Men's Basketball Ready For Seton Hall To Start BIG EAST Tourney
3/9/2026 12:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game #32: Creighton Bluejays (15-16, 9-11 BIG EAST) vs. Seton Hall Pirates (20-11, 10-10 BIG EAST)
Thursday, March 12, 2026 • 1:30 p.m. CST • New York City, N.Y. • Madison Square Garden
| LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES | BRACKET |
Next Game
Creighton (15-16, 9-11 BIG EAST) opens the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by JEEP on Thursday, March 12, when it takes on fourth-seeded Seton Hall (20-11, 10-10 BIG EAST) in a quarterfinal round game.
Thursday's tip-off at Madison Square Garden (19,812) in New York, N.Y., is set for 1:30 p.m. Central, and the winner will advance to Friday's 4:30 p.m. Central semifinal.
Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) and KOOO (101.9 FM) will carry Creighton men's basketball games during the 2025-26 season. John Bishop and Taylor Stormberg will call the action.
The audio is webcast at 1620thezone.com.
Audio from the Seton Hall broadcast will be carried on SiriusXM on channel 117 or 204, as well as at https://sxm.app.link/SXM966.
Broadcast Information
Thursday's game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network and Peacock, with John Fanta, Donny Marshall on the call and Caroline Pineda on the sidelines.
A live stream of the contest can also be viewed at http://peacocktv.com.
Live Stats Information
All of Creighton's games this season will have free live stats. Visit Creighton.StatBroadcast.com for the exact link.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton won at Butler 76-59 last Wednesday to close the regular-season 15-16 overall and 9-11 in BIG EAST play. Each of CU's last two wins have come away from home, winning at both No. 5 Connecticut on Feb. 8th and at Butler on March 4th.
Senior guard Josh Dix (12.7 ppg.) leads the Bluejays in scoring while classmate Nik Graves (10.4 ppg., 4.3 apg., 1.1 spg.) tops the team in assists and steals. The duo combined for 36 points in last Wednesday's win at Butler.
Jasen Green averages 10.4 points and a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game, and Austin Swartz (10.9 ppg.) paces CU with 62 three-pointers.
Creighton lost Preseason Third Team All-BIG EAST pick Jackson McAndrew to a season-ending foot injury in November, and teammates Josh Townley-Thomas, Aleksa Dimitrijevic and Liam McChesney will also miss the rest of the season, giving CU four players 6-foot-10 or taller on the sideline.
Creighton is averaging 75.6 points per game and shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 35.0 percent from three-point range and 76.1 percent at the line.
Scouting Seton Hall
Seton Hall has followed up last season's 7-25 mark with a 20-11 record in 2025-26 and finished 10-10 in BIG EAST play after alternating wins and losses in the last six games.
The Pirates feature 11 newcomers, as its four returners from a year ago have combined for a total of 13 points this winter.
Adam "Budd" Clark (12.4 ppg., 4.7 apg.), A.J. Staton-McCray (12.1 ppg.) and Tajuan Simpkins (10.1 ppg.) lead a talented class of newcomers.
Najal Hines (64) and Stephon Payne III (39) have combined for 103 of The Hall's 176 blocked shots.
As a team, Seton Hall averages 70.4 points per game while allowing only 65.1 per contest. The Pirates shoot 43.7 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from deep and 72.0 percent at the line.
The Series With Seton Hall
Creighton and Seton Hall have split 34 all-time meetings, 17-17, but Creighton has won 11 of the last 14 meetings, and seven of the past eight encounters. The teams split two regular-season meetings, with Seton Hall winning 56-54 in Newark on Jan. 4th before Creighton took the rematch, 69-68 on Feb. 7th in Omaha.
Creighton is 0-2 all-time on neutral floors against the Pirates, losing a 1991 NCAA Tournament Second Round game in Salt Lake City and a 2016 BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal in New York City.
In the last 14 meetings, Creighton is 11-0 when scoring 61 or more points against the Pirates compared to an 0-3 mark when being held to 60 or less.
Greg McDermott is 16-11 against Seton Hall and 7-1 against Shaheen Holloway.
The Creighton Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) owns a 365-187 record in his 16th season with the Bluejays. He owns a career mark of 645-382 in his 32nd season, and is 514-318 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 bump its overall record to 16-16.
- Creighton would advance to Friday's 4:30 p.m. Central semifinal against either St. John's, Butler or Providence in a game that will be broadcast on FOX, KOZN (1620 AM) and KOOO (101.9 FM).
- Creighton would improve to 13-11 all-time at the BIG EAST Tournament, including a 7-5 mark in the quarterfinals.
- Improve to 1-1 all-time at the BIG EAST Tournament as a No. 5 seed (1-1 in the quarterfinals), and 3-5 all-time in conference tournament action as a No. 5 seed (including the MVC Tournament).
-Improve to 1-2 all-time at the BIG EAST Tournament vs. No. 4 seeds.
- Creighton would improve to 1-1 in the BIG EAST Tournament against Seton Hall.
- Creighton would take its first lead in the series ever over Seton Hall, 18-17.
- Greg McDermott would tie Rollie Massimino, as well as former Seton Hall coaches Kevin Willard and P.J. Carlesimo, for seventh in BIG EAST Tournament history with his 13th career BIG EAST Tournament win.
Milestone Watch
- Josh Dix is one assist shy of 250 in his career.
- Austin Swartz is four three-pointers away from 100 in his career and 13 points from 500.
- Hudson Greer is 17 points from 100 in his career.
- Blake Harper is five free throws made away from 300 in his career and 26 points away from 900.
• Creighton is 3-7 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament as a "worse" seed, with its most recent win coming on March 11, 2022 with a 83-58 destruction of Providence in the semifinal round.
• Greg McDermott's 12 BIG EAST Tournament wins at Creighton are five more than any other coach at their current school. Dan Hurley has seven to rank second.
McDermott's 12 wins are tied with Lou Carnesecca and Jamie Dixon for 10th place in league history. A win on Thursday would him with Rollie Massimino and former Villanova coaches Kevin Willard and PJ Carlesimo for seventh-most in league history.
Previously Against Seton Hall
Creighton and Seton Hall met twice in the regular-season, with the home team posting a late comeback to win each time.
Seton Hall won 56-54 in Newark on January 4th, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the final 15 minutes. Najai Hines turned an offensive rebound into a three-point play with 1.3 seconds left for the Pirates.
In the rematch in Omaha on Feb. 7th, Nik Graves made a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left as CU overcame a nine-point deficit in the last 90 seconds as Creighton won 69-68.
Individually, Austin Swartz (16.0), Josh Dix (14.0), Jasen Green (12.0) and Isaac Traudt (10.0) all averaged in double-figures for a Bluejay team that shot 38.9 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from dep and outrebounded the Pirates by 3.5 caroms per contest.
Seton Hall was paced by 14.0 points 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game by Adam "Budd" Clark. Elijah Fisher (10.0 ppg.) also scored in double-figures for a Pirate squad that shot 43.0 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three-point range.
3-Pointers Could Be Big
Creighton led the BIG EAST with 9.90 three-pointers per game, while Seton Hall was last in that category with 4.77 three-pointers per contest.
The first time the teams met in Newark, Creighton was 6-for-27 from deep while Seton Hall made 2-of-7 triple tries. In the rematch, Creighton made 13-of-30 three-pointers, including a game-winning shot by Nik Graves with 2.5 seconds left, to overcome the Pirates 5-of-9 marksmanship (a season-high 55.6 percent) from deep.
In league play only, Creighton made 198 three-pointers (9.90 per game), while Seton Hall made just 91 (4.05 per game).
McDermott's Tournament History
Greg McDermott owns 19 wins in conference tournaments at CU (12 in the BIG EAST Tournament, 7 in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament). He led Creighton to the 2012 and 2013 MVC Tournament titles, and trips to the conference tournament title game in 7-of-14 seasons with a tournament (excluding 2020's shortened tourney due to COVID-19).
Greg McDermott owns a 12-11 record at the BIG EAST Tournament. The other 10 coaches in the league own a combined 21 BIG EAST Tournament victories at their current schools, though Rick Pitino was 14-7 between his previous stints at Providence and Louisville (with three titles), Ed Cooley was 10-10 at the BIG EAST Tourney from his days as Providence coach (with 1 title) and Kevin Willard went 13-10 (with 1 title) at Seton Hall.
BIG EAST Tournament Records at Current School
Coach, Current School W L Titles
Greg McDermott, CU 12 11 -
Dan Hurley, UConn 7 4 1
Shaka Smart, MU 6 3 1
Rick Pitino, SJU 4 1 1
Kim English, PC 2 2 -
Chris Holtmann, DPU 1 1 -
Thad Matta, BU 1 3 -
Ed Cooley, GU 0 2 -
Shaheen Holloway, SHU 0 3 -
Richard Pitino, XU 0 0 -
Kevin Willard, VU 0 0 -
Most BIG EAST Tournament Coaching Wins
Coach, School(s) W L
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse 50 29
Jim Calhoun, UConn 35 19
John Thompson Jr., Georgetown 33 13
Jay Wright, Villanova 27 15
Rick Pitino, PC/LOU/SJU 18 8
John Thompson III, Georgetown 15 12
Kevin Willard, SHU/VU 13 10
P.J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall 13 10
Rollie Massimino, Villanova 13 12
Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh 12 9
Greg McDermott, Creighton 12 11
Lou Carnesecca, St. John's 12 11
Conference Tournament History
Creighton is 12-11 all-time as it enters its 12th appearance at the BIG EAST Tournament, which includes trips to the finals in 2014, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2025. That doesn't include the 2020 trip that was halted at halftime of the quarterfinal round game vs. St. John's at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since joining the BIG EAST, Creighton is 1-0 in the opening round, 6-5 in the quarterfinals, 5-1 in the semifinals and 0-5 in championship games.
Creighton lost in the title game to Providence in 2014 (65-58), Villanova in 2017 (74-60), Georgetown (73-48) in 2021, Villanova (54-48) in 2022 and St. John's (82-66) in 2025.
Creighton has won at least one conference tournament game in 10 of the previous 14 seasons (which includes three trips to the MVC Tournament).
Creighton also enjoyed a highly-successful run at the MVC Tournament in the previous three decades. The Bluejays owned a 43-20 all-time record in MVC Tournament play. Creighton's 12 MVC Tournament titles were seven more than any other school, while its .683 winning percentage in league tourney action also remains tops in event history.
Creighton was 19-12 in the quarterfinals, 12-7 in the semifinals and 12-1 in the championship games as a Valley member. Creighton won the MVC Tournament nine of the last 13 times it won its first game in the event.
Creighton won its MVC Tournament titles in 1978, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2012 and 2013.
Since 2013-14
Creighton joined the BIG EAST in the summer of 2013. Since March of 2014, Creighton ranks second with 12 BIG EAST Tournament victories.
Most BIG EAST Tournament Wins Since 2014
Team W L
Villanova 20 6
Creighton 12 11
Xavier 11 12
Providence 11 10
Marquette 10 10
Seton Hall 10 10
St. John's 10 10
Connecticut 7 4
Georgetown 6 11
DePaul 5 11
Butler 4 11
Ring Bearers
Creighton's current full-time coaching staff and student-athletes have combined for 17 postseason Division I conference tournament titles as student-athletes or assistant/head coaches, but none have won a BIG EAST Tournament.
Greg McDermott owns three MVC Tourney titles under his belt (one as Northern Iowa coach, two as Creighton coach).
Assistant coach Derek Kellogg won four Atlantic-10 Conference Tournaments as a student-athlete (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) at Massachusetts, one as head coach at LIU in 2018, three as an assistant coach at Memphis (2006, 2007, 2008) and one as an assistant at George Mason (1999). Associate head coach Alan Huss has three tournament titles (Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles as a player at Creighton in 1999 and 2000 and one Big South title as High Point's head coach) Assistant coach Mike Nesbitt also won a Big South Tournament title at High Point last year.
Liam McChesney was part of High Point's Big South Tournament champion team last year.
Here's a breakdown of how many conference tournament titles each person has been a part of:
Name Titles Won Years With A Title
Derek Kellogg 9 1992^, '93^, '94^, '95^,
'99•, 2006+, '07+, '08+¶, '18%
Greg McDermott 3 2004@, 2012*, 2013*
Alan Huss 3 1999!, 2000!, 2025$
Mike Nesbitt 1 2025#
Liam McChesney 1 2025¶
^ won four A-10 titles as a player at Massachusetts
• won a CAA title as an assistant coach at George Mason
+ won a Conference USA title as an assistant at Memphis
¶ later vacated
% won one NEC title as a head coach at LIU
@ won a MVC title as a head coach at Northern Iowa
# won at Big South title as an assistant coach at High Point
$ won at Big South title as a head coach at High Point
* won two MVC titles as a head coach at Creighton
! won two MVC titles as a player at Creighton
¶ won a Big South title as a player at High Point
Random League Tournament Facts
-Creighton has won 14 of its last 16 conference tournament games decided by four points or less.
-Creighton is 12-9 in its last 21 conference tournament games when playing an opponent with a better seed than the Bluejays.
-The top two seeds have met in a BIG EAST final just twice since 2004, with that coming in 2023 when No. 1 Marquette topped No. 2 Xavier and in 2025 when No. 1 St. John's beat No. 2 Creighton.
-The No. 5 seed has reached the BIG EAST Tournament final just three times previously, as Syracuse won the title as the No. 5 seed in 1992 and both Syracuse (2013) and Providence (2018) lost the final as the No. 5 seed.
-Creighton is 2-5 all-time in five previous conference tournament appearances as a No. 5 seed, and has never reached title game from that position.
The Jays have are 0-1 all-time in one previous appearance as the No. 5 seed at the BIG EAST Tournament, falling in the 2019 quarterfinals to Xavier.
Creighton As the #5 Seed (2-4 MVC; 0-1 BIG EAST)
Year League Record
1985 Missouri Valley 0-1
1988 Missouri Valley 1-1
1996 Missouri Valley 0-1
2011 Missouri Valley 1-1
2016 BIG EAST 0-1
2026 BIG EAST 0-0 so far
Eight Tourney Titles Since 1999
Creighton owns eight league tournament titles since 1999. On a national basis, the only schools that can claim this (entering this March) are Gonzaga (21), Duke (14), Winthrop (12), New Mexico State (11), Kentucky (10), Kansas (10), Iona (10), Vermont (10), Memphis (9), Murray State (9), Belmont (8), Creighton (8), Montana (8), Penn (8), Texas Southern (8), Utah State (8), VCU (8) and Western Kentucky (8).
Creighton has appeared in five title games since the reconfiguration of the BIG EAST in the summer of 2013. That trails only Villanova (6), and are three more than Marquette (2), Providence (2), Seton Hall (2) and Xavier (2). Georgetown, Connecticut and St. John's have advanced to one final apiece.
Previous All-Tourney Picks
This week marks Creighton's 12th trip to the BIG EAST Tournament, not counting the 2020 abbreviated trek that was halted at halftime of its first game.
In the previous 11 trips played to completion, the only men to earn All-Tournament Team honors has been Doug McDermott and Austin Chatman, who helped take CU to the finals in 2014, Marcus Foster, who led the Jays to the 2017 title tilt, Marcus Zegarowski when CU reached the final in 2021, both Arthur Kaluma and Ryan Kalkbrenner in CU's 2022 trip to the final, and Kalkbrenner again in 2023 and 2025.
McDermott scored 94 points in his three games, making 34-of-63 shots from the field, 14-of-28 three-point shots and 12-of-14 attempts from the line. He set a BIG EAST Tournament record for points in a half (since broken) when he scored 27 in the first half vs. DePaul.
Chatman averaged 8.7 points, 6.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in 2014 while directing the Bluejay offense. He made 9-of-16 shots from the floor.
In 2017 Foster averaged 16.3 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game at The Garden. His three-pointer in the closing seconds of the semifinal lifted Creighton to a 75-72 win and advanced the Bluejays to their second title game in four seasons.
In 2021, Zegarowski averaged 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 61.5 percent from three-point range as the Bluejays reached the finals.
In 2022 Kalkbrenner averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, while Kaluma averaged 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds en route to the finals.
In 2023 Kalkbrenner averaged 19.5 points and 1.5 blocked shots while making 16-of-19 shots (84.2 percent) to help CU to the semifinals.
In 2025 Kalkbrenner averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots while making 26-of-44 shots (59.1 percent) to help CU to the final.
Creighton has never had a BIG EAST Tournament MVP. It's last conference tournament MVP was Doug McDermott in both 2012 and 2013 when CU belonged to the Missouri Valley Conference.
Creighton's All-BIG EAST Tournament Honorees
Year Player Record PPG
2014 Doug McDermott 2-1 31.3
2014 Austin Chatman 2-1 8.7
2017 Marcus Foster 2-1 16.3
2021 Marcus Zegarowski 2-1 16.0
2022 Arthur Kaluma 2-1 13.3
2022 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2-1 16.0
2023 Ryan Kalkbrenner 1-1 19.5
2025 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2-1 19.7
Famous Moment, Famous Coach, Famous Arena
Madison Square Garden is often referred to as the "World's Most Famous Arena", and a former Creighton coach is involved in what a 2013 Bleacher Report poll named the greatest moment in Madison Square Garden history.
After missing Game 6 with a severe thigh injury, NBA MVP Willis Reed limped out of the tunnel prior to Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to raucous applause. He would start and make the New York Knicks' first two baskets. Though he wouldn't score again, the tone was set and he was named Finals MVP.
Reed would later serve as head coach at Creighton from 1981-85, winning 52 games.
BIG EAST Tournament Champions
Creighton owns 14 different BIG EAST Tournament titles since joining the BIG EAST in the summer of 2013. All but three of those titles have been won by the volleyball program.
