
Five students will win Nike shoes via a raffle within the Birdcage Student Rewards program.
Tuesday is also Lil' Jays Club Night, where all members of Lil' Jays Club can receive a free ticket to the game.
Broadcast Information
Tuesday's game will air on truTV, and streamed for a fee at https://www.hbomax.com/sports.
J.B. Long, Steve Smith and Nabil Karim will announce the action.
Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) and KOOO (101.9 FM) will carry all Creighton men's basketball games during the 2025-26 season.
John Bishop and Taylor Stormberg will call the action. The audio is webcast live at www.1620thezone.com.
The game can also be heard on SiriusXM 85 as well as https://sxm.app.link/SXM85.
Live Stats Information
All of Creighton's games this season will have free live stats at http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton is 4-3 on the young season, including a 3-0 home record. The Bluejays own victories over South Dakota, Maryland Eastern Shore, North Dakota and Oregon, as well as losses to No. 19 Gonzaga, Baylor and No. 16 Iowa State.
The Jays return home on Tuesday after a 1-2 showing at the GEICO Players Era Men's Championship in Las Vegas.
Five of CU's top six scorers are newcomers, led by Josh Dix (11.7 ppg.) and Blake Harper (11.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg.). Jasen Green (9.7 ppg.) leads the returners in scoring, rebounds and assists.
Creighton is averaging 74.9 points per game and shooting 44.2 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from three-point range and 72.5 percent at the line.
Scouting Nicholls
Tuesday marks the final game of a season-opening seven-game road trip for Nicholls, which has started with losses to Kentucky, Eastern Illinois, Valparaiso, Murray State, Oklahoma State and Tulane.
The Colonels have four men averaging in double-figures, Trae English (13.5 ppg.), Jaylen Searles (13.4), Jalik Dunkley (12.0, 7.7 rpg.) and Sincere Malone (11.8, 3.0 apg., 2.0 spg.).
Nicholls shoots 39.6 percent from the floor, 29.0 percent from three-point range and 61.0 percent at the line while getting beaten by 6.8 rebounds per game.
The Series With Nicholls
Creighton and Greg McDermott have never faced Nicholls, nor Nicholls coach Tevon Sadler.
McDermott is 8-0 against teams currently in the Southland Conference, including a 5-0 record as Creighton coach.
The Creighton Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) owns a 354-174 record in his 16th season with the Bluejays. He owns a career mark of 634-369 in his 32nd season, and is 503-305 in 25 Division I campaigns.
McDermott led Creighton to its first BIG EAST regular-season title in 2019-20, taking a Bluejay team that was picked seventh in the league's preseason poll and ending the year ranked seventh nationally. The Cascade, Iowa native has coached Creighton to a share of its first regular-season BIG EAST title in 2019-20 its first Sweet 16 since 1974 in 2020-21 and its first Elite Eight since 1941 in 2022-23.
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 is assisted by Alan Huss, Derek Kellogg, Trey Zeigler, Mitch Ballock and Mike Nesbitt.
With A Win...
- Creighton would improve to 4-0 at home this season with its seventh straight home win dating to last season.
- Creighton would improve to 311-64 all-time (.829) in 375 games played at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Milestone Watch
- Nik Graves owns 992 career points and is eight shy of 1,000. Graves also owns 95 made three-pointers.
- Liam McChesney is seven rebounds short of 200 for his career.
- Josh Dix has 198 career assists and 908 career points.
- Owen Freeman owns 747 career points and is three short of 750.
- Isaac Traudt has 288 career points, leaving him a dozen shy of 300.
Coleman Returns to Omaha
The Nicholls staff features assistant coach Jovan Coleman, who served as a graduate assistant at Creighton in 2023-24.
Creighton went 25-10 in 2023-24, reaching the Sweet 16, and finishing 14-2 at home.
What We Learned in Las Vegas
Creighton went 1-2 last week in Las Vegas at thenation's premier event, the GEICO Players Era Men's Championship. The Bluejays lost to Baylor and No. 15 Iowa State before defeating Oregon to finish 11th in the 18-team event.
Six Bluejays averaged at least eight points per game, a group paced by Josh Dix (12.7 ppg.), Jasen Green (11.0 ppg.) and Hudson Greer (10.3 ppg.).
CU's biggest deficiency in Las Vegas came on the glass, where the Jays allowed 51 offensive rebounds and were out-boarded by 11.0 caroms per contest.
Balanced Effort
Creighton still has not had a player produce a 20-point game this season, its longest drought to start a season since it didn't happen in the first 12 games in 2003-04.
Since Greg McDermott's 2010 arrival, Creighton has had at least one player score 20 points or more in 57.6 percent (304) of its 528 games.
Looking To Avoid A Vegas Hangover
Creighton has traditionally played well in its first home game after a playing in an MTE. After last year's Players Era Festival, the Bluejays came home to knock off No. 1 Kansas.
