By Uncle Tom George
3 29 2024
TENNESSEE GAME NOTES
https://utsports.com/documents/2024/3/27/G35_3-29-24_Creighton_NCAATr16.pdf
CREIGHTON GAME NOTES
https://utsports.com/documents/2024/3/26/35-NCAA-Regional-Semifinal-notes.pdf
MORE INFO
GAMEDAY TIMES & BROADCAST INFO
- Opponent: Creighton Bluejays
- Tipoff: Friday, March 29 | 9:59 p.m. ET
- Venue: Little Caesars Arena
- Watch Online: TBS
- Online: Listen Live
RELATED LINKS
Buy Tickets Game Day Information Follow @Vol_Hoops SEC Clubhouse
TENNESSEE
CREIGHTON
DETROIT – The sixth-ranked, No. 2 seed Tennessee men’s basketball is geared up to compete in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season, facing 11th-ranked, No. 3 seed Creighton Friday night in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9:59 p.m. ET.
Fans can catch Friday’s game between the Vols (26-8) and Bluejays (25-9) on TBS. Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst) and Evan Washburn (reporter) will have the call.
Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action.
Tennessee clinched its second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, its second time doing so in program history, with a 62-58 victory Saturday night over seventh-seeded Texas at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
Fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht, who iced the game with four late free throws, scored a game-high 18 points for the Vols, which led for over 36 minutes and forced 17 turnovers in a commanding defensive performance.
THE MATCHUP
• In the lone prior meeting between the two sides, Tennessee notched a 34-28 home win over Creighton on 1/9/37. That was just the 29th season in program history at UT.
• Creighton, which tied for second place in the BIG EAST, has its ninth straight 20-win season and is in the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years.
• Senior guard Baylor Scheierman, a Third Team All-American, paces Creighton at 18.3 ppg and 9.1 rpg.
• Scheierman and UT guard Dalton Knecht are two of the five finalists for the Julius Erving Award.
• UT is 31-27 all-time against current BIG EAST schools. It owns a 3-0 record in such NCAA Tournament games, possessing victories over Buter (2008), Connecticut (2000) and Marquette (1983).
• Tennessee and Creighton are two of the seven teams making back- to-back Sweet 16 trips, alongside Alabama, Connecticut, Gonzaga, Houston and San Diego State.
• The Volunteers are seeking their second Elite Eight bid (2010), while the Bluejays are looking for their third (1941 and 2023).
NEWS & NOTES
• Tennessee won the SEC regular season crown for the 11th time, notching its sixth outright title.
• The Volunteers are 8-5 in the NCAA Tournament under Rick Barnes, who is tied for the most such wins by a UT head coach.
• UT is 27-26 all-time in 26 NCAA Tournament trips, with this the first time it has ever owned a winning record in the event. The Vols are 2-5 in second games, 7-3 as a No. 2 seed and 0-2 against No. 3 seeds. This will be their first postseason game in Michigan.
• UT is one of 14 teams with seven Sweet 16 bids in the last 17 NCAA Tournaments (since 2006-07). It joins North Carolina (11), Duke (10), Gonzaga (10), Kansas (nine plus one vacated), Gonzaga (nine), Kentucky (eight), UCLA (eight), Arizona (seven plus one vacated), Michigan (seven), Purdue (seven), Syracuse (seven), Wisconsin (seven) and Xavier (seven).
• This is the second time UT has earned back-to-back Sweet 16 berths, joining 2007 and 2008.
• UT went 4-2 in the regular season against the other Sweet 16 teams.
• UT has 26 wins for the fourth time in the last seven years under Rick Barnes; it hit that tally thrice before his 2015 arrival. UT has 170 victories since 2017-18, co-10th in DI and co-fifth among teams at the Power Six level that entire time.
• Barnes, a Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award finalist, hit 200 wins at UT in the Round of 64 victory against Saint Peter’s, becoming the 19th coach to reach that mark at two DI schools.
• With three steals in the win over Texas, Santiago Vescovi upped his career total to 212, passing Vincent Yarbrough (1998-2002) for the most in UT history. He owns 15 steals in NCAA Tournament play, tied with Chris Lofton (2004-08) for the UT record.
• Zakai Zeigler has 24 assists in NCAA Tournament action, three behind Bert Bertelkamp (1976- 80) for the school record.
• Dalton Knecht, one of four Naismith Trophy finalists, is tied with Allan Houston (717 in 1991- 92) for third on UT’s single-season scoring list and seven shy of Dale Ellis (724 in 1982-83) for second.
VARIETY OF VICTORIES
• The Volunteers have 26 wins thus far, their seventh time ever hitting that mark. Four of those campaigns have come in the last seven years under Rick Barnes.
• Tennessee had 24 regular season triumphs, tying the 1999-2000 season for the third-most in program history. It won 28 in 2007-08 and 27 in 2018-19. Two of UT’s top four marks all-time are under Barnes.
• The Vols finished with eight true road wins this season, matching 2017-18 and 1999-2000 for the program’s second-highest total ever. Only the 2007- 08 team logged more, totaling nine.
• UT’s 14 SEC victories put them in a five-way tie for their fourth-most ever. It claimed 16 such decisions in 1976-77, as well as 15 in both 2018-19 and 1966-67.
RACKING UP RANKED VICTORIES
• In the past four years (2020-24), Tennessee leads all SEC teams with 21 AP top-25 wins, good for six more than any other SEC program (Alabama has 15). That tally ties Iowa State for fifth in the country.
• In that same four-year span, UT also leads the SEC in wins over teams in the AP top 20, top 15, top 10 and top five. Its 19 top-20 wins rank fourth nationally and 16 top-15 victories place third. Its eight top-10 triumphs sit co-sixth alongside Connecticut, North Carolina, Purdue and Texas, while its five top-five wins match Arizona, Gonzaga and Michigan State for the most in the nation.
• The eight AP top-10 triumphs during that time are: #1 Alabama (2/15/23), #3 Kansas (11/25/22), #3 Auburn (2/26/22), #4 Kentucky (2/15/22), #5 Kentucky (3/12/22), #6 Arizona (12/22/21), #10 Texas (1/28/23) and at #10 Kentucky (2/3/24).
• Over the last four seasons (2020-24), UT has played 36 games against AP top-25 opponents, the most in the league, posting a 21-15 (.583) ledger. The Vols are the only SEC team, regardless of number of games, with a winning record against ranked foes during that span. Auburn is a a distant second with a .478 (11-12) mark.
• Tennessee (36), Alabama (34) and Arkansas (34) are the only SEC teams to play over 30 ranked foes since the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
WINNING WAYS
• Over the last seven seasons, dating back to the start of the 2017-18 campaign, Tennessee paces all SEC programs in postseason wins (17) and co-leads the conference in both total victories (170) and winning percentage (.723). In that span, the Vols have claimed three SEC titles, winning the regular season in 2018 and 2024, as well as the tournament in 2022.
• In that same seven-year stretch, the Vols are one of only two SEC schools with an overall winning percentage of over .700, alongside Auburn (.723).
• In SEC play over the same seven-year period, Tennessee (86-39; .688) is second in the league, behind Kentucky (87-38; .696), in both victories and winning percentage. Only Auburn (81-45; .643) and Alabama (78-48; .619) have even 70-plus wins.
• Over just the last three seasons (2021-24), UT owns a 78-27 (.743) overall record. That is good for the most victories and the best winning percentage of any SEC team in that span. Auburn ranks second at 76-27 (.738) during that time.
INAM: “IT’S NOT ABOUT ME”
• The Volunteers have posted 20-plus assists 11 times this season. They have reached 25-plus thrice, with a high of 28 against Vanderbilt (2/17/24)
• Tennessee has a 60.8 percent assist rate that ranks No. 13 nationally, per KenPom, through 3/26/24.
• Last season, Tennessee placed second nationally, per KenPom, with a 66.2 percent assist rate. It also logged a 64.9 percent mark in SEC play.
POLL PRESENCE
• Tennessee has played 201 games as a ranked team in the AP Poll in Rick Barnes‘ tenure, posting a stellar 150-51 (.746) record. Over 66.5 percent of the Volunteers’ games since Barnes arrived in 2015- 16 have come with the team ranked in the AP Poll.
• UT is 129-46 (.737) while ranked in the AP top 20 under Barnes, 98-33 (.748) while in the top 15, 78-24 (.765) while in the top 10, 35-11 (.761) while in the top five, 17-2 (.895) while in the top three and 7-1 (.875) while at No. 1.
• The Vols are 27-21 (.563) in top-25 matchups under Barnes, including 21-14 (.600) with both teams in the top 20, 12-8 (.600) with both in the top 15 and 7-5 (.583) with both in the top 10.
COURTESY TENNESSEE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Bluejays seek return trip to Elite Eight
CREIGHTON GAME NOTES
https://gocreighton.com/documents/2024/3/26/35-NCAA-Regional-Semifinal-notes.pdf
TENNESSEE GAME NOTES
https://gocreighton.com/documents/2024/3/27/G35_3-29-24_Creighton_NCAATr16.pdf
Game #35: #11 Creighton Bluejays (25-9) vs. #6 Tennessee (26-8)
Friday, March 29, 2024 • Approx. 9:09 p.m. CT • Detroit, Mich. • Little Caesars Arena
Next Game
Third-seeded and 11th-ranked Creighton (25-9) returns to the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years on Friday, March 29th, when it faces second-seeded and sixth-ranked Tennessee (26-8).
Tip-off at Little Caesars Arena (20,332) in Detroit, Mich., will be at approximately 9:09 p.m. Central (10:09 p.m. Eastern), or 30 minutes after the Gonzaga/Purdue contest concludes.
The first 15 minutes of Creighton’s practice inside Little Caesars Arena from 10:55 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Central (11:55 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Eastern) will be open to credentialed media.
The Bluejays will meet the media on Thursday from 12:50 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. Central (1:50 – 2:20 p.m. Eastern).
Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) and KOOO (101.9 FM) will broadcast all Creighton men’s basketball games during the 2023-24 season. John Bishop and former Bluejay Nick Bahe will call the action. While KOZN is prevented from streaming the game on its app and website, fans can listen to Bishop & Bahe on The Varsity Network app, Powered by Learfield, which is available for free in your app store on your mobile device.
Westwood One Sports will also air the game nationwide on more than 500 terrestrial radio stations outside the Omaha market, with Kevin Kugler and Robbie Hummel on the call. The game can be heard on SiriusXM 209 or 202, and on the SiriusXM App.
The Westwood One feed will be available over the internet and other mobile devices. Games can be heard by selecting and then locating the audio at http://westwoodonesports.com/madness, or at https://sxm.app.link/965.
A list of Westwood One affiliates can be found at http://westwoodonesports.com/stations, The Westwood One feed is also on the Varsity Network app mentioned above.
It’s also available via the free Westwood One Sports skill on Alexa (“Alexa, Open Westwood One Sports”.
Television Broadcast Information
Friday’s game will be called by Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas and Evan Washburn and be televised on TBS and truTV.
Creighton is 4-3 under Greg McDermott on TBS, including last Saturday’s win vs. Oregon and last year’s Regional Semifinal victory vs. Princeton.
Creighton is also 3-1 all-time on truTV, last appearing on the network in its overtime win vs. San Diego State in the First Round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Streaming video of all NCAA Tournament games is online at http://www.ncaa.com/marchmadnesslive.
Live Stats Information
Live stat links for CU’s games this week can be found via a link on the men’s basketball schedule page on http://GoCreighton.com.
Scouting No. 11 Creighton
Creighton is 25-9 this year after tying for second place in the BIG EAST with a 14-6 league record. The Bluejays have won nine of their past 11 games, including an 85-66 win over No. 1 UConn on Feb. 20 and an 89-75 win vs. No. 5 Marquette on March 2, and advanced to the Sweet 16 with double-digit victories over Akron (77-60) and Oregon (86-73) last weekend in Pittsburgh. The Jays are second nationally among Power 6 teams with eight road wins and also owned eight Quad 1 wins before Selection Sunday.
The nucleus of the team is formed by three returning starters as senior forward Baylor Scheierman (18.3 ppg., 9.1 rpg., 4.0 apg), senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner (17.4 ppg., 7.6 rpg., 3.1 bpg., 65.1 FG%), and junior guard Trey Alexander (17.7 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.7 apg.) all put their professional aspirations on hold and came back.
Add in senior transfer Steven Ashworth (11.0 ppg,. 4.2 apg.), the USBWA District VII Player of the Year last year at Utah State, and it’s easy to see why CU was one of three BIG EAST teams picked in the top-10 nationally in the preseason.
The Bluejays boast an offense that shoots 48.5 percent from the floor, 78.4 percent at the line and 36.6 percent from three-point land while draining 10.7 three-pointers per contest (sixth-best nationally), which contributes to CU’s 80.6 points per game. The Jays also outrebound foes by 4.7 caroms per contest.
The Bluejay defense has held teams to 69.5 points per game and allowed opponents to make just 198 three-pointers all year. Creighton’s 11.35 fouls per game are the fewest in the nation, and the Bluejays are the nation’s only team to not have a player foul out this season.
Scouting No. 6 Tennessee
Tennessee is 26-8 on the season and making its second straight Sweet 16 appearance after defeating Saint Peter’s (83-49) and Texas (62-58) last weekend in Charlotte.
First Team All-American Dalton Knecht (21.1 ppg., 4.9 rpg.) was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year after pacing the Volunteers in scoring.
Also in double-figures are Jonas Aidoo (12.0 ppg., 7.6 rpg., 1.9 bpg.) and Zakai Zeigler (11.7 ppg., 6.0 apg.).
The Vols average 79.1 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting from the floor and 33.9 percent marksmanship from deep. UT allows just 67.0 points per contest and holds foes to 38.6 percent shooting from the floor.
Series History vs. Tennessee
Creighton is 0-1 all-time against Tennessee, losing 34-28 on Jan. 9, 1937 in Knoxville.
Greg McDermott has never faced Tennessee.
McDermott is winless in five games all-time against Rick Barnes, with all those games taking place when McDermott was at Iowa State and Barnes at Texas.
The Creighton Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) owns a 325-159 record in his 14th season with the Bluejays. He ranks 16th among active coaches in victories with a career mark of 605-354 in his 30th season, and is 474-290 in his 23rd Division I campaign.
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 first Elite Eight since 1941 in 2022-23. His 600th career win was a memorable one, as Creighton knocked off No. 1 UConn on Feb. 20, 2024.
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 Ryan Miller, Jalen Courtney-Williams and Derek Kellogg.
With A Win…
– Creighton would be among the final eight teams for the third time, but second straight season (1941, 2023, 2024).
– Creighton would improve to 4-2 in its third NCAA Tournament game of an appearance, which includes consolation game contests.
– Advance Creighton to Sunday’s Regional Final vs. either Gonzaga or Purdue in a game that would also be played in Detroit.
– Creighton would improve to 21-25 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
– Improve to 4-1 as a No. 3 seed and 1-5 against top-two NCAA Tournament seeds.
– Greg McDermott would improve to 12-8 as Creighton’s head coach in the NCAA Tournament, giving him more NCAA Tournament wins than all other Bluejay coaches combined (9).
– Creighton would win its 26th game of the season, its most since finishing 27-8 in 2013-14.
• Ryan Kalkbrenner would play in his ninth career NCAA Tournament win, extending his own program record.
– Creighton would move to 3-1 in NCAA Tournament games against teams from the Southeastern Conference (at time of game), including three straight wins, as the Jays posted one-point wins over Florida in 2002 and Alabama in 2012.
Milestone Watch
– Ryan Kalkbrenner is 10 points shy of joining Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander as Creighton’s first trio of players to score 600 points in the same season.
– Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 72 dunks this season, two shy of Martin Krampelj (74 in 2018-19) for most in a season under Greg McDermott.
– Creighton’s next dunk will be its 100th of the season, the sixth time in 14 seasons under Greg McDermott is has reached the century mark.
– Baylor Scheierman’s 106 three-pointers trail Ethan Wragge’s 110 (in 2013-14) that rank second-most in Creighton single-season history.
– Baylor Scheierman has made a three-pointer in 22 straight games. Only nine Bluejays have ever had a streak of 23 or longer.
– Baylor Scheierman has made 26 straight free throws. Only nine men have made 27 or more in a row and only six have drained 28 in a row or more.
– Baylor Scheierman has made 193 three-pointers in a Creighton uniform and is seven shy of 200, which would also rank 10th in program history.
– Steven Ashworth is shooting 90.7 percent (68-75) from the line, which trails only Kyle Korver (.908 in 2002-03) on Creighton’s single-season list of players with 70 or more attempts. Ashworth would need to make two or more free throws without a miss to surpass Korver.
About Creighton
Creighton is a private, Jesuit institution located in Omaha, Neb., with 8,255 students (which includes 4,262 undergraduates). The University was founded in 1878 by Mary Lucretia Creighton, who established it in memory of her husband, telegraph pioneer Edward Creighton.
Prominent alumni include Bob Gibson (Hall of Fame pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals), Paul Silas (former NBA player and head coach), Kyle Korver (former NBA player), Doug McDermott (Indiana Pacers), Pat Venditte (former ambidextrous MLB pitcher) and J. Joseph Ricketts (Chicago Cubs owner and founder of TD Ameritrade),
Creighton picked up the Bluejays moniker in 1924 after a newspaper coordinated a public contest to select a nickname and mascot.