Creighton's BIG EAST Tournament Titles (14)
Baseball (2): 2019, 2025
Men's Soccer (1): 2022
Volleyball (11): 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Marvelous in March
Nobody has more BIG EAST wins in regular-season league play in the month of March since the calendar turned to 2019 than Creighton.
Creighton's 32 wins in the month of March since the start of 2019 also lead all teams that were in the BIG EAST, as UConn had five wins in March of 2019 and 2010 not counted on the bottom chart below since it was in the American Athletic Conference at the time.
Most March Wins in BIG EAST Play Since 2019
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 14 4 .778
Connecticut 11 2 .846
St. John's 11 5 .688
Villanova 10 6 .625
Xavier 9 10 .474
Seton Hall 8 10 .444
Marquette 8 11 .421
DePaul 7 11 .389
Butler 6 9 .400
Providence 5 12 .294
Georgetown 5 14 .263
Most March Wins As a BIG EAST Member Since 2019
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 32 16 .667
Connecticut 27 9 .750
Villanova 26 14 .650
Xavier 22 21 .512
St. John's 20 12 .625
Marquette 18 21 .462
Seton Hall 15 19 .441
DePaul 14 17 .452
Providence 11 22 .333
Butler 10 17 .370
Georgetown 10 22 .313
Top Five Finish
Despite a 9-11 record this winter, Creighton finished fifth in the BIG EAST. It's the 10th straight season CU has finished in the top-five or better, good for the league's longest streak in more than three decades.
It's the longest active streak in the BIG EAST, and third-longest in league history. Georgetown finished in the top-five in the first 11 seasons of the BIG EAST from 1979-80 to 1989-90, and Syracuse did it in 15 years in a row from 1981-82 to 1995-96.
Creighton's BIG EAST Finish History
Year Finish Final League W-L
2013-14 2nd 14-4
2014-15 T-9th 4-14
2015-16 6th 9-9
2016-17 T-3rd 10-8
2017-18 T-3rd 10-8
2018-19 T-3rd 9-9
2019-20 T-1st 13-5
2020-21 2nd 14-4
2021-22 4th 12-7
2022-23 3rd 13-7
2023-24 T-2nd 14-6
2024-25 2nd 15-5
2025-26 5th 9-11
Longest BIG EAST Streaks, 5th Place or Better
Streak Team Streak Started Streak Ended
15 Syracuse 1981-82 1995-96
11 Georgetown 1979-80 1989-90
10 Creighton 2016-17 Present
Dix Wins Sportsmanship Award
Creighton senior Josh Dix has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award. He is the third Bluejay to be recognized with the honor since joining the league 13 seasons ago, joining Mitch Ballock (2021) and Steven Ashworth (2024).
Per the BIG EAST, the Sportsmanship Award winners are strong contributors to their respective teams on and off the court. The league's head coaches nominate and select the award winners. They are not permitted to vote for their own players.
A Council Bluffs, Iowa, native, Dix is finishing his first season in a Creighton uniform after spending three years at Iowa. He has started all 31 games for the Bluejays, averaging 12.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He leads the team in free throw percentage (.870) and ranks second on the club with 60 three-pointers made. Dix ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in minutes per game, 11th in three-pointers per game and 17th in points per game.
Dix scored a season-high 22 points in CU's regular-season finale at Butler and also scored 21 points in a win at No. 5 Connecticut.
McDermott's Accomplishments
Over the last 16 seasons, Greg McDermott has transformed Creighton from a strong mid-major to a BIG EAST power.
Here's some of his biggest accomplishments....
- 365 wins (CU MBB record)
- 147 BIG EAST wins (CU MBB record; 6th league history)
- 10 NCAA Tournament trips (CU MBB record)
- 12-10 NCAA Tournament record (CU MBB record)
- 3 Sweet 16's (2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24)
- 1 Elite Eight (2022-23)
- 121 weeks in AP poll (CU MBB record)
- 43 Top 25 wins (CU MBB record)
- 17 Top 10 wins (CU MBB record)
- 14 seasons of 20+ wins (CU MBB record)
- 13 Postseason trips (CU MBB record)
- 6 NBA Draft Picks (3 First Round, 3 Second Round)
- 2 MVC Tournament titles (2011-12, 2012-13)
- 1 MVC regular-season title (2012-13)
- 1 BIG EAST regular-season title (2019-20)
- 1 National Player of the Year (Doug McDermott)
- Over $1 million raised for Hope Lodge
In The Nik Of Time
Nik Graves had his best all-around game of the season on March 4th at Butler, finishing with 14 points in addition to career-highs in both assists (13) and steals (6).
He's the first Creighton player ever with 14 points, 13 assists and 6 steals in a game.
He's the first BIG EAST player in at least 30 years with 14 points, 13 assists and 6 steals in a game.
He's the first Power 5 player in at least 20 years with 14 points, 13 assists and 6 steals in a conference game.
Graves' six steals were the most by a Bluejay since Damien Jefferson had six at Providence on Jan. 2, 2021, and are tied for the most by any Creighton player under Greg McDermott.
Graves' 13 assists were the most by a Creighton player since Maurice Watson Jr. had 14 helpers at Providence on Jan. 7, 2017.
Graves At The Stripe
Nik Graves is 6-for-33 from the field over the last three games, but he's found other ways to be productive.
The senior guard has made 26-of-29 foul shots in that time while also dishing 23 assists against just five turnovers.
He's Creighton's only player in the last 20 years to make eight or more free throws in three straight games.
Green Makes It Look Easy
Creighton's Jasen Green became the first BIG EAST player with at least 12 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two blocks without a turnover in a league game in the last 30 years when he posted those numbers vs. Providence on Feb. 28th.
The only other player with those numbers in a conference game (in any league) this season is Green's former Creighton teammate Johnathan Lawson, now at Arkansas-Little Rock.
Closer Than Ever
Only 10 of the BIG EAST's 110 games decided by two points or less this season, but Creighton was involved in half (five) of those.
Two of them came against DePaul, but two others came against Thursday's foe, Seton Hall.
Seton Hall's only two BIG EAST games this season decided by two points or less both came against Creighton.
Series With Most 1-Point BIG EAST Games
Since 2013-14
Qty. Match-up Who's Won?
5 Providence vs. Marquette PC's won 3
4 Creighton vs. Seton Hall Both have won 2
Series With Most 1 or 2 Point BIG EAST Games
Since 2013-14
Qty. Match-up Who's Won?
8 St. John's vs. Marquette SJU's won 5
7 Providence vs. Marquette PC's won 5
5 Creighton - Seton Hall SHU's won 3
5 Marquette vs. Xavier MU's won 4
Finding A Way
Since the start of the 2020-21 season Creighton and Xavier lead the BIG EAST with 22 victories by three points or fewer, one more than Marquette (21). No one else owns more than 15.
Among Power 5 schools, Creighton's 22 wins by three points or less since the start of the 2020-21 campaign ranks tied for fourth-most nationally.
Most Wins by 3 or Less since 2020-21, Power 5 Teams
W L School
23 12 Virginia
23 13 Minnesota
23 17 Arizona State
22 13 TCU
22 14 Creighton
22 14 Vanderbilt
22 19 Xavier
21 12 Oregon
21 14 Marquette
21 15 Wisconsin
21 17 Rutgers
20 6 Kansas
20 11 Texas
One-Point Games
Creighton lost to DePaul by an identical 72-71 score on both Feb. 11th and Feb. 25th.
Creighton is now 13-13 in one-point games under Greg McDermott and 87-81 in program history in one-point games.
McDermott's 13 one-point victories are second-most in program history, trailing only the 20 by his predecessor, Dana Altman.
Creighton is 2-2 in games decided by one point this season, tying a school-record for games in one season decided by exactly one point (also done in 1945-46, 1955-56, 1974-75, 1979-80, 1996-97, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2014-15.
Creighton has now played the same team to a pair of one-point games twice in the same season just four times in its storied history, as it happened against Drake in 1946-47, Northern Iowa in 2004-05 (when Greg McDermott was UNI's head coach) and vs. Seton Hall in 2014-15 prior to this year against DePaul.
It was also the first time ever that Creighton has played three games in the same month decided by exactly one point.
Creighton is one of 14 teams to have played four or more games decided by exactly one point this season, and one of six teams to have a month with three or more one-point games this season, but the only BIG EAST team to do either of those this year.
Identical Scores, Too
Creighton has played DePaul to a pair of identical 72-71 games this year. It's the first time since 1964-65 that Creighton has had the same score in multiple meetings against the same opponent in a year. In 1964-65 the Jays lost identical 76-67 games to Drake on Jan. 13 and Feb. 1 in overtime.
The only other time in program history it happened was in 1916-17, when CU beat York twice by a 33-14 count.
League Of Their Own
Creighton finished 9-11 in BIG EAST play this season, just the second time in the last 31 seasons the Jays were under .500 in league games.
The only teams with more .500 league seasons in that span are Duke, Kansas, Gonzaga, Kentucky and Michigan State.
Most Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Last 31 Seasons (Including 2025-26)
Seasons Team
31 Duke
31 Kansas
31 Gonzaga
30 Kentucky
30 Michigan State
29 Creighton
29 Arizona
29 Murray State
Among The Best
Creighton owns more BIG EAST wins (91) than any other school since the 2019-20 season started, five more than Connecticut's 86.
Since the league's 2013 realignment, Villanova has 176 league wins to lead the BIG EAST by a wide margin, but Creighton's 147 league victories are second-most.
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2019-20 to March 10, 2026)
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 91 46 .664
UConn 86 30 .741
Villanova 86 47 .647
Marquette 78 58 .574
St. John's 77 59 .566
Providence 71 63 .530
Seton Hall 69 67 .507
Xavier 65 65 .500
Butler 52 86 .377
Georgetown 30 103 .226
DePaul 26 107 .195
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2013-14 to March 10, 2026)
Team W L Pct.
Villanova 176 65 .730
Creighton 147 98 .600
Xavier 131 107 .550
Providence 129 113 .533
Marquette 130 114 .533
Seton Hall 122 122 .500
St. John's 117 127 .480
Butler 106 140 .431
UConn 86 30 .741
Georgetown 77 165 .318
DePaul 51 191 .211
Senior Day Recognition
In addition to managers Billy Brezonik and Patrick Gorman, Creighton honored Nik Graves and Josh Dix, following its Feb. 28th game vs. Providence as part of Senior Day festivities.
Over the last four years, Creighton has been to two Sweet 16's, one Elite Eight and beaten six Top 10 teams, including victories over No. 1 UConn two years ago and No. 1 Kansas last year. Creighton has also spent 36 weeks in the Top 25 of the AP poll, including 11 weeks in the Top 10.
The Bluejays are 89-50 (.640) since the start of the 2022-23 campaign and CU's 52 BIG EAST wins in league play over the past four years trail only UConn and St. John's.
Three's Company
Creighton has made five or more three-pointers in 102 straight games, the nation's second-longest active streak.
It's the longest streak by a BIG EAST team in at least 20 years, and probably ever.
Longest Active Streaks of 5+ 3FG Made (3/8)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 129 North Florida Next Year
2. 102 Creighton 3/12
3. 99 Wofford TBD
Crowded House
Creighton attracted a league-leading 266,176 fans at home this season. Additionally, CU's 16,636 fans per home game led the league and ranks seventh-best nationally.
This is the 20th straight non-COVID affected season that Creighton has attracted 200,000 or more home fans.
Average Home Attendance Leaders (3/7)
Rk. Team Average Next Home Game
1. Kentucky 19,731 Next Year
2. North Carolina 19,499 Next Year
3. Tennessee 19,251 Next Year
4. Arkansas 18,796 Next Year
5. BYU 18,073 Next Year
6. Syracuse 17,726 TBD
7. Creighton 16,636 TBD
8. NC State 16,341 TBD
9. Indiana 15,677 TBD
10. Louisville 15,396 Next Year
That's A Lot of McBuckets
Creighton grad Doug McDermott, the 2014 National Player of the Year, reached a milestone on Feb. 21 when he drained two shots to give him 1,000 career NBA three-pointers made.
While he was the 179th player in NBA history to make at least 1,000 three-pointers, he's just the second to do so after also scoring 3,000 or more points at the collegiate level, joining Hersey Hawkins.
McDermott is one of eight players in NBA history to shoot 41 percent or better from three-point range while making 1,000 or more trifectas. Kyle Korver is also one of those eight, giving Creighton the distinction of being the only college with two players on that elite list.
The other six players are Joe Harris, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Wesley Person, JJ Redick and Dana Barros, which means McDermott and Curry are the only two active players to have done it.
Like...How?
Creighton's last three home wins have been something special, with all three requiring late game heroics.
On Jan. 13 against Georgetown, Creighton trailed 76-69 with 1:35 left. Eventually Austin Swartz tied the game with 17.8 seconds left in regulation, then Swartz won it on a three-pointer with 30.3 seconds remaining in overtime. CU won, 86-83.
On Jan. 21 vs. Xavier, Creighton trailed 93-92 with 4.3 seconds left with Swartz at the line. He missed the potential game-tying free throw, but chased down his own rebound and banked in the game-winner with 0.6 seconds left for the 94-93 win. Those heroics came after the Jays trailed 93-89 before a Blake Harper basket with 43.2 seconds left.
Those two games set the stage for Feb. 7th vs. Seton Hall. CU was down 67-58 with 1:27 left before a Fedor Zugic three-pointer, a Jasen Green tip-in and another Zugic trey made it a one-point game with 20.3 seconds left. After Seton Hall made 1-of-2 free throws, Nik Graves won it with a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left, 69-68.
Per KenPom.com, Creighton's win probability was as low as 1.5 percent vs. Seton Hall, 9.0 percent vs. Georgetown and 16.4 percent against Xavier.
CHI Health Center Omaha Dramatics
Creighton is 10-8 in contests with a game-winning go-ahead score in the final 10 seconds at CHI Health Center Omaha, which opened in 2003, including a 2-0 record this year.
Austin Swartz hit a shot with 0.6 seconds left to beat Xavier on January 21st, CU's first game-winner in the final 10 seconds at CHI Health Center Omaha since 2020.
With Swartz out of the line-up on Feb. 7th, Nik Graves buried a game-winning three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left to stun Seton Hall.
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
01/21/26 Xavier W 94-93 Swartz FG :0.6
02/07/26 Seton Hall W 69-68 Graves 3FG :2.5
*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
All The Bounces
Feb. 14th marked Creighton's first home game since Nik Graves' game-winner with 2.5 seconds left vs. Seton Hall on Feb. 4th.
Below is a list of Creighton's victories under Greg McDermott in which it scored a go-ahead points in the final 30 seconds of a victory.
Go-Ahead Points in Last 30 Seconds of Wins Under McDermott
Player Time Opponent Date
Kenny Lawson Jr. 18.1, Dunk Northern Arizona 11/14/10
Antoine Young 0.3, FG Long Beach St. 02/18/12
Josh Jones 22.6, FG Evansville 02/21/12
Doug McDermott 4.9, FG at Saint Joseph's 11/16/13
Doug McDermott 2.8, 3FG St. John's 01/28/14
Marcus Foster 6.6, 3FG vs. Xavier 03/10/17
Marcus Foster 14.4, 3FG at DePaul 02/07/18
Marcus Zegarowski 3.2 3FG Providence 01/18/20
Christian Bishop 0.8, Dunk at Providence 01/02/21
Christian Bishop 16.0, 2 FT vs. UCSB 03/20/21
Ryan Nembhard 0.0, FG vs. Southern Illinois 11/22/21
Trey Alexander 26.2, 2 FT Villanova 02/04/23
Trey Alexander 12.3, 2 FT St. John's 01/13/24
Trey Alexander 28.4, 3FG at Seton Hall 01/20/24
Trey Alexander 0.2, FG at Villanova 03/09/24
Steven Ashworth 5.8, 3FG at Villanova 02/01/25
Austin Swartz 0.6, FG Xavier 01/21/26
Nik Graves 2.5, 3FG Seton Hall 02/07/26
The Few, The Proud
Just seven schools have won road games at Villanova and at Connecticut in two consecutive seasons, as Creighton has done the past two years.
School Years
Georgetown 1983-84 & 1984-85
St. John's 1984-85 & 1985-86
Syracuse 1985-86 & 1986-87
Pitt 1986-87 & 1987-88
Georgetown 1991-92 & 1992-93
Syracuse 2010-11 & 2011-12
Creighton 2024-25 & 2025-26
Odds & Ends
Recapping CU's 91-84 win on Feb. 18th at Connecticut with a few noteworthy stats...
- It was the first time UConn's allowed 91+ points in regulation at home since a 96-87 loss to Saint Joseph's on Nov. 13, 2019.
- It was the most points allowed at home (OT or not) in a conference game by UConn since Boston College's 95-71 win in Storrs on Feb. 1, 2003.
- Before beating UConn, Creighton's only previous win in three previous games when scoring 91+ points against a Top 5 team was in a 96-68 win at No. 4 Villanova on Jan. 20, 2014.
- Before Greg McDermott was hired, Creighton was 5-53 all-time vs. Top 10 teams and hadn't beaten a Top 10 squad since topping No. 6 Marquette on Feb. 9, 1974 under Eddie Sutton. Under McDermott, Creighton owns 17 Top 10 wins and has at least one Top 10 win each of the last 11 years.
- It was Creighton's first win over a team with a .920 win percentage (min. 10 GP) or better since the Bluejays defeated UConn on Feb. 20, 2024. Both Connecticut teams entered the game 24-2.
McDermott vs. Hurley
Greg McDermott is 10-5 all-time in his career in head-to-head meetings against Dan Hurley. That's the most wins by any head coach against Hurley.
Next up on the list are Ed Cooley (8-10) and Derek Kellogg (8-5). Kellogg is currently an assistant coach on the Creighton staff after previously being a head coach at both Massachusetts and LIU.