First Home Game After An MTE
Year MTE Site Next Home Game
2013-14 Anaheim, CA CU 82, Nebraska 67
2014-15 Niceville, FL CU 91, South Dakota 88 (2OT)
2015-16 Las Vegas, NV CU 97, W. Illinois 67
2016-17 Virgin Islands CU 92, Loyola, Md. 62
2017-18 Kansas City, MO CU 103, SIU Edwardsville 66
2018-19 Cayman Islands CU 98, Montana 72
2019-20 Las Vegas, NV CU 72, Oral Roberts 60
2021-22 Virgin Islands CU 70, SIU Edwardsville 65
2022-23 Maui, HI Nebraska 63, CU 53
2023-24 Kansas City, MO CU 109, C. Michigan 64
2023-24 Henderson, NV CU 85, Alabama 82
2024-25 Las Vegas, NV CU 76, #1 Kansas 63
2025-26 Las Vegas, NV vs. Nicholls
Three's Company
Creighton has made five or more three-pointers in 78 straight games, the nation's third-longest active streak.
CU's streak of 65 consecutive games with six or more three-pointers was snapped last Thursday vs. Oregon when the Jays made five three-pointers.
Longest Active Streaks of 5+ 3FG Made (11/20)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 104 North Florida 12/2
2. 94 Samford 12/5
3. 78 Creighton 12/2
4. 77 BYU 12/3
5. 75 Wofford 12/3
Seeking the Pefect Blend
Creighton's roster includes nine newcomers and seven returners. CU has yet to play a single possession with five returners on the floor at the same time.
# of Newcomers CU Pts.-Opp Pts. % of Pts. by CU
0 Newcomers on Floor Hasn't Happened n/a
1 Newcomer on Floor 20-13 .606
2 Newcomers on Floor 66-70 .485
3 Newcomers on Floor 163-163 .500
4 Newcomers on Floor 266-241 .525
5 Newcomers on Floor 9-9 .500
Jays At Home Against Winless Teams
Creighton's opponent on Tuesday, Nicholls, arrives with an 0-6 record. The Bluejays have won 48 straight home games against teams that are winless entering the night, winning those games by an average of 24.40 points. Seventeen of those wins came by 30 points or more, and only five 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.
Since the start of the 2002-03 season Creighton has won 144 of its last 146 home games against teams that enter the night with a record of .500 or worse.
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
0-1 Alcorn State W 109-72 11/12/17
0-0 Western Illinois W 78-67 11/06/18
0-0 East Tennessee State W 75-69 11/11/18
0-0 Kennesaw State W 81-55 11/05/19
0-2 North Dakota State W 69-58 11/29/20
0-0 Ark.-Pine Bluff W 90-77 11/09/21
0-1 Kennesaw State W 51-44 11/11/21
0-0 St. Thomas W 72-60 11/07/22
0-0 Florida A&M W 105-54 11/07/23
0-3 Texas Southern W 82-50 11/18/23
0-1 UTRGV W 99-86 11/06/24
0-6 Nicholls 8 p.m. 12/02/25
Newcomers Lead The Way
For the season, 365 of Creighton's 524 points have been scored by newcomers, an astounding 69.7 percent. This shouldn't be too much of a shock though, as only 28.0 percent of last year's points returned.
By comparison, newcomers on last year's team were responsible for only 36.6 percent of the points.
Hudson Strong
Hudson Greer made 7-of-8 shots and scored 16 points in last Monday's game vs. Baylor, an impressive showing for the true freshman who had his redshirt lifted just a few days earlier.
Greer became the first Bluejay freshman with 16 points or more in one of his first two games since Khyri Thomas scored 18 points in his collegiate debut vs. Texas Southern on Nov. 14, 2015.
McDermott's Coaching Tree
Greg McDermott's coaching tree includes 11 men who are currently a head coach at the Division I level, including three men at Power 5 schools.
Here's a list:
Darian DeVries - Indiana
Eric Henderson - Drake
Ben Jacobson - Northern Iowa
Steve Lutz - Oklahoma State
Ryan Miller - Murray State
TJ Otzelberger - Iowa State
Bryan Petersen - South Dakota State
David Richman - North Dakota State
Daniyal Robinson - North Texas
Paul Sather - North Dakota
Patrick Sellers - Central Connecticut State
If At First You Don't Succeed
Creighton scored 29 second-chance points in its season-opening win over South Dakota, 12 more than any other game last season. The last time CU had scored 29 or more second-chance points was the 2023-24 season-opener against Florida A&M.
This year's Creighton team is averaging 13.0 second chance points per game.
Since 2003-04, Creighton's highest second-chance points average has been 11.31 points per game in 2011-12, and its top average since joining the BIG EAST was 10.43 second chance points per game in 2013-14.
CU currently ranks 74th nationally in offensive rebound percentage (.357). Per KenPom.com, the last time Creighton's finished in the top 100 was way back in 1998-99 when it was 34th at .397. CU has been 278th, 274th, 280th, 165th, 258th and 295th nationally the previous six seasons.
Deep Thoughts
Greg McDermott talked in the off-season about how this year's squad figured to be the deepest team he's ever had at Creighton, and the early results have proven him right.
Creighton's bench has outscored foes 178-159 this season. That +19 figure would be CU's best year-end mark since 2018-19.