Creighton officially joined the BIG EAST on July 1, 2013.
Storylines
There’s numerous story lines as it relates to Creighton’s trip to Detroit and the teams it will see there.
– Three former Creighton players have been with the Detroit Pistons, Anthony Tolliver, Khyri Thomas and Justin Patton.
Two former Creighton players have been with the Detroit Tigers in the past in Mike Gerber and the late Kimera Bartee.
– Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman and Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht are both up for the Julius Erving Award, given to the nation’s best small forward.
– Ryan Nembhard, who started at point guard for Creighton the past two seasons, is now at Gonzaga.
– Paul Lusk, a former Creighton assistant coach, is now an assistant coach at Purdue.
NCAA Tournament History
Creighton is making its 25th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, and 16th in the last 26 years. The Bluejays are 20-25 all-time in NCAA action.
Last season Creighton defeated NC State, Baylor and Princeton to reach the Elite Eight, where it fell by one point to eventual runner-up San Diego State. That was Creighton’s first time playing among the final eight since its debut appearance in 1941 when the tournament field consisted of just eight teams.
Creighton owns a 11-13 record all-time in the Midwest Region.
Creighton has had at least one sport reach the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 37 academic calendar years, as the Bluejays also have gone dancing in volleyball and women’s basketball this academic year.
Including the NCAA’s, NIT, CBI and CIT, Creighton is making its 25th postseason appearance in the last 27 seasons this year. The 2019-20 team that won the BIG EAST was one of those exceptions, but was likely headed for a 2 or 3 seed in the NCAA’s before COVID-19 canceled the event.
Deeper & Deeper
Creighton made 15 three-pointers in Saturday’s Second win vs. Oregon, breaking a program-record for an NCAA Tournament game originally set during CU’s double-overtime game vs. Florida in 2002.
Hours earlier, Creighton’s women made 15 three-pointers in a First Round NCAA Tournament win over UNLV.
Per research by former Drake and Alabama SID Ty Patton, that made Creighton the nation’s only team in the last 20 years to have its men’s and women’s teams both make 15 three-pointers in the NCAA Tournament on the same day.
Do You Believe in Streaks?
Not only has Baylor Scheierman made a three-pointer in 22 straight games, he’s also working on a streak of 26 straight free throws made.
The streak is CU’s longest since Isaiah Zierden had an identical streak in 2017, and no one’s had one longer since Doug McDermott’s program-record streak of 45 during the 2013-14 campaign.
Most Consecutive Free Throws Made, CU History Since 1980
FT Name Dates of Streak
45 Doug McDermott Dec. 1, 2013-Jan. 4, 2014
36 Booker Woodfox Dec. 6, 2008-Jan. 6, 2009
35 Bob Portman 1967-68
32 Michael Lindeman Jan. 23-Nov. 29, 2003
28 Kyle Korver Jan. 27-March 15, 2001
28 Doug McDermott March 10-Nov. 8, 2013
27 Matt West Nov. 27, 1999-Jan. 15, 2000
27 Kyle Korver Jan. 29-Nov. 20, 2000
27 Nate Funk Dec. 30, 2006-Jan. 12, 2007
26 Isaiah Zierden Jan. 4-March 9, 2017
26 Baylor Scheierman Feb. 17, 2024-Present
Double-Digit Darlings
Creighton’s 77-60 win over Akron to begin NCAA Tournament play was its largest victory margin ever in an NCAA Tournament play, eclipsing its 77-61 win vs. Texas in 1974.
Creighton’s 86-73 double-overtime win over Oregon improved the Bluejays to 2-0 all-time in NCAA Tournament games to go to double-OT.
This year marks the first time ever that Creighton’s posted multiple double-digit NCAA Tournament wins in the same season.
After just two wins by 13 points or more in its first 43 NCAA Tournament games, the Bluejays just did it twice in three days last weekend. Of the 84 teams to win an NCAA title, 40 of them won each of their first two games by at least 13 points.
Creighton is one of seven teams that has won both of its first two games by 13 points or more, joining UConn, Illinois, North Carolina, Duke, Purdue and Gonzaga.
Plant A Seed
Third-seeded Creighton will square off with second-seeded Tennessee late Friday night.
Creighton has never beaten a top-two seed in the NCAA Tournament, going 0-3 against No. 1 seeds and 0-2 vs. No. 2 seeds.
Since seeding began in 1981, Creighton is 5-13 against better-seeded teams, with a victory over No. 3 Baylor in 2023 being its best win.
Go BIG or Go Home
The BIG EAST is making all sorts of history so far this tournament.
Last Friday it became the first league ever to go undefeated with three or more teams to win all its First Round games by 15 points or more.
It’s also one of seven leagues ever to be undefeated entering the Sweet 16 with six wins or more, as seen below:
Year Avg. Margin W-L
1986 SEC 10.1 8-0
1995 ACC 17.1 8-0
1996 SEC 15.0 8-0
1998 Pac 10 15.3 8-0
2003 Big East 12.0 8-0
2014 SEC 12.7 7-0
2024 Big East 18.0 6-0
Let’s Go On A Run
Creighton has won at least one NCAA Tournament game in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. That makes CU one of five teams in the country to have a win in each of the last four NCAA Tournaments, joining Baylor, Gonzaga, Houston and Kansas.
This is the first time that Creighton has won an NCAA Tournament game in four straight years.
Sweetness!
Creighton is one of just five teams to have reached at least three of the last four Sweet 16s.
Gonzaga and Houston have done it each of the last four seasons, while Alabama, UCLA and Creighton have done it three times each.
This is the first time Creighton has been in the Sweet 16 in back-to-back tournaments.
Most Sweet 16’s, Last Four Years
# Team Years
4 Gonzaga 2021 2022 2023 2024
4 Houston 2021 2022 2023 2024
3 Creighton 2021 2023 2024
3 UCLA 2021 2022 2023
3 Alabama 2021 2023 2024
Common Opponents
Creighton and Tennessee share just one common opponent this season, Alabama.
Team CU Result Tennessee Result
Alabama W 85-82 W 91-71
W 81-74
It Ain’t Easy
Jasen Green came up big in Creighton’s game vs. Oregon, tripling his previous career-high with nine rebounds.
As far as we can tell, he’s just the second Bluejay freshman to ever record nine (or more) rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game, joining Arthur Kaluma’s 12 vs. Kansas in 2022.
Nationally, the only other freshman with nine or more rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game this year was New Mexico’s JT Toppin.
Rank And File
Creighton owns 14 Top 10 victories under Greg McDermott, which includes an 85-66 win vs. No. 1 UConn on Feb. 20th and a 89-75 win over then-No. 5 Marquette on March 5th. The only other time Creighton had three Top 10 wins in the same season was 2019-20 (No. 8 Villanova, No. 10 Seton Hall and No. 8 Seton Hall).
Creighton is 56-167 all-time against top 25 teams and 38-52 under Greg McDermott against nationally-ranked teams, 30 more top 25 wins than any other coach in Creighton history. Prior to McDermott’s arrival, Creighton was 18-115 all-time against top 25 foes.
Creighton is 33-35 since the start of the 2016-17 season against ranked teams. The 33 wins over ranked teams in that time are tied for the 12th-most nationally and trail only Villanova (37) among BIG EAST programs in that span. Creighton’s 14 Top 25 wins since the start of the 2021-22 season are tied for 11th-most.
Creighton has beaten at least one ranked team in each of the last 11 seasons (including 2023-24). On a national basis, the only 13 teams with a top-25 win each of the last 11 seasons (including 2023-24) are Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Florida State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas Tech, Villanova, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Creighton has beaten multiple ranked foes in each of the last nine seasons (including 2023-24). something only Baylor, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, Purdue, Texas Tech and Villanova can also claim. It’s the 13th time in program history, and 10th time under Greg McDermott.
Currently 3-2 against Top 25 foes this year, Creighton has had four seasons in program history with four or more Top 25 wins. All have come since 2016-17.
Creighton’s Most Top-25 Wins, Season
Wins Season Top-25 Victims
6 2019-20 #8 Villanova, #10 Seton Hall, #12 Texas Tech, #19 Marquette, #21 Butler, #8 Seton Hall
6 2022-23 #9 Arkansas, #11 Baylor, #13 Xavier, #19 Providence, #21 Texas Tech, #21 Connecticut
5 2021-22 #9 Villanova, #11 Providence, #17 UConn, #18 UConn, #24 BYU
4 2016-17 #9 Wisconsin, #12 Butler, #16 Butler, #22 Xavier
4 2017-18 #3 Villanova, #19 Seton Hall, #20 Northwestern, #23 UCLA
3 2020-21 #5 Villanova, #22 Xavier, #23 UConn
3 2023-24 #1 UConn, #5 Marquette, #23 Providence
Taking The Top Teams Down
Creighton owns at least one Top 10 win each of the last nine seasons (including 2023-24). The only schools with at least one top-10 each of the last nine seasons have been Creighton, Kansas and Texas Tech.
Merfeld’s One Shining Moment Turns 23
Currently an assistant to the head coach at Creighton, Steve Merfeld coached one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history when his 15th-seeded Hampton team defeated second-seeded Iowa State, 58-57, in Boise, Idaho, in 2001.
Merfeld’s team closed the game on a 14-2 run, capped by a Travis Williams basket with 6.9 seconds left. ISU All-American Jamaal Tinsley’s coast-to-coast lay-up attempt rolled out as time expired.
As the final horn sounded, Merfeld raced across the court from his bench area to the other side, where he was picked up by forward David Johnson in an enduring image as Merfeld kicked his feet in jubilation.
That video clip is still shown annually in March Madness intros and highlights worldwide.
Postseason Wins In 12 of Last 14 Openers
Creighton has won at least one game in 13 of its last 15 postseason appearances, a stretch that includes 2023-24. The stretch began in 2007-08.
Creighton’s Last 14 Postseason Openers
Year Tourney First Game
2007-08 NIT Beat Rhode Island, 74-73
2008-09 NIT Beat Bowling Green, 73-71
2009-10 CIT Beat South Dakota, 89-78
2010-11 CBI Beat San Jose State, 85-74
2011-12 NCAA Beat Alabama, 58-57
2012-13 NCAA Beat Cincinnati, 67-63
2013-14 NCAA Beat Louisiana, 76-66
2015-16 NIT Beat Alabama, 72-54
2016-17 NCAA Lost to Rhode Island, 84-72
2017-18 NCAA Lost to Kansas State, 69-59
2018-19 NIT Beat Loyola (Chicago), 70-61
2020-21 NCAA Beat UCSB, 63-62
2021-22 NCAA Beat San Diego St., 72-69 (OT)
2022-23 NCAA Beat NC State, 72-63
2023-24 NCAA Beat Akron, 77-60
Nine Is Divine
Greg McDermott has guided his team to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time 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 eight or more NCAA Tournament teams.
Name Sport NCAA’s @CU
Kirsten Bernthal Booth Volleyball 13
Bob Warming Men’s Soccer 11
Greg McDermott Men’s Basketball 9
Dana Altman Men’s Basketball 7
Brent Vigness Softball 7
Jim Flanery Women’s Basketball 7
McDermott In The Postseason
Creighton coach Greg McDermott is making his 12th postseason appearance at Creighton, and 15th overall as a Division I head coach when you include his time at Northern Iowa.
Including 2023-24, McDermott’s Division I teams own an 19-15 record in 15 postseason appearances and a 19-12 mark in 12 appearances at Creighton.
McDermott’s Division I Postseason Appearances
Year (School) Tourney Postseason W-L
2003-04 (UNI) NCAA 0-1
2004-05 (UNI) NCAA 0-1
2005-06 (UNI) NCAA 0-1
2010-11 (CU) CBI 4-2
2011-12 (CU) NCAA 1-1
2012-13 (CU) NCAA 1-1
2013-14 (CU) NCAA 1-1
2015-16 (CU) NIT 2-1
2016-17 (CU) NCAA 0-1
2017-18 (CU) NCAA 0-1
2018-19 (CU) NIT 2-1
2020-21 (CU) NCAA 2-1
2021-22 (CU) NCAA 1-1
2022-23 (CU) NCAA 3-1
2023-24 (CU) NCAA 2-0 so far
Most Postseason Bids By CU Coaches
This year’s bid to the NCAA Tournament is the 12th postseason bid for Greg McDermott at Creighton. Only Dana Altman (13) has taken the Bluejays to more postseason appearances in men’s basketball.
McDermott’s 11 NCAA Tournament wins are a school record, eight more than second-place John J. “Red” McManus.
McDermott’s nine NCAA Tournament trips are the most in program history as well, two more than what Altman did.
McDermott’s 19 postseason wins at Creighton are the most in school history, 12 more than Altman’s seven.
McDermott (19-12) is one of two coaches in program history with a winning record in postseason play, joining Eddie Sutton (2-1).
Coach (Bids) NCAA NIT CBI CIT NCIT Total
Hickey (3) 1-1 2-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 3-3
Belford (1) 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1
McManus (3) 3-3 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-1 4-4
Sutton (1) 2-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 2-1
Apke (4) 0-3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-4
Barone (3) 1-2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-3
Altman (13) 2-7 3-5 0-0 2-1 0-0 7-13
McDermott (12*) 11-8 4-2 4-2 0-0 0-0 19-12
*The 2024 NCAA Tournament is McDermott’s 12th appearance
Both Sides Now
Creighton is one of just 14 teams that had both its men’s and women’s basketball teams earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. That list consists of Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Only 22 schools placed men’s and women’s basketball teams in both NCAA Tournaments this year (Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan State, NC State, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and UConn).
Of those 22 schools, the only ones that won at least one game in both men’s and women’s basketball were these 14: Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, Texas, and UConn.
Coaching Experience In The Dance
Creighton’s full-time coaching staff boasts a combined 80 Division I NCAA Tournament games under their collective belts as either a player (10-7), assistant coach (27-12) or head coach (11-13), winning 48 of those games.
Greg McDermott is 11-11 in NCAA Tournament action as a Division head coach. He went 0-3 at Northern Iowa (0-1 in 2004, 2005 and 2006) and is 11-8 at Creighton (2-0 in 2024; 3-1 in 2023, 2-1 in 2021, 1-1 in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2022 and 0-1 in 2017 and 2018). In 2021, he led the Bluejays to their first Sweet 16 since 1974, while last year he guided CU to its first Elite Eight since 1941.
Ryan Miller has been a part of six NCAA Tournaments as an assistant coach, going 1-2 in two appearances (0-1 in 2010, 1-1 in 2012) with New Mexico, 0-1 in 2018 with TCU, 1-1 in 2022 at Creighton, 3-1 last year with Creighton and 2-0 this year at Creighton. He was also part of three tournaments as a player at Division II Northern State, going 2-1 to reach the Elite Eight in 1998, 1-1 in 1996 and 0-1 in 1997.
Jalen Courtney-Williams is 6-2 as an assistant coach at Creighton in two NCAA Tournament appearances. CU went 1-1 in 2022, 3-1 in 2023 and 2-0 in 2024.
Derek Kellogg is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament, He went 7-4 while playing in four NCAA Tournaments at UMass (2-1 in 1992; 1-1 in 1993 & 1994; 3-1 in 1995). As an assistant coach, Kellogg helped Kentucky to a 12-5 record in five appearances (0-1 in 2003; 1-1 in 2004; 3-1 in 2006 and 2007 and 5-1 in 2008 [though those games were later vacated]). He’s now 2-0 as an assistant at Creighton in 2024. As a head coach, he went 0-1 with both LIU in 2018 and UMass in 2014.
NCAA Experience
Twelve players on the Creighton team have been a part of an NCAA Tournament squad before this year, and nine of them have appeared for the Bluejays in the Big Dance.
Ryan Kalkbrenner and Sami Osmani were part of CU’s 2021 team that went 2-1 in the Bubble in Indianapolis. Kalkbrenner played in all three games, and Osmani played in the loss vs. Gonzaga.
In 2022, Trey Alexander played in both games, while Kalkbrenner (1-0) and Osmani (0-1) played in one game. Mason Miller was also on that roster as a redshirt.
Additionally, Baylor Scheierman was in the 2022 NCAA Tournament for South Dakota State (going 0-1), while Francisco Farabello played in the 2022 NCAA’s for TCU (going 1-1).
From last year’s Elite Eight team that went 3-1, Kalkbrenner, Alexander, Farabello, Fredrick King and Baylor Scheierman played in all four games, Miller played in three games (going 2-1), while Osmani participated in one contest (going 1-0). Jasen Green was a redshirt on that team.
Additionally, Steven Ashworth played in one 2023 NCAA Tournament game (a loss) last year for Utah State, Johnathan Lawson played in an NCAA Tournament loss with Memphis last year, and Isaac Traudt redshirted on Virginia’s 2023 team that lost in the First Round.
In other words, only sophomore transfer Josh Townley-Thomas and true freshmen Josiah Dotzler, Sterling Knox, Shane Thomas and Brock Vice had not been part of an NCAA Tournament team in some capacity before this month. Even then, Dotzler is no stranger to March Madness. His brother Josh Dotzler played in the NCAA Tournament for Creighton in 2007, while Josiah himself served as a ball boy the last time the city of Omaha hosted the NCAA Tournament in 2018.