Most Head Coaching Wins vs. Dan Hurley
W-L Coach
10-5 Greg McDermott
8-5 Derek Kellogg
8-10 Ed Cooley
7-3 Archie Miller
7-4 Phil Martelli
Husky Conquests
Since rejoining the BIG EAST in 2020, Connecticut has played 68 different opponents, but lost to only 17 unique schools.
No school has beaten the Huskies more in that time than Creighton's 10 victories. No one else has more than five.
Since rejoining the BIG EAST, Connecticut has lost to the same school multiple times in the same season on just seven occasions, with three of those foes being Creighton (3 times in 2020-21, 2 times in 2021-22 and 2 times in 2024-25).
Most Wins vs. UConn Since 2020-21
Wins Opponent
10 Creighton
5 Seton Hall
5 St. John's
4 Xavier
4 Villanova
Wins Ample at Gampel
Since Connecticut returned to the BIG EAST in 2020, the only school to beat the Huskies at home in consecutive seasons was Creighton in 2020-21 (in Storrs) and 2021-22 (in Hartford) and now Creighton in 2024-25 and 2025-26 (both in Storrs).
Creighton became the first team to beat the Huskies at Gampel Pavilion in back-to-back campaigns under Dan Hurley, as no program had done it since Cincinnati in three straight years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19). Hurley arrived at UConn in 2018.
Among the rare coaches to defeat Dan Hurley at home in back-to-back seasons is current Creighton assistant coach Derek Kellogg. Kellogg did it in 2012-13 and 2013-14 while coaching Massachusetts against Hurley's first two Rhode Island squads.
Top 10 Wins Under McDermott
Creighton owns 17 Top 10 wins under Greg McDermott, with seven of those victories coming away from home.
It's also worth noting that of Creighton's 17 Top 10 wins under McDermott, 12 of them have been by double-figures.
Creighton's Top 10 Wins Under Greg McDermott
Score Opponent Date
96-68 at #4 Villanova 01/20/14
101-80 #6 Villanova 02/16/14
70-56 #5 Xavier 02/09/16
79-67 #9 Wisconsin 11/15/16
89-83 (ot) #3 Villanova 02/24/18
66-60 at #10 Marquette 03/03/19
76-61 at #8 Villanova 02/01/20
87-82 at #10 Seton Hall 02/12/20
77-60 #8 Seton Hall 03/07/20
86-70 #5 Villanova 02/13/21
79-59 #9 Villanova 12/17/21
90-87 vs. #9 Arkansas (in Maui, HI) 11/22/22
85-66 #1 Connecticut 02/20/24
89-75 #5 Marquette 03/02/24
76-63 #1 Kansas 12/04/24
89-75 vs. #10 Louisville (in Lexington, KY) 03/20/25
91-84 at #5 Connecticut 02/18/26
Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 1,087 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 (3/8)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 1,295 Duke 3/12
2. 1,291 UNLV 3/11
3. 1,224 East Tennessee State 3/9
4. 1,198 Oakland TBD
5. 1,194 Pacific TBD
6. 1,193 Texas 3/11
7. 1,131 Marshall TBD
8. 1,125 Gonzaga 3/9
9. 1,109 Princeton Next Year
10. 1,087 Creighton 3/12
11. 1,080 Long Island 3/10
12. 1,072 Mount St. Mary's Next Year
Triple Trouble
During Creighton's current streak of 1,087 straight games with a three-pointer, the Jays have drained 8,811 trifectas, an average of 8.11 treys per game.
Only five times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 341 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 116-37 when making eight or more three-pointers, compared to a 39-40 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: 106 times 6: 115 times
7: 156 times 8: 137 times 9: 97 times
10: 97 times 11: 67 times 12: 65 times
13: 55 times 14: 27 times 15: 9 times
16: 10 times 17: 5 times 18: 1 time
19: 2 times 20: 1 time 21: 1 time 22: 1 time
That's A Winner
Since the reconfiguration of the BIG EAST in 2013-14, the only current BIG EAST team to own a record better than .500 in conference road games is Villanova.
Connecticut has a winning record since coming back to the BIG EAST, but is below .500 when you include its 22-41 road record in the American.
BIG EAST Road Records Since 2013-14
W L School
76 45 Villanova
61 62 Creighton
53 68 Providence
52 70 Marquette
52 71 Seton Hall
50 68 Xavier
47 76 St. John's
41 82 Butler
38 20 Connecticut (60-61 including the American)
30 90 Georgetown
20 100 DePaul
Have We Met?
Of the 165 players listed on BIG EAST rosters just four years ago (2022-23), only 10 of those men are still playing for the same school. Four of those 10 men (Lucas, Gabriel, Sabourin, Wolf) have scored fewer than 10 career points.
Here's a list of who remains from 2022-23:
Team 2022-23 Roster Size Who's Still There?
Butler 13 -
Connecticut 16 Alex Karaban
Creighton 16 Jasen Green
DePaul 15 -
Georgetown 14 -
Marquette 18 Ben Gold, Sean Jones, Jonah Lucas, Chase Ross
Providence 14 Corey Floyd Jr.
Seton Hall 16 David Gabriel
St. John's 15 -
Villanova 12 -
Xavier 16 Ian Sabourin, Michael Wolf
He Doesn't Miss Very Often
Geoffrey Groselle is in his first season as a graduate assistant sitting right behind the Bluejay bench, but he continues to have a magic touch.
Groselle closely watches each play on an iPad, making instant judgement calls on whether or not CU should risk a timeout by asking the officials to review the previous play, then relaying his advice along to head coach Greg McDermott.
With Groselle's input, Creighton has challenged eight different plays this season...and won six of those reviews.
As a Bluejay center from 2011-16, Groselle made 232-of-339 career shots. His 68.4 percent accuracy is the best field goal percentage in Creighton history by any player with 300 or more attempts.
Name What Was Reviewed CU Correct?
Marquette, 12/20 Deflected Pass Yes
Butler, 12/30 Deflected Rebound Yes
at Seton Hall, 1/4 Deflected Rebound Yes
at Marquette, 1/27 Deflected Loose Ball Yes
at Georgetown, 2/4 Deflected Loose Ball Yes
Villanova, 2/14 Deflected Rebound No
at #17 St. John's, 2/21 Deflected Loose Ball No
Providence, 2/28 Deflected Loose Ball Yes
Give Me Five
In Greg McDermott's 16 years patrolling the Bluejay sideline, this year's seven different starting line-ups are tied for the second-most he's used over the course of an entire campaign.
Ten different Creighton players have started four or more games this season, and seven of those men have started at least 12 times. Josh Dix has started each contest, the only Bluejay that can say that.
Different Starting Lineups Under Greg McDermott
Year Entire Season
2010-11 5
2011-12 1
2012-13 1
2013-14 3
2014-15 10
2015-16 6
2016-17 4
2017-18 5
2018-19 5
2019-20 3
2020-21 3
2021-22 4
2022-23 2
2023-24 2
2024-25 7
2025-26 7 so far
McDermott Among The Best
Greg McDermott ranks sixth in BIG EAST history with 147 regular-season league wins. The five coaches ahead of him all have won at least one national title.
McDermott, along with Ed Cooley, Rick Pitino and Kevin Willard are the only four active coaches with 100 regular-season BIG EAST wins.
McDermott has been at his current job (16 seasons) longer than any active BIG EAST coach, but since his first three years were as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Cooley's 15 years in the BIG EAST lead all active league coaches.
Most League Wins, BIG EAST MBB Coaches (3/2)
Rk. Wins Name, School
1. 366 Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
2. 274 Jim Calhoun, UConn
3. 244 Jay Wright, Villanova
4. 198 John Thompson Jr., Georgetown
5. 159 Rick Pitino, Prov./Louisville/SJU
6. 147 Greg McDermott, Creighton
7. 136 Mike Brey, Notre Dame
8. 135 Ed Cooley, Providence/G'Town
9. 131 John Thompson III, Georgetown
10. 127 Lou Carnesecca, St. John's
4 x 5
After opening league play with lopsided wins by 41 and 21 points, five of Creighton's last seven league victories came by four points or less.
Earlier this year represented the first time Creighton has had five league wins in a row, all by four points or less.
Creighton's five league wins by four points or less ties a single-season program record, something also done in 1980-81, 1990-91 and 2021-22. Each of CU's first three teams to do it played in the NCAA Tournament.
Foul Play
Creighton has had just one player foul out of a game all season long, tied with UMBC and Yale for the fewest nationally.
Last year Creighton was tied for 19th nationally with only four foul out disqualifications
In 2023-24, Creighton was the only team in the country without a player to foul out.
In 2022-23, Creighton's two foul outs were tied for second-fewest in the nation.
In the last four seasons (2022-23 to present), Creighton has only had only seven players foul out in 137 games.
Give Me 10
The Feb. 7 victory over Seton Hall was Creighton's 10th home win of the winter.
It's the 29th time in the last 30 seasons CU has had 10 or more home victories.
The only exception in that time came in 2014-15, when the Jays won nine times at home.
Pink Out Men's Jersey Auction Raises $43,535.28
Creighton raised $43,535.28 during the jersey auction for its Jan. 31 Pink Out game vs. Connecticut, with proceeds going to benefit the Hope Lodge.
Combined with donations at the door and a $30,000 matching donation from Nebraska Cancer Specialists, CU raised $99,588.58 overall in 2025-26.
Bluejay players wore pink shooting shirts and pink-trimmed jerseys for the game, and fans had the opportunity to honor a friend or family member who has battled cancer or is currently battling cancer by purchasing the apparel via auction.
The annual Creighton Pink Out games, donations and matching funds (in MBB/WBB/VB) have raised $1,190,303.50 (including the 2025-26 auction) benefiting the Hope Lodge facility in Omaha and the guests it serves.
This year's men's basketball jersey auction ran from Jan. 15-25 and raised $43,535.28. Below is the final numbers for each men's basketball jersey/item in the auction this year.
#0 $3,350 #1 $2,600 #2 $2,700
#4 $3,800 #5 $1,775 #7 $3,155
#9 $3,050 #10 $3,000 #12 $1,000
#13 $860 #17 $1,525 #23 $2,775
#27 $1,450 #32 $1,226 #41 $2,800
#53 $2,900 Mac's Shoes: $406.01 Golf: $2,800
Ball 1: 347 Ball 2: $375 Ball 3: $460
Ball 4: $445 Basll 5: $450 Mac's Tie: $286.27
Yearly Pink Out Totals
Creighton has raised $1,190,303.50 since the start of the 2011-12 season during its annual men's and basketball Pink Out auctions, plus additional money collected on gameday, underwriting, matching donations and volleyball/women's basketball jersey auctions.
The numbers below show the annual figures for the men's basketball jersey auction unless otherwise noted.
2011-12: $20,600
2012-13: $24,444
2013-14: $48,247.11
2014-15: $16,384.03
2015-16: $16,527.90
2016-17: $26,361.64
2017-18: $28,796
2018-19: $19,595
2019-20: $31,803.18
2020-21: $40,381
2021-22: $24,165
2022-23: $27,432
2023-24: $36,002.46
2024-25: $43,995.92
2025-26: $43,535.28
MBB Auction Totals = $448,270.52
WBB/VB Auctions + Additional Donations: $742,032.98
15-Year Totals: $1,190,303.50
Merfeld Gets Hall Call
Longtime Creighton men's basketball staffer Steve Merfeld is part of the 2026 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame induction class.
The Hall of Fame Banquet is scheduled for Sunday, September 27th at the Glacier Canyon Lodge of the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells.
Merfeld is a Wisconsin native who graduated from Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1984 and then got his coaching start at St. John's Military Academy in 1984. He served as an assistant coach at Bowling Green (1986-96) and Hampton (1996-97) before serving as head coach at Hampton from 1997-2002.
Merfeld then went on to be head coach at Evansville from 2002-07 and an assistant coach at Bradley before joining the Greg McDermott's original Creighton staff as an assistant coach in 2010. He has been the Bluejays' assistant to the head coach since 2013.
Graves Does It
Nik Graves had 16 points, nine assists and no turnovers in CU's Jan. 21 victory vs. Xavier. He's just the second Creighton player in the last 20 years with at least 16 points and nine assists without a turnover, joining Antoine Young.
Young did it on March 21, 2011 vs. Davidson (22 points, 9 assists) vs. Davidson, then again two days later vs. Central Florida (16 points, 10 assists). Both of those games were in the CBI.
Graves' performance made him the first Bluejay to ever post at least nine assists without a turnover in a BIG EAST game.
Nik The Quik
Nik Graves went nuclear in the first half of Creighton's Dec. 20 game vs. Marquette, scoring 17 points in a span of just 2:55. His 17 points were the most by any Bluejay in a half this season.
Graves entered the game with a season-high of 15 points in the South Dakota game before catching fire against the Golden Eagles.
Here's how it happened:
Time Play CU Score After Points
11:22 Graves Floater Down 15-14
10:56 Graves Jumper Up 16-15
10:07 Graves 3FG Up 21-15
9:03 Graves 3FG Up 27-17
8:46 Graves 3FG Up 30-17
8:24 Graves 3FG Up 33-17
8:24 Graves FT Up 34-17
They Did What?
Creighton led 49-22 at half and walloped Xavier, 98-57, on Dec. 17 in Cincinnati. It led to a plethora of eyebrow-raising stats.
- It was Creighton's largest halftime lead since leading Houston Christian 39-12 at the break on Nov. 13, 2024.
, - It was Creighton's largest halftime lead in a BIG EAST game since leading Georgetown 51-24 at the break on March 1, 2023, and tied for its third-largest ever in BIG EAST play.
- It is believed to be Creighton's largest halftime lead in a conference road game since at least 1948. Creighton's last halftime lead away from home of 27 points or more was also a 49-22 lead, which came on Nov. 30, 1990 in Iowa City, Iowa, against UTSA.
- It was Creighton's largest margin of victory ever in a conference road game, topping its 93-58 win at DePaul on Feb. 11, 2017.
- It was tied for Creighton's second-largest margin of victory ever in a conference game at any site, trailing only a 69-25 win vs. Saint Louis on Jan. 9, 1943 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
That Saint Louis game was also a league lid-lifter.
- It tied Creighton's largest margin of victory ever in a BIG EAST game at any site, matching a 100-59 win vs. St. John's on Feb. 28, 2016.
- Creighton's 98-57 win was the second-largest road win in a BIG EAST Conference game ever, trailing only UConn's 99-57 win at Seton Hall on Feb. 11, 2006. It was also tied for the eighth-largest BIG EAST victory margin in league history, regardless of site.
- Creighton's 41 point win at Xavier matched the combined margin of victory in Creighton's eight previous wins in Cincinnati over the Musketeers. CU had never before won at Xavier by more than 12 points.
- It was the largest margin of victory in a BIG EAST opener by any team, surpassing Villanova's 84-46 win vs. West Virginia on Jan. 5, 2005.
- Creighton's 98 points were its most ever in a conference road win, one more than its output on Jan. 20, 2024 in a 97-94 triple-overtime win at Seton Hall, and two more than its previous high in regulation in a conference road win done on Jan. 20, 2014 at No. 4 Villanova in a 96-68 win.
- Creighton's 98 points were the most Xavier has ever allowed inside Cintas Center, which opened in 2000.
- Along with the Creighton women defeating Omaha 92-48 that same day in Omaha, it was the first time a BIG EAST school posted 40+ point wins in men's and women's basketball on the same day since Nov. 6, 2018, when Seton Hall dominated Wagner in both sports.
The only other time in history that Creighton MBB and WBB had wins of 40+ points on the same day was Nov. 27, 1982, when the men beat Wisconsin-Platteville 98-54 and the women topped SIU Edwardsville 99-59, but both of those games were in Omaha.
- Creighton's men and women both made 16 three-pointers. It was the first time a BIG EAST school had both its men's and women's programs make 15+ three-pointers on the same day since Creighton did it on March 23, 2024. On that day, the CU men did it in a double-overtime win vs. Oregon, while the women did it in a victory against UNLV. Both of those were NCAA Tournament contests.
- It was Xavier's largest halftime deficit since trailing Duke 55-24 at half on Dec. 20, 2008 in East Rutherford, N.J., in an eventual 82-64 loss.
- It was Xavier's largest halftime deficit ever in a BIG EAST game (previously 48-22 vs. UConn on Jan. 28, 2024), and largest halftime deficit in a BIG EAST home game since trailing 44-28 vs. Seton Hall on Dec. 30, 2020.
- It was Xavier's second-largest loss ever in a conference game, trailing only its 99-56 loss at UConn on Jan. 28, 2024.
- It was Xavier's largest loss in a home game in program history, eclipsing an 86-48 loss to Dayton on March 5, 1977.
- Xavier's previous largest loss at Cintas Center (which opened in 2000) was a 64-42 loss to Oral Roberts on Dec. 18, 2011.
Triple Trouble
Austin Swartz made a career-high eight three-pointers on Jan. 13 vs. Georgetown. Swartz's performance was tied for fourth-most trifectas in a game in program history.
In the last 15 seasons, Swartz is just the third player to score at least 33 points, make eight or more three-pointers and shoot at least 75 percent from the field in the same BIG EAST game. He joins current CU assistant coach Mitch Ballock on March 9, 2019, when he made 12-of-14 shots (including 11-for-13 from 3) to score 39 points vs. DePaul, as well as former Marquette standout Kam Jones vs. DePaul on Feb. 21, 2024 when Jones had 34 points, made 8-of-10 three-pointers and shot 12-for-15 from the field.
Swartz has now made seven or more three-pointers twice this season, making him just the fifth different Bluejay to ever do that along with Trey Alexander (2022-23), Mitch Ballock (2018-19 and 2020-21), Kyle Korver (2002-03), Ethan Wragge (2013-14). Korver did it four times in 2002-03, making him the only Bluejay with three (or more) such games in the same season.