Creighton's bench has accounted for 33.97 percent of CU's scoring, and 25.43 points per game. That's the most bench points per game since the 2015-16 club averaged 26.4 points per game. CU's best figure in the last 20 seasons came in 2007-08, when the Jays averaged 36.91 bench points per game and actually outscored the starting line-up (34.61 ppg.).
Creighton entered this season with 48 straight wins when scoring 17 or more bench points, but are just 3-3 this year when scoring 18 points or more off the bench.
Postseason Success
Creighton has won at least one NCAA Tournament game in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. That makes CU one of four teams in the country to have a win in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments, joining Baylor, Gonzaga and Houston.
This is the first time that Creighton Basketball has won an NCAA Tournament game in five straight years. The only other CU program in any sport to win an NCAA Tournament game in five straight seasons is Creighton Volleyball (2015-19).
Even though a certain NCAA bid was wiped away in 2020 by COVID-19, Creighton has still appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments (2021-25).
The only previous time that Creighton has appeared in five straight NCAA Tournaments was from 1999-2003.
Creighton is one of 13 teams to have appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments (2021-25). That list consists of Alabama, Baylor, Connecticut, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, San Diego State, Tennessee and Texas.
Ain't Too Proud To Brag
Creighton has won 20 or more games in each of the past 10 seasons, tied for the nation's fourth-longest active streak. Kansas leads the way with 36, followed by Gonzaga (28) and Belmont (15). The others with 10 (like Creighton) include Oregon and Houston.
Creighton has won 22 games or more in six straight seasons. Only Gonzaga (28) and Houston (8) have longer streaks.
Creighton is one of two schools to have men's and women's basketball programs to both own 22 wins or more each of the previous four seasons, a list that includes Creighton and UConn.
Creighton is one of two teams in the nation with 25 or more wins in both men's basketball and women's basketball each of the previous two seasons. That list consists of Creighton and Gonzaga.
Most Consecutive 20-Win Seasons
Team Consec. 20-Win Seasons (entering 2025-26)
Kansas 36
Gonzaga 28
Belmont 15
Oregon 15
Creighton 10
Houston 10
Most Consecutive 22-Win Seasons
Team Consec. 22-Win Yrs. (entering 2025-26)
Gonzaga 28
Houston 8
Creighton 6
25 of 27 Seasons With 20 Wins
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 25 of the previous 27 seasons, a feat that puts the Jays among an exclusive group, nationally.
Entering 2025-26, just two schools have had 20 or more wins each of the previous 27 years: Gonzaga and Kansas. Duke has done it 26 times, Creighton and Kentucky 25 times each.
Most 20-Win Seasons, Previous 27 Seasons
Team 20-Win Seasons (Entering 2025-26)
Gonzaga 27
Kansas 27
Duke 26
Creighton 25
Kentucky 25
Arizona 23
Florida 23
Michigan State 23
BYU 22
Memphis 22
North Carolina 22
Ohio State 22
Wisconsin 22
Two Dozen, Cousin
Creighton is one of 15 schools to have won 24 games or more in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024- 25. That group consists of Alabama, Arizona, Charleston, Connecticut, Creighton, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, Houston, Purdue, Saint Mary's, Tennessee, Utah State and VCU.
Sweetness!
Creighton is one of just nine teams to have reached at least three of the last five Sweet 16s.
Houston has done it each of the previous five seasons, while Alabama, Arkansas and Gonzaga have done it four times each.
Doing it three times in the previous five seasons are Duke, Michigan, Purdue, Tennessee, UCLA and Creighton.
Most Sweet 16's, Previous Five Seasons
# Team Years
5 Houston 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
4 Alabama 2021 - 2023 2024 2025
4 Gonzaga 2021 2022 2023 2024 -
3 Creighton 2021 - 2023 2024 -
3 UCLA 2021 2022 2023 - -
3 Duke - 2022 - 2024 2025
3 Michigan 2021 2022 - - 2025
3 Purdue - 2022 - 2024 2025
3 Tennessee - - 2023 2024 2025
League Of Their Own
Creighton has finished with a .500 mark or better in league play 29 times in the previous 30 seasons, one of seven schools nationally that can say that.
The only BIG EAST teams to finish .500 or better in league play each of the previous 10 seasons are Creighton and Villanova.
Creighton is also the only "Power 5" school with an active streak of six years or longer with 12 or more league wins.
Most Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Last 30 Seasons (Entering 2025-26)
Seasons Team
30 Duke
30 Kansas
30 Gonzaga
29 Creighton
29 Kentucky
29 Michigan State
Consecutive Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Power 5 Schools (Entering 2025-26)
Seasons Team
36 Kansas
30 Duke
14 Oregon
13 Villanova
10 Creighton
10 Houston
10 Florida
Consecutive Seasons 12+ League Wins
Power 5 Schools (Entering 2025-26)
Seasons Team
6 Creighton
Coaching Consistency Is Key
Between women's basketball coach Jim Flanery (455) and men's basketball coach Greg McDermott (354), Creighton is the nation's only school with a pair of active head coaches with at least 350 victories at their current school.