Nothing But NET
Creighton’s men entered the NCAA Tournament with a NET of 11, while its women had a NET of 25.
That makes Creighton one of seven schools with both its men and women’s programs with a top-25 NET, joining Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Michigan State and UConn.
Top Seven Seeds
Creighton was one of nine teams to own a top-seven seed in both the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament this year.
School Men Women
Baylor 3 5
Creighton 3 7
Duke 4 7
Gonzaga 5 4
Iowa State 2 7
South Carolina 6 1
Tennessee 2 6
Texas 7 1
UConn 1 3
Against NCAA Tournament Opponents
Creighton is 6-3 against teams that made the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Jays were 1-1 against UConn and Marquette, 1-0 vs. Alabama and Nebraska, and 0-1 vs. Colorado State.
Baylor Scheierman led Creighton with 18.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in those contests, while Ryan Kalkbrenner averaged 15.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game and shot 69.1 percent from the floor. The Jays shot 45.4 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from deep and 78.5 percent at the line while holding foes to 68.8 points per game and 24.2 percent shooting from deep.
BIG EAST Success
Creighton was one of three BIG EAST teams to make the NCAA Tournament this season, joining Connecticut and Marquette.
Including 2023-24, the BIG EAST has had a Sweet 16 squad in 28 of the last 30 tournaments, and multiple Sweet 16 teams in 17 of the last 22 tournaments.
Even when you remove Louisville’s vacated 2013 men’s title, the BIG EAST Conference has won a combined 15 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball titles in the previous 23 tournaments.
This is the first time in over 10 years that three Big East teams will play in the NCAA Tournament as a regional No. 3 seed or better. Last time was in 2013 (Louisville-1, Georgetown-2, Marquette-3). That year Louisville won the whole thing, Marquette made it to the Elite 8 and Georgetown got upset in the first round by Florida Gulf Coast University.
Mac vs. the SEC
Greg McDermott is 5-1 as Creighton’s coach against the current teams in the Southeastern Conference.
He’s 3-0 vs. Alabama, 1-0 vs. Arkansas and 1-1 vs. Ole Miss. He has never faced Tennessee.
History As A No. 3 Seed
Since the NCAA began seeding all the teams in 1979, this year marks the second time Creighton has been a No. 3 seed, which matches its best mark ever.
Creighton has now been a better seed and played in its “home whites” for its initial NCAA Tournament game in eight of its past nine appearances.
Since 1985, No. 3 seeds are 39-41 in the Regional Semifinal (including 18-30 vs. the No. 2 seed) and 17-22 in the Regional Final.
The last No. 3 seed to reach the Final Four was Texas Tech in 2019 and the last No. 3 seed to win the national title was UConn in 2011. Other No. 3 seeds since 1979 to win the NCAA title include 2006 Florida, 2003 Syracuse, 1989 Michigan and 1981 Indiana.
Creighton’s NCAA Tourney Seeds
(since seeding began in 1979)
Year Seed Record
1981 8th 0-1
1989 14th 0-1
1991 11th 1-1
1999 10th 1-1
2000 10th 0-1
2001 10th 0-1
2002 12th 1-1
2003 6th 0-1
2005 10th 0-1
2007 10th 0-1
2012 8th 1-1
2013 7th 1-1
2014 3rd 1-1
2017 6th 0-1
2018 8th 0-1
2021 5th 2-1
2022 9th 1-1
2023 6th 3-1
2024 3rd 2-0 so far
Postseason Features Last-Second Drama
Fifteen of Creighton’s last 20 postseason runs (all but 2010, 2014 and 2016, 2017 and 2019) have included a game that was decided in the final seconds, including each of its last four trips.
In fact, Creighton’s past 20 postseason openers have been decided by an average of 6.85 points and feature five games decided by one point (including a double-OT finish), two by two points, one by three points (including an OT finish), one game by four points, two by six points (including an OT finish), one game by nine points, two games by 10 points, three games by 11 points, one by 12 points, one by 17 points and one decided by 18 points.
Last week in the Second Round, Creighton eliminated Oregon in a double-overtime thriller.
Last year in the Elite Eight, the game was tied before Creighton was called for a hand-check foul with 1.2 seconds left against San Diego State. Darrion Trammell then made the second of two free throws in SDSU’s 57-56 win.
In 2022, Creighton trailed 62-53 with under three minutes remaining in regulation against San Diego State before an epic 9-0 rally to force overtime. CU took the lead back with 1:08 left to eventually earn a 72-69 win.
In 2021, Christian Bishop made two go-ahead free throws with 16.0 seconds left and UC Santa Barbara’s Amadou Sow missed a point-bank lay-up with two seconds left as Creighton won, 63-62.
In 2013 Cincinnati missed a game-tying three-pointer in the final 20 seconds and Creighton guard Austin Chatman made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to hold on to a 67-63 win.
In 2012 Creighton edged Alabama in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, 58-57, as Trevor Releford’s game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer came up short.
Creighton’s 2010-11 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion in the CBI title game at Oregon. Creighton had the ball in a tie game with the shot clock off, but committed a backcourt violation on Oregon’s “unique” floor. The Ducks’ E.J. Singler then banked in a game-winning shot with 2.0 seconds left. A desperation three-pointer by Creighton was off the mark.
In 2009, Creighton rallied from a 14-point deficit and would hang on to beat Bowling Green, 73-71 in the first round of the NIT. The Jays needed a last-second defensive stand, as BGSU’s Darryl Clements’ game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark.
The following game, Creighton led Kentucky by one with 36 seconds left, only to miss two free throws and see UK All-American Jodie Meeks convert a three-point play. CU’s Booker Woodfox, the nation’s No. 2 three-point shooter, missed an open trey as time expired, and Creighton lost 65-63.
In 2008, Creighton rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final 3:07 to top Rhode Island, 74-73, in the first round of the NIT. Cavel Witter hit the game-winner with 3.2 seconds left to give CU its first lead of the game since 3-0.
In 2007, Creighton had the ball for a final shot in a tie game against Nevada in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Nate Funk’s shot attempt missed, and a tip-in try was also not converted. The Jays would eventually lose 77-71 in overtime.
In second round of the 2006 NIT, Miami (Fla.) guard Guilermo Diaz drained a free throw with 2.6 seconds left to beat Creighton 53-52. A last-second shot attempt by Bluejay senior Johnny Mathies was knocked out of his hands.
In the 2005 NCAA Tourney, Nate Funk had his three-point try with seven seconds left blocked by Tyrone Sally, and Sally raced downcourt for a breakaway dunk with 2.4 seconds left to give West Virginia a 63-61 win. Funk’s three-point try from the corner missed at the buzzer.
In 2004, Creighton fell 71-70 to Nebraska in the NIT. The Jays led nearly the entire second half before NU’s go-ahead basket with 12 seconds left. Nate Funk’s game-winning jumper from 18-feet away was blocked by Husker guard Jake Muhleisen.
In 2003 Creighton lost 79-73 to Central Michigan in the NCAA’s. The Jays trailed 50-24 with 16:24 left but a furious rally got them within two points (72-70) with 1:20 left, only to turn it over the next three possessions.
In the 2002 NCAA’s, Creighton beat #15 Florida, 83-82, in Chicago. Terrell Taylor hit a game-winning trey with 0.2 seconds left in double-overtime, his final three of 28 points after a scoreless first half.
Starts With Us
Creighton scored 77 points vs. Akron last Thursday, all from its starters. The last team to score that many points in an NCAA Tournament game despite having zero from its bench was Rutgers (87 points) in a Play-In Round loss to Notre Dame in 2022. The last team to score 77+ with zero bench points in a WIN, was Minnesota (86 vs Louisville) in the 2019 Round of 64.
The last Big East school to do this (regardless of result) was Providence in the a 1997 Elite-8 loss to Arizona (92 points).
Creighton is now 3-0 this season when it gets zero bench points, having also beaten No. 23 Providence (69-60 on Jan. 6) and Butler (79-57 on Feb. 17).
Kalkbrenner A Top Defender
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner was named 2024 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year for the third straight season.
Kalkbrenner is just the third player in league history to win the recognition three times or more, joining Georgetown greats Patrick Ewing (4x) and Alonzo Mourning (3x).
Between Kalkbrenner and 2017 & 2018 winner Khyri Thomas, Creighton has now had a BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in five of the last eight seasons.
Most BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Honors
Honors Name, School Years (*ties)
4 Patrick Ewing, Georgetown 1982, 83, 84, 85
3 Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown 1989, 90*, 92
3 Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton 2022, 23, ’24
2 Dikembe Mutombo, Georgetown 1990*, 91
2 Allen Iverson, Georgetown 1995, 96
2 Etan Thomas, Syracuse 1999, 00
2 John Linehan, Providence 2001, 02
2 Emeka Okafor, Connecticut 2003, 04
2 Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut 2008, 09
2 Kris Dunn, Providence 2015*, 16
2 Khyri Thomas, Creighton 2017*, 18
The Big Man Makes History
Against Oregon on Saturday, Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner had 19 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and a three-pointer.
He’s the first player to do all those things in an NCAA Tournament game since Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan vs. Saint Mary’s on March 14, 1997.
Accomplished, To Say The Least
Few Creighton players have put up career totals in the NCAA Tournament like Ryan Kalkbrenner.
He owns the following program records:
Single-Game
Points 31 vs. NC State, 3/17/23
Blocks 5 vs. Oregon, 3/23/24
Single-Tournament
Points 80 in 2023
Field Goals Made 32 in 2023
Blocks 8 in 2024
Career
Points 140
Field Goals Made 54
Blocked Shots 16
Games Played In 10
Wins Played In 8
Tournaments Played In 4
Chasing A Record
The following Creighton NCAA Tournament career records are within reach on Friday.
Baylor Scheierman has attempted 40 three-pointers, six behind the program record set by Kyle Korver.
Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner have made 29 free throws, which is six behind Paul Silas’ 35.
Trey Alexander owns nine career NCAA Tournament steals, three behind Ryan Sears’ 12.
Scheierman Makes NCAA History
Baylor Scheierman owns 2,208 points, 1,250 rebounds, 578 assists and 352 career three-pointers. He is the nation’s first Division I men’s player in history with career totals of at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 three-pointers.
Scheierman is one of 30 players since 1992-93 with 500 or more assists and 300 or more three-pointers. Scheierman’s 1,250 rebounds are more than 590 ahead of the next-most (658 by ASU/Toledo guard Marreon Jackson).
Among the nation’s active players Scheierman is sixth in rebounds, trailing only Armando Bacot (North Carolina), Fardaws Aimaq (California), Norchad Omier (Miami Fla.), Enrique Freeman (Akron) and Zach Edey (Purdue).
A True Unicorn
Just how good are Baylor Scheierman’s career numbers? Here’s where the fifth-year senior would rank in Creighton history if all his stats were attained with the Bluejays:
Category CU Career Rank* Baylor’s Totals
Games Played 1st 161
3-Point Field Goals Att. 1st 903
Assists 1st 578
Rebounds 2nd 1,250
3-Point Field Goals 2nd 352
Points 2nd 2,208
Field Goals Attempted 4th 1,635
Free Throw Percentage 5th .818
Field Goals Made 5th 755
Steals 8th 153
*if all of Scheierman’s stats had come at Creighton
24 of 26 Seasons With 20 Wins
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 24 of the last 26 seasons (1998-99 to 2023-24), a feat that puts the Jays among an exclusive group, nationally.
Entering this year, just two schools have had 20 or more wins each of the last 25 years: Gonzaga and Kansas. Duke has done it 24 times, Creighton and Kentucky 23 times each.
Creighton is also one of five teams (including 2023-24) to post 22 or more wins in each of the last five seasons, joining Baylor, Gonzaga, Houston and San Diego State.
Most 20-Win Seasons, Last 26 Seasons
Includes 2023-24
Team 20-Win Seasons
Gonzaga 26
Kansas 26
Duke 25
Creighton 24
Kentucky 24
Arizona 22
Florida 22
Ohio State 22
Michigan State 22
BYU 21
Memphis 21
North Carolina 21
Wisconsin 21
Most Consecutive 22-Win Seasons
Includes 2023-24
Team Consec. 22-Win Years
Gonzaga 27
Houston 7
Creighton 5
San Diego State 5
Baylor 5
KenPom Predicts The Future
Since 2002, every national champion has finished the season ranked Top-40 in KenPom adjusted offense and Top-25 in KenPom adjusted defense.
Through games of Sunday, the following 10 teams met this criteria: Arizona, Auburn, Connecticut, Creighton, Duke, Houston, Marquette, North Carolina, Purdue and Tennessee.
Firing On All Cylinders
Creighton finished last season ranked 12th overall by KenPom.com. That included the nation’s No. 23 offense, and No. 14 defense. Creighton’s No. 14 defense was its best mark in the 21 seasons of the KenPom era.
Creighton has had a top-25 offense per KenPom seven times in 13 seasons under Greg McDermott and a top-25 defense twice.
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 11 23 11
Hires Go Higher
Greg McDermott‘s coaching tree will be well-represented in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Former Creighton assistants Darian DeVries (Drake) and Steve Lutz (Western Kentucky) won conference tournament titles. Additionally, TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) was an assistant for him at Iowa State, while Eric Henderson (South Dakota State) played for McDermott at Wayne State.
That list doesn’t include two other former Bluejay assistant coaches under McDermott who won their league regular-season titles but were upset in the conference tournament in Patrick Sellers (Central Connecticut State) and Alan Huss (High Point).
Big Things Ahead?
Baylor Scheierman (622 points, 309 rebounds) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (590 points, 259 rebounds) are just the second set of Power 6 teammates in the last 10 seasons to have at least 590 points and 250 rebounds in the same season.
Joining them are the 2018-19 tandem of RJ Barrett (860/289) and Zion Williamson (746/293) from Duke.
The only other BIG EAST pair of teammates with 590 points and 250 rebounds at the same time, were Syracuse’s Derrick Coleman (591/398) and Billy Owens (602/276) in 1989-90.
In the last 20 years, the only time three teammates from a Power 6 team all scored 590 points or more was the 2009-10 Duke team that featured Jon Scheyer (728), Kyle Singler (707) and Nolan Smith (660).
A Dozen Will Do
Creighton scored the first 12 points in its March 9 win at Villanova as it never trailed in the win.
Since Greg McDermott was hired in 2010, it was the 12th time that Creighton has opened a game by scoring the first 10 points (or more).
The 12-0 start was CU’s third-best start under McDermott, and best in a road game.
Best Game Starting Runs Under Greg McDermott
Run School Final Score Date
19-0 Georgetown CU 99-59 03/01/23
13-0 Maryland-Eastern Shore CU 87-36 12/15/17
12-0 at Villanova CU 69-67 03/09/24
11-0 North Carolina A&T CU 97-65 11/11/11
11-0 Drake CU 76-69 01/03/12
11-0 at DePaul CU 91-80 01/17/16
11-0 St. John’s CU 82-68 02/.28/17
10-0 Houston Christian CU 97-62 12/17/11
10-0 UCF CU 82-64 03/23/11
10-0 Chicago State CU 84-66 11/16/14
10-0 at Providence CU 78-64 01/07/17
10-0 Nebraska CU 95-76 12/07/19
Fool Me Once…But 10 Times?
Creighton has met or exceeded its preseason BIG EAST prognostication all but one year since joining the league in 2013, as seen below.
This year marks the eighth straight year that Creighton has finished in fourth place or better.
Creighton’s BIG EAST Preseason Poll History
Year Preseason Actual Preseason All-BIG EAST
2013-14 3rd 2nd Doug McDermott (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 (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)
Among The Best
Creighton owns more BIG EAST wins (67) than any other school in the last five seasons, seven more than Villanova’s 60.
Since the league’s 2013 realignment, Villanova has 150 league wins to lead the BIG EAST by a wide margin, but Creighton’s 123 league victories are second-most.
Most Men’s Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2019-20 to 2023-24)
Team W L Pct.
Creighton 67 30 .691
Villanova 60 33 .645
Providence 58 36 .617
Marquette 58 38 .604
Seton Hall 57 39 .594
UConn 55 21 .724
Xavier 46 44 .511
St. John’s 41 55 .427
Butler 39 59 .398
Georgetown 16 77 .172
DePaul 14 79 .151
Most Men’s Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2013-14 to 2023-24)
Team W L Pct.
Villanova 150 51 .746
Creighton 123 82 .600
Providence 116 86 .574
Xavier 112 86 .566
Marquette 110 94 .539
Seton Hall 110 94 .539
Butler 93 113 .451
St. John’s 81 123 .397
Georgetown 62 139 .308
UConn 55 21 .724
DePaul 39 162 .194
Seeing Three’s
Creighton has made 13 or more three-pointers in 13 different games this year, tied for second-most nationally behind BYU’s 15. It’s the most games of 13 three-pointers in any season under Greg McDermott.
Creighton owns seven different games this season in which it has made 10 or more three-pointers than its opponent, which leads the nation.
The Bluejays have had three different games this season in which they’ve made 10 or more triples before halftime.
Creighton has made three or more three-pointers in all but five halves this season.
Let It Fly
Creighton tied the BIG EAST single-season record for league play by making 206 three-pointers and broke the single-season record by taking 585 three-point attempts.