3FG Name, Opponent Date
11 Mitch Ballock vs. DePaul 03/09/19
9 Kyle Korver vs. Evansville 01/15/03
Ethan Wragge at Villanova 01/20/14
8 Tad Ackerman at Drake 01/23/95
Kyle Korver at Xavier 12/31/02
Terrell Taylor vs. Florida 03/15/02
Isaiah Zierden at DePaul 01/17/16
Mitch Ballock vs. Marquette 12/14/20
Ryan Hawkins at Georgetown 02/12/22
Austin Swartz vs. Georgetown 01/13/26
7 Gary Swain vs. Nebraska-Omaha 12/11/86
Ryan Sears vs. Wyoming 12/06/97
Kyle Korver vs. Notre Dame 11/26/02
Kyle Korver vs. Fresno State 02/22/03
Nate Funk at Nebraska 11/18/06
Booker Woodfox at Saint Joseph's 12/06/08
Ethan Wragge at Saint Joseph's 11/16/13
Doug McDermott vs. DePaul 03/13/14
Cole Huff vs. Seton Hall 03/10/16
Ty-Shon Alexander vs. Clemson 11/21/18
Mitch Ballock at Nebraska 12/08/18
Marcus Zegarowski vs. Butler 02/23/20
Mitch Ballock at Seton Hall 01/27/21
Trey Alexander vs. DePaul 12/25/22
Trey Alexander vs. Georgetown 03/01/23
Baylor Scheierman at Marquette 12/30/23
Steven Ashworth vs. Butler 03/08/25
Austin Swartz at Xavier 12/17/25
Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 33 victories since the start of the 2010-11 season after trailing by double-figures at some point, including rallies from 10 points down this season at Villanova (25-15 on Jan. 7) and at home against both Georgetown (36-26 on Jan. 13) and Seton Hall (63-53 on Feb. 7th).
Fifteen of those 33 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
10 at Villanova 01/07/26
10 Georgetown 01/13/26
10 Seton Hall 02/07/26
Making An Impact
The 7th Annual Silver Waves Media 100 Most Impactful High Major Coaches List was unveiled on Jan. 12th.
Creighton had three coaches on the list, as Alan Huss, Derek Kellogg and Trey Zeigler were all recognized. Not only was Trey Zeigler honored, but so was his dad Ernie Zeigler, who is an assistant coach at Nebraska.
The only eight schools with at least three coaches honored on the list were Florida (4), Kansas (4), BYU, Creighton, Duke, Illinois, Stanford and Texas.
Jays Reach 30K at CHI
Creighton has outscored its opponents 30,437-25,559 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.60 points per game in 387 all-time games in the building that count.
Creighton is 28-2 all-time in games where it moves over any 1,000 point milestone at CHI Health Center Omaha, as seen below:
Date Pts-Opp (CHI Game #) Who/How vs. Opp.
02/18/04 1,000-787 (14) Lindeman FG vs. Indiana State
02/05/05 2,000-1,696 (28) Funk FG vs. Missouri St.
01/18/06 3,000-2,504 (41) Watts FT vs. Bradley
01/09/07 4,000-3,359 (56) Tolliver FG vs. Drake
12/17/07 5,000-4,174 (69) Kaleb Korver 3FG vs. Hou. Baptist
11/16/08 6,000-5,048 (82) Dotzler FG vs. New Mexico
02/11/09 7,000-5,870 (95) Witter 3FG vs. Bradley
01/16/10 8,000-6,750 (109) Young FG vs. Wichita State
12/20/10 9,000-7,645 (123) Wragge FG vs. W. Illinois
03/23/11 10,000-8,500 (136) Lawson FG vs. UCF
01/21/12 11,000-9,310 (148) McDermott FG vs. Ind. St.
12/19/12 12,000-10,136 (161) Echenique FG vs. Tulsa
11/23/13 13,000-10,922 (173) Artino FG vs. Tulsa
02/23/14 14,000-11,711 (185) Gibbs FG vs. Seton Hall
01/28/15 15,000-12,612 (198) Hanson FT vs. St. John's
12/28/15 16,000-13,498 (211) Huff FG vs. Coppin State
11/15/16 17,000-14,349 (224) Patton FG vs. #9 Wisconsin
01/28/17 18,000-15,166 (235) Hanson FG vs. DePaul
12/18/17 19,000-15,927 (246) Foster 3FG vs. UT Arlington
11/06/18 20,000-16,741 (258) Ballock 3FG vs. W. Illinois
02/03/19 21,000-17,619 (270) Zegarowski FG vs. Xavier
12/07/19 22,000-18,463 (282) Ballock 3FG vs. Nebraska
03/07/20 23,000-19,280 (294) Mahoney 3FG vs. #8 Seton Hall
02/13/21 24,000-20,103 (306) Zegarowski FG vs. #5 Villanova
02/14/22 25,000-20,950 (320) Hawkins 3FG vs. Georgetown
01/25/23 26,000-21,786 (333) Nembhard 3FG vs. St. John's
12/20/23 27,000-22,535 (345) Kalkbrenner FG vs. Villanova
11/13/24 28,000-23,388 (357) Isaacs 3FG vs. Hou. Christian
02/26/25 29,000-24,231 (370) Kalkbrenner FG vs. DePaul
01/13/26 30,000-25,082 (381) Dix FT vs. Georgetown
Bench Boost
Creighton scored 43 (at Xavier) and 41 (vs. Marquette) bench points in its first two league games, a fact that's even more incredible when you consider that the Bluejays had gone 147 straight BIG EAST games without scoring 40+ points off the bench dating to Jan. 13, 2018.
CU also scored 40 bench points vs. Xavier on Jan. 21st.
Creighton had not scored 40+ bench points in consecutive games (conference or otherwise) since doing it vs. Presbyterian (43) and Longwood (56) in November of 2012.
40+ Points in BIG EAST Play
Year 40+ Bench Points Opponent
2013-14: 0 of 18 -
2014-15: 2 of 18 @SJU, SJU
2015-16: 1 of 18 DPU
2016-17: 0 of 18 -
2017-18: 1 of 18 @XU
2018-19: 0 of 18 -
2019-20: 0 of 18 -
2020-21: 0 of 20 -
2021-22: 0 of 19 -
2022-23: 0 of 20 -
2023-24: 0 of 20 -
2024-25: 0 of 20 -
2025-26: 3 of 20 @XU, MU, XU
Most Creighton Bench Points in BIG EAST Play
Bench Pts. Opponent Date
51 DePaul 02/06/16
46 at Xavier 01/13/18
45 at St. John's 02/07/15
44 St. John's 01/28/15
43 at Xavier 12/17/25
41 Marquette 12/20/25
40 Xavier 01/21/26
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 results have proven him right.
Creighton's bench has outscored foes 816-657 this season. That +159 figure would be CU's best year-end mark since 2017-18 (+229). The 816 points are CU's most bench points since scoring 925 bench points in 2015-16.
Creighton's bench has accounted for 34.83 percent of CU's scoring, and 26.32 points per game. That's the most bench points per game since the 2007-08 team 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 12-13 this year when scoring 17 points or more off the bench.
Creighton's loss on Jan. 10 when scoring 38 bench points vs. St. John's was CU's most bench points in a loss since scoring 46 at No. 10 Xavier on Jan. 13, 2018.
Non-Con Success
Creighton went 6-5 in regular-season non-conference play this season. It's the 29th straight season that the Bluejays have had a .500 record or better in regular-season non-conference game. The last Bluejay team that wasn't was CU's 1996-97 team that went 5-6.
Creighton's last team to lose five regular-season non-conference games was its 2022-23 squad that finished the year in the Elite Eight.
Below is a look at Creighton's annual regular-season non-conference marks under Greg McDermott.
W-L Year Year-End W-L (Postseason)
8-5 2010-11 23-16 (CBI)
11-1 2011-12 29-6 (NCAA)
11-2 2012-13 28-8 (NCAA)
10-2 2013-14 27-8 (NCAA)
9-4 2014-15 14-19 (None)
9-4 2015-16 20-15 (NIT)
13-0 2016-17 25-10 (NCAA)
11-2 2017-18 21-12 (NCAA)
9-4 2018-19 20-15 (NIT)
11-2 2019-20 24-7 (None due to COVID-19)
4-1 2020-21 22-9 (NCAA)
8-3 2021-22 23-12 (NCAA)
6-5 2022-23 24-13 (NCAA)
9-2 2023-24 25-10 (NCAA)
7-4 2024-25 25-11 (NCAA)
6-5 2025-26 TBD
Sharing Is Caring
Creighton's 31 assists at Xavier were its second-most ever in a game under Greg McDermott, trailing only the 32 vs. USC Upstate on Dec. 20, 2017 in a 116-62 win.
Nationally, Creighton became the first road team with 31 or more assists in a Power 5 conference game since Washington at California on March 3, 2005.
Creighton's 31 assists were the most in a regular-season BIG EAST game by any school since Xavier had 32 vs. Georgetown on Jan. 21, 2023, and tied for the third-most in any league game since 1996-97. Creighton's 31 assists were also its most ever in any BIG EAST game.
Sixty Percent Club
Creighton shot 60.3 percent in its Dec. 17 win at Xavier. Since Greg McDermott was hired at Creighton, the Bluejays have shot 60 percent or better 33 times.
Here's that list, as well as several others, per Basketball-Reference.com, through March 7th.
Most Games, 60%+ FG Shooting, Since 2010-11
Rk. Games (W-L) Team
1. 50 (50-0) Gonzaga
2. 33 (33-0) Creighton
3. 30 (30-0) Kansas
30 (29-1) Northern Colorado
5. 29 (29-0) Indiana
29 (26-3) Campbell
Most Games, 50%+ FG Shooting, Since 2010-11
Rk. Games (W-L) Team
1. 326 (316-10) Gonzaga
2. 237 (220-17) Belmont
3. 230 (217-13) Kansas
4. 226 (211-15) Creighton
5. 225 (213-12) Duke
Most Games, 50%+ 3FG Shooting, Since 2010-11
Rk. Games (W-L) Team
1. 94 (83-11) Weber State
2. 90 (80-10) UCLA
3. 89 (74-15) Michigan State
4. 87 (82-5) Creighton
5. 86 (83-3) Gonzaga
Best Field Goal Percentage, Since 2010-11
Rk. FG% Team
1. .508 Gonzaga
2. .483 Belmont
3. .477 Kansas
4. .476 Duke
5. .475 Creighton
Best 2-Point Field Goal Percentage, Since 2010-11
(includes teams that have been Division I 10+ years)
Rk. 2FG% Team
1. .574 Gonzaga
.574 Belmont
3. .552 Creighton
4. .542 Furman
5. .541 Duke
Austin Powers
Austin Swartz had 27 points in 23 minutes of CU's Dec. 17 road win at Xavier.
He's just the seventh Bluejay in the last 20 seasons with 25+ points in 25 minutes or less, and joined Cole Huff as one of two Bluejays with a game of 27+ points in 23 minutes or less since 1991-92.
25+ Points in 25 Minutes or Less
Creighton Players Since 1991-92
PTS MIN Name, Opponent Date
26 25 Dane Watts vs. Mississippi Valley State 11/17/07
25 18 Doug McDermott vs. Hou. Christian 12/17/11
27 24 Geoffrey Groselle vs. North Texas 12/21/15
28 22 Cole Huff vs. DePaul 02/06/16
25 25 Marcus Zegarowski vs. #21 Butler 02/23/20
25 23 Trey Alexander vs. Georgetown 03/01/23
27 23 Austin Swartz at Xavier 12/17/25
Triple Option
Creighton made 16 three-pointers in its Dec. 17 victory at Xavier. It was tied for the third-most three-pointers ever by the Bluejays in a road game.
Most 3FG Made in a Road Game, Creighton History
3FG 3FGA Opponent Date
21 35 at #4 Villanova 01/20/14
17 35 at Seton Hall 01/27/21
16 36 at Georgetown 01/06/18
16 33 at Xavier 12/17/25
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.
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 5th Owen Freeman (1st); Josh Dix (2nd)
Jackson McAndrew (3rd); Nik Graves (3rd)
Best BIG EAST Years
Creighton's 15 league wins last season set a program record for most conference wins in any of its first 12 seasons in the BIG EAST. It was the third straight season CU won 14 league games or more, something only Villanova (2013-14 to 2017-18) and Connecticut (1993-94 to 1995-96) have done in BIG EAST history.
Four of CU's seven teams to win 12 or more BIG EAST games reached the BIG EAST Tournament final, with the prematurely cancelled 2019-20 campaign being one of the exceptions.
Creighton's 15 conference wins last year matched its most as a member of any league, as it picked up 15 conference wins in 2002-03 when it was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
At the end of last season, Creighton had now set or tied program records for most conference wins in a one-year span (15), two-year span (29), three-year span (43), four-year span (55), five-year span (69), six-year span (82) and seven-year span (91).
Creighton entered 2025-26 having finished first or second in the BIG EAST in four of the last six seasons, and top four in the league each of the previous nine campaigns.
Creighton's Most BIG EAST Wins, Season
W-L Year BIG EAST Tourney
15-5 2024-25 TBA
14-4 2013-14 Lost in Final
14-6 2020-21 Lost in Final
14-6 2022-23 Lost in Semi's
14-6 2023-24 Lost in Quarterfinals
13-5 2019-20 Tourney Cancelled
12-7 2021-22 Lost in Final
Creighton's Most Conference Wins, Season
W-L Year League
15-3 2002-03 MVC
15-5 2024-25 BIG EAST
14-4 2000-01 MVC
14-4 2001-02 MVC
14-4 2008-09 MVC
14-4 2011-12 MVC
14-4 2013-14 BIG EAST
14-6 2020-21 BIG EAST
14-6 2022-23 BIG EAST
14-6 2023-24 BIG EAST
Availability Reports
The BIG EAST is now requiring availability reports prior to each league game, with plans calling for the information will be released three hours prior to each conference contest.
The league website with that information is
https://bigeast.com/sports/2025/11/26/2526_mbb_availability_reports.aspx .
Seeking The Perfect 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 58-55 .513
2 Newcomers on Floor 562-581 .492
3 Newcomers on Floor 912-884 .508
4 Newcomers on Floor 722-734 .496
5 Newcomers on Floor 89-75 .543
Newcomers Lead The Way
For the season, 1,571 of Creighton's 2,343 points have been scored by newcomers, an astounding 67.05 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.
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.
Through games of March 7th, McDermott's 11 former assistant coaches who are currently Division I head coaches have accounted for 1,859 victories, and a .609 winning percentage. All but one (a first year head coach) have a winning record, and seven have won at a 60% clip. All but 282 of Sather's victories are Division I wins.
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
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 Men's Basketball 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), Oregon (15) and Belmont (15). Houston and Creighton both have 10.
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
Most 20-Win Seasons, Head Coaches Since 2010-11
20-Win Seasons (2010-11 to 2024-25) Name, Team
15 Mark Few, Gonzaga
15 Bill Self, Kansas
15 Dana Altman, Oregon
14 Greg McDermott, Creighton
14 John Calipari, Kentucky and Arkansas
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 Arkansas 2021 2022 2023 - 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
Coaching Consistency Is Key
Between women's basketball coach Jim Flanery (469) and men's basketball coach Greg McDermott (365), Creighton is the nation's only school with a pair of active head coaches with at least 360 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 as a Division I head coach.
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 Jacobson 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 365 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 March 8)
Rk. Wins School Coach Next
1. 480 Gonzaga Mark Few 3/9
2. 448 Kansas Bill Self 3/12
3. 411 Saint Mary's Randy Bennett 3/9
4. 398 Michigan State Tom Izzo 3/13
5. 383 Purdue Matt Painter 3/12
383 Oregon Dana Altman 3/10
7. 373 Baylor Scott Drew 3/10
8. 365 Creighton Greg McDermott 3/12
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 200 or more Division I games, per Basketball-Reference.com.
2010-11 to March 7, 2026
Category CU Stat CU Rank
3FG Made 4,969 2nd
2FG Percentage .552 3rd
FG Percentage .475 5th
Assists 8,846 6th
FG Made 15,071 8th
Points 42,155 8th
3FG Percentage .371 9th
Wins 365 26th
Winning Percentage .661 37th
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
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 ? ? ? ? ? ?
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%)
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) 03/11/22
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
McDermott Is Wins Leader
Greg McDermott has 365 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.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton MBB History
Rk. W-L Name Years
1. 365-187 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
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. 18,650 #2 Connecticut 01/31/26
9. 18,613 Wichita State 03/02/13
10. 18,571 DePaul?? 01/22/24
11. 18,525 Marquette 12/31/13
12. 18,519 #8 Seton Hall 03/07/20
13. 18,518 Georgetown 01/27/18
14. 18,509 Villanova 02/04/23
15. 18,495 Marquette 02/17/18
16. 18,494 Illinois State 02/09/13
17. 18,475 Nebraska 11/22/24
18. 18,458 Evansville 12/29/12
19. 18,436 Bradley 01/28/12
20. 18,430 Seton Hall 01/25/25
CHI Health Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 387 regular and postseason contests at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time in the now 23-year-old facility.
The Bluejays own a 317-70 (.819) 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 30,437-25,559 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.60 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 95 different times, including twice this year (Maryland Eastern Shore and Utah Tech).
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 36-41 all-time in the 77 games at the arena in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 8-16 when down by 10+ points at halftime in the facility, and 43-35 when trailing at halftime at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Creighton is 220-52 (.809) at CHI Health Center Omaha under Greg McDermott and hasn't trailed in 68 of those games. In that same span, CU owns a 112-11 home record (.911) 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 335-69 (.829) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
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 (3/8) 68 100 75
Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 season went on sale on October 16th.
Fans could 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.