Flanery (hired in 2002) and McDermott (2010) also make Creighton one of three schools to have the same men's and women's basketball head coaches each of the last 15 seasons, joining Boise State (Leon Rice and Gordy Presnell) and Northern Iowa (Ben Jacobsen and Tanya Warren).
Jacobsen played on teams McDermott assisted at North Dakota from 1989-93 and later replaced McDermott as head coach at UNI In 2006, while Warren was a former Creighton player and assistant and is one of two women in program history to have her number retired.
Stability is Key
One reason for Creighton's extended run of success has been the continuity within its coaching staff. The Bluejays have had just two head coaches in the last 32 years, Dana Altman (1994-2010) and Greg McDermott (2010-Present).
Here's a list of major conference schools to have a coach with 300 wins at that school, and their predecessor also had 300 wins at the school:
School Former Coach Current Coach
Creighton Dana Altman Greg McDermott
Kansas Roy Williams Bill Self
Michigan State Jud Heathcote Tom Izzo
Purdue Gene Keady Matt Painter
Long Run
Greg McDermott is in his 16th season on the Creighton sideline in 2025-26. That's tied for the 15th-longest active run of any men's coach with his current team.
Most Consecutive Years as Head Coach, Current Team
Years Name School
1995-Pr. Tom Izzo Michigan State
1998-Pr. Greg Kampe Oakland
1999-Pr. Mark Few Gonzaga
1999-Pr. James Jones Yale
2001-Pr. Randy Bennett Saint Mary's
2002-Pr. Bill Self Kansas
2003-Pr. Scott Drew Baylor
2005-Pr. Matt Painter Purdue
2006-Pr. Ben Jacobsen Northern Iowa
2006-Pr. Bill Coen Northeastern
2007-Pr. Mark Schmidt St. Bonaventure
2007-Pr. Brent Reed Lehigh
2007-Pr. Tommy Amaker Harvard
2009-Pr. LaVelle Moton North Carolina Central
2010-Pr. Greg McDermott Creighton
2010-Pr. Andy O'Toole Robert Morris
2010-Pr. Tad Boyle Colorado
2010-Pr. Leon Rice Boise State
2010-Pr. Dana Altman Oregon
2010-Pr. Russell Turner UC Irvine
2010-Pr. Brad Brownell Clemson
The McDermott Era
Greg McDermott owns 354 wins at Creighton since his arrival in 2010-11. It's the eighth-most of programs that have had the same coach the entire time.
Schools With Most Wins Since 2010-11, Only 1 Coach
(Through games of Dec. 1)
Rk. Wins School Coach Next
1. 459 Gonzaga Mark Few 12/5
2. 432 Kansas Bill Self 12/2
3. 392 Saint Mary's Randy Bennett 12/7
4. 381 Michigan State Tom Izzo 12/2
5. 374 Oregon Dana Altman 12/2
6. 366 Purdue Matt Painter 12/2
7. 362 Baylor Scott Drew 12/2
8. 354 Creighton Greg McDermott 12/2
National Ranks In The McDermott Era
Below is where Creighton ranks nationally since the start of the 2010-11 season among teams to have played 150 or more Division I games, per Basketball-Reference.com.
2010-11 to Nov. 28, 2025
Category CU Stat CU Rank
3FG Made 4,721 2nd
2FG Percentage .552 3rd
FG Percentage .476 4th
Assists 8,476 5th
3FG Percentage .371 6th
FG Made 14,433 7th
Points 40,36 9th
Wins 354 23rd
Winning Percentage .670 31st
Among The Best
CBS Sports conducted a pair of surveys during the summer that highlight Greg McDermott as one of the best in the country at what he does.
Who is the best X's and O's coach in college basketball right now? (Asked to roughly 100 coaches)
1. Matt Painter (Purdue): 19%
2. Dan Hurley (UConn): 18%
3. Greg McDermott (Creighton): 16%
4. Kelvin Sampson (Houston): 7%
5. Ben McCollum (Iowa): 5%
6. Randy Bennett (Saint Mary's): 4%
Tom Izzo (Michigan State): 4%
Dusty May Michigan): 4%
Bill Self (Kansas): 4%
10. Rick Barnes (Tennessee): 2%
Chris Collins (Northwestern): 2%
Grant McCasland (Texas Tech): 2%
Nate Oats (Alabama): 2%
Rick Pitino (St. John's): 2%
Mark Schmidt (St. Bonaventure): 2%
Others: 7%
Who are the best college basketball coaches? (Asked to 6 CBB writers)
1. Dan Hurley, Connecticut
2. Kelvin Sampson, Houston
3. Rick Pitino, St. John's
4. Bill Self, Kansas
5. Matt Painter, Purdue
6. Nate Oats, Alabama
7. Todd Golden, Florida
8. Tom Izzo, Michigan State
9. Mark Few, Gonzaga
10. Scott Drew, Baylor
11. Jon Scheyer, Duke
12. Dusty May, Michigan
13. Rick Barnes, Tennessee
14. John Calipari, Arkansas
15. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
16. Mark Pope, Kentucky
17. Greg McDermott, Creighton
18. Grant McCasland, Texas Tech
19. Brad Underwood, Illinois
20. Pat Kelsey, Louisville
21. TJ Otzelberger, Iowa State
22. Chris Beard, Ole Miss
23. Mick Cronin, UCLA
24. Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's
25. Shaka Smart, Marquette
And 1. Ben McCollum, Iowa
Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 1,063 straight games. That ranks as the nation's 10th-longest active streak.