The previous record was 206 three-pointers made by Villanova’s 2017-18 national champion team, while the previous mark for triple tries in league play was 557 by Villanova in 2018-19.
Best BIG EAST Years
Creighton’s 14 league wins tied a program record for most conference wins in any of its 11 seasons in the BIG EAST. Each of the previous teams that played in an NCAA Tournament game won, and two of them advanced to the second weekened.
Creighton’s most wins ever in any league was the 15 it picked up in 2002-03 when it was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Creighton’s Most BIG EAST Wins, Season
W-L Year NCAA Tourney
14-4 2013-14 1-1
14-6 2020-21 2-1
14-6 2022-23 3-1
14-6 2023-24 TBA
13-5 2019-20 Tourney Cancelled
12-7 2021-22 1-1
Baylor The Beast
Baylor Scheierman’s performance of 26 points and 16 rebounds vs. No. 5 Marquette was just the third Creighton performance in the last 20 years with at least 25 points and 15 rebounds.
The only other men to do it were Doug McDermott (33 & 15) vs. Tulsa on Nov. 23, 2013 and Kenny Lawson Jr. (30 & 18) vs. Saint Joseph’s on Dec. 11, 2010.
Scheierman’s 16 rebounds were the most by a Bluejay since Arthur Kaluma at Connecticut on Jan. 7, 2023.
Earning A Bid
Even though a certain NCAA bid was wiped away in 2020 by COVID-19, Creighton has still appeared in each of the last four NCAA Tournaments (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
The only previous time that Creighton has appeared four straight NCAA Tournaments was a run of five straight from 1999-2003.
Creighton has made 25 NCAA Tournament appearances, including nine under Greg McDermott, and was one of the final eight teams remaining in both 1941 and 2023.
Free Throw Defense Needs Work
Creighton doesn’t foul much, allowing just 10.41 free throw attempts per game, but it’s a good thing since its opponents are converting free throws at an ungodly rate.
After making 100 percent of its free throw attempts just 10 times in Greg McDermott‘s first 13 seasons on the Bluejay sideline, it’s happened seven times this year. No other team has had its opponents make all its foul shots more than four times this year.
Creighton’s last four opponents have combined to miss a total of three free throws.
This season Creighton opponents are shooting 78.5 percent at the line. Since 2010-11, the only teams to allow better foul shooting against it are the 2020-21 South Dakota State team (.793) and the 2022-23 Wyoming club (.788). The program record for CU opponent free throw shooting for an entire season is 75.0 in 1983-84 (384-512).
Trey Dishes, Too
Trey Alexander had back-to-back career-high assist totals, following up his 10 dimes vs. Seton Hall on Feb. 28 with 11 helpers vs. No. 5 Marquette on March 2nd.
Alexander joined Maurice Watson Jr. (Dec. 9 & Dec. 17, 2016) as Creighton’s only players with back-to-back points/assists double-doubles since 1978-79.
Besides Watson (twice in 2016-17) and Grant Gibbs (once in 2011-12), Creighton had not had another player with two straight games of 10 or more assists since at least 1979-80, and none of them extended the streak to three in a row either.
The only other BIG EAST player since 2020 with back-to-back points/assists double-doubles is Marquette’s Tyler Kolek, who has done it three times.
Trouble With The Top 10
Creighton beat No. 1 UConn (Feb. 20) and No. 5 Marquette (March 2), becoming the fifth BIG EAST team ever to earn back-to-back Top 5 wins without losing in between.
Nationally, Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas, Mississippi State, Purdue and Wisconsin are the only five schools with multiple Top 5 wins this season.
BIG EAST History, Consecutive Top 5 Wins
Year Team Game 1 Game 2
2023-24 Creighton #1 UConn #5 Marquette
2017-18 Villanova #4 Xavier #4 Kansas
2002-03 Syracuse #3 Oklahoma #5 Texas
1984-85 Georgetown #1 St. John’s #3 St. John’s
1981-82 Georgetown #4 Missouri #4 Oregon St.
Kalkbrenner Surpasses 100 Rejections
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 105 blocked shots this season. Kalkbrenner, who has had 72, 89 and now 105 blocks the past three seasons, joins Benoit Benjamin (who had 92, 157 and 162 swats) as the only players in CU history with more than 70 rejections in a season.
Kalkbrenner’s 105 blocks this year are 35 more than the previous CU record by a senior, a mark that had been set by Chad Gallagher in 1990-91.
Kalkbrenner (105/16) is one of just six men since 1992-93 to play for a Top 25 team and own at least 100 blocks and 15 three-pointers made. He’s joined by Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren (117/41 in 2021-22), Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson (106/38 in 2017-18), Oregon’s Chris Boucher (110/39 in 2015-16), Baylor’s Isaiah Austin (118/18 in 2013-14) and UConn’s Donyell Marshall (111/41 in 1993-94).
Kalkbrenner is also the nation’s only player in the last 30 seasons to have at least 200 two-point field goals, 10 three-point field goals and 100 blocked shots.
Kalkbrenner owns 48 blocks in Creighton’s last 12 games. Since 2005-06, no other Bluejay has had more than Anthony Tolliver’s 24 (in 2007) blocks in a 12-game span.
Kalkbrenner’s 24 blocks in the last five games are the most by any Bluejay in a five-game span since at least 2005-06. Next-most by someone besides Kalkbrenner is Gregory Echenique’s 16 in 2013.
Most Blocked Shots, Season
Blk. Name (Class) Year
162 Benoit Benjamin (Jr.) 1984-85
157 Benoit Benjamin (So.) 1983-84
105 Ryan Kalkbrenner (Sr.) 2023-24
92 Benoit Benjamin (Fr.) 1982-83
89 Ryan Kalkbrenner (So.) 2021-22
72 Ryan Kalkbrenner (Jr.) 2022-23
70 Chad Gallagher (Sr.) 1990-91
62 Chad Gallagher (Jr.) 1989-90
62 Gregory Echenique (Sr.) 2012-13
57 Doug Swenson (Jr.) 1997-98
57 Anthony Tolliver (Sr.) 2006-07
57 Gregory Echenique (Jr.) 2011-12
Scheierman Joins Century Club
Already one of three players in Creighton history with multiple seasons of 87 three-pointers (joining Kyle Korver and Mitch Ballock), Baylor Scheierman made history when he made his 100th three-pointer of the season on March 21 vs. Akron.
He is the third different player to reach the century mark, joining Kyle Korver (who did it twice) and Ethan Wragge.
Most 3-Pointers Made, Season
3FG Name (Class) Year
129 Kyle Korver (Sr.) 2002-03
110 Ethan Wragge (Sr.) 2013-14
105 Baylor Scheierman (Sr.) 2023-24
100 Kyle Korver (So.) 2000-01
97 Ty-Shon Alexander (So.) 2018-19
96 Doug McDermott (Sr.) 2013-14
95 Marcus Foster (Sr.) 2017-18
95 Mitch Ballock (So.) 2018-19
93 Mitch Ballock (Jr.) 2019-20
91 Booker Woodfox (Sr.) 2008-09
87 Baylor Scheierman (Sr.) 2022-23
The Chairman From Aurora
Baylor Scheierman is averaging 9.09 rebounds per game, which puts him on pace for CU’s best single-season average since Nate King averaged 8.96 rebounds per game in 1993-94.
The last Creighton player to average more than Scheierman’s 9.09 rebounds per game was Bob Harstad’s 9.35 in 1988-89.
He’s Done It Again
Baylor Scheierman owns 309 rebounds and 106 three-pointers this year. Since 1992-93, Scheierman is the nation’s only player to reach both those milestones in the same campaign.
Scheierman’s Senior Day performance on March 2 vs. No. 5 Marquette made him the first Power 6 player with at least 16 rebounds and six three-pointers in a game since Marquette’s Steve Novak vs. Connecticut on Jan. 3, 2006.
Leading The Way?
Creighton had three men lead the league in a statistical category for league play only, which requires participation in at least 75 percent of conference games.
Ryan Kalkbrenner shot 64.7 percent from the field in league play, becoming CU’s sixth player in 11 years to lead that BIG EAST category and joining Doug McDermott (.541 in 2013-14), Geoffrey Groselle (.656 in 2015-16), Justin Patton (.663 in 2016-17), Christian Bishop (.654 in 2020-21) and Kalkbrenner himself (.675 in 2022-23). Kalkbrenner is the first player to lead the league in that category in back-to-back years since UConn’s Emeka Okafor in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
Kalkbrenner also led the league with 3.4 blocked shots per game. Kalkbrenner (last year) is the only previous Bluejay to lead the BIG EAST in blocks per game. Kalkbrenner’s 67 blocks this year in conference contests are the most by any BIG EAST player since Rutgers’ Hamady Ndiaye had 69 in 2009-10.
Baylor Scheierman owned the BIG EAST lead with 8.9 defensive rebounds per game in league play, becoming Creighton’s first player to lead the BIG EAST in defensive rebounds per game.
Scheierman also led the conference with 9.8 rebounds per league game. He’s CU’s first player to do that since joining the BIG EAST.
Last but not least, Trey Alexander (38.2) led the BIG EAST in minutes per game, CU’s first minutes per game leader since joining the BIG EAST.
Keep An Eye On
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns the league record for career field goal percentage in BIG EAST play at 64.2 percent, well ahead of runner-up Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing (.608). The list requires five field goals made per game, and Kalkbrenner qualifies thanks to his 392 hoops in 78 games.
Kalkbrenner also owns 193 career blocked shots in league play. That ranks seventh-most all-time, trailing only Patrick Ewing (247), Hasheem Thabeet (243), Etan Thomas (232), Alonzo Mourning (224), Jason Lawson (216) and Emeka Okafor (207) and just ahead of Dikembe Mutombo (184).
Why Creighton Will Win The National Title
We’ve come up with three reasons why Creighton is a lock to win the 2024 NCAA title.
Each of the last three times that Villanova hosted their final game of the regular-season, the winner of that game went on to win the NCAA title. The Wildcats beat Georgetown 84-71 in 2016, then beat the Hoyas 97-73 in 2018. Last year, UConn defeated the Wildcats 71-59. All three of those games took place at Wells Fargo Center. This year, Creighton defeated Villanova 69-67 on March 9th.
Secondly, since 2010-11, the only two BIG EAST teams to finish a season making 150 three-pointers or more than the opposition have been Villanova (+192 in 2018) and Connecticut (+159 in 2023). Both the Wildcats and Huskies went on to win the NCAA title. Creighton is currently +166.
Additionally, Creighton’s 22-point win at Butler on Feb. 17th was tied for the 14th-largest home loss suffered inside HInkle Fieldhouse, which opened in 1928. In the past 32 seasons, the only two teams to beat Butler there by 22 points or more both went on to win the NCAA title.
Butler’s Home Losses By 22+ Points Since 1992-93
Score Opponent Date
103-56 North Carolina 12/20/1992
68-46 Connecticut 12/17/2022
79-57 Creighton 02/17/2024
McDermott Ranks Second On CU Wins List
Greg McDermott has 325 victories at Creighton, good for second place on CU’s all-time wins list, just two wins behind Dana Altman.
McDermott’s .671 winning percentage is Creighton’s best since Arthur A. Schabinger’s .714 win rate more than 85 years ago.
Below is a list of the most victorious Creighton coaches in program history.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton History
Rk. W-L Name Years
1. 327-176 Dana Altman 1994-2010
2. 325-159 Greg McDermott 2010-Pres.
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 10 Wins Under McDermott
Creighton owns 14 Top 10 victories under Greg McDermott, which includes the 85-66 win over No. 1 UConn on Feb. 20 and an 89-75 triumph vs. No. 5 Marquette on March 2nd.
Here’s a list of all 19 Top 10 wins in program history, which includes two Top 10 wins in 2013-14 (No. 4 Villanova; No. 6 Villanova) and three Top 10 wins in 2019-20 (No. 8 Villanova, No. 10 Seton Hall and No. 8 Seton Hall).
This year is the first time Creighton has beaten two Top 5 teams in the same season.
Creighton’s Top 10 Wins All-Time
Date Opponent Score Head Coach
12/13/63 #4 Arizona State W 84-83 McManus
12/01/65 #10 Kansas State W 83-75 McManus
01/29/70 #5 New Mexico State W 72-68 Sutton
02/17/73 #7 Houston W 78-77 Sutton
02/09/74 at #6 Marquette W 75-69 Sutton
01/20/14 at #4 Villanova W 96-68 McDermott
02/16/14 #6 Villanova W 101-80 McDermott
02/09/16 #5 Xavier W 70-56 McDermott
11/15/16 #9 Wisconsin W 79-67 McDermott
02/24/18 #3 Villanova W 89-83 (OT) McDermott
03/03/19 at #10 Marquette W 66-60 McDermott
02/01/20 at #8 Villanova W 76-61 McDermott
02/12/20 at #10 Seton Hall W 87-82 McDermott
03/07/20 #8 Seton Hall W 77-60 McDermott
02/13/21 #5 Villanova W 86-70 McDermott
12/17/21 #9 Villanova W 79-59 McDermott
11/22/22 vs. #9 Arkansas W 90-87 McDermott
02/20/24 #1 Connecticut W 85-66 McDermott
03/02/24 #5 Marquette W 89-74 McDermott
Top 25 Victims
This is Creighton’s ninth straight season with multiple Top 25 wins, and 13th time overall (and 10th time under Greg McDermott).
This year is also the seventh time in the last eight seasons with three or more Top 25 wins, something that had never happened prior to 2016-17.
Creighton’s Most Top-25 Wins, Season
Wins Season Top-25 Victims
6 2019-20 #8 Villanova, #10 Seton Hall,
#12 Texas Tech, #19 Marquette,
#21 Butler, #8 Seton Hall
6 2022-23 #9 Arkansas, #11 Baylor, #13 Xavier,
#19 Providence, #21 Texas Tech, #21 Connecticut
5 2021-22 #9 Villanova, #11 Providence,
#17 UConn, #18 UConn, #24 BYU
4 2016-17 #9 Wisconsin, #12 Butler,
#16 Butler, #22 Xavier
4 2017-18 #3 Villanova, #19 Seton Hall,
#20 Northwestern, #23 UCLA
3 2020-21 #5 Villanova, #22 Xavier, #23 UConn
3 2023-24 #1 UConn, #5 Marquette, #23 Providence
2 1973-74 #6 Marquette, #16 Louisville
2 2001-02 #15 Florida, #17 Western Kentucky
2 2006-07 #11 Southern Illinois, #24 Xavier
2 2013-14 #4 Villanova, #6 Villanova
2 2015-16 #5 Xavier, #18 Butler
2 2018-19 #10 Marquette, #16 Clemson
More Than Just Being Tall
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 233 dunks in his career, including six on Feb. 28 vs. Seton Hall. He has more than 100 career dunks more than any other Bluejay player since Greg McDermott‘s arrival in 2010.
Here’s a look at the Creighton student-athletes with 20 or more dunks in a season, and 25 or more dunks in a career, under McDermott:
Most Creighton Dunks, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks Name Year
74 Martin Krampelj 2018-19
72 Justin Patton 2016-17
72 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2023-24
69 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2021-22
63 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2022-23
50 Christian Bishop 2020-21
38 Christian Bishop 2019-20
36 Gregory Echenique 2012-13
33 Martin Krampelj 2017-18
30 Gregory Echenique 2011-12
29 Marcus Foster 2017-18
29 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2020-21
25 Fredrick King 2022-23
24 Gregory Echenique 2010-11
23 Marcus Foster 2016-17
22 Kenny Lawson Jr. 2010-11
22 Arthur Kaluma 2022-23
21 Alex O’Connell 2021-22
21 Arthur Kaluma 2021-22
20 Khyri Thomas 2017-18
Most Creighton Dunks, Career, Since 2010-11
Dunks Name Years
233 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2020-Pres.
121 Martin Krampelj 2015-19
103 Christian Bishop 2018-21
90 Gregory Echenique 2010-13
72 Justin Patton 2016-17
52 Marcus Foster 2016-18
51 Khyri Thomas 2015-18
43 Arthur Kaluma 2021-23
38 Will Artino 2011-15
36 Fredrick King 2022-Pres.
33 Zach Hanson 2013-17
25 Geoffrey Groselle 2012-16
25 Damien Jefferson 2018-21
Most Creighton Dunks, Team, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks Year Team W-L
144 2016-17 25-10 (NCAA)
132 2021-22 23-12 (NCAA)
115 2022-23 24-13 (NCAA)
107 2017-18 21-12 (NCAA)
106 2018-19 20-15 (NIT)
99 2023-24 25-9 so far
90 2020-21 22-9 (NCAA)
60 2019-20 24-7 (Postseason Canceled)
58 2015-16 20-15 (NIT)
56 2010-11 23-16 (CBI)
54 2012-13 28-8 (NCAA)
42 2011-12 29-6 (NCAA)
Dime Time For Alexander
Trey Alexander dished a career-high 10 assists on Feb. 28 vs. Seton Hall as the junior produced his first career points/assists double-double when you consider his 15 points. He earned his second such contest just three days later when he had 18 points and established a new career-high with 11 assists.