Thursday, March 12, 2026 • 1:30 p.m. CST • New York City, N.Y. • Madison Square Garden
| LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES | BRACKET |
Next Game
Creighton (15-16, 9-11 BIG EAST) opens the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by JEEP on Thursday, March 12, when it takes on fourth-seeded Seton Hall (20-11, 10-10 BIG EAST) in a quarterfinal round game.
Thursday's tip-off at Madison Square Garden (19,812) in New York, N.Y., is set for 1:30 p.m. Central, and the winner will advance to Friday's 4:30 p.m. Central semifinal.
Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) and KOOO (101.9 FM) will carry Creighton men's basketball games during the 2025-26 season. John Bishop and Taylor Stormberg will call the action.
The audio is webcast at 1620thezone.com.
Audio from the Seton Hall broadcast will be carried on SiriusXM on channel 117 or 204, as well as at https://sxm.app.link/SXM966.
Broadcast Information
Thursday's game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network and Peacock, with John Fanta, Donny Marshall on the call and Caroline Pineda on the sidelines.
A live stream of the contest can also be viewed at http://peacocktv.com.
Live Stats Information
All of Creighton's games this season will have free live stats. Visit Creighton.StatBroadcast.com for the exact link.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton won at Butler 76-59 last Wednesday to close the regular-season 15-16 overall and 9-11 in BIG EAST play. Each of CU's last two wins have come away from home, winning at both No. 5 Connecticut on Feb. 8th and at Butler on March 4th.
Senior guard Josh Dix (12.7 ppg.) leads the Bluejays in scoring while classmate Nik Graves (10.4 ppg., 4.3 apg., 1.1 spg.) tops the team in assists and steals. The duo combined for 36 points in last Wednesday's win at Butler.
Jasen Green averages 10.4 points and a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game, and Austin Swartz (10.9 ppg.) paces CU with 62 three-pointers.
Creighton lost Preseason Third Team All-BIG EAST pick Jackson McAndrew to a season-ending foot injury in November, and teammates Josh Townley-Thomas, Aleksa Dimitrijevic and Liam McChesney will also miss the rest of the season, giving CU four players 6-foot-10 or taller on the sideline.
Creighton is averaging 75.6 points per game and shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 35.0 percent from three-point range and 76.1 percent at the line.
Scouting Seton Hall
Seton Hall has followed up last season's 7-25 mark with a 20-11 record in 2025-26 and finished 10-10 in BIG EAST play after alternating wins and losses in the last six games.
The Pirates feature 11 newcomers, as its four returners from a year ago have combined for a total of 13 points this winter.
Adam "Budd" Clark (12.4 ppg., 4.7 apg.), A.J. Staton-McCray (12.1 ppg.) and Tajuan Simpkins (10.1 ppg.) lead a talented class of newcomers.
Najal Hines (64) and Stephon Payne III (39) have combined for 103 of The Hall's 176 blocked shots.
As a team, Seton Hall averages 70.4 points per game while allowing only 65.1 per contest. The Pirates shoot 43.7 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from deep and 72.0 percent at the line.
The Series With Seton Hall
Creighton and Seton Hall have split 34 all-time meetings, 17-17, but Creighton has won 11 of the last 14 meetings, and seven of the past eight encounters. The teams split two regular-season meetings, with Seton Hall winning 56-54 in Newark on Jan. 4th before Creighton took the rematch, 69-68 on Feb. 7th in Omaha.
Creighton is 0-2 all-time on neutral floors against the Pirates, losing a 1991 NCAA Tournament Second Round game in Salt Lake City and a 2016 BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal in New York City.
In the last 14 meetings, Creighton is 11-0 when scoring 61 or more points against the Pirates compared to an 0-3 mark when being held to 60 or less.
Greg McDermott is 16-11 against Seton Hall and 7-1 against Shaheen Holloway.
The Creighton Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) owns a 365-187 record in his 16th season with the Bluejays. He owns a career mark of 645-382 in his 32nd season, and is 514-318 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 bump its overall record to 16-16.
- Creighton would advance to Friday's 4:30 p.m. Central semifinal against either St. John's, Butler or Providence in a game that will be broadcast on FOX, KOZN (1620 AM) and KOOO (101.9 FM).
- Creighton would improve to 13-11 all-time at the BIG EAST Tournament, including a 7-5 mark in the quarterfinals.
- Improve to 1-1 all-time at the BIG EAST Tournament as a No. 5 seed (1-1 in the quarterfinals), and 3-5 all-time in conference tournament action as a No. 5 seed (including the MVC Tournament).
-Improve to 1-2 all-time at the BIG EAST Tournament vs. No. 4 seeds.
- Creighton would improve to 1-1 in the BIG EAST Tournament against Seton Hall.
- Creighton would take its first lead in the series ever over Seton Hall, 18-17.
- Greg McDermott would tie Rollie Massimino, as well as former Seton Hall coaches Kevin Willard and P.J. Carlesimo, for seventh in BIG EAST Tournament history with his 13th career BIG EAST Tournament win.
Milestone Watch
- Josh Dix is one assist shy of 250 in his career.
- Austin Swartz is four three-pointers away from 100 in his career and 13 points from 500.
- Hudson Greer is 17 points from 100 in his career.
- Blake Harper is five free throws made away from 300 in his career and 26 points away from 900.
• Creighton is 3-7 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament as a "worse" seed, with its most recent win coming on March 11, 2022 with a 83-58 destruction of Providence in the semifinal round.
• Greg McDermott's 12 BIG EAST Tournament wins at Creighton are five more than any other coach at their current school. Dan Hurley has seven to rank second.
McDermott's 12 wins are tied with Lou Carnesecca and Jamie Dixon for 10th place in league history. A win on Thursday would him with Rollie Massimino and former Villanova coaches Kevin Willard and PJ Carlesimo for seventh-most in league history.
Previously Against Seton Hall
Creighton and Seton Hall met twice in the regular-season, with the home team posting a late comeback to win each time.
Seton Hall won 56-54 in Newark on January 4th, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the final 15 minutes. Najai Hines turned an offensive rebound into a three-point play with 1.3 seconds left for the Pirates.
In the rematch in Omaha on Feb. 7th, Nik Graves made a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left as CU overcame a nine-point deficit in the last 90 seconds as Creighton won 69-68.
Individually, Austin Swartz (16.0), Josh Dix (14.0), Jasen Green (12.0) and Isaac Traudt (10.0) all averaged in double-figures for a Bluejay team that shot 38.9 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from dep and outrebounded the Pirates by 3.5 caroms per contest.
Seton Hall was paced by 14.0 points 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game by Adam "Budd" Clark. Elijah Fisher (10.0 ppg.) also scored in double-figures for a Pirate squad that shot 43.0 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from three-point range.
3-Pointers Could Be Big
Creighton led the BIG EAST with 9.90 three-pointers per game, while Seton Hall was last in that category with 4.77 three-pointers per contest.
The first time the teams met in Newark, Creighton was 6-for-27 from deep while Seton Hall made 2-of-7 triple tries. In the rematch, Creighton made 13-of-30 three-pointers, including a game-winning shot by Nik Graves with 2.5 seconds left, to overcome the Pirates 5-of-9 marksmanship (a season-high 55.6 percent) from deep.
In league play only, Creighton made 198 three-pointers (9.90 per game), while Seton Hall made just 91 (4.05 per game).
McDermott's Tournament History
Greg McDermott owns 19 wins in conference tournaments at CU (12 in the BIG EAST Tournament, 7 in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament). He led Creighton to the 2012 and 2013 MVC Tournament titles, and trips to the conference tournament title game in 7-of-14 seasons with a tournament (excluding 2020's shortened tourney due to COVID-19).
Greg McDermott owns a 12-11 record at the BIG EAST Tournament. The other 10 coaches in the league own a combined 21 BIG EAST Tournament victories at their current schools, though Rick Pitino was 14-7 between his previous stints at Providence and Louisville (with three titles), Ed Cooley was 10-10 at the BIG EAST Tourney from his days as Providence coach (with 1 title) and Kevin Willard went 13-10 (with 1 title) at Seton Hall.
BIG EAST Tournament Records at Current School
Coach, Current School W L Titles
Greg McDermott, CU 12 11 -
Dan Hurley, UConn 7 4 1
Shaka Smart, MU 6 3 1
Rick Pitino, SJU 4 1 1
Kim English, PC 2 2 -
Chris Holtmann, DPU 1 1 -
Thad Matta, BU 1 3 -
Ed Cooley, GU 0 2 -
Shaheen Holloway, SHU 0 3 -
Richard Pitino, XU 0 0 -
Kevin Willard, VU 0 0 -
Most BIG EAST Tournament Coaching Wins
Coach, School(s) W L
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse 50 29
Jim Calhoun, UConn 35 19
John Thompson Jr., Georgetown 33 13
Jay Wright, Villanova 27 15
Rick Pitino, PC/LOU/SJU 18 8
John Thompson III, Georgetown 15 12
Kevin Willard, SHU/VU 13 10
P.J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall 13 10
Rollie Massimino, Villanova 13 12
Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh 12 9
Greg McDermott, Creighton 12 11
Lou Carnesecca, St. John's 12 11
Conference Tournament History
Creighton is 12-11 all-time as it enters its 12th appearance at the BIG EAST Tournament, which includes trips to the finals in 2014, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2025. That doesn't include the 2020 trip that was halted at halftime of the quarterfinal round game vs. St. John's at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since joining the BIG EAST, Creighton is 1-0 in the opening round, 6-5 in the quarterfinals, 5-1 in the semifinals and 0-5 in championship games.
Creighton lost in the title game to Providence in 2014 (65-58), Villanova in 2017 (74-60), Georgetown (73-48) in 2021, Villanova (54-48) in 2022 and St. John's (82-66) in 2025.
Creighton has won at least one conference tournament game in 10 of the previous 14 seasons (which includes three trips to the MVC Tournament).
Creighton also enjoyed a highly-successful run at the MVC Tournament in the previous three decades. The Bluejays owned a 43-20 all-time record in MVC Tournament play. Creighton's 12 MVC Tournament titles were seven more than any other school, while its .683 winning percentage in league tourney action also remains tops in event history.
Creighton was 19-12 in the quarterfinals, 12-7 in the semifinals and 12-1 in the championship games as a Valley member. Creighton won the MVC Tournament nine of the last 13 times it won its first game in the event.
Creighton won its MVC Tournament titles in 1978, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2012 and 2013.
Since 2013-14
Creighton joined the BIG EAST in the summer of 2013. Since March of 2014, Creighton ranks second with 12 BIG EAST Tournament victories.
Most BIG EAST Tournament Wins Since 2014
Team W L
Villanova 20 6
Creighton 12 11
Xavier 11 12
Providence 11 10
Marquette 10 10
Seton Hall 10 10
St. John's 10 10
Connecticut 7 4
Georgetown 6 11
DePaul 5 11
Butler 4 11
Ring Bearers
Creighton's current full-time coaching staff and student-athletes have combined for 17 postseason Division I conference tournament titles as student-athletes or assistant/head coaches, but none have won a BIG EAST Tournament.
Greg McDermott owns three MVC Tourney titles under his belt (one as Northern Iowa coach, two as Creighton coach).
Assistant coach Derek Kellogg won four Atlantic-10 Conference Tournaments as a student-athlete (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) at Massachusetts, one as head coach at LIU in 2018, three as an assistant coach at Memphis (2006, 2007, 2008) and one as an assistant at George Mason (1999). Associate head coach Alan Huss has three tournament titles (Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles as a player at Creighton in 1999 and 2000 and one Big South title as High Point's head coach) Assistant coach Mike Nesbitt also won a Big South Tournament title at High Point last year.
Liam McChesney was part of High Point's Big South Tournament champion team last year.
Here's a breakdown of how many conference tournament titles each person has been a part of:
Name Titles Won Years With A Title
Derek Kellogg 9 1992^, '93^, '94^, '95^,
'99•, 2006+, '07+, '08+¶, '18%
Greg McDermott 3 2004@, 2012*, 2013*
Alan Huss 3 1999!, 2000!, 2025$
Mike Nesbitt 1 2025#
Liam McChesney 1 2025¶
^ won four A-10 titles as a player at Massachusetts
• won a CAA title as an assistant coach at George Mason
+ won a Conference USA title as an assistant at Memphis
¶ later vacated
% won one NEC title as a head coach at LIU
@ won a MVC title as a head coach at Northern Iowa
# won at Big South title as an assistant coach at High Point
$ won at Big South title as a head coach at High Point
* won two MVC titles as a head coach at Creighton
! won two MVC titles as a player at Creighton
¶ won a Big South title as a player at High Point
Random League Tournament Facts
-Creighton has won 14 of its last 16 conference tournament games decided by four points or less.
-Creighton is 12-9 in its last 21 conference tournament games when playing an opponent with a better seed than the Bluejays.
-The top two seeds have met in a BIG EAST final just twice since 2004, with that coming in 2023 when No. 1 Marquette topped No. 2 Xavier and in 2025 when No. 1 St. John's beat No. 2 Creighton.
-The No. 5 seed has reached the BIG EAST Tournament final just three times previously, as Syracuse won the title as the No. 5 seed in 1992 and both Syracuse (2013) and Providence (2018) lost the final as the No. 5 seed.
-Creighton is 2-5 all-time in five previous conference tournament appearances as a No. 5 seed, and has never reached title game from that position.
The Jays have are 0-1 all-time in one previous appearance as the No. 5 seed at the BIG EAST Tournament, falling in the 2019 quarterfinals to Xavier.
Creighton As the #5 Seed (2-4 MVC; 0-1 BIG EAST)
Year League Record
1985 Missouri Valley 0-1
1988 Missouri Valley 1-1
1996 Missouri Valley 0-1
2011 Missouri Valley 1-1
2016 BIG EAST 0-1
2026 BIG EAST 0-0 so far
Eight Tourney Titles Since 1999
Creighton owns eight league tournament titles since 1999. On a national basis, the only schools that can claim this (entering this March) are Gonzaga (21), Duke (14), Winthrop (12), New Mexico State (11), Kentucky (10), Kansas (10), Iona (10), Vermont (10), Memphis (9), Murray State (9), Belmont (8), Creighton (8), Montana (8), Penn (8), Texas Southern (8), Utah State (8), VCU (8) and Western Kentucky (8).
Creighton has appeared in five title games since the reconfiguration of the BIG EAST in the summer of 2013. That trails only Villanova (6), and are three more than Marquette (2), Providence (2), Seton Hall (2) and Xavier (2). Georgetown, Connecticut and St. John's have advanced to one final apiece.
Previous All-Tourney Picks
This week marks Creighton's 12th trip to the BIG EAST Tournament, not counting the 2020 abbreviated trek that was halted at halftime of its first game.
In the previous 11 trips played to completion, the only men to earn All-Tournament Team honors has been Doug McDermott and Austin Chatman, who helped take CU to the finals in 2014, Marcus Foster, who led the Jays to the 2017 title tilt, Marcus Zegarowski when CU reached the final in 2021, both Arthur Kaluma and Ryan Kalkbrenner in CU's 2022 trip to the final, and Kalkbrenner again in 2023 and 2025.
McDermott scored 94 points in his three games, making 34-of-63 shots from the field, 14-of-28 three-point shots and 12-of-14 attempts from the line. He set a BIG EAST Tournament record for points in a half (since broken) when he scored 27 in the first half vs. DePaul.
Chatman averaged 8.7 points, 6.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in 2014 while directing the Bluejay offense. He made 9-of-16 shots from the floor.
In 2017 Foster averaged 16.3 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game at The Garden. His three-pointer in the closing seconds of the semifinal lifted Creighton to a 75-72 win and advanced the Bluejays to their second title game in four seasons.
In 2021, Zegarowski averaged 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 61.5 percent from three-point range as the Bluejays reached the finals.
In 2022 Kalkbrenner averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, while Kaluma averaged 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds en route to the finals.
In 2023 Kalkbrenner averaged 19.5 points and 1.5 blocked shots while making 16-of-19 shots (84.2 percent) to help CU to the semifinals.
In 2025 Kalkbrenner averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots while making 26-of-44 shots (59.1 percent) to help CU to the final.
Creighton has never had a BIG EAST Tournament MVP. It's last conference tournament MVP was Doug McDermott in both 2012 and 2013 when CU belonged to the Missouri Valley Conference.
Creighton's All-BIG EAST Tournament Honorees
Year Player Record PPG
2014 Doug McDermott 2-1 31.3
2014 Austin Chatman 2-1 8.7
2017 Marcus Foster 2-1 16.3
2021 Marcus Zegarowski 2-1 16.0
2022 Arthur Kaluma 2-1 13.3
2022 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2-1 16.0
2023 Ryan Kalkbrenner 1-1 19.5
2025 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2-1 19.7
Famous Moment, Famous Coach, Famous Arena
Madison Square Garden is often referred to as the "World's Most Famous Arena", and a former Creighton coach is involved in what a 2013 Bleacher Report poll named the greatest moment in Madison Square Garden history.
After missing Game 6 with a severe thigh injury, NBA MVP Willis Reed limped out of the tunnel prior to Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to raucous applause. He would start and make the New York Knicks' first two baskets. Though he wouldn't score again, the tone was set and he was named Finals MVP.
Reed would later serve as head coach at Creighton from 1981-85, winning 52 games.
BIG EAST Tournament Champions
Creighton owns 14 different BIG EAST Tournament titles since joining the BIG EAST in the summer of 2013. All but three of those titles have been won by the volleyball program.
Creighton's BIG EAST Tournament Titles (14)
Baseball (2): 2019, 2025
Men's Soccer (1): 2022
Volleyball (11): 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Marvelous in March
Nobody has more BIG EAST wins in regular-season league play in the month of March since the calendar turned to 2019 than Creighton.