Creighton's last game without a three-pointer came at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993, when the Jays were 0-for-5. 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 (12/1)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 1,272 Duke 12/2
2. 1,268 UNLV 12/7
3. 1,198 East Tennessee State 12/2
4. 1,175 Oakland 12/3
5. 1,170 Texas 12/3
6. 1,169 Pacific 12/3
7. 1,106 Marshall 12/3
8. 1,102 Gonzaga 12/5
9. 1,090 Princeton 12/3
10. 1,063 Creighton 12/2
11. 1,054 Long Island 12/2
12. 1,049 Mount St. Mary's 12/3
Nifty Fifty Leads To Postseason?
Not counting 2019-20, when there was no postseason, Creighton has made the postseason each of the 12 most recent times in which it has made at least 50 percent of its field goal attempts to open the year.
Ten of those postseason trips were NCAA Tournament berths. 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.
Creighton has shot 50 percent or better in 10 of its last 14 season-openers, including 50 percent (37-for-74) on Wednesday vs. South Dakota.
CU Season-Opener Field Goal Percentage 50+%
Since 1993-94
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 NCAA
.524 2019-20 Kennesaw St. Postseason Ccd.
.585 2021-22 Ark.-Pine Bluff NCAA
.567 2023-24 Florida A&M NCAA
.600 2024-25 UTRGV NCAA
.500 2025-26 South Dakota ? ? ?
The Push For 90
Of Creighton's 26 all-time NCAA Tournament teams, 13 have scored 90 or more points in their season-opener.
Put another way...of CU's 20 teams (before 2025-26) to score 90 points in an opener, 13 would reach the NCAA Tournament.
Here's a look at Creighton's 12 most recent teams (before 2025-26) to score 90 or more points in a season-opener:
Final Post-
Score Opponent Date W-L Season
93-47 UT-San Antonio 11/30/90 24-8 NCAA
93-48 Towson State 11/14/98 22-9 NCAA
96-50 Western Illinois 11/20/00 24-8 NCAA
106-50 Texas-Arlington 11/17/02 29-5 NCAA
97-65 North Carolina A&T 11/11/11 29-6 NCAA
107-61 Alcorn State 11/08/13 27-8 NCAA
104-77 Central Arkansas 11/14/14 14-19 --
93-70 Texas Southern 11/14/15 20-15 NIT
92-76 Yale 11/10/17 21-12 NCAA
90-77 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 11/09/21 23-12 NCAA
105-54 Florida A&M 11/07/23 25-10 NCAA
99-86 UTRGV 11/06/24 25-11 NCAA
92-76 South Dakota 11/05/25 ? ? ? ? ? ?
Preseason All-BIG EAST Votes Revealed
The Creighton men's basketball team was picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Conference in the annual survey of league coaches, which was unveiled as part of 2025 BIG EAST Media Day on October 21.
It marks the fourth straight year the Bluejays have been tabbed for a top-three finish and the third time CU has been picked exactly third in the BIG EAST poll, having also happened in 2013-14 as well as 2016-17.
Defending league champion St. John's garnered 7-of-11 first place votes and was chosen atop the poll with 97 points, just ahead of Connecticut. The Huskies collected four first place votes and 94 points. Creighton was third with 80 points, just ahead of Providence (64) and Marquette (60). The second half of the league poll consists of Georgetown (57), Villanova (50), Xavier (33), DePaul (29), Butler (26) and Seton Hall (15).
Creighton finished 25-11 overall and 15-5 in BIG EAST play last season and returns starters Jackson McAndrew (7.8 ppg., 4.4 rpg.) and Jasen Green (4.9 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) along with a talented crop of newcomers.
Three of those newcomers join McAndrew with Preseason All-BIG EAST accolades, giving CU four honorees for the first time since its 2022-23 team that eventually finished the season in the Elite Eight. Owen Freeman was voted a Preseason All- BIG EAST First Team selection and Josh Dix was a Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team choice. McAndrew and Nik Graves were both Preseason All-BIG EAST Third Team honorees.
Freeman is the eighth different Bluejay to earn Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team recognition, and first to do it prior to playing a game with the Bluejays. It also means CU has had a First Team pick each of the last four seasons, as Trey Alexander was chosen prior to 2023-24 and Ryan Kalkbrenner was honored each of the previous three campaigns.
Creighton has matched or exceeded its preseason projection in all but one season since joining the BIG EAST in 2013-14, the best showing in the league in that time. The Bluejays are seeking a 10th straight finish in the top four of the league standings.