Alexander has also had two points/rebounds double-doubles this season, finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds vs. Iowa on Nov. 14 and 16 points and 15 rebounds vs. Villanova on Dec. 20th.
Alexander, Baylor Scheierman and Steven Ashworth are the first trio in BIG EAST history to each have 135 or more assists in the same season, per Elias.
Taking Away The Three
Not only does Creighton have three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner patrolling the paint, but the Jays have been remarkably effective in running opponents off the three-point line as well.
Creighton has allowed opponents to make just 44-of-154 three-pointers over the past eight games, while the Jays have drained 90 three-pointers in that same time.
For the year, Creighton has made 364 three-pointers while surrendering just 198 triples. That +166 differential is second-best in the country, behind only North Florida (+183). Since 2010-11, the only two BIG EAST teams to finish a season at +150 or better were Villanova (+192 in 2018) and Connecticut (+159 in 2023). Both the Wildcats and Huskies went on to win the NCAA title.
Creighton’s 5.82 three-pointers allowed per game is fourth-fewest in the nation among Power 6 schools, trailing only Maryland (5.45), Penn State (5.70) and Washington State (5.71).
Sold Out in Omaha
Creighton sold out six home games this season: Iowa, Alabama, DePaul, Butler, UConn and Marquette.
Creighton has also played in front of six sell out crowds on the road this year, doing so at Nebraska, Marquette, UConn, Xavier, Butler and Seton Hall this season.
CU’s neutral-site BIG EAST Tournament game at Madison Square Garden was also sold out, as did both NCAA Tournament games in Pittsburgh.
Creighton ranks sixth nationally this season with 17,269 fans per home game.
2023-24 NCAA Home Attendance Per Game Leaders
Rank School Average
1. North Carolina 20,593
2. Syracuse 20,288
3. Kentucky 19,928
4. Tennessee 19,664
5. Arkansas 19,106
6. Creighton 17,269
7. Indiana 16,468
8. Marquette 16,307
9. Kansas 16,300
10. BYU 15,689
Some Loyal Fans
Creighton’s average home crowd of 17,269 this year ranked fourth-most in program history.
Creighton had never attracted more than 141,000 home fans in any season prior to the opening of CHI Health Center Omaha, and now has done it each of the last 20 non-COVID seasons.
Creighton has led its conference in average home attendance every year (except the 2020-21 COVID season) since moving into CHI Health Center Omaha, which is in its 21st season.
Highest Average Attendance, Creighton History
Avg. Att. School Year
17,896 Creighton 2013-14
17,413 Creighton 2016-17
17,314 Creighton 2019-20
17,269 Creighton 2023-24
17,163 Creighton 2022-23
17,155 Creighton 2012-13
17,048 Creighton 2014-15
17,000 Creighton 2017-18
Terrific Trio
The trio of Baylor Scheierman (18.3 ppg.), Trey Alexander (17.7) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (17.4) have accounted for 66.2 percent of Creighton’s points this season.
They are the first Creighton trio with 500+ points in the same season since 1953-54 (Ray Yost, Eddie Cole, Elton Tuttle). Creighton’s never had three men over 600 in the same year.
Creighton has not had three men finish a season averaging 14 points per game or more in the same year since 1983-84, when Benoit Benjamin (16.2), Vernon Moore (15.0) and Gregory Brandon (14.5) did it.
Creighton has not had three men finish a season averaging 15 points per game or more in the same year since 1966-67, when Bob Portman (18.3), Tim Powers (17.5) and Wally Anderzunas (15.5) did it.
Creighton has not had three men finish a season averaging 16 points per game or more in the same year since 1953-54, when Ray Yost (19.9), Eddie Cole (19.6) and Elton Tuttle (18.5) did it.
Per Elias Sports Bureau, no “Power 6” team has finished a season with three men averaging 16 points per game since LSU in 2020-21 (Ja’Vonte Smart, Cameron Thomas, Trendon Watford). Going a step further, no “Power 6” team has finished a season with three men averaging 17 points per game since Duke in 2009-10 (Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith). No BIG EAST team has done it since Syracuse in 1989-90 (Derrick Coleman, Billy Owens and Stephen Thompson).
Scheierman, Alexander and Kalkbrenner could become the nation’s first trio to average 17.0 points per game since 2017-18 (Oakland and Charleston).
Give Me 10
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander own three of the BIG EAST’s five longest active streaks for games with 10 or more points, as seen below.
Kalkbrenner has also scored eight points or more in 57 straight games, the nation’s third-longest active streak.
Consecutive Games With 10+ Points
Active Streaks – BIG EAST Players (through 3/24)
Streak Name, School Next Game
34 Devin Carter, Providence Done
31 Quincy Olivari, Xavier Done
21 Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton 3/29
19 Baylor Scheierman, Creighton 3/29
16 Trey Alexander, Creighton 3/29
Consecutive Games With 8+ Points
Active Streaks – Nationally (through 3/24)
Streak Name, School Next Game
85 Zach Edey, Purdue 3/29
59 Dillon Jones, Weber State Done
57 Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton 3/29
56 Tristan Enaruna, Cleveland State 3/25
56 Mervin James, Rider Done
Scheierman Passes 1,000 Points at Creighton
With 20 points on Feb. 28th vs. Seton Hall, Baylor Scheierman became the 47th player to score 1,000 points in a Bluejay uniform. He accomplished the feat in his 66th game at CU, becoming the first Bluejay to reach 1,000 points in fewer than 75 games at CU since Marcus Foster needed just 54 in 2018.
Scheierman is the third Bluejay transfer from a four-year school to reach 1,000 career points at CU, joining Gregory Echenique (Rutgers) and Marcus Foster (Kansas State). Two other junior college transfers (Rod Mason and Johnny Mathies) have also scored 1,000 points after joining the Bluejays but starting elsewhere.
Here’s a list of Creighton’s top scorers ever, as well as how long it took CU’s last 23 men to reach 1,000 points.
Most Career Points, Creighton History
Rank Pts. Name Years
1. 3,150 Doug McDermott 2010-14
2. 2,116 Rodney Buford 1995-99
3. 2,110 Bob Harstad 1987-91
4. 1,983 Chad Gallagher 1987-91
5. 1,876 Bob Portman 1966-69
6. 1,801 Kyle Korver 1999-03
7. 1,757 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2020-Pres.
8. 1,754 Nate Funk 2002-07
9. 1,682 Rick Apke 1974-78
10. 1,661 Paul Silas 1961-64
11. 1,654 Vernon Moore 1981-85
12. 1,575 Benoit Benjamin 1982-85
13. 1,526 John C. Johnson 1975-79
14. 1,500 Kevin McKenna 1977-81
15. 1,437 Eddie Cole 1951-55
16. 1,369 Gene Harmon 1971-74
17. 1,361 Duan Cole 1987-92
18. 1,357 Trey Alexander 2021-Pres.
19. 1,342 Antoine Young 2008-12
20. 1,313 Kenny Lawson Jr. 2006-11
21. 1,309 Ryan Sears 1997-01
22. 1,304 Mitch Ballock 2017-21
23. 1,303 Elton Tuttle 1951-54
24. 1,293 Marcus Zegarowski 2018-21
25. 1,292 Marcus Foster 2016-18
26. 1,272 Bob Gibson 1954-57
27. 1,267 Wally Anderzunas 1965-67, 1968-69
28. 1,254 Gary Swain 1983-87
29. 1,241 Ty-Shon Alexander 2017-20
30. 1,238 Ben Walker 1997-01
31. 1,196 Ray Yost 1951-54
32. 1,172 Dick Harvey 1956-59
33. 1,155 Ethan Wragge 2009-14
34. 1,152 Dane Watts 2004-08
35. 1,140 Khyri Thomas 2015-18
36. 1,116 Kenny Evans 1982-87
37. 1,115 Doug Brookins 1972-75
1,115 Daryl Stovall 1978-82
39. 1,094 Baylor Scheierman 2022-Present
40. 1,093 Tim Powers 1964-67
41. 1,050 Reggie Morris 1982-86
42. 1,031 Johnny Mathies 2003-06
43. 1,024 P’Allen Stinnett 2007-10
44. 1,023 Rod Mason 1986-88
45. 1,013 Austin Chatman 2011-15
46. 1,006 Gregory Echenique 2010-13
47. 1,004 Anthony Tolliver 2003-07
Games To 1,000 Points, Last 23 Bluejays
Name CU Games to 1,000 pts. Date
Baylor Scheierman 66 02/28/24
Trey Alexander 87 01/06/24
Ryan Kalkbrenner 91 02/25/23
Marcus Zegarowski 75 01/20/21
Mitch Ballock 100 11/29/20
Ty-Shon Alexander 85 01/15/20
Khyri Thomas 94 02/10/18
Marcus Foster 54 01/17/18
Austin Chatman 138 03/11/15
Ethan Wragge 132 01/18/14
Gregory Echenique 101 03/24/13
Doug McDermott 57 01/15/12
Antoine Young 115 12/10/11
Kenny Lawson Jr. 108 11/21/10
P’Allen Stinnett 86 01/16/10
Dane Watts 115 01/22/08
Anthony Tolliver 124 03/16/07
Johnny Mathies 91 03/03/06
Nate Funk 92 02/28/05
Kyle Korver 81 01/30/02
Ben Walker 105 01/06/01
Ryan Sears 97 12/01/00
Rodney Buford 59 03/01/97
More History For Scheierman
Baylor Scheierman also became the 11th player in NCAA history to score 1,000 points at multiple Division I schools.
Player School 1 School 2
Jon Manning Oklahoma City 1039 N. Texas 1090
Kenny Battle N. Illinois 1072 Illinois 1112
Jalen Pickett Siena 1139 Penn State 1068
Gary Neal La Salle 1041 Towson 1254
Andrew Rowsey UNC Asheville 1244 Marquette 1087
Juanya Green Niagara 1131 Hofstra 1186
Matt Bradley California 1289 San Diego St. 1033
Tyler Thomas* Sacred Heart 1001 Hofstra 1320
Antonio Reeves* Illinois St. 1195 Kentucky 1155
Jahmir Young* Charlotte 1421 Maryland 1205
Baylor Scheierman* So. Dakota St. 1114 Creighton 1094
*active player
Getting Defensive
Baylor Scheierman owns 1,135 career defensive rebounds. That’s more than any other player in the country since 1999-2000, just ahead of Morehead State great Kenneth Faried (1,071) and current North Carolina star Armando Bacot (1,117).
Scheierman is Creighton’s first player since legendary Bob Portman (in 1967-68 and 1968-69) to have multiple seasons of 300 or more rebounds.
One Of The Best Q Ratings
Through games of Selection Sunday, Creighton owned a combined 15-9 record in Quad 1 (8-5) and Quad 2 (7-4) games this season.
Creighton’s combined 15 Quad 1 or 2 wins this year trailed only UConn (21), Purdue (20), Houston (19), Iowa State (16) and North Carolina (16) through games of Selection Sunday, and were tied for sixth-most nationally.
Creighton is 8-5 in Quad 1 games this season and entered this season 30-28 in Quad 1 contests since 2019-20. Creighton, Baylor and Kansas are the only three schools to have posted at least six Quad 1 wins in each of the previous four seasons.
Creighton’s eight Quad 1 victories are tied for sixth-most in the country this season.
Most Combined Q1 & Q2 Wins (through 3/17)
Rk. Total Q1 Q2 Team
1. 21 13 8 Connecticut
2. 20 12 8 Purdue
3. 19 16 3 Houston
4. 16 10 6 Iowa State
16 9 7 North Carolina
6. 15 8 7 Creighton
15 8 7 Arizona
15 9 6 Marquette
NET Gains
Creighton, Tennessee, North Carolina and UConn are the nation’s only teams with eight or more true road wins and eight or more Quad 1 wins.
Creighton, Tennessee, Connecticut, South Carolina and North Carolina are the nation’s only “Power 6” teams with eight or more true road wins this season.
Creighton, UConn, Tennessee, North Carolina, Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are the nation’s only teams in the top 25 of the NET with eight or more true road wins this season.
Creighton, UConn and South Carolina are the nation’s only teams from a “Power 6” conference with eight road wins in both men’s and women’s basketball this season.
Creighton’s five true road wins by 14 points or more are tied for the most among all Power 6 schools. Auburn (5), Duke (4), Arizona (4) are the only other “Power 6” schools with more than three against “Power 6” foes.
25 Going On 26
Creighton is one of five teams in the nation with 25 or more wins in both men’s basketball and women’s basketball this season. That list consists of Creighton, Drake, Gonzaga, South Carolina and UConn.
Creighton is one of eight schools to have men’s and women’s basketball programs to both own 22 wins or more each of the previous two seasons, a list that included Creighton, Gonzaga, Liberty, Princeton, Tennessee, Texas, Toledo and UConn. Of those clubs, Creighton, Gonzaga, Princeton and UConn have done it yet again, while Tennessee can join them with women’s basketball wins on Monday and Friday.
22+ Wins, Each of 2 Previous MBB & WBB Years
Team 23-24 MBB Wins 23-24 WBB Wins
Creighton 22+ 22+
Gonzaga 22+ 22+
Princeton 22+ 22+
UConn 22+ 22+
Tennessee 22+ 20
Texas 21 (season done) 22+
Toledo 20 (season done) 22+
Liberty 18 (season done) 18 (season done)
McDermott Earns 600th Win
Greg McDermott picked up his 600th career win on Feb. 20 vs. No. 1 Connecticut. McDermott now owns 605 victories, has won 50 or more games at four different schools, and owns a .631 career winning percentage in 30 seasons and 959 games as a head coach. Only 17 active Division I men’s coaches, and only 28 active men’s coaches across all levels, own 600 or more career victories.
Greg McDermott‘s Milestone Victories
Date W-L Opponent & Site Score
11/19/94 1-0 York at Wayne State 137-38
01/14/00 100-50 Moorhead St. at Wayne St. 92-59
11/23/05 200-117 UNI at Western Michigan 69-63
03/15/11 300-209 San Jose State at Creighton 85-74
02/24/15 400-248 Creighton at DePaul 75-62
01/11/20 500-308 Creighton at Xavier 77-65
02/20/24 600-352 #1 Connecticut 85-66
Twenty, Again
Creighton is one of six schools with 20 or more wins in each of the last nine seasons (including 2023-24), joining Belmont, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas and Oregon.
Longest 20-Win Season Streaks (Includes 2023-24)
Streak Team
35 Kansas
27 Gonzaga
14 Belmont
14 Oregon
9 Creighton
9 Houston
20/20 Vision
Creighton has won 20 or more games 35 times in program history, including a program-record 13 times under Greg McDermott.
Creighton’s 25 wins are tied for sixth-most in program history.
Creighton’s 20 Win Seasons
Total Wins How Often Last Time
29 2 times 2011-12
28 1 time 2012-13
27 2 times 2013-14
25 2 times 2023-24
24 4 times 2022-23
23 6 times 2021-22
22 5 times 2020-21
21 6 times 2017-18
20 7 times 2018-19
Most 20-Win MBB Seasons at Creighton, Coaches
How Often Head Coach
13 Greg McDermott
11 Dana Altman
3 Tom Apke
3 Tony Barone
2 Red McManus
1 Charles Kearney
1 Eddie Sutton
1 Willis Reed
A Dozen Will Do
Creighton has owned a .500 mark or better in league play 28 times in the last 29 seasons (including 2023-24), a figure it extended with its Feb. 17 win at Butler. Creighton is one of seven schools with a non-losing conference record in 28 of the last 29 seasons.
The only BIG EAST teams to finish .500 or better in league play each of the last nine seasons (including 2023-24) are Creighton, Villanova and Seton Hall.
Creighton finished 14-6 in the BIG EAST last season and with 13 years already is assured a fifth straight season with 12 or more league wins. Among the other “Power 6” Conference schools, only Virginia (7 straight years) also has an active streak of five years or longer after 2023-24.
Most Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Last 29 Seasons (includes 2023-24)
Seasons Team
29 Duke
29 Kansas
29 Gonzaga
28 Kentucky
28 Michigan State
28 Creighton
28 Murray State
Consecutive Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Power 6 Schools (includes 2023-24)
Seasons Team
35 Kansas
29 Duke
13 Virginia
13 Oregon
12 Villanova
9 Creighton
9 Houston
9 Seton Hall
9 Florida
Consecutive Seasons 12+ League Wins
Power 6 Schools (includes 2023-24)
Seasons Team
7 Virginia
5 Creighton
Getting Hot In Here
Creighton went 4-3 in its first seven BIG EAST games this season, when it averaged 68.1 points per contest.
The Jays have turned it up a notch or two since then, averaging 83.3 points in the past 16 games. That includes 85+ points 10 times, and 69, 73, 77, 78 and 79 in five of the exceptions (each wins).
In those 16 games, Trey Alexander (19.9 ppg.), Baylor Scheierman (19.0) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (19.3) are all on a scoring terror.
Scheierman has averaged 19.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists in the past 16 games.