Creighton's 32 wins in the month of March since the start of 2019 also lead all teams that were in the BIG EAST, as UConn had five wins in March of 2019 and 2010 not counted on the bottom chart below since it was in the American Athletic Conference at the time.
Most March Wins in BIG EAST Play Since 2019
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 14 4 .778
Connecticut 11 2 .846
St. John's 11 5 .688
Villanova 10 6 .625
Xavier 9 10 .474
Seton Hall 8 10 .444
Marquette 8 11 .421
DePaul 7 11 .389
Butler 6 9 .400
Providence 5 12 .294
Georgetown 5 14 .263
Most March Wins As a BIG EAST Member Since 2019
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 32 16 .667
Connecticut 27 9 .750
Villanova 26 14 .650
Xavier 22 21 .512
St. John's 20 12 .625
Marquette 18 21 .462
Seton Hall 15 19 .441
DePaul 14 17 .452
Providence 11 22 .333
Butler 10 17 .370
Georgetown 10 22 .313
Top Five Finish
Despite a 9-11 record this winter, Creighton finished fifth in the BIG EAST. It's the 10th straight season CU has finished in the top-five or better, good for the league's longest streak in more than three decades.
It's the longest active streak in the BIG EAST, and third-longest in league history. Georgetown finished in the top-five in the first 11 seasons of the BIG EAST from 1979-80 to 1989-90, and Syracuse did it in 15 years in a row from 1981-82 to 1995-96.
Creighton's BIG EAST Finish History
Year Finish Final League W-L
2013-14 2nd 14-4
2014-15 T-9th 4-14
2015-16 6th 9-9
2016-17 T-3rd 10-8
2017-18 T-3rd 10-8
2018-19 T-3rd 9-9
2019-20 T-1st 13-5
2020-21 2nd 14-4
2021-22 4th 12-7
2022-23 3rd 13-7
2023-24 T-2nd 14-6
2024-25 2nd 15-5
2025-26 5th 9-11
Longest BIG EAST Streaks, 5th Place or Better
Streak Team Streak Started Streak Ended
15 Syracuse 1981-82 1995-96
11 Georgetown 1979-80 1989-90
10 Creighton 2016-17 Present
Dix Wins Sportsmanship Award
Creighton senior Josh Dix has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award. He is the third Bluejay to be recognized with the honor since joining the league 13 seasons ago, joining Mitch Ballock (2021) and Steven Ashworth (2024).
Per the BIG EAST, the Sportsmanship Award winners are strong contributors to their respective teams on and off the court. The league's head coaches nominate and select the award winners. They are not permitted to vote for their own players.
A Council Bluffs, Iowa, native, Dix is finishing his first season in a Creighton uniform after spending three years at Iowa. He has started all 31 games for the Bluejays, averaging 12.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He leads the team in free throw percentage (.870) and ranks second on the club with 60 three-pointers made. Dix ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in minutes per game, 11th in three-pointers per game and 17th in points per game.
Dix scored a season-high 22 points in CU's regular-season finale at Butler and also scored 21 points in a win at No. 5 Connecticut.
McDermott's Accomplishments
Over the last 16 seasons, Greg McDermott has transformed Creighton from a strong mid-major to a BIG EAST power.
Here's some of his biggest accomplishments....
- 365 wins (CU MBB record)
- 147 BIG EAST wins (CU MBB record; 6th league history)
- 10 NCAA Tournament trips (CU MBB record)
- 12-10 NCAA Tournament record (CU MBB record)
- 3 Sweet 16's (2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24)
- 1 Elite Eight (2022-23)
- 121 weeks in AP poll (CU MBB record)
- 43 Top 25 wins (CU MBB record)
- 17 Top 10 wins (CU MBB record)
- 14 seasons of 20+ wins (CU MBB record)
- 13 Postseason trips (CU MBB record)
- 6 NBA Draft Picks (3 First Round, 3 Second Round)
- 2 MVC Tournament titles (2011-12, 2012-13)
- 1 MVC regular-season title (2012-13)
- 1 BIG EAST regular-season title (2019-20)
- 1 National Player of the Year (Doug McDermott)
- Over $1 million raised for Hope Lodge
In The Nik Of Time
Nik Graves had his best all-around game of the season on March 4th at Butler, finishing with 14 points in addition to career-highs in both assists (13) and steals (6).
He's the first Creighton player ever with 14 points, 13 assists and 6 steals in a game.
He's the first BIG EAST player in at least 30 years with 14 points, 13 assists and 6 steals in a game.
He's the first Power 5 player in at least 20 years with 14 points, 13 assists and 6 steals in a conference game.
Graves' six steals were the most by a Bluejay since Damien Jefferson had six at Providence on Jan. 2, 2021, and are tied for the most by any Creighton player under Greg McDermott.
Graves' 13 assists were the most by a Creighton player since Maurice Watson Jr. had 14 helpers at Providence on Jan. 7, 2017.
Graves At The Stripe
Nik Graves is 6-for-33 from the field over the last three games, but he's found other ways to be productive.
The senior guard has made 26-of-29 foul shots in that time while also dishing 23 assists against just five turnovers.
He's Creighton's only player in the last 20 years to make eight or more free throws in three straight games.
Green Makes It Look Easy
Creighton's Jasen Green became the first BIG EAST player with at least 12 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two blocks without a turnover in a league game in the last 30 years when he posted those numbers vs. Providence on Feb. 28th.
The only other player with those numbers in a conference game (in any league) this season is Green's former Creighton teammate Johnathan Lawson, now at Arkansas-Little Rock.
Closer Than Ever
Only 10 of the BIG EAST's 110 games decided by two points or less this season, but Creighton was involved in half (five) of those.
Two of them came against DePaul, but two others came against Thursday's foe, Seton Hall.
Seton Hall's only two BIG EAST games this season decided by two points or less both came against Creighton.
Series With Most 1-Point BIG EAST Games
Since 2013-14
Qty. Match-up Who's Won?
5 Providence vs. Marquette PC's won 3
4 Creighton vs. Seton Hall Both have won 2
Series With Most 1 or 2 Point BIG EAST Games
Since 2013-14
Qty. Match-up Who's Won?
8 St. John's vs. Marquette SJU's won 5
7 Providence vs. Marquette PC's won 5
5 Creighton - Seton Hall SHU's won 3
5 Marquette vs. Xavier MU's won 4
Finding A Way
Since the start of the 2020-21 season Creighton and Xavier lead the BIG EAST with 22 victories by three points or fewer, one more than Marquette (21). No one else owns more than 15.
Among Power 5 schools, Creighton's 22 wins by three points or less since the start of the 2020-21 campaign ranks tied for fourth-most nationally.
Most Wins by 3 or Less since 2020-21, Power 5 Teams
W L School
23 12 Virginia
23 13 Minnesota
23 17 Arizona State
22 13 TCU
22 14 Creighton
22 14 Vanderbilt
22 19 Xavier
21 12 Oregon
21 14 Marquette
21 15 Wisconsin
21 17 Rutgers
20 6 Kansas
20 11 Texas
One-Point Games
Creighton lost to DePaul by an identical 72-71 score on both Feb. 11th and Feb. 25th.
Creighton is now 13-13 in one-point games under Greg McDermott and 87-81 in program history in one-point games.
McDermott's 13 one-point victories are second-most in program history, trailing only the 20 by his predecessor, Dana Altman.
Creighton is 2-2 in games decided by one point this season, tying a school-record for games in one season decided by exactly one point (also done in 1945-46, 1955-56, 1974-75, 1979-80, 1996-97, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2014-15.
Creighton has now played the same team to a pair of one-point games twice in the same season just four times in its storied history, as it happened against Drake in 1946-47, Northern Iowa in 2004-05 (when Greg McDermott was UNI's head coach) and vs. Seton Hall in 2014-15 prior to this year against DePaul.
It was also the first time ever that Creighton has played three games in the same month decided by exactly one point.
Creighton is one of 14 teams to have played four or more games decided by exactly one point this season, and one of six teams to have a month with three or more one-point games this season, but the only BIG EAST team to do either of those this year.
Identical Scores, Too
Creighton has played DePaul to a pair of identical 72-71 games this year. It's the first time since 1964-65 that Creighton has had the same score in multiple meetings against the same opponent in a year. In 1964-65 the Jays lost identical 76-67 games to Drake on Jan. 13 and Feb. 1 in overtime.
The only other time in program history it happened was in 1916-17, when CU beat York twice by a 33-14 count.
League Of Their Own
Creighton finished 9-11 in BIG EAST play this season, just the second time in the last 31 seasons the Jays were under .500 in league games.
The only teams with more .500 league seasons in that span are Duke, Kansas, Gonzaga, Kentucky and Michigan State.
Most Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Last 31 Seasons (Including 2025-26)
Seasons Team
31 Duke
31 Kansas
31 Gonzaga
30 Kentucky
30 Michigan State
29 Creighton
29 Arizona
29 Murray State
Among The Best
Creighton owns more BIG EAST wins (91) than any other school since the 2019-20 season started, five more than Connecticut's 86.
Since the league's 2013 realignment, Villanova has 176 league wins to lead the BIG EAST by a wide margin, but Creighton's 147 league victories are second-most.
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2019-20 to March 10, 2026)
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 91 46 .664
UConn 86 30 .741
Villanova 86 47 .647
Marquette 78 58 .574
St. John's 77 59 .566
Providence 71 63 .530
Seton Hall 69 67 .507
Xavier 65 65 .500
Butler 52 86 .377
Georgetown 30 103 .226
DePaul 26 107 .195
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2013-14 to March 10, 2026)
Team W L Pct.
Villanova 176 65 .730
Creighton 147 98 .600
Xavier 131 107 .550
Providence 129 113 .533
Marquette 130 114 .533
Seton Hall 122 122 .500
St. John's 117 127 .480
Butler 106 140 .431
UConn 86 30 .741
Georgetown 77 165 .318
DePaul 51 191 .211
Senior Day Recognition
In addition to managers Billy Brezonik and Patrick Gorman, Creighton honored Nik Graves and Josh Dix, following its Feb. 28th game vs. Providence as part of Senior Day festivities.
Over the last four years, Creighton has been to two Sweet 16's, one Elite Eight and beaten six Top 10 teams, including victories over No. 1 UConn two years ago and No. 1 Kansas last year. Creighton has also spent 36 weeks in the Top 25 of the AP poll, including 11 weeks in the Top 10.
The Bluejays are 89-50 (.640) since the start of the 2022-23 campaign and CU's 52 BIG EAST wins in league play over the past four years trail only UConn and St. John's.
Three's Company
Creighton has made five or more three-pointers in 102 straight games, the nation's second-longest active streak.
It's the longest streak by a BIG EAST team in at least 20 years, and probably ever.
Longest Active Streaks of 5+ 3FG Made (3/8)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 129 North Florida Next Year
2. 102 Creighton 3/12
3. 99 Wofford TBD
Crowded House
Creighton attracted a league-leading 266,176 fans at home this season. Additionally, CU's 16,636 fans per home game led the league and ranks seventh-best nationally.
This is the 20th straight non-COVID affected season that Creighton has attracted 200,000 or more home fans.
Average Home Attendance Leaders (3/7)
Rk. Team Average Next Home Game
1. Kentucky 19,731 Next Year
2. North Carolina 19,499 Next Year
3. Tennessee 19,251 Next Year
4. Arkansas 18,796 Next Year
5. BYU 18,073 Next Year
6. Syracuse 17,726 TBD
7. Creighton 16,636 TBD
8. NC State 16,341 TBD
9. Indiana 15,677 TBD
10. Louisville 15,396 Next Year
That's A Lot of McBuckets
Creighton grad Doug McDermott, the 2014 National Player of the Year, reached a milestone on Feb. 21 when he drained two shots to give him 1,000 career NBA three-pointers made.
While he was the 179th player in NBA history to make at least 1,000 three-pointers, he's just the second to do so after also scoring 3,000 or more points at the collegiate level, joining Hersey Hawkins.
McDermott is one of eight players in NBA history to shoot 41 percent or better from three-point range while making 1,000 or more trifectas. Kyle Korver is also one of those eight, giving Creighton the distinction of being the only college with two players on that elite list.
The other six players are Joe Harris, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Wesley Person, JJ Redick and Dana Barros, which means McDermott and Curry are the only two active players to have done it.
Like...How?
Creighton's last three home wins have been something special, with all three requiring late game heroics.
On Jan. 13 against Georgetown, Creighton trailed 76-69 with 1:35 left. Eventually Austin Swartz tied the game with 17.8 seconds left in regulation, then Swartz won it on a three-pointer with 30.3 seconds remaining in overtime. CU won, 86-83.
On Jan. 21 vs. Xavier, Creighton trailed 93-92 with 4.3 seconds left with Swartz at the line. He missed the potential game-tying free throw, but chased down his own rebound and banked in the game-winner with 0.6 seconds left for the 94-93 win. Those heroics came after the Jays trailed 93-89 before a Blake Harper basket with 43.2 seconds left.
Those two games set the stage for Feb. 7th vs. Seton Hall. CU was down 67-58 with 1:27 left before a Fedor Zugic three-pointer, a Jasen Green tip-in and another Zugic trey made it a one-point game with 20.3 seconds left. After Seton Hall made 1-of-2 free throws, Nik Graves won it with a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left, 69-68.
Per KenPom.com, Creighton's win probability was as low as 1.5 percent vs. Seton Hall, 9.0 percent vs. Georgetown and 16.4 percent against Xavier.
CHI Health Center Omaha Dramatics
Creighton is 10-8 in contests with a game-winning go-ahead score in the final 10 seconds at CHI Health Center Omaha, which opened in 2003, including a 2-0 record this year.
Austin Swartz hit a shot with 0.6 seconds left to beat Xavier on January 21st, CU's first game-winner in the final 10 seconds at CHI Health Center Omaha since 2020.
With Swartz out of the line-up on Feb. 7th, Nik Graves buried a game-winning three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left to stun Seton Hall.
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
01/21/26 Xavier W 94-93 Swartz FG :0.6
02/07/26 Seton Hall W 69-68 Graves 3FG :2.5
*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
All The Bounces
Feb. 14th marked Creighton's first home game since Nik Graves' game-winner with 2.5 seconds left vs. Seton Hall on Feb. 4th.
Below is a list of Creighton's victories under Greg McDermott in which it scored a go-ahead points in the final 30 seconds of a victory.
Go-Ahead Points in Last 30 Seconds of Wins Under McDermott
Player Time Opponent Date
Kenny Lawson Jr. 18.1, Dunk Northern Arizona 11/14/10
Antoine Young 0.3, FG Long Beach St. 02/18/12
Josh Jones 22.6, FG Evansville 02/21/12
Doug McDermott 4.9, FG at Saint Joseph's 11/16/13
Doug McDermott 2.8, 3FG St. John's 01/28/14
Marcus Foster 6.6, 3FG vs. Xavier 03/10/17
Marcus Foster 14.4, 3FG at DePaul 02/07/18
Marcus Zegarowski 3.2 3FG Providence 01/18/20
Christian Bishop 0.8, Dunk at Providence 01/02/21
Christian Bishop 16.0, 2 FT vs. UCSB 03/20/21
Ryan Nembhard 0.0, FG vs. Southern Illinois 11/22/21
Trey Alexander 26.2, 2 FT Villanova 02/04/23
Trey Alexander 12.3, 2 FT St. John's 01/13/24
Trey Alexander 28.4, 3FG at Seton Hall 01/20/24
Trey Alexander 0.2, FG at Villanova 03/09/24
Steven Ashworth 5.8, 3FG at Villanova 02/01/25
Austin Swartz 0.6, FG Xavier 01/21/26
Nik Graves 2.5, 3FG Seton Hall 02/07/26
The Few, The Proud
Just seven schools have won road games at Villanova and at Connecticut in two consecutive seasons, as Creighton has done the past two years.
School Years
Georgetown 1983-84 & 1984-85
St. John's 1984-85 & 1985-86
Syracuse 1985-86 & 1986-87
Pitt 1986-87 & 1987-88
Georgetown 1991-92 & 1992-93
Syracuse 2010-11 & 2011-12
Creighton 2024-25 & 2025-26
Odds & Ends
Recapping CU's 91-84 win on Feb. 18th at Connecticut with a few noteworthy stats...
- It was the first time UConn's allowed 91+ points in regulation at home since a 96-87 loss to Saint Joseph's on Nov. 13, 2019.
- It was the most points allowed at home (OT or not) in a conference game by UConn since Boston College's 95-71 win in Storrs on Feb. 1, 2003.
- Before beating UConn, Creighton's only previous win in three previous games when scoring 91+ points against a Top 5 team was in a 96-68 win at No. 4 Villanova on Jan. 20, 2014.
- Before Greg McDermott was hired, Creighton was 5-53 all-time vs. Top 10 teams and hadn't beaten a Top 10 squad since topping No. 6 Marquette on Feb. 9, 1974 under Eddie Sutton. Under McDermott, Creighton owns 17 Top 10 wins and has at least one Top 10 win each of the last 11 years.
- It was Creighton's first win over a team with a .920 win percentage (min. 10 GP) or better since the Bluejays defeated UConn on Feb. 20, 2024. Both Connecticut teams entered the game 24-2.
McDermott vs. Hurley
Greg McDermott is 10-5 all-time in his career in head-to-head meetings against Dan Hurley. That's the most wins by any head coach against Hurley.
Next up on the list are Ed Cooley (8-10) and Derek Kellogg (8-5). Kellogg is currently an assistant coach on the Creighton staff after previously being a head coach at both Massachusetts and LIU.
Most Head Coaching Wins vs. Dan Hurley
W-L Coach
10-5 Greg McDermott
8-5 Derek Kellogg
8-10 Ed Cooley
7-3 Archie Miller
7-4 Phil Martelli
Husky Conquests
Since rejoining the BIG EAST in 2020, Connecticut has played 68 different opponents, but lost to only 17 unique schools.