Creighton's BIG EAST Preseason Poll History
Year Preseason Actual Preseason All-BIG EAST
2013-14 3rd 2nd Doug McDermott (POY, 1st)
2014-15 9th T-9th -
2015-16 9th 6th -
2016-17 3rd T-3rd Maurice Watson Jr. (1st); Marcus Foster (HM)
2017-18 5th T-3rd Marcus Foster (1st); Khyri Thomas (HM)
2018-19 9th T-3rd Martin Krampelj (HM)
2019-20 7th T-1st Ty-Shon Alexander (1st)
2020-21 2nd 2nd Marcus Zegarowski (POY, 1st); Mitch Ballock (2nd)
2021-22 8th 4th -
2022-23 1st 3rd Ryan Kalkbrenner (1st); Arthur Kaluma (2nd)
Ryan Nembhard (2nd); Baylor Scheierman (HM)
2023-24 2nd T-2nd Ryan Kalkbrenner (1st); Trey Alexander (1st)
Baylor Scheierman (2nd)
2024-25 2nd 2nd Ryan Kalkbrenner (POY, 1st); Steven Ashworth (3rd)
2025-26 3rd ? ? ? Owen Freeman (1st); Josh Dix (2nd)
Jackson McAndrew (3rd); Nik Graves (3rd)
NBA Jays
There are five former Creighton players in the NBA this season.
Former Creighton All-American Doug McDermott is with the Sacramento Kings as he begins his 12th year in the NBA. He was a Lottery pick in 2014 by the Denver Nuggets.
Baylor Scheierman is in his second year with the Boston Celtics after being a First Round pick in 2024.
Trey Alexander, who was named 2024-25 G-League Rookie of the Year in the Denver Nuggets organization, is now on a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.
There is palpable buzz around Ryan Kalkbrenner, a Second Round pick of the Charlotte Hornets, in his rookie campaign.
Lastly, former Creighton point guard Ryan Nembhard is on a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Nembhard played two years at Creighton before finishing his career at Gonzaga.
These men give Creighton at least one NBA player for the 42nd time in the last 43 seasons.
Other famous Bluejays to play in the NBA in the past include Paul Silas, Kyle Korver, Benoit Benjamin and Anthony Tolliver.
Who's Back?
With Creighton returning only seven of the 15 men who appeared in a game last season -- including its top three scorers -- much of the production is gone.
Below is a breakdown of what is back:
Stat Returners Departures
3FG Made 135 (39.2%) 209 (60.8%)
Minutes 2661 (36.7%) 4589 (63.3%)
Rebounds 426 (34.4%) 811 (65.6%)
Starts 61 (33.9%) 119 (66.1%)
Steals 43 (33.1%) 87 (66.9%)
Points 761 (28.0%) 1956 (72.0%)
Assists 112 (18.2%) 503 (81.8%)
Blocks 28 (17.4%) 133 (82.6%)
Charges Taken 2 (16.7%) 10 (83.3%)
McChesney On The Mend
Liam McChesney is a rare seventh-year junior who saw his first regular-season action in 979 days on Nov. 5 against South Dakota. He played just over four minutes, collecting a rebound and a blocked shot but missing both field goal attempts.
McChesney began his career in 2019-20 when he redshirted at Utah State. He played in three games at Utah State in 2020-21 before suffering a season-ending broken ankle.
The Prince Rupert, Canada native then transferred to Illinois State, where he played in 60 games and made 27 starts for the Redbirds in two seasons from 2021-23.
McChesney transferred to High Point to play for then-Panther head coach Alan Huss (now Creighton's associate head coach and head coach in waiting), but was sidelined after a preseason medical evaluation revealed an issue with one of his heart valves, which led to heart surgery that has caused him to miss the past two seasons as his weight dropped 208 to 172 pounds.
McChesney transferred to Creighton this summer and continues his comeback.
Preseason Top 25
The Creighton men's basketball team was ranked 23rd in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll, the fourth straight season the Bluejays have been ranked among the nation's best in the preseason.
This year's announcement marks the eighth time in program history the writers have voted CU to the Top 25 in the preseason, joining 2006-07 (No. 19), 2012-13 (No. 16) and 2016-17 (No. 22), 2020-21 (No. 11), 2022-23 (No. 9), 2023-24 (No. 8) and 2024-25 (No. 15). All seven of those teams would end up in the NCAA Tournament, with three of the four most recent squads making the Sweet 16.
Creighton's best ranking in program history is seventh, done five times (Jan. 16, 2017, March 10, 2020, March 18, 2020, Jan. 7, 2021 and Nov. 28, 2022).
Including this year's preseason ranking, Creighton has now been ranked 148 times in program history, with 120 of those under the direction of Greg McDermott. Creighton is 180-78 all-time as a ranked team, including a 146-66 mark under McDermott. Creighton has now been ranked at least one week in 12 of McDermott's 16 seasons on The Hilltop after doing it just five different seasons in program history before his 2010 arrival.
Creighton has been one of 11 schools ranked in the Top 25 of the Preseason AP poll each of the last four years, joining Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Creighton was one of three BIG EAST Conference schools in the poll, joining No. 4 Connecticut and No. 5 St. John's.
Among Creighton's non-conference opponents in the poll are preseason No. 21 Gonzaga and preseason No. 16 Iowa State.
Creighton was also ranked 23rd in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll.