Category First 7 in BE Last 16 Games
Creighton W-L 4-3 12-4
Points Per Game 68.1 83.3
Scoring Margin/Game +4.6 +9.1
Alexander PPG 15.9 19.9
Scheierman PPG 16.4 19.0
Kalkbrenner PPG 15.0 19.3
Ashworth PPG 8.6 13.8
Ashworth 3FG/Game 1.57 2.75
Ashworth 3FG% .256 .349
Green Points Scored 0 27
Team FG% .444 .486
Team 3FG% .296 .379
Team FT% .761 .812
Team A/TO Ratio 1.12 1.75
The Road Difference
Creighton outscored teams by 68 points in its 13 true road games this season. That’s the 14th-best mark in the nation, with Duke’s +85, UConn’s +75 and Auburn’s +70 are the only better figures among “Power 6” schools.
Best Point Differential, True Road Games (3/23)
Rk. Team Road W-L Differential
1. McNeese State 11-3 +163
2. Saint Mary’s 9-0 +153
3. Gonzaga 8-2 +143
4. James Madison 12-2 +113
5. Princeton 11-3 +111
6. Charleston 10-2 +91
7. UNC Wilmington 10-6 +86
8. Duke 7-4 +85
9. Grand Canyon 8-3 +78
10. UMass-Lowell 10-7 +76
11. UConn 9-3 +75
12. Auburn 5-5 +70
13. Louisiana Tech 8-7 +69
14. Creighton 8-5 +68
15. Arizona 7-4 +63
Storm Season
Creighton’s Feb. 20 win over No. 1 Connecticut was just the third time in the 21-year history of CHI Health Center Omaha that fans stormed the court following a Bluejay game.
The first time it happened came on Feb. 18, 2012 in a last-second 81-79 win vs. Long Beach State. Ironically, fans stormed twice on that late-night evening, once when Antoine Young’s shot at the buzzer went through the net, and again moments later after the court was cleared and time was put back on the clock and the final 0.3 seconds were played.
It also happened on March 7, 2020, when Creighton defeated No. 8 Seton Hall to clinch a share of its first BIG EAST regular-season title.
Down Goes No. 1
Creighton defeated No. 1 UConn, 85-66, on Feb. 20th. It was the largest win over a top-ranked team since 2018, when UMBC upset Virginia 74-54 in the NCAA Tournament.
Per Elias, here is a list of the 19 times in history that a No. 1 team has lost by 19 points or more.
Top-Ranked Losses by 19+ Points
Date Winner Loser Score
12/17/51 #2 Kentucky #1 St. John’s 81-40
03/03/62 Wisconsin #1 Ohio State 86-67
12/11/65 #6 Duke #1 UCLA 94-75
03/22/68* #2 UCLA #1 Houston 101-69
01/26/74 #2 UCLA #1 Notre Dame 94-75
03/07/81 #5 Arizona State #1 Oregon State 87-67
01/18/89 #13 N. Carolina #1 Duke 91-71
01/06/90 Villanova #1 Syracuse 93-74
02/27/90 #5 Oklahoma #1 Kansas 100-78
01/12/94 #17 Ga. Tech #1 N. Carolina 89-69
11/25/94 #3 UMass #1 Arkansas 104-80
02/18/95 #15 Villanova #1 UConn 96-73
02/05/98 #2 N. Carolina #1 Duke 97-73
03/11/04# Xavier #1 St. Joseph’s 87-67
01/23/13 #25 Miami Fla. #1 Duke 90-63
01/10/17 #10 West Virginia #1 Baylor 89-68
03/16/18* UMBC #1 Virginia 74-54
02/20/24 #15 Creighton #1 UConn 85-66
03/16/24 #7 Iowa State #1 Houston 69-41
* NCAA Tournament #Conference Tournament
Jays Beat No. 1 UConn
Creighton had been 0-6 all-time against No. 1 ranked teams before its Feb. 20 win vs. UConn.
Creighton vs. #1 Teams
Date Opponent Final Score
1/28/1980 #1 DePaul L 73-84
12/31/2016 #1 Villanova L 70-80
2/1/2018 at #1 Villanova L 78-98
12/1/2018 #1 Gonzaga L 92-103
3/28/2021 vs. #1 Gonzaga L 65-83
1/17/2024 at #1 Connecticut L 48-62
2/20/2024 #1 Connecticut W 85-66
State Of The Nation
Both Creighton (UConn) and Nebraska (Purdue) have beaten No. 1-ranked teams this season.
Per Sports Radar, the last time two teams from the same state beat No. 1’s in the same season was 2019-20, when Stephen F. Austin beat Duke and Texas Tech topped Louisville.
According to college basketball stats extraordinaire Jared Berson, it’s the first time ever that two different schools from the same state beat the No. 1 team by 15+ points in the same season.
This year marks just the second time that Creighton and Nebraska will both finish with 23 wins in the same season, as it also previously happened in 1990-91.
Working Overtime
Creighton has played in four different overtime games this season, losing to Villanova (Dec. 20), winning at Seton Hall in triple-overtime (Jan. 20), losing at Providence (Feb. 7) and winning in double-overtime vs. Oregon (March 23).
It was just the second triple-overtime game in history for Creighton, joining a Feb. 1, 1978 loss (85-82) in Omaha to No. 13 DePaul in a non-conference contest.
Creighton is 63-53 all-time in all games with at least one overtime, including a 13-9 mark under Greg McDermott. The Jays are 11-10 in the next game after an overtime battle. All-time, teams are 14-20 in the game after winning an NCAA Tournament game to go double-overtime or longer.
You Can’t Spell McDermott Without OT
Greg McDermott is 17-14 in single-overtime games (9-8 at Creighton), 7-3 in double-overtime games (3-1 at Creighton) and 1-0 in triple-overtime games (1-0 at Creighton).
McDermott’s first overtime game as a Division I head coach was a 2002 Northern Iowa win over Creighton. His first double-overtime game as a Division I coach was a 2004 victory over Missouri State in the MVC Tournament title game, which clinched his first appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a Division I head coach.
Creighton’s 86-73 win over Oregon was the third-largest margin of victory ever in an NCAA Tournament game to go to overtime. It was also CU’s largest winning margin in any overtime game, ever.
Largest NCAA Tourney Overtime Margins
Marg. Result Date
17 (2ot) Texas A&M 78, North Carolina 61 3/9/80
14 (2ot) NC State 80, UALR 66 3/16/86
13 (2ot) Creighton 86, Oregon 73 3/23/24
13 (ot) Tennessee 78, Iowa 65 3/19/14
Extra, Extra, Extra!
Creighton has played seven overtime sessions this season. That’s already tied for the most in program history with the1989-90 team.
Creighton’s four overtime contests this year tie a program record, also done in 1989-90, 1993-94, 2001-02 and 2018-19.
This is the first time that Creighton’s played an overtime game in four consecutive months.
This is the third time that Creighton’s played three or more conference games to go overtime in the same campaign, joining 1994-95 (4) and 2018-19 (4).
Lastly, this is the third time in program history that Creighton has played an overtime road game in back-to-back seasons against the same team. It also happened in 1989 & 1990 at Wichita State (CU won both) as well as in 2010 & 2011 at Southern Illinois (CU won both).
Most Overtime Sessions, Creighton Season
OT’s Year
7 1989-90
7 2023-24
6 2001-02
Most Overtime Games, Creighton Season
OT’s Year
4 1989-90
4 1993-94
4 2001-02
4 2018-19
4 2023-24
3 1983-84
3 1988-89
3 1995-96
3 1999-00
3 2005-06
3 2007-08
3 2014-15
On The Triple
Creighton’s Jan. 20th triple-overtime thriller at Seton Hall was the first BIG EAST game to go three overtimes or longer since No. 11 Providence beat Xavier 99-92 on Feb. 23, 2022.
In fact, that’s the only other triple-overtime game since the BIG EAST reconfigured on July 1, 2013.
This season, there’s only been nine games nationally to go three overtimes or longer, as seen below:
Date Winner Loser Score
11/16/23 Nicholls at South Alabama 102-97
11/29/23 at Temple La Salle 106-99
01/03/24 Fordham at George Washington 119-113
01/13/24 at Winthrop Radford 92-88
01/20/24 Creighton at Seton Hall 97-94
01/27/24 TCU at Baylor 105-102
02/08/24 Arizona at Utah 105-99
02/28/24 Drake at UIC 108-106
03/06/24 Texas A&M-Commerce Northwestern St. 83-80
Scheierman Makes Triple-Double History
Before Baylor Scheierman had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists on Feb. 13th against Georgetown, Creighton had never had a player earn a triple-double in points/rebounds/assists.
Benoit Benjamin attained the only three previous triple-doubles in Creighton history, but each one consisted of 10 or more points, rebounds and blocks.
Here’s a look at games this season when a Creighton player has had at least six points, six rebounds and six assists.
6+ Points, 6+ Rebounds, 6+ Assists This Season
Name Opponent Pts. Reb. Ast.
Alexander Iowa 23 11 9
Scheierman Texas Southern 23 9 6
Alexander Texas Southern 20 7 8
Scheierman Central Michigan 13 6 9
Alexander Central Michigan 15 7 8
Scheierman at UNLV 16 7 7
Scheierman Alabama 20 6 9
Alexander at #10 Marquette 18 6 6
Alexander at Seton Hall 23 8 7
Scheierman at Seton Hall 20 10 6
Kalkbrenner at Seton Hall 28 9 7 blk
Scheierman at Xavier 16 12 8
Scheierman Georgetown 15 11 11
Scheierman #1 Connecticut 12 7 6
Kalkbrenner at St. John’s 12 10 8 blk
Scheierman at Villanova 18 8 6
Ashworth at Villanova 8 7 8
Baylor On The Boards
Baylor Scheierman recently became Creighton’s first player to snare 10 or more rebounds in six straight games since Benoit Benjamin in 1984-85. The streak was snapped on Feb. 20 when he had a team-leading seven in the win vs. No. 1 UConn.
Consecutive Games, 10+ Rebounds
Creighton Players Since 1984-85
Streak Player Dates
28 Benoit Benjamin 03/15/84-02/16/85
6 Baylor Scheierman 01/27/24-02/17/24
4 Bob Harstad 11/29/89-12/08/89
4 Bob Harstad 02/23/91-03/03/91
4 Mike Amos 12/07/92-12/23/92
4 Nate King 12/29/93-01/08/94
4 Doug McDermott 11/25/11-12/10/11
4 Gregory Echenique 01/07/12-01/15/12
4 Baylor Scheierman 11/23/22-12/10/22
Double Time
Speaking of double-doubles, Baylor Scheierman is up to a BIG EAST-leading 16 double-doubles this season, and 29 in his Creighton career (not including his 25 at South Dakota State). Both put him among the Creighton leaders since 1985-86.
Most Double-Doubles, Season Since 1985-86
D-D Player Year
16 Baylor Scheierman, Sr. 2023-24
13 Bob Harstad, So. 1988-89
13 Baylor Scheierman, Sr. 2022-23
12 Bob Harstad, Jr. 1989-90
11 Bob Harstad, Sr. 1990-91
11 Doug McDermott, So. 2011-12
11 Ryan Hawkins, Sr. 2021-22
10 Chad Gallagher, Sr. 1990-91
10 Doug McDermott, Jr. 2012-13
Most Double-Doubles, Career Since 1985-87
D-D Player Year
42 Bob Harstad 1987-91
37 Doug McDermott 2010-14
29 Baylor Scheierman 2022-Present
24 Chad Gallagher 1987-91
16 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2020-Present
15 Kenny Evans 1985-87
13 Martin Krampelj 2015-19
On The Double
Baylor Scheierman also had a stretch of six straight double-doubles snapped on Feb. 20 vs. UConn, Creighton’s longest streak since Benoit Benjamin had 28 in a row 1984-85.
Consecutive Double-Doubles
Creighton Players Since 1984-85
Streak Player Dates
28 Benoit Benjamin 03/15/84-02/16/85
6 Baylor Scheierman 01/27/24-02/17/24
4 Bob Harstad 11/29/89-12/08/89
4 Nate King 12/29/93-01/08/94
4 Doug McDermott 11/25/11-12/10/11
4 Baylor Scheierman 11/23/22-12/10/22
Long Distance Marksmen
Baylor Scheierman and Steven Ashworth own two of the BIG EAST’s longest active streaks for games with a three-point field goal, as seen below:
Consecutive Games With A 3FG
Active Streaks – BIG EAST Players
Streak Name, School Next Game
37 Kam Jones, Marquette 3/29
26 Devin Carter, Providence Done
22 Baylor Scheierman, Creighton 3/29
22 Quincy Oivari, Xavier Done
20 Jalen Terry, DePaul Done
18 Steven Ashworth, Creighton 3/29
Doing It All
Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman and Providence’s Devin Carter are the second and third men in the history of the BIG EAST to average at least 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for a season.
Prior to this year, it had only been done by Syracuse’s Billy Owens in 1989-90.
BIG EAST Players To Average 17 PPG, 8 RPG, 3.5 APG
Season Name, School PPG RPG APG
1989-90 Billy Owens, Syracuse 18.2 8.4 4.6
2023-24 Baylor Scheierman, CU 18.3 9.1 4.0
2023-24 Devin Carter, PC 19.7 8.7 3.6
Kalk Of The Walk
In a league that features two of the five finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award (Kalkbrenner and Clingan), Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner has performed at a high level as he’s averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots per game.
Prior to this year, only four BIG EAST players since 1992-93 have averaged 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks over the course of a full season, and none since UConn’s Emeka Okafor in 2003-04.
BIG EAST Players To Average 16 PPG, 7 RPG, 3 BPG
Season Name, School PPG RPG BPG
1993-94 Donyell Marshall, UConn 25.1 8.9 3.3
2000-01 Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall 17.8 10.8 4.4
2002-03 Mike Sweetney, Georgetown 22.8 10.4 3.2
2003-04 Emeka Okafor, UConn 17.6 11.5 4.1
2023-24 Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton 17.4 7.6 3.1
Block Party
Ryan Kalkbrenner owned a career-high eight blocked shots on Feb. 25 at St. John’s. That made him the first Bluejay with eight rejections since Doug Swenson at UMKC on Nov. 18, 1998, and the first BIG EAST player with eight swats in a game since DePaul’s Nick Ongenda vs. St. John’s on Feb. 14, 2023.
Benoit Benjamin dominates Creighton’s single-game blocked shot list, as seen below:
Blk. Name, Opponent Date
12 Benoit Benjamin at Bradley 02/02/85
11 Benoit Benjamin vs. Tulsa 02/16/84
10 Benoit Benjamin vs. Omaha 12/22/83
Benoit Benjamin at Illinois State 03/08/84
Benoit Benjamin vs. Southern Illinois 01/17/85
9 Benoit Benjamin vs. West Texas A&M 01/21/84
8 Benoit Benjamin vs. Iowa State 12/10/83
Benoit Benjamin at Chaminade 12/19/84
Benoit Benjamin at Tulsa 01/12/85
Doug Swenson at UMKC 11/18/98
Ryan Kalkbrenner at St. John’s 02/25/24
More Fun With Numbers
Ryan Kalkbrenner’s just the third player in the last eight years to have eight or more blocks while playing 39 or more minutes of a regulation game.
The other two also have a Creighton connection.
One was LIU’s Ty Flowers (coached by current Creighton assistant Derek Kellogg) vs. UMass-Lowell on Nov. 8, 2019.
The other was Memphis’ Dedric Lawson (brother of current Creighton guard Johnathan Lawson) vs. UAB on Dec. 10, 2016.
A Look Back To Newark
Ryan Kalkbrenner played 53:34 on Jan. 20th at Seton Hall, including the final 45:57 without a break. Since 2005-06, the only other 7-footer to play 53 minutes or more in any college game was former Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet. The 7-foot-3 UConn big man played 53 minutes in a memorable six-overtime loss to Syracuse that started on March 12, 2009 at the BIG EAST Tournament.
Speaking of Kalkbrenner, his seven blocked shots that day tied the most ever by one of Greg McDermott‘s players in 23 seasons as a Division I head coach. Gregory Echenique also had seven vs. Missouri State on Jan. 22, 2011.
Kalkbrenner became the first player from a “Power 6” conference with at least 28 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks in a game since Providence’s Herbert Hill (29/15/8) vs. Syracuse on Feb. 24, 2007.
Baylor Scheierman (20/10/6/0) became the first BIG EAST player since Georgetown’s Jessie Govan (20/10/6/0) vs. UNC Greensboro on Dec. 22, 2016) to finish with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and no turnovers.
Kadary Richmond attempted 32 field goals were the most against Creighton by a single player in at least 40 seasons, four more than the 28 by Western Michigan’s Jim Havrilla on Dec. 8, 1990. That number was eclipsed by Oregon’s Jermaine Couisnard, who launched 33 points on March 23 in a double-overtime contest.
Creighton had 82 field goal attempts at Seton Hall, its most in a game in at least 35 years. Seton Hall had 86 field goal attempts, the most by a Creighton opponent in at least 35 years. It was the first BIG EAST game since at least 2010 in which both teams attempted 80 or more shots.
Creighton made 13 three-pointers and blocked 10 shots in that game vs. Seton Hall. It was its first time with 10 or more in both categories since Feb. 17, 2002 vs. Wichita State.
55 Minutes For Number 55
Baylor Scheierman played all 55 minutes on Jan. 20th at Seton Hall, setting a Creighton single-game record.
He’s the first BIG EAST player to play 55 minutes or more in a game since four men 60 by Eric Atkins; 56 each by Pat Connaughton, Chane Behanan and Russ Smith) did in a five-overtime Louisville/Notre Dame game on Feb. 9, 2013.