No school has beaten the Huskies more in that time than Creighton's 10 victories. No one else has more than five.
Since rejoining the BIG EAST, Connecticut has lost to the same school multiple times in the same season on just seven occasions, with three of those foes being Creighton (3 times in 2020-21, 2 times in 2021-22 and 2 times in 2024-25).
Most Wins vs. UConn Since 2020-21
Wins Opponent
10 Creighton
5 Seton Hall
5 St. John's
4 Xavier
4 Villanova
Wins Ample at Gampel
Since Connecticut returned to the BIG EAST in 2020, the only school to beat the Huskies at home in consecutive seasons was Creighton in 2020-21 (in Storrs) and 2021-22 (in Hartford) and now Creighton in 2024-25 and 2025-26 (both in Storrs).
Creighton became the first team to beat the Huskies at Gampel Pavilion in back-to-back campaigns under Dan Hurley, as no program had done it since Cincinnati in three straight years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19). Hurley arrived at UConn in 2018.
Among the rare coaches to defeat Dan Hurley at home in back-to-back seasons is current Creighton assistant coach Derek Kellogg. Kellogg did it in 2012-13 and 2013-14 while coaching Massachusetts against Hurley's first two Rhode Island squads.
Top 10 Wins Under McDermott
Creighton owns 17 Top 10 wins under Greg McDermott, with seven of those victories coming away from home.
It's also worth noting that of Creighton's 17 Top 10 wins under McDermott, 12 of them have been by double-figures.
Creighton's Top 10 Wins Under Greg McDermott
Score Opponent Date
96-68 at #4 Villanova 01/20/14
101-80 #6 Villanova 02/16/14
70-56 #5 Xavier 02/09/16
79-67 #9 Wisconsin 11/15/16
89-83 (ot) #3 Villanova 02/24/18
66-60 at #10 Marquette 03/03/19
76-61 at #8 Villanova 02/01/20
87-82 at #10 Seton Hall 02/12/20
77-60 #8 Seton Hall 03/07/20
86-70 #5 Villanova 02/13/21
79-59 #9 Villanova 12/17/21
90-87 vs. #9 Arkansas (in Maui, HI) 11/22/22
85-66 #1 Connecticut 02/20/24
89-75 #5 Marquette 03/02/24
76-63 #1 Kansas 12/04/24
89-75 vs. #10 Louisville (in Lexington, KY) 03/20/25
91-84 at #5 Connecticut 02/18/26
Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 1,087 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 (3/8)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 1,295 Duke 3/12
2. 1,291 UNLV 3/11
3. 1,224 East Tennessee State 3/9
4. 1,198 Oakland TBD
5. 1,194 Pacific TBD
6. 1,193 Texas 3/11
7. 1,131 Marshall TBD
8. 1,125 Gonzaga 3/9
9. 1,109 Princeton Next Year
10. 1,087 Creighton 3/12
11. 1,080 Long Island 3/10
12. 1,072 Mount St. Mary's Next Year
Triple Trouble
During Creighton's current streak of 1,087 straight games with a three-pointer, the Jays have drained 8,811 trifectas, an average of 8.11 treys per game.
Only five times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 341 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 116-37 when making eight or more three-pointers, compared to a 39-40 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: 106 times 6: 115 times
7: 156 times 8: 137 times 9: 97 times
10: 97 times 11: 67 times 12: 65 times
13: 55 times 14: 27 times 15: 9 times
16: 10 times 17: 5 times 18: 1 time
19: 2 times 20: 1 time 21: 1 time 22: 1 time
That's A Winner
Since the reconfiguration of the BIG EAST in 2013-14, the only current BIG EAST team to own a record better than .500 in conference road games is Villanova.
Connecticut has a winning record since coming back to the BIG EAST, but is below .500 when you include its 22-41 road record in the American.
BIG EAST Road Records Since 2013-14
W L School
76 45 Villanova
61 62 Creighton
53 68 Providence
52 70 Marquette
52 71 Seton Hall
50 68 Xavier
47 76 St. John's
41 82 Butler
38 20 Connecticut (60-61 including the American)
30 90 Georgetown
20 100 DePaul
Have We Met?
Of the 165 players listed on BIG EAST rosters just four years ago (2022-23), only 10 of those men are still playing for the same school. Four of those 10 men (Lucas, Gabriel, Sabourin, Wolf) have scored fewer than 10 career points.
Here's a list of who remains from 2022-23:
Team 2022-23 Roster Size Who's Still There?
Butler 13 -
Connecticut 16 Alex Karaban
Creighton 16 Jasen Green
DePaul 15 -
Georgetown 14 -
Marquette 18 Ben Gold, Sean Jones, Jonah Lucas, Chase Ross
Providence 14 Corey Floyd Jr.
Seton Hall 16 David Gabriel
St. John's 15 -
Villanova 12 -
Xavier 16 Ian Sabourin, Michael Wolf
He Doesn't Miss Very Often
Geoffrey Groselle is in his first season as a graduate assistant sitting right behind the Bluejay bench, but he continues to have a magic touch.
Groselle closely watches each play on an iPad, making instant judgement calls on whether or not CU should risk a timeout by asking the officials to review the previous play, then relaying his advice along to head coach Greg McDermott.
With Groselle's input, Creighton has challenged eight different plays this season...and won six of those reviews.
As a Bluejay center from 2011-16, Groselle made 232-of-339 career shots. His 68.4 percent accuracy is the best field goal percentage in Creighton history by any player with 300 or more attempts.
Name What Was Reviewed CU Correct?
Marquette, 12/20 Deflected Pass Yes
Butler, 12/30 Deflected Rebound Yes
at Seton Hall, 1/4 Deflected Rebound Yes
at Marquette, 1/27 Deflected Loose Ball Yes
at Georgetown, 2/4 Deflected Loose Ball Yes
Villanova, 2/14 Deflected Rebound No
at #17 St. John's, 2/21 Deflected Loose Ball No
Providence, 2/28 Deflected Loose Ball Yes
Give Me Five
In Greg McDermott's 16 years patrolling the Bluejay sideline, this year's seven different starting line-ups are tied for the second-most he's used over the course of an entire campaign.
Ten different Creighton players have started four or more games this season, and seven of those men have started at least 12 times. Josh Dix has started each contest, the only Bluejay that can say that.
Different Starting Lineups Under Greg McDermott
Year Entire Season
2010-11 5
2011-12 1
2012-13 1
2013-14 3
2014-15 10
2015-16 6
2016-17 4
2017-18 5
2018-19 5
2019-20 3
2020-21 3
2021-22 4
2022-23 2
2023-24 2
2024-25 7
2025-26 7 so far
McDermott Among The Best
Greg McDermott ranks sixth in BIG EAST history with 147 regular-season league wins. The five coaches ahead of him all have won at least one national title.
McDermott, along with Ed Cooley, Rick Pitino and Kevin Willard are the only four active coaches with 100 regular-season BIG EAST wins.
McDermott has been at his current job (16 seasons) longer than any active BIG EAST coach, but since his first three years were as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Cooley's 15 years in the BIG EAST lead all active league coaches.
Most League Wins, BIG EAST MBB Coaches (3/2)
Rk. Wins Name, School
1. 366 Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
2. 274 Jim Calhoun, UConn
3. 244 Jay Wright, Villanova
4. 198 John Thompson Jr., Georgetown
5. 159 Rick Pitino, Prov./Louisville/SJU
6. 147 Greg McDermott, Creighton
7. 136 Mike Brey, Notre Dame
8. 135 Ed Cooley, Providence/G'Town
9. 131 John Thompson III, Georgetown
10. 127 Lou Carnesecca, St. John's
4 x 5
After opening league play with lopsided wins by 41 and 21 points, five of Creighton's last seven league victories came by four points or less.
Earlier this year represented the first time Creighton has had five league wins in a row, all by four points or less.
Creighton's five league wins by four points or less ties a single-season program record, something also done in 1980-81, 1990-91 and 2021-22. Each of CU's first three teams to do it played in the NCAA Tournament.
Foul Play
Creighton has had just one player foul out of a game all season long, tied with UMBC and Yale for the fewest nationally.
Last year Creighton was tied for 19th nationally with only four foul out disqualifications
In 2023-24, Creighton was the only team in the country without a player to foul out.
In 2022-23, Creighton's two foul outs were tied for second-fewest in the nation.
In the last four seasons (2022-23 to present), Creighton has only had only seven players foul out in 137 games.
Give Me 10
The Feb. 7 victory over Seton Hall was Creighton's 10th home win of the winter.
It's the 29th time in the last 30 seasons CU has had 10 or more home victories.
The only exception in that time came in 2014-15, when the Jays won nine times at home.
Pink Out Men's Jersey Auction Raises $43,535.28
Creighton raised $43,535.28 during the jersey auction for its Jan. 31 Pink Out game vs. Connecticut, with proceeds going to benefit the Hope Lodge.
Combined with donations at the door and a $30,000 matching donation from Nebraska Cancer Specialists, CU raised $99,588.58 overall in 2025-26.
Bluejay players wore pink shooting shirts and pink-trimmed jerseys for the game, and fans had the opportunity to honor a friend or family member who has battled cancer or is currently battling cancer by purchasing the apparel via auction.
The annual Creighton Pink Out games, donations and matching funds (in MBB/WBB/VB) have raised $1,190,303.50 (including the 2025-26 auction) benefiting the Hope Lodge facility in Omaha and the guests it serves.
This year's men's basketball jersey auction ran from Jan. 15-25 and raised $43,535.28. Below is the final numbers for each men's basketball jersey/item in the auction this year.
#0 $3,350 #1 $2,600 #2 $2,700
#4 $3,800 #5 $1,775 #7 $3,155
#9 $3,050 #10 $3,000 #12 $1,000
#13 $860 #17 $1,525 #23 $2,775
#27 $1,450 #32 $1,226 #41 $2,800
#53 $2,900 Mac's Shoes: $406.01 Golf: $2,800
Ball 1: 347 Ball 2: $375 Ball 3: $460
Ball 4: $445 Basll 5: $450 Mac's Tie: $286.27
Yearly Pink Out Totals
Creighton has raised $1,190,303.50 since the start of the 2011-12 season during its annual men's and basketball Pink Out auctions, plus additional money collected on gameday, underwriting, matching donations and volleyball/women's basketball jersey auctions.
The numbers below show the annual figures for the men's basketball jersey auction unless otherwise noted.
2011-12: $20,600
2012-13: $24,444
2013-14: $48,247.11
2014-15: $16,384.03
2015-16: $16,527.90
2016-17: $26,361.64
2017-18: $28,796
2018-19: $19,595
2019-20: $31,803.18
2020-21: $40,381
2021-22: $24,165
2022-23: $27,432
2023-24: $36,002.46
2024-25: $43,995.92
2025-26: $43,535.28
MBB Auction Totals = $448,270.52
WBB/VB Auctions + Additional Donations: $742,032.98
15-Year Totals: $1,190,303.50
Merfeld Gets Hall Call
Longtime Creighton men's basketball staffer Steve Merfeld is part of the 2026 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame induction class.
The Hall of Fame Banquet is scheduled for Sunday, September 27th at the Glacier Canyon Lodge of the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells.
Merfeld is a Wisconsin native who graduated from Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1984 and then got his coaching start at St. John's Military Academy in 1984. He served as an assistant coach at Bowling Green (1986-96) and Hampton (1996-97) before serving as head coach at Hampton from 1997-2002.
Merfeld then went on to be head coach at Evansville from 2002-07 and an assistant coach at Bradley before joining the Greg McDermott's original Creighton staff as an assistant coach in 2010. He has been the Bluejays' assistant to the head coach since 2013.
Graves Does It
Nik Graves had 16 points, nine assists and no turnovers in CU's Jan. 21 victory vs. Xavier. He's just the second Creighton player in the last 20 years with at least 16 points and nine assists without a turnover, joining Antoine Young.
Young did it on March 21, 2011 vs. Davidson (22 points, 9 assists) vs. Davidson, then again two days later vs. Central Florida (16 points, 10 assists). Both of those games were in the CBI.
Graves' performance made him the first Bluejay to ever post at least nine assists without a turnover in a BIG EAST game.
Nik The Quik
Nik Graves went nuclear in the first half of Creighton's Dec. 20 game vs. Marquette, scoring 17 points in a span of just 2:55. His 17 points were the most by any Bluejay in a half this season.
Graves entered the game with a season-high of 15 points in the South Dakota game before catching fire against the Golden Eagles.
Here's how it happened:
Time Play CU Score After Points
11:22 Graves Floater Down 15-14
10:56 Graves Jumper Up 16-15
10:07 Graves 3FG Up 21-15
9:03 Graves 3FG Up 27-17
8:46 Graves 3FG Up 30-17
8:24 Graves 3FG Up 33-17
8:24 Graves FT Up 34-17
They Did What?
Creighton led 49-22 at half and walloped Xavier, 98-57, on Dec. 17 in Cincinnati. It led to a plethora of eyebrow-raising stats.
- It was Creighton's largest halftime lead since leading Houston Christian 39-12 at the break on Nov. 13, 2024.
, - It was Creighton's largest halftime lead in a BIG EAST game since leading Georgetown 51-24 at the break on March 1, 2023, and tied for its third-largest ever in BIG EAST play.
- It is believed to be Creighton's largest halftime lead in a conference road game since at least 1948. Creighton's last halftime lead away from home of 27 points or more was also a 49-22 lead, which came on Nov. 30, 1990 in Iowa City, Iowa, against UTSA.
- It was Creighton's largest margin of victory ever in a conference road game, topping its 93-58 win at DePaul on Feb. 11, 2017.
- It was tied for Creighton's second-largest margin of victory ever in a conference game at any site, trailing only a 69-25 win vs. Saint Louis on Jan. 9, 1943 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
That Saint Louis game was also a league lid-lifter.
- It tied Creighton's largest margin of victory ever in a BIG EAST game at any site, matching a 100-59 win vs. St. John's on Feb. 28, 2016.
- Creighton's 98-57 win was the second-largest road win in a BIG EAST Conference game ever, trailing only UConn's 99-57 win at Seton Hall on Feb. 11, 2006. It was also tied for the eighth-largest BIG EAST victory margin in league history, regardless of site.
- Creighton's 41 point win at Xavier matched the combined margin of victory in Creighton's eight previous wins in Cincinnati over the Musketeers. CU had never before won at Xavier by more than 12 points.
- It was the largest margin of victory in a BIG EAST opener by any team, surpassing Villanova's 84-46 win vs. West Virginia on Jan. 5, 2005.
- Creighton's 98 points were its most ever in a conference road win, one more than its output on Jan. 20, 2024 in a 97-94 triple-overtime win at Seton Hall, and two more than its previous high in regulation in a conference road win done on Jan. 20, 2014 at No. 4 Villanova in a 96-68 win.
- Creighton's 98 points were the most Xavier has ever allowed inside Cintas Center, which opened in 2000.
- Along with the Creighton women defeating Omaha 92-48 that same day in Omaha, it was the first time a BIG EAST school posted 40+ point wins in men's and women's basketball on the same day since Nov. 6, 2018, when Seton Hall dominated Wagner in both sports.
The only other time in history that Creighton MBB and WBB had wins of 40+ points on the same day was Nov. 27, 1982, when the men beat Wisconsin-Platteville 98-54 and the women topped SIU Edwardsville 99-59, but both of those games were in Omaha.
- Creighton's men and women both made 16 three-pointers. It was the first time a BIG EAST school had both its men's and women's programs make 15+ three-pointers on the same day since Creighton did it on March 23, 2024. On that day, the CU men did it in a double-overtime win vs. Oregon, while the women did it in a victory against UNLV. Both of those were NCAA Tournament contests.
- It was Xavier's largest halftime deficit since trailing Duke 55-24 at half on Dec. 20, 2008 in East Rutherford, N.J., in an eventual 82-64 loss.
- It was Xavier's largest halftime deficit ever in a BIG EAST game (previously 48-22 vs. UConn on Jan. 28, 2024), and largest halftime deficit in a BIG EAST home game since trailing 44-28 vs. Seton Hall on Dec. 30, 2020.
- It was Xavier's second-largest loss ever in a conference game, trailing only its 99-56 loss at UConn on Jan. 28, 2024.
- It was Xavier's largest loss in a home game in program history, eclipsing an 86-48 loss to Dayton on March 5, 1977.
- Xavier's previous largest loss at Cintas Center (which opened in 2000) was a 64-42 loss to Oral Roberts on Dec. 18, 2011.
Triple Trouble
Austin Swartz made a career-high eight three-pointers on Jan. 13 vs. Georgetown. Swartz's performance was tied for fourth-most trifectas in a game in program history.
In the last 15 seasons, Swartz is just the third player to score at least 33 points, make eight or more three-pointers and shoot at least 75 percent from the field in the same BIG EAST game. He joins current CU assistant coach Mitch Ballock on March 9, 2019, when he made 12-of-14 shots (including 11-for-13 from 3) to score 39 points vs. DePaul, as well as former Marquette standout Kam Jones vs. DePaul on Feb. 21, 2024 when Jones had 34 points, made 8-of-10 three-pointers and shot 12-for-15 from the field.
Swartz has now made seven or more three-pointers twice this season, making him just the fifth different Bluejay to ever do that along with Trey Alexander (2022-23), Mitch Ballock (2018-19 and 2020-21), Kyle Korver (2002-03), Ethan Wragge (2013-14). Korver did it four times in 2002-03, making him the only Bluejay with three (or more) such games in the same season.