Let's Go On A Run
Creighton unleashed a 23-0 run on Iowa State during its exhibition meeting, turning an early 8-4 deficit into a 27-8 lead over a span of just under seven minutes (6:57).
Dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season, it was Creighton's largest run in any game, including exhibitions. Below is that list.
Longest Creighton Runs Since 2021-22
Run Opponent (Score change) Date
23-0* #16 Iowa State (4-8 to 27-8) 10/17/25
21-0* Upper Iowa (32-29 to 53-29) 10//30/21
20-0 Texas Southern (61-44 to 81-44) 11/18/23
19-0 vs. #11 Providence (37-27 to 56-27) 3/11/22
19-0 Georgetown (0-0 to 19-0) 03/01/23
18-0 Houston Christian (19-9 to 37-9) 11/13/24
*exhibition game
Who Are These Guys?
Creighton returns 61 starts from last year's team (31 by Jackson McAndrew, 25 by Jasen Green, 4 by Isaac Traudt, 1 by Ty Davis), its fewest since the 2021-22 team returned just two starts.
Returning Returning Starts Final
Year Starters From Previous Year W-L
2025-26 2 61 ? ? ?
2024-25 3 105 25-11
2023-24 3 111 25-10
2022-23 3 104 24-13
2021-22 0 2 23-12
2020-21 5 124 22-9
2019-20 4 136 24-7
2018-19 2 57 20-15
2017-18 2 72 21-12
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
Among The Best
Creighton owns more BIG EAST wins (82) than any other school in the last six seasons, 11 more than Marquette and Villanova's 71.
Since the league's 2013 realignment, Villanova has 161 league wins to lead the BIG EAST by a wide margin, but Creighton's 138 league victories are second-most.
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2019-20 to 2024-25)
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 82 35 .701
Villanova 71 42 .628
Marquette 71 45 .612
UConn 69 27 .719
Providence 64 50 .561
Seton Hall 59 57 .509
Xavier 59 51 .536
St. John's 59 57 .509
Butler 45 73 .381
Georgetown 24 89 .212
DePaul 18 95 .159
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2013-14 to 2024-25)
Team W L Pct.
Villanova 161 60 .729
Creighton 138 87 .613
Xavier 125 93 .573
Marquette 123 101 .549
Providence 122 100 .550
Seton Hall 112 112 .500
Butler 99 127 .438
St. John's 99 125 .442
Georgetown 70 151 .317
UConn 69 27 .719
DePaul 43 178 .195
McAndrew Set A Freshman Record
Jackson McAndrew made 69 three-pointers last season, the most in Creighton history by a freshman and ahead of some impressive names.
McAndrew also became the first freshman in BIG EAST history to make a three-pointer in 19 different conference games of the same season.
Most 3-Pointers Made by a Creighton Freshman
3FG-FGA 3FG% Name Year
69-195 .354 Jackson McAndrew 2024-25
68-157 .433 Ethan Wragge 2009-10
63-161 .391 Ryan Sears 1997-98
63-145 .434 Kyle Korver 1999-00
60-141 .426 Marcus Zegarowski 2018-19
47-116 .405 Doug McDermott 2010-11
46-118 .390 Rodney Buford 1995-96
45-125 .360 Toby Hegner 2014-15
44-135 .326 Mitch Ballock 2017-18
41-105 .390 Jahenns Manigat 2010-11
Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 30 victories since the start of the 2010-11 season after trailing by double-figures at some point.
Fourteen of those 30 comebacks have come away from home.
If you're curious, CU's largest comeback win since 2000 came on Jan. 28, 2006, when the Jays trailed 25-6 early before rallying to beat Wichita State on a buzzer-beater by Anthony Tolliver.
CU's Double-Digit Comebacks Under McDermott
Deficit Opponent Date
18 #18 Oklahoma 11/19/14
17 at San Diego State 11/30/11
17 vs. DePaul 03/13/25
16 at Evansville 02/16/13
16 at Seton Hall 01/27/21
16 SIU Edwardsville 11/27/21
15 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 11/09/21
14 Evansville 02/21/12
14 vs. San Diego State 03/17/22
13 at Saint Joseph's 11/16/13
13 Xavier 01/12/14
13 #22 Xavier 12/23/20
12 Saint Joseph's 12/11/10
12 at DePaul 01/17/16
12 East Tennessee State 11/11/18
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
11 vs. Connecticut 03/12/21
11 DePaul 01/22/22
11 St. John's 12/31/24
10 UAB 11/14/12
10 vs. Drake 03/02/12
10 at Nebraska 12/07/14
10 South Dakota 12/09/14
10 St. John's 01/03/18
10 at DePaul 02/07/18
10 Bemidji State 02/13/18
10 Georgetown 02/23/25
Triple Trouble
During Creighton's current streak of 1,063 straight games with a three-pointer, the Jays have drained 8,563 trifectas, an average of 8.06 treys per game.
Only five times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 326 occasions the Bluejays have made 10 or more trifectas, including three games of 20 or more.
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, the Bluejays are 106-28 when making eight or more three-pointers, compared to a 38-36 mark when making seven treys or fewer.