He’s the first BIG EAST player to play 55 minutes or more without leaving the floor since DePaul’s Will Walker played all 55 minutes vs. St. John’s on March 5, 2010.
Scheierman is the second player in the country to play 55 minutes or more this season in a game, joining La Salle’s Khalil Brantley at Temple on Nov. 29th.
Scheierman finished second in the BIG EAST with 38.0 minutes per game in conference action this winter. Take out two lopsided wins against DePaul and Georgetown when he played only 129 of a possible 160 minutes, and he averaged 39.6 minutes per league game.
Road Work
Creighton’s 79-57 win at Butler on Feb. 17th was its third road victory by 20 points or more this season, as the Jays have also dominated Nebraska (89-60) and DePaul (84-58) away from home.
It’s the fifth time in program history that Creighton’s had three such wins in a season, but just the second time in the last 30 years.
Most 20+ Point Road Wins, Season, CU History
Games Year Opponents
3 1917-18 Trinity (IA), South Dakota, Parsons
3 1963-64 Nevada, South Dakota, Miami (Fla.)
3 1990-91 Cleveland St., Drake, Notre Dame
3 2012-13 Nebraska, Missouri St., So. Illinois
3 2023-24 Nebraska, DePaul, Butler
Bench Provides A Boost
Creighton has won 36 straight games when scoring 17 or more bench points. That’s the nation’s longest streak since Baylor’s streak of 48 games in a row from Nov. 5, 2019 – Jan. 8, 2022.
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 30 years, Dana Altman (1994-2010) and Greg McDermott (2010-Present).
With help from Elias Sports Bureau, here’s a list of current “Power 6” 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
Not Tired Yet
Senior Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks 108th nationally in minutes per game, averaging 34;32 per contest.
That ranks tops nationally among 7-footers, way ahead of Kansas All-American Hunter Dickinson (32:13).
Last year while at Michigan, Dickinson (32:42) was narrowly ahead of Kalkbrenner (32:15) among minutes per game among 7-footers.
No player as tall as 7-foot-1 has averaged more than Kalkbrenner’s current 34:32 average since at least 2011-12, with USC’s Evan Mobley (33:53) in 2020-21 being closest.
Making History
Baylor Scheierman (26), Steven Ashworth (26), Trey Alexander (22) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (20) all scored 20 or more points against Butler on Feb. 2.
It was the first time since at least 1980 that Creighton has had four men score 20 or more points in the same game.
The 26 points were Creighton-highs for both Ashworth and Scheierman, though Scheierman scored 27 his next time out at Providence.
Creighton was the first team nationally with four men to score 20 in the same game since March 5th, 2022 when North Carolina did it vs. Duke (Armando Bacot 23; Caleb Love 22; RJ Davis 21; Brady Manek 20).
Creighton was the first BIG EAST school with four players with 20+ points since Syracuse vs. UConn in their famous six-OT thriller on March 12, 2009 (Jonny Flynn 34; Paul Harris 29; Eric Devendorf 22; Andy Rautins 20).
It was just the fifth time in 14 seasons under Greg McDermott that Creighton’s had three men score 20+ in the same game, but second time in two weeks (also Jan. 20th at Seton Hall).
It was the first time that Creighton’s had two men score 25 or more in the same game since Booker Woodfox (26) and P’Allen Stinnett (30) vs. New Mexico on Nov. 16, 2008.
Twenty Is Plenty
Trey Alexander owns 15 games this season with 20 points or more, while Baylor Scheierman has done it 14 times and Ryan Kalkbrenner on 10 occasions.
In 14 seasons under Greg McDermott, only Doug McDermott (3x), Marcus Foster (2x), Ryan Kalkbrenner and Marcus Zegarowski have also done that 10 or more times in an entire season.
Most Games With 20+ Points, Season, Since 2005-06
20+ Pts. Name Season
30 Doug McDermott, Sr. 2013-14
26 Doug McDermott, Jr. 2012-13
24 Doug McDermott, So. 2011-12
18 Marcus Foster, Sr. 2017-18
15 Trey Alexander, Jr. 2023-24
14 Baylor Scheierman, Sr. 2023-24
12 Marcus Foster, Jr. 2016-17
11 Nate Funk 2006-07
10 Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sr. 2023-24
Give Me Twenty
Creighton has had 44 individual scoring performances of 20 or more points this season, including 24 such outings in the past 14 games alone.
Creighton is 20-3 all-time when Ryan Kalkbrenner scores 20 points or more.
Creighton is 13-4 when Baylor Scheierman scores 20 points or more.
Creighton is also 18-2 all-time when Trey Alexander scores 20 points or more.
Nationally, when Alexander scores 20 or more points (min. 20 games of 20+ points) Creighton does almost as well as anyone, as seen below in this list from Elias Sports Bureau:
Best Team Record When Scoring 20+ Points
(Min. 20 games of 20+ points, active players only, thru 3/24)
Win Pct. W-L Player, Team
.920 23-2 LJ Cryer, Houston/Baylor
.903 28-3 Graham Ike, Gonzaga/Wyoming
.900 18-2 Trey Alexander, Creighton
.875 21-3 Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
.875 35-5 Tucker DeVries, Drake
Watch This
Two Bluejays are finalists for being the best in the nation at their position.
Baylor Scheierman is one of five men up for the Julius Erving Award, given to the nation’s top small forward.
Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of five men in the running for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given to the nation’s top center.
Give Me 10
Creighton went 14-2 inside CHI Health Center Omaha and earned at least 10 home wins for the 27th time in the last 28 seasons in 2023-24. The only exception in that time came in 2014-15, when the Jays won nine times at home.
Creighton also surpassed 200,000 total home fans for the season. It is the 18th time in the last 19 years that’s happened. The only exception was the 2020-21 season that was impacted by COVID-19, which restricted crowds nationwide.
Yearly Pink Out Totals
Creighton has raised $605,089.18 since the start of the 2011-12 season during its annual men’s basketball Pink Out auctions, plus additional money collected on gameday, underwriting or matching donations.
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
Additional Donations: $244,349.86
13-Year Totals: $605,089.18
Pink Out Auction Raises $36,002.46
When Creighton hosted DePaul on January 27th in its 14th Annual Pink Out game, Bluejay players wore pink shooting shirts and pink-trimmed jerseys for the game.
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.
All funds raised went to benefit American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Omaha, which provides a free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers who must travel to Omaha to receive their lifesaving treatment. More than just a roof over their heads, it’s a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need. This year Nebraska Cancer Specialists generously agreed to match all donations to Hope Lodge raised at the game, up to $30,000.
The annual Creighton Men’s Basketball Pink Out game has raised over $605,089.18 (including the 2023-24 auction) benefiting the Hope Lodge facility in Omaha and the guests it serves.
This year’s auction ran from Jan. 11-21 and raised $36,002.46, while the matching donation and in-game donations generated an additional $72,119.54.
Below is the final numbers for each jersey/item in the auction this year.
#0 $945 #1 $2025 #2 $1050
#4 $887 #5 $1725 #10 $870
#11 $3600 #12 $847.46 #13 $2000
#14 $872 #15 $2250 #23 $3650
#32 $1005 #33 $1675 #41 $1825
#55 $3150 Golf: $3250
Greg McDermott‘s Shoes $935 Ball 1: $710
Ball 2: $710 Ball 3: $680 Ball 4: $655 Ball 5: $686
McDermott Among The Best
Greg McDermott ranks tied for eighth in league history with 123 regular-season league wins.
McDermott, along with Ed Cooley and Pitino, are the only three active coaches with 100 regular-season BIG EAST wins. The list contains six different coaches who have won at least one national title.
McDermott has been at his current job (14 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 13 years in the BIG EAST lead all active league coaches.
Most League Wins, BIG EAST MBB Coaches
Rk. Wins Name, School
1. 366 Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
2. 274 Jim Calhoun, UConn
3. 244 Jay Wright, Villanova
4. 198 John Thompson Sr., Georgetown
5. 136 Mike Brey, Notre Dame
6. 131 John Thompson III, Georgetown
7. 127 Lou Carnesecca, St. John’s
8. 123 Greg McDermott, Creighton
123 Ed Cooley, Providence/G’Town
123 Rick Pitino, Prov./Louisville/SJU
11. 115 Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh
Overtime Is Trey’s Time
Trey Alexander’s three-pointer with 28.4 seconds left in triple-overtime gave Creighton a 93-91 lead it would not surrender at Seton Hall, but it’s not the first time he’s provided overtime heroics. He had also given CU a 90-89 lead with 55.6 left on a jumper.
Alexander has been on the court for all 50 overtime minutes of each of Creighton’s last six games to go beyond 40 minutes, and he’s been excellent almost every time.
He’s shot 12-for-22 from the field (.556), including 2-for-4 from three-point range (.500) while making 9-of-10 free throws (.900). Alexander also has four assists, two blocked shots and two steals in that span.
Alexander has scored 35 of Creighton’s 94 overtime points in those six contests.
Sultan of Swat
Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks second in program history in blocked shots with 304.
Kalkbrenner has joined Benoit Benjamin as the only Bluejays with three different seasons of 60 or more blocks.
Kalkbrenner is just the seventh BIG EAST player since 1992-93 with three campaigns of 72 or more swats, joining Jason Lawson (4x) and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (3x), Chris Obekpa (3x), Emeka Okafor (3x), Hasheem Thabeet (3x) and Etan Thomas (3x).
Most Creighton Blocked Shots, Since 1979-80
Blk. Name Years
411 Benoit Benjamin 1982-85
304 Ryan Kalkbrenner 2020-Pres.
183 Chad Gallagher 1987-91
174 Gregory Echenique 2010-13
Most Creighton Blocked Shots, Since 1979-80
Blk. Name (Class) Year
162 Benoit Benjamin (Jr.) 1984-85
157 Benoit Benjamin (So.) 1983-84
105 Ryan Kalkbrenner (Sr.) 2023-24
92 Benoit Benjamin (Fr.) 1982-83
89 Ryan Kalkbrenner (So.) 2021-22
72 Ryan Kalkbrenner (Jr.) 2022-23
70 Chad Gallagher (Sr.) 1990-91
Baylor Ball
Of the 1,250 career rebounds that Baylor Scheierman has snared, only 115 of them (9.2 percent) have come on the offensive glass.
Scheierman leads all BIG EAST players with 284 defensive rebounds this season, but is tied for 49th with 25 offensive rebounds.
Scheierman is the only “Power 6” player in the last 25 seasons with at least 270 defensive rebounds and less than 40 offensive rebounds, and now has done it back-to-back years.
Scheierman owns 26 career games of 10 or more rebounds without snaring an offensive board. Per Basketball-Reference.com, that makes him one of just two players nationally since 2010-11 with more than 10 such contests, joining Weber State’s Dillon Jones (25).
One other quirky stat about Scheierman? He owned 1,088 career rebounds in his first 145 career games. Those are the exact same numbers that Doug McDermott finished his college career with.
Meet The Alexander’s
Though they’re not related, the stats of Ty-Shon Alexander (2017-20) and Trey Alexander (2021-Present) are pretty similar. Ty-Shon played 98 games, while Trey has played in 106 contests.
That’s a positive development considering that Ty-Shon was a First Team All-BIG EAST choice who helped Creighton to a share of the 2020 BIG EAST title and later played for the 2021 NBA runner-up Phoenix Suns.
Career Statistics
Name PTS REB AST BLK STL FG% 3FG% FT%
Ty-Shon 1241 360 222 22 91 .418 .372 .813
Trey 1363 481 341 42 102 .444 .356 .819
Scheierman The Scorer?
Baylor Scheierman is fourth in the BIG EAST Conference in scoring at 18.3 points per game, and has scored in double-figures every game but one this season.
Before being held to nine points on Jan. 6 vs. Providence, Scheierman had become just the third Creighton player in the last 25 seasons to score in double-figures each of the first 14 games of a year, joining Doug McDermott (all 35 games in 2011-12) and Marcus Foster (first 15 in 2017-18).
The fifth-year senior is aiming to become the first Creighton player to lead the BIG EAST in scoring since Doug McDermott in 2013-14. McDermott led the nation with 26.7 points per game en route to National Player of the Year accolades.
Keep in mind that Scheierman has proven he can do way more than score. Two years ago at South Dakota State, Scheierman led the Summit League in the rare combination of both rebounds and assists.
Biggest in the BIG EAST
Creighton’s average height of 78.56 inches puts the Bluejays as the nation’s 11th-tallest team, and the biggest in the BIG EAST.
The second-tallest team in the BIG EAST is Connecticut, which ranks tied for 24th-biggest at 78.29 inches per player.
Jays Don’t Foul…Do You Follow?
Creighton leads the nation with just 11.35 fouls per game…let’s take a minute to appreciate just how few that is.
Lipscomb is second-best at avoiding fouls, committing 12.9 per game.
Creighton is the only team nationally that has not had a player foul out this season. Per Elias, Creighton’s streak of 53 straight games without a foul out is the nation’s longest since at least 2005-06.
Only two teams total (Nebraska and Alabama), have gotten into the bonus in the first half this season against Creighton.
Creighton has committed three fouls or less in 16 different halves this year.
Creighton has had more than nine fouls in just five halves (including OT) this season, which means its opponents have been in the double-bonus just four times.
Creighton has allowed just 43 made free throws in a 1-and-1 situation all year, and just 12 made free throws in the double bonus all season (6 of those came in an overtime session). Only two of those free throws in a 1-and-1 situation came in the first half (vs. Alabama).
Here’s a look at how many fouls Creighton has been called for this season by half:
Creighton Fouls By Half
Opponent First Half Second Half
Florida A&M 4 5
North Dakota State 1 3
Iowa 6 8
Texas Southern 1 6
Loyola (Chicago) 3 7
Colorado State 2 5
Oklahoma State 6 7
Nebraska 7 7
Central Michigan 3 2
UNLV 5 5
Alabama 9 7
Villanova 5 4 (4 more in OT)
#10 Marquette 5 11
Georgetown 4 6
#23 Providence 5 6
St. John’s 3 5
DePaul 6 10
#1 Connecticut 5 9
Seton Hall 3 5 (6 more in 3 OT’s)
Xavier 6 8
DePaul 5 4
Butler 3 8
at Providence 5 3 (6 more in OT)
at Xavier 6 7
Georgetown 5 7
at Butler 3 5
#1 Connecticut 4 9
at St. John’s 2 10
Seton Hall 6 10
#5 Marquette 2 8
at Villanova 3 3
Providence 4 9
Akron 4 8
Oregon 3 7 (2 more in 2OT’s)
Total 144 224 (18 more in OT)
Kalkbrenner’s A Handful
Ryan Kalkbrenner swatted five shots on Dec. 16 at UNLV, then did it again on Jan. 17 at No. 1 UConn. He notched a career-high eight rejections on Feb. 25 at St. John’s.
Fifteen times in his Bluejay career that he’s had five or more rejections. During his four years at Creighton, all his teammates have combined for one such game, a five-swat effort by Fredrick King last year in Las Vegas. Kalkbrenner is the only Creighton player with multiple games of five or more swats since the Bluejays joined the BIG EAST in 2013 as King, Jacob Epperson and Justin Patton have each done it once.
Kalkbrenner’s 304 career blocked shots rank third among the nation’s active players.
In January, Kalkbrenner had four or more blocks in four straight games, Creighton’s longest such streak since Benoit Benjamin did it in an incredible 12 straight games from Jan. 12-, Feb. 20, 1985. The streak featured games of 8, 10, 5, 4, 7, 12, 6, 5, 5, 6, 4 and 4 blocks.
Among The Nation’s Best
Below is where Creighton ranks nationally since the start of the 2010-11 season among teams to have played 100 or more Division I games, per Basketball-Reference.com.
2010-11 to 3/24/24
Category CU Stat CU Rank
3FG Made 4282 2nd
2FG Percentage .549 3rd
FG Percentage .477 4th
Assists 7,736 5th
3FG Percentage .374 6th
FG Made 13,244 8th
Points 37,020 9th
Wins 325 24th
Winning Percentage .671 30th
Don’t Forget The Two’s
While attention tends to focus on Creighton’s proficiency from three-point range, the Bluejays are also pretty efficient from inside the arc.
Through games of March 24, CU ranks fourth in the country in two-point percentage (.597) in 2023-24 and third-best nationally (.549) among Division I schools to have played 100 or more games since Greg McDermott‘s arrival in 2010-11.
Creighton shot 26-for-32 (.813) from two-point range on Dec. 9 vs. Central Michigan, just the third time in Greg McDermott‘s 14 seasons at CU its converted on better than 80 percent of its two-point shots. The only better game was when it shot 22-for-26 (.846) in a March 2, 2013 win over Wichita State in CU’s final regular-season game as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Century Mark
Creighton’s 109 point effort on Dec. 9 vs. Central Michigan was the 25th time under Greg McDermott that Creighton has scored 100 or more points.
That ranks third-most among all Power 5/BIG EAST teams nationally in that span, trailing only North Carolina (37) and Iowa (26).
No other BIG EAST team has cracked the century mark more than 13 times since 2010-11.