3FG Name, Opponent Date
11 Mitch Ballock vs. DePaul 03/09/19
9 Kyle Korver vs. Evansville 01/15/03
Ethan Wragge at Villanova 01/20/14
8 Tad Ackerman at Drake 01/23/95
Kyle Korver at Xavier 12/31/02
Terrell Taylor vs. Florida 03/15/02
Isaiah Zierden at DePaul 01/17/16
Mitch Ballock vs. Marquette 12/14/20
Ryan Hawkins at Georgetown 02/12/22
Austin Swartz vs. Georgetown 01/13/26
7 Gary Swain vs. Nebraska-Omaha 12/11/86
Ryan Sears vs. Wyoming 12/06/97
Kyle Korver vs. Notre Dame 11/26/02
Kyle Korver vs. Fresno State 02/22/03
Nate Funk at Nebraska 11/18/06
Booker Woodfox at Saint Joseph's 12/06/08
Ethan Wragge at Saint Joseph's 11/16/13
Doug McDermott vs. DePaul 03/13/14
Cole Huff vs. Seton Hall 03/10/16
Ty-Shon Alexander vs. Clemson 11/21/18
Mitch Ballock at Nebraska 12/08/18
Marcus Zegarowski vs. Butler 02/23/20
Mitch Ballock at Seton Hall 01/27/21
Trey Alexander vs. DePaul 12/25/22
Trey Alexander vs. Georgetown 03/01/23
Baylor Scheierman at Marquette 12/30/23
Steven Ashworth vs. Butler 03/08/25
Austin Swartz at Xavier 12/17/25
Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 33 victories since the start of the 2010-11 season after trailing by double-figures at some point, including rallies from 10 points down this season at Villanova (25-15 on Jan. 7) and at home against both Georgetown (36-26 on Jan. 13) and Seton Hall (63-53 on Feb. 7th).
Fifteen of those 33 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
10 at Villanova 01/07/26
10 Georgetown 01/13/26
10 Seton Hall 02/07/26
Making An Impact
The 7th Annual Silver Waves Media 100 Most Impactful High Major Coaches List was unveiled on Jan. 12th.
Creighton had three coaches on the list, as Alan Huss, Derek Kellogg and Trey Zeigler were all recognized. Not only was Trey Zeigler honored, but so was his dad Ernie Zeigler, who is an assistant coach at Nebraska.
The only eight schools with at least three coaches honored on the list were Florida (4), Kansas (4), BYU, Creighton, Duke, Illinois, Stanford and Texas.
Jays Reach 30K at CHI
Creighton has outscored its opponents 30,437-25,559 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.60 points per game in 387 all-time games in the building that count.
Creighton is 28-2 all-time in games where it moves over any 1,000 point milestone at CHI Health Center Omaha, as seen below:
Date Pts-Opp (CHI Game #) Who/How vs. Opp.
02/18/04 1,000-787 (14) Lindeman FG vs. Indiana State
02/05/05 2,000-1,696 (28) Funk FG vs. Missouri St.
01/18/06 3,000-2,504 (41) Watts FT vs. Bradley
01/09/07 4,000-3,359 (56) Tolliver FG vs. Drake
12/17/07 5,000-4,174 (69) Kaleb Korver 3FG vs. Hou. Baptist
11/16/08 6,000-5,048 (82) Dotzler FG vs. New Mexico
02/11/09 7,000-5,870 (95) Witter 3FG vs. Bradley
01/16/10 8,000-6,750 (109) Young FG vs. Wichita State
12/20/10 9,000-7,645 (123) Wragge FG vs. W. Illinois
03/23/11 10,000-8,500 (136) Lawson FG vs. UCF
01/21/12 11,000-9,310 (148) McDermott FG vs. Ind. St.
12/19/12 12,000-10,136 (161) Echenique FG vs. Tulsa
11/23/13 13,000-10,922 (173) Artino FG vs. Tulsa
02/23/14 14,000-11,711 (185) Gibbs FG vs. Seton Hall
01/28/15 15,000-12,612 (198) Hanson FT vs. St. John's
12/28/15 16,000-13,498 (211) Huff FG vs. Coppin State
11/15/16 17,000-14,349 (224) Patton FG vs. #9 Wisconsin
01/28/17 18,000-15,166 (235) Hanson FG vs. DePaul
12/18/17 19,000-15,927 (246) Foster 3FG vs. UT Arlington
11/06/18 20,000-16,741 (258) Ballock 3FG vs. W. Illinois
02/03/19 21,000-17,619 (270) Zegarowski FG vs. Xavier
12/07/19 22,000-18,463 (282) Ballock 3FG vs. Nebraska
03/07/20 23,000-19,280 (294) Mahoney 3FG vs. #8 Seton Hall
02/13/21 24,000-20,103 (306) Zegarowski FG vs. #5 Villanova
02/14/22 25,000-20,950 (320) Hawkins 3FG vs. Georgetown
01/25/23 26,000-21,786 (333) Nembhard 3FG vs. St. John's
12/20/23 27,000-22,535 (345) Kalkbrenner FG vs. Villanova
11/13/24 28,000-23,388 (357) Isaacs 3FG vs. Hou. Christian
02/26/25 29,000-24,231 (370) Kalkbrenner FG vs. DePaul
01/13/26 30,000-25,082 (381) Dix FT vs. Georgetown
Bench Boost
Creighton scored 43 (at Xavier) and 41 (vs. Marquette) bench points in its first two league games, a fact that's even more incredible when you consider that the Bluejays had gone 147 straight BIG EAST games without scoring 40+ points off the bench dating to Jan. 13, 2018.
CU also scored 40 bench points vs. Xavier on Jan. 21st.
Creighton had not scored 40+ bench points in consecutive games (conference or otherwise) since doing it vs. Presbyterian (43) and Longwood (56) in November of 2012.
40+ Points in BIG EAST Play
Year 40+ Bench Points Opponent
2013-14: 0 of 18 -
2014-15: 2 of 18 @SJU, SJU
2015-16: 1 of 18 DPU
2016-17: 0 of 18 -
2017-18: 1 of 18 @XU
2018-19: 0 of 18 -
2019-20: 0 of 18 -
2020-21: 0 of 20 -
2021-22: 0 of 19 -
2022-23: 0 of 20 -
2023-24: 0 of 20 -
2024-25: 0 of 20 -
2025-26: 3 of 20 @XU, MU, XU
Most Creighton Bench Points in BIG EAST Play
Bench Pts. Opponent Date
51 DePaul 02/06/16
46 at Xavier 01/13/18
45 at St. John's 02/07/15
44 St. John's 01/28/15
43 at Xavier 12/17/25
41 Marquette 12/20/25
40 Xavier 01/21/26
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 results have proven him right.
Creighton's bench has outscored foes 816-657 this season. That +159 figure would be CU's best year-end mark since 2017-18 (+229). The 816 points are CU's most bench points since scoring 925 bench points in 2015-16.
Creighton's bench has accounted for 34.83 percent of CU's scoring, and 26.32 points per game. That's the most bench points per game since the 2007-08 team 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 12-13 this year when scoring 17 points or more off the bench.
Creighton's loss on Jan. 10 when scoring 38 bench points vs. St. John's was CU's most bench points in a loss since scoring 46 at No. 10 Xavier on Jan. 13, 2018.
Non-Con Success
Creighton went 6-5 in regular-season non-conference play this season. It's the 29th straight season that the Bluejays have had a .500 record or better in regular-season non-conference game. The last Bluejay team that wasn't was CU's 1996-97 team that went 5-6.
Creighton's last team to lose five regular-season non-conference games was its 2022-23 squad that finished the year in the Elite Eight.
Below is a look at Creighton's annual regular-season non-conference marks under Greg McDermott.
W-L Year Year-End W-L (Postseason)
8-5 2010-11 23-16 (CBI)
11-1 2011-12 29-6 (NCAA)
11-2 2012-13 28-8 (NCAA)
10-2 2013-14 27-8 (NCAA)
9-4 2014-15 14-19 (None)
9-4 2015-16 20-15 (NIT)
13-0 2016-17 25-10 (NCAA)
11-2 2017-18 21-12 (NCAA)
9-4 2018-19 20-15 (NIT)
11-2 2019-20 24-7 (None due to COVID-19)
4-1 2020-21 22-9 (NCAA)
8-3 2021-22 23-12 (NCAA)
6-5 2022-23 24-13 (NCAA)
9-2 2023-24 25-10 (NCAA)
7-4 2024-25 25-11 (NCAA)
6-5 2025-26 TBD
Sharing Is Caring
Creighton's 31 assists at Xavier were its second-most ever in a game under Greg McDermott, trailing only the 32 vs. USC Upstate on Dec. 20, 2017 in a 116-62 win.
Nationally, Creighton became the first road team with 31 or more assists in a Power 5 conference game since Washington at California on March 3, 2005.
Creighton's 31 assists were the most in a regular-season BIG EAST game by any school since Xavier had 32 vs. Georgetown on Jan. 21, 2023, and tied for the third-most in any league game since 1996-97. Creighton's 31 assists were also its most ever in any BIG EAST game.
Sixty Percent Club
Creighton shot 60.3 percent in its Dec. 17 win at Xavier. Since Greg McDermott was hired at Creighton, the Bluejays have shot 60 percent or better 33 times.
Here's that list, as well as several others, per Basketball-Reference.com, through March 7th.
Most Games, 60%+ FG Shooting, Since 2010-11
Rk. Games (W-L) Team
1. 50 (50-0) Gonzaga
2. 33 (33-0) Creighton
3. 30 (30-0) Kansas
30 (29-1) Northern Colorado
5. 29 (29-0) Indiana
29 (26-3) Campbell
Most Games, 50%+ FG Shooting, Since 2010-11
Rk. Games (W-L) Team
1. 326 (316-10) Gonzaga
2. 237 (220-17) Belmont
3. 230 (217-13) Kansas
4. 226 (211-15) Creighton
5. 225 (213-12) Duke
Most Games, 50%+ 3FG Shooting, Since 2010-11
Rk. Games (W-L) Team
1. 94 (83-11) Weber State
2. 90 (80-10) UCLA
3. 89 (74-15) Michigan State
4. 87 (82-5) Creighton
5. 86 (83-3) Gonzaga
Best Field Goal Percentage, Since 2010-11
Rk. FG% Team
1. .508 Gonzaga
2. .483 Belmont
3. .477 Kansas
4. .476 Duke
5. .475 Creighton
Best 2-Point Field Goal Percentage, Since 2010-11
(includes teams that have been Division I 10+ years)
Rk. 2FG% Team
1. .574 Gonzaga
.574 Belmont
3. .552 Creighton
4. .542 Furman
5. .541 Duke
Austin Powers
Austin Swartz had 27 points in 23 minutes of CU's Dec. 17 road win at Xavier.
He's just the seventh Bluejay in the last 20 seasons with 25+ points in 25 minutes or less, and joined Cole Huff as one of two Bluejays with a game of 27+ points in 23 minutes or less since 1991-92.
25+ Points in 25 Minutes or Less
Creighton Players Since 1991-92
PTS MIN Name, Opponent Date
26 25 Dane Watts vs. Mississippi Valley State 11/17/07
25 18 Doug McDermott vs. Hou. Christian 12/17/11
27 24 Geoffrey Groselle vs. North Texas 12/21/15
28 22 Cole Huff vs. DePaul 02/06/16
25 25 Marcus Zegarowski vs. #21 Butler 02/23/20
25 23 Trey Alexander vs. Georgetown 03/01/23
27 23 Austin Swartz at Xavier 12/17/25
Triple Option
Creighton made 16 three-pointers in its Dec. 17 victory at Xavier. It was tied for the third-most three-pointers ever by the Bluejays in a road game.
Most 3FG Made in a Road Game, Creighton History
3FG 3FGA Opponent Date
21 35 at #4 Villanova 01/20/14
17 35 at Seton Hall 01/27/21
16 36 at Georgetown 01/06/18
16 33 at Xavier 12/17/25
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.
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 5th Owen Freeman (1st); Josh Dix (2nd)
Jackson McAndrew (3rd); Nik Graves (3rd)
Best BIG EAST Years
Creighton's 15 league wins last season set a program record for most conference wins in any of its first 12 seasons in the BIG EAST. It was the third straight season CU won 14 league games or more, something only Villanova (2013-14 to 2017-18) and Connecticut (1993-94 to 1995-96) have done in BIG EAST history.
Four of CU's seven teams to win 12 or more BIG EAST games reached the BIG EAST Tournament final, with the prematurely cancelled 2019-20 campaign being one of the exceptions.
Creighton's 15 conference wins last year matched its most as a member of any league, as it picked up 15 conference wins in 2002-03 when it was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
At the end of last season, Creighton had now set or tied program records for most conference wins in a one-year span (15), two-year span (29), three-year span (43), four-year span (55), five-year span (69), six-year span (82) and seven-year span (91).
Creighton entered 2025-26 having finished first or second in the BIG EAST in four of the last six seasons, and top four in the league each of the previous nine campaigns.
Creighton's Most BIG EAST Wins, Season
W-L Year BIG EAST Tourney
15-5 2024-25 TBA
14-4 2013-14 Lost in Final
14-6 2020-21 Lost in Final
14-6 2022-23 Lost in Semi's
14-6 2023-24 Lost in Quarterfinals
13-5 2019-20 Tourney Cancelled
12-7 2021-22 Lost in Final
Creighton's Most Conference Wins, Season
W-L Year League
15-3 2002-03 MVC
15-5 2024-25 BIG EAST
14-4 2000-01 MVC
14-4 2001-02 MVC
14-4 2008-09 MVC
14-4 2011-12 MVC
14-4 2013-14 BIG EAST
14-6 2020-21 BIG EAST
14-6 2022-23 BIG EAST
14-6 2023-24 BIG EAST
Availability Reports
The BIG EAST is now requiring availability reports prior to each league game, with plans calling for the information will be released three hours prior to each conference contest.
The league website with that information is
https://bigeast.com/sports/2025/11/26/2526_mbb_availability_reports.aspx .
Seeking The Perfect 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 58-55 .513
2 Newcomers on Floor 562-581 .492
3 Newcomers on Floor 912-884 .508
4 Newcomers on Floor 722-734 .496
5 Newcomers on Floor 89-75 .543
Newcomers Lead The Way
For the season, 1,571 of Creighton's 2,343 points have been scored by newcomers, an astounding 67.05 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.
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.
Through games of March 7th, McDermott's 11 former assistant coaches who are currently Division I head coaches have accounted for 1,859 victories, and a .609 winning percentage. All but one (a first year head coach) have a winning record, and seven have won at a 60% clip. All but 282 of Sather's victories are Division I wins.
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
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 Men's Basketball 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), Oregon (15) and Belmont (15). Houston and Creighton both have 10.
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
Most 20-Win Seasons, Head Coaches Since 2010-11
20-Win Seasons (2010-11 to 2024-25) Name, Team
15 Mark Few, Gonzaga
15 Bill Self, Kansas
15 Dana Altman, Oregon
14 Greg McDermott, Creighton
14 John Calipari, Kentucky and Arkansas
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 Arkansas 2021 2022 2023 - 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
Coaching Consistency Is Key
Between women's basketball coach Jim Flanery (469) and men's basketball coach Greg McDermott (365), Creighton is the nation's only school with a pair of active head coaches with at least 360 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 as a Division I head coach.
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 Jacobson 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 365 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 March 8)
Rk. Wins School Coach Next
1. 480 Gonzaga Mark Few 3/9
2. 448 Kansas Bill Self 3/12
3. 411 Saint Mary's Randy Bennett 3/9
4. 398 Michigan State Tom Izzo 3/13
5. 383 Purdue Matt Painter 3/12
383 Oregon Dana Altman 3/10
7. 373 Baylor Scott Drew 3/10
8. 365 Creighton Greg McDermott 3/12
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 200 or more Division I games, per Basketball-Reference.com.
2010-11 to March 7, 2026
Category CU Stat CU Rank
3FG Made 4,969 2nd
2FG Percentage .552 3rd
FG Percentage .475 5th
Assists 8,846 6th
FG Made 15,071 8th
Points 42,155 8th
3FG Percentage .371 9th
Wins 365 26th
Winning Percentage .661 37th
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
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 ? ? ? ? ? ?
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%)
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) 03/11/22
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
McDermott Is Wins Leader
Greg McDermott has 365 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.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton MBB History
Rk. W-L Name Years
1. 365-187 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
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. 18,650 #2 Connecticut 01/31/26
9. 18,613 Wichita State 03/02/13
10. 18,571 DePaul?? 01/22/24
11. 18,525 Marquette 12/31/13
12. 18,519 #8 Seton Hall 03/07/20
13. 18,518 Georgetown 01/27/18
14. 18,509 Villanova 02/04/23
15. 18,495 Marquette 02/17/18
16. 18,494 Illinois State 02/09/13
17. 18,475 Nebraska 11/22/24
18. 18,458 Evansville 12/29/12
19. 18,436 Bradley 01/28/12
20. 18,430 Seton Hall 01/25/25
CHI Health Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 387 regular and postseason contests at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time in the now 23-year-old facility.
The Bluejays own a 317-70 (.819) 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 30,437-25,559 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.60 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 95 different times, including twice this year (Maryland Eastern Shore and Utah Tech).
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 36-41 all-time in the 77 games at the arena in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 8-16 when down by 10+ points at halftime in the facility, and 43-35 when trailing at halftime at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Creighton is 220-52 (.809) at CHI Health Center Omaha under Greg McDermott and hasn't trailed in 68 of those games. In that same span, CU owns a 112-11 home record (.911) 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 335-69 (.829) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
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 (3/8) 68 100 75
Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 season went on sale on October 16th.
Fans could 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 Media Availability - 3/9/26
Monday, March 09
Creighton Men's Basketball Highlights at Butler - 3/4/26
Thursday, March 05
2026 Creighton Men's Basketball Senior Day Ceremony
Friday, February 27
Creighton Men's Basketball vs. Providence Press Conference - 2/28/26
Friday, February 27