Team 3FG Made During Creighton's 3-Point Streak
1: 5 times 2: 19 times 3: 36 times
4: 75 times 5: 105 times 6: 113 times
7: 154 times 8: 134 times 9: 96 times
10: 91 times 11: 67 times 12: 64 times
13: 50 times 14: 26 times 15: 9 times
16: 9 times 17: 4 times 18: 1 time
19: 2 times 20: 1 time 21: 1 time 22: 1 time
McDermott Is Wins Leader
Greg McDermott has 354 victories at Creighton, passing his predecessor Dana Altman (327) for the most in program history in CU's Nov. 13, 2024 win vs. Houston Christian.
McDermott broke a different record on Jan. 21, 2025 at DePaul when he coached his 504th game on the Bluejay sideline, breaking the mark of 503 held by Altman.
McDermott's .670 winning percentage is Creighton's best since Arthur A. Schabinger's .714 win rate from 90 years ago.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton MBB History
Rk. W-L Name Years
1. 354-174 Greg McDermott 2010-Pres.
2. 327-176 Dana Altman 1994-2010
3. 165-66 Arthur A. Schabinger 1922-1935
4. 138-118 John J. "Red" McManus 1959-1969
5. 130-64 Tom Apke 1974-1981
CHI Health Center Omaha Dramatics
Creighton is 8-8 in contests with a game-winning go-ahead score in the final 10 seconds at CHI Health Center Omaha, which opened in 2003.
The last time such a game happened was in 2020 when Creighton's Marcus Zegarowski hit a shot with 3.2 seconds left to beat Providence.
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
01/18/20 Providence W 78-74 Zegarowski 3FG :3.2
*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.
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. 18,571 DePaul 01/22/24
10. 18,525 Marquette 12/31/13
11. 18,519 #8 Seton Hall 03/07/20
12. 18,518 Georgetown 01/27/18
13. 18,509 Villanova 02/04/23
14. 18,495 Marquette 02/17/18
15. 18,494 Illinois State 02/09/13
16. 18,475 Nebraska 11/22/24
17. 18,458 Evansville 12/29/12
18. 18,436 Bradley 01/28/12
19. 18,430 Seton Hall 01/25/25
20. 18,323 DePaul 02/07/14
CHI Health Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 374 regular and postseason contests at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time in the now 23-year-old facility.
The Bluejays own a 310-64 (.829) record all-time at the facility.
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 29,404-24,543 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 13.00 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 94 different times, including once this year (Maryland Eastern Shore).
Incredibly, Creighton hasn't trailed in its home opener in 10 of the past 25 seasons (2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2016-17 and 2019-20).
Creighton is also 34-37 all-time in the 71 games at the arena in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 8-12 when down by 10+ points at halftime in the facility, and 42-30 when trailing at halftime at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Creighton is 213-46 (.822) at CHI Health Center Omaha under Greg McDermott and hasn't trailed in 67 of those games. In that same span, CU owns a 110-10 home record (.917) 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 328-64 (.837) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
Home Run
Under Greg McDermott Creighton is averaging 80.74 points per home game (20,911 points in 259 home games), a figure that climbs to 84.23 points in non-conference home games (10,107 points in 120 home games).
Creighton is 157-7 all-time at CHI Health Center Omaha when scoring 80 or points.
Perfect 10
Greg McDermott has guided his team to the NCAA Tournament 10 times at Creighton. That put him in the company of some of the greatest coaches in CU Athletics history, and most among basketball coaches.
McDermott is one of three head coaches in Creighton history to lead 10 or more NCAA Tournament teams.
Name Sport NCAA's @CU
Kirsten Bernthal Booth Volleyball 14
Bob Warming Men's Soccer 11
Greg McDermott Men's Basketball 10
Jim Flanery Women's Basketball 8
Dana Altman Men's Basketball 7
Brent Vigness Softball 7
Firing On All Cylinders
Creighton finished the 2024-25 season ranked 35th overall by KenPom.com. That included the nation's No. 33 offense, and No. 44 defense.
Creighton has finished with a top-25 offense per KenPom eight times and a top-25 defense three times in 15 completed seasons under Greg McDermott.
Year Off. Rating Def. Rating Overall Rank
2010-11 66 174 98
2011-12 5 166 28
2012-13 5 66 15
2013-14 2 124 17
2014-15 59 138 79
2015-16 43 76 40
2016-17 32 46 28
2017-18 25 58 30
2018-19 47 83 55
2019-20 3 78 12
2020-21 25 32 22
2021-22 112 19 50
2022-23 23 14 12
2023-24 9 24 11
2024-25 33 44 35
2025-26 (11/29) 59 69 56
Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 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.
For more information, call the Creighton Ticket Office at (402) 280-JAYS.
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/ Men's BasketballCreighton Men's Basketball vs. Utah Tech Press Conference - 12/22/25
Friday, December 19
Creighton Men's Basketball vs. Marquette Press Conference - 12/20/25
Friday, December 19
Greg McDermot Interview After Xavier Win - 12/17/25
Thursday, December 18
Creighton Men's Basketball Highlights vs. Kansas State - 12/13/25
Saturday, December 13