Greg McDermott‘s teams at Northern Iowa (153 games) and Iowa State (127 games) never scored more than 100 points in any game.
Road Dubs
Before its Dec. 13 loss at UNLV, Creighton had started 2-0 on the road this season, doing so in impressive fashion in both games.
On Nov. 30 Creighton beat Oklahoma State 79-65, its second-biggest non-conference home loss since 1978.
Four days later on Dec. 3, Creighton won 89-60 at Nebraska, handing the Cornhuskers their largest non-conference home loss since 1938.
It’s the first time that Creighton has won its first two true road games since 2016-17, when the Jays won their first five road contests.
It’s also just the 12th time in the last 50 seasons that CU has won each of its first two true road games. Ten of the 11 most recent teams to do so made the NCAA Tournament, and each won 20 or more games.
Started 2-0 Or Better On The Road, Last 50 Years
Road W’s to Start Season Final W-L (Postseason)
2 1976-77 21-7 (NCAA)
2 1980-81 21-9 (NCAA)
2 1998-99 22-9 (NCAA)
3 1999-00 23-10 (NCAA)
2 2002-03 29-5 (NCAA)
4 2003-04 20-9 (NIT)
2 2004-05 23-11 (NCAA)
2 2011-12 29-6 (NCAA)
4 2012-13 28-8 (NCAA)
4 2013-14 27-8 (NCAA)
5 2016-17 25-10 (NCAA)
2 2023-24 TBD (NCAA)
He Does It All
Baylor Scheierman owns 2,208 points, 1,250 rebounds, 578 assists and has made 352 career three-pointers in 161 total games when you combine his Creighton and South Dakota State stats.
Creighton’s only other players to reach 1,000 career rebounds (only at Creighton) have been Paul Silas (1,751), Bob Harstad (1,126), Doug McDermott (1,088) and Benoit Benjamin (1,005).
If you’re curious, how many games it took to get to 1,000 rebounds for each man, we’ve got you covered:
Games to 1,000 Rebounds
Name GP Opponent, Date
Paul Silas 47 at Utah State, 2/23/63
Benoit Benjamin 89 at Bradley, 3/5/85
Bob Harstad 115 Siena, 2/3/91
Doug McDermott 132 DePaul, 2/7/14
Baylor Scheierman* 135 at Nebraska, 12/3/23
*includes games at South Dakota State
1,000+ Rebounds, 274+ 3FG Nationally, Since 1992-93
**Stats earned at Division I schools only**
Name, School(s) REB 3FG
Baylor Scheierman, SDSU/Creighton 1,250 352
Doug McDermott, Creighton 1,088 274
1,100+ Rebounds, 500 Assists Nationally, Since 1992-93
**Stats earned at Division I schools only**
Name, School(s) REB AST
Baylor Scheierman, SDSU/Creighton 1,250 578
Brian Voelkel, Vermont 1,168 679
John Konchar, IPFW 1,149 553
Max Fiedler, Rice 1,144 571
Can’t Stop Scheierman
Baylor Scheierman made a three-point basket in all 37 games he played last season and each of his first 11 contests this season, stretching his streak dating to last year to 58 in a row if you include his final 10 games at South Dakota State in 2021-22. The streak ended on Dec. 20, 2023 vs. Villanova, when Scheierman went 0-for-7 from deep.
Scheierman’s streak of 48 straight as a Bluejay was the longest streak in Creighton history, 15 more than Ty-Shon Alexander’s 33.
Since Scheierman’s streak was snapped, he’s made a three-ball in 22 straight games, meaning he’s drained at least one triple in 80 of his past 81 contests and all but one of his 71 games in a Bluejay uniform.
Consecutive Games With A 3-Pointer, Creighton History
Streak Name Dates of Streak
48 Baylor Scheierman Nov. 7, 2022 – Dec. 16, 2023
33 Ty-Shon Alexander Feb. 27, 2018-March 6, 2019
31 Booker Woodfox Nov. 25, 2008-March 23, 2009
28 Kyle Korver Feb. 4, 2001-Feb. 6, 2002
27 Kyle Korver Feb. 13, 2002-Jan. 20, 2003
25 Rodney Buford Jan. 25, 1997 – Jan. 10, 1998
23 Ethan Wragge Nov. 8, 2013 – Feb. 9, 2014
23 Mitch Ballock Nov. 12, 2019 – Feb. 8, 2020
23 Marcus Zegarowski Dec. 17, 2020 – March 28, 2021
22 Khyri Thomas Jan. 28 – Dec. 5, 2017
22 Baylor Scheierman Dec. 30, 2023 – Present
Road Openers
Creighton is 7-7 under Greg McDermott in its first true road game of the season.
The road opener has been the barometer for Creighton’s postseason plans in the last 14 years (including 2023-24). Creighton has made the NCAA Tournament all seven times (including 2023-24) it has won the road opener, and missed the NCAA Tournament four of the other six years where a postseason was contested.
That’s encouraging since CU defeated Oklahoma State 79-65 in its road opener this winter.
CU would have made the 2020 NCAA Tournament that was canceled even though it lost its road opener that year.
Creighton in Road Openers, Last 14 Years
Year Opponent Score CU in NCAA’s?
2010-11 Northwestern L 52-65 No (CBI)
2011-12 UAB W 70-60 Yes
2012-13 Nebraska W 64-42 Yes
2013-14 Saint Joseph’s W 83-79 Yes
2014-15 Tulsa L 64-77 No
2015-16 #14 Indiana L 65-86 No (NIT)
2016-17 Nebraska W 77-62 Yes
2017-18 #20 Northwestern W 92-88 Yes
2018-19 Nebraska L 75-94 No (NIT)
2019-20 Michigan L 69-79 No (Postseason CCD)
2020-21 #5 Kansas L 72-73 Yes
2021-22 Nebraska W 77-69 Yes
2022-23 #2 Texas L 67-72 Yes
2023-24 Oklahoma State W 79-65 Yes
Among The Best…EVER!
Ryan Kalkbrenner has made 707 of 1,068 career shots, putting him at 66.2 percent overall. That places the senior center fifth in field goal percentage in NCAA history among players to make 500 or more field goals and at least four field goals per game.
However, Kalkbrenner is first among all such players who have ever attempted 50 or more three-point field goal attempts.
Best Career FG%, NCAA History (min. 500 FG, 4FG/game)
Pct. (FG-FGA) Name, School Years
.678 (828-1222) Steve Johnson, Oregon State 1976-81
.668 (566-847) Murray Brown, Florida State 1976-80
.667 (740-1109) Evan Bradds, Belmont 2013-17
.664 (702-1058) Todd MacCulloch, Washington 1995-99
.662 (707-1068) Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton 2020-Pres.
.658 (601-914) Max Fiedler, Rice 2020-24
.656 (552-841) Kevin Magee UC Irvine 1980-82
Trey’s Bien
Trey Alexander has made the leap in his junior season. Here’s how this year compares to his first two years combined.
Category 2023-24 2021-23
Games Played 34 72
20-Point Games 15 5
Dunks 5 2
Double-Doubles 4 0
Points Per Game 17.7 10.6
Rebounds Per Game 5.7 4.0
Assists Per Game 4.7 2.5
Nationally Speaking
Through games of March 24th, Creighton is all over the NCAA stat leaders. The Bluejays rank in the top 20 of 11 different team and 14 individual categories.
Rank Category Stat
1 Fouls Per Game 11.4
2 Blocks Per Game (Kalkbrenner) 3.09
2 Blocks (Kalkbrenner) 105
4 Defensive Rebounds Per Game 29.79
5 Effective FG% .574
5 Def. Rebounds/Game (Scheierman) 8.35
6 Average Home Attendance 17,269
6 Three-Pointers Per Game 10.7
6 Minutes Per Game (Alexander) 37:15
7 Field Goal Pct. (Kalkbrenner) .651
7 Triple-Doubles (Scheierman) 1
9 Three-Point Attempts Per Game 29.3
9 Total Home Attendance 276,300
10 Free Throw Percentage .784
14 3FG Attempts (Scheierman) 280
14 Three-Pointers Made (Scheierman) 106
15 Minutes Per Game (Scheierman) 36:40
17 Assists Per Game 16.9
17 Field Goals Made (Kalkbrenner) 235
18 Double-Doubles (Scheierman) 16
18 Three-Pointers Per Game (Scheierman) 3.12
19 Field Goal Attempts (Alexander) 508
19 Assist/Turnover Ratio 1.58
20 Field Goal Percentage .485
20 Field Goals Made (Alexander) 229
This Is 20/20
Trey Alexander started his junior season with 20 points vs. Florida A&M, 21 points vs. North Dakota State, 23 points vs. Iowa and 20 points vs. Texas Southern
That made him just the second Bluejay in the last 25 years to score 20 or more in each of CU’s first four games, joining Doug McDermott in 2013-14. McDermott did it the first six games of his senior season in 2013-14 and went on to be named National Player of the Year that season.
Alexander is the first Bluejay to score 20 points or more in four consecutive games at any time of year since Marcus Foster did it in seven consecutive contests from Jan. 16-Feb. 10, 2018.
Bahamas Bounce
Creighton got a jump start on the season with nine practices in July before heading to the Bahamas to play in three games during the first week of August.
Creighton won all three games by 14 points or more, averaged 98.3 points, and outrebounded foes by 21.3 caroms per contest.
Trey Alexander led CU by averaging 20.0 points before missing the final contest, but Ryan Kalkbrenner (11.0 ppg.), Baylor Scheierman (10.0 ppg.) and Fredrick King (10.0 ppg.) also scored at a double-digit clip.
Steven Ashworth led CU with 15 assists, King and Brock Vice had a team-high 18 rebounds and Kalkbrenner topped the team with 10 swats.
A 2019 trip to Australia helped the Bluejays open the year 12-2.
A 2015 trip to Italy helped the Bluejays start the season 5-1.
A 2011 trip to the Bahamas helped get the Bluejays ready for a 7-0 start.
A 2007 trip to Canada paid dividends as Creighton started 5-0.
In 2003, the Bluejays also went to Canada and started the subsequent season 12-0.
Who’s Back?
With Creighton returning seven of the 13 men who appeared in a game last season, it’s no surprise that a similar ratio of the production from 2022-23 is also gone. Below is a breakdown of what is back:
Stat Returners Departures
Blocks 126 (82.9%) 26 (17.1%)
Rebounds 860 (67.9%) 411 (32.1%)
3FG Made 207 (64.9%) 112 (35.1%)
Points 1833 (64.8%) 995 (35.2%)
Steals 119 (64.3%) 66 (35.7%)
Minutes 4693 (63.0%) 2757 (37.0%)
Starts 111 (60.0%) 74 (40.0%)
Charges Taken 16 (59.3%) 11 (40.7%)
Assists 308 (53.0%) 273 (47.0%)
Preseason Top 10
The Creighton men’s basketball team was ranked eighth in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll, its highest preseason AP ranking ever. That’s one spot better than the previous best, done last year, when the Bluejays started the season ranked ninth. CU was ranked 11th in the March 18th AP poll.
The announcement marks just the sixth 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) and 2022-23 (No. 9). All five of those teams would end up in the NCAA Tournament, with the last three (including 2023-24) making the Sweet 16 and last year’s club reaching the Elite Eight.
Creighton has been ranked in the Top 10 on 29 different occasions in program history, with all but one of those occasions happening under head coach Greg McDermott. 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).
Creighton has now been ranked 140 times in program history, with 113 of those under the direction of McDermott. Creighton is 175-72 all-time as a ranked team, including a 141-60 mark under McDermott. Creighton has now been ranked at least one week in 10 of McDermott’s 14 seasons on The Hilltop after doing it just five different seasons in program history before his 2010 arrival.
Creighton is one of four schools to be ranked in the preseason top-10 each of the past two seasons, joining Kansas, Duke and Houston.
Along with No. 5 Marquette, No. 6 Connecticut and No. 8 Creighton, this year marked the first time since 2011-12 that the BIG EAST had three Preseason Top-10 teams.
Creighton was also eighth in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll, its best preseason mark ever. CU was 11th in the March 17th Coaches poll.
Downtown Duo
Only two players nationally that are returning in 2023-24 had 120+ assists, 87+ three-pointers and 38+ steals in 2022-23.
Baylor Scheierman and Steven Ashworth.
Both are playing for Creighton this season.
Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 27 victories since the start of the 2010-11 season after trailing by double-figures at some point. Thirteen of those 27 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
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
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
Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 1,019 straight games. The streak is 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 (3/24)
Rk. Streak School Next Game
1. 1,227 UNLV 3/27
2. 1,223 Duke 3/29
3. 1,158 East Tennessee State Season Over
4. 1,133 Oakland Season Over
5. 1,128 Pacific Season Over
6. 1,127 Texas Season Over
7. 1,067 Marshall Season Over
8. 1,057 Gonzaga 3/29
9. 1,050 Princeton Season Over
10. 1,019 Creighton 3/29
11. 1,013 Long Island Season Over
12. 1,006 Mount St. Mary’s Season Over
Dynamic Duo
Creighton is one of eight schools to have men’s and women’s basketball programs to both own 22 wins or more each of the previous two seasons, a list that includes Creighton, Gonzaga, Liberty, Princeton, Tennessee, Texas, Toledo and UConn.
This season, Creighton was one of eight teams with a preseason top-25 squad on both the men’s and women’s side, joining Baylor, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, Southern California, Tennessee and Texas.
The only five schools to be ranked in the preseason men’s and women’s basketball Top 25 of the AP Poll both this season and last season were Baylor, Creighton, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Creighton is one of eight schools to make the NCAA Tournament in both men’s and women’s basketball each of the last three seasons (including 2023-24), a list that consists of Arizona, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Tennessee, Texas and UConn.
The only schools with at-large bids in each of the last three years (including 2023-24) in both men’s and women’s basketball are Baylor and Creighton.
Triple Trouble
During Creighton’s current streak of 1,019 straight games with a three-pointer, the Jays have drained 8,149 trifectas, an average of 7.997 treys per game.
That’s not surprising since during the streak, Creighton has made exactly seven three-pointers 149 times, more than any figure.
Only five times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 303 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 84-19 when making eight or more three-pointers, compared to a 32-30 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: 104 times 6: 107 times
7: 149 times 8: 127 times 9: 94 times
10: 85 times 11: 58 times 12: 60 times
13: 49 times 14: 24 times 15: 9 times
16: 8 times 17: 4 times 18: 1 time
19: 2 times 20: 1 time 21: 1 time 22: 1 time
CHI Health Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 354 regular and postseason contests at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time in the 21-year-old facility.
The Bluejays own a 292-62 (.825) record all-time at the facility, and is 22-1 there on Friday’s.
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 27,802-23,230 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.92 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 91 different times.
Incredibly, Creighton hasn’t trailed in its home opener in 10 of the past 23 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 32-36 all-time in the 68 games at the arena in which it’s fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 8-11 when down by 10+ points at halftime in the facility, and 41-29 when trailing at halftime at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Creighton is 195-44 (.816) at CHI Health Center Omaha under Greg McDermott and hasn’t trailed in 65 of those games. In that same span, CU owns a 101-9 home record (.918) 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 311-62 (.834) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
Home Run
Under Greg McDermott Creighton is averaging 80.79 points per home game (19,308 points in 239 home games), a figure that climbs to 84.37 points in non-conference home games (9,281 points in 110 home games).
Creighton is 147-7 all-time at CHI Health Center Omaha when scoring 80 or points.
Creighton Retires McDermott’s No. 3 Jersey
Creighton Men’s Basketball retired Doug McDermott’s No. 3 jersey prior to its Dec. 20 game vs. Villanova. McDermott was a three-time All-American (2012, 2013, 2014) and consensus National Player of the Year (2014) during an incredible four-year career spanning from 2010-14.
McDermott finished his career with an NCAA-record 135 double-figure scoring games and wrapped up his time on The Hilltop with 3,150 points, which was fifth in NCAA history. He was named winner of the Oscar Robertson, John R. Wooden and Naismith trophies as the National Player of the Year in 2013-14, when he led the country in scoring and helped Creighton to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The son of current Bluejay head coach Greg McDermott, Doug McDermott was a three-time Conference Player of the Year and remains the sport’s only three-time Associated Press First Team All-American since 1985.
McDermott received his Marketing degree from Creighton in 2014 and is currently in his 10th year in the NBA, as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
McDermott’s number hangs in the rafters on the west side of the arena alongside five other Bluejay greats (#25 Kyle Korver, #30 Bob Harstad, #33 Bob Portman, #35 Paul Silas, #45 Bob Gibson).
McDermott In The NBA
Doug McDermott is in his 10th year in an NBA career that saw him selected 11th overall by Denver, with stops in Chicago, Oklahoma City, New York, Dallas, Indiana and San Antonio. He was traded from San Antonio back to Indiana in the final hours of the trade deadline on Feb. 8th.
Overall, he is averaging 5.7 points per game this season and shooting 41.5 percent from three-point range.
In his career, McDermott has played in 643 games and averaged 9.0 points per game. He ranks 24th in NBA history with 41.0 percent marksmanship from three-point range in his career.
The 10-year NBA vet gives Creighton at least one NBA player in 40 of the last 41 seasons. Other famous Bluejays to play in the NBA in the past include Paul Silas, Kyle Korver and Anthony Tolliver.
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