Thursday, March 20
Lexington, Ky.
11:15 AM
Creighton University
vs
Louisville
Photo by: Justin Kreutzian
Men's Basketball Starts NCAA Tourney Thursday vs. #10 Louisville
3/17/2025 7:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bluejays are 2-0 in NCAA's against the Cardinals
Game #35:Â Creighton Bluejays (24-10) vs. #10 Louisville Cardinals (27-7)
Thursday, March 20, 2025 • 11:15 a.m. Central • Lexington, Ky. • Rupp Arena
| LIVE VIDEO | WESTWOOD ONE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES | UofL NOTES | BRACKET |
Next Game
Eighth-seeded Creighton (24-10) will make its 26th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history on Thursday, March 20th, when it faces eighth-seeded and No. 10 ranked Louisville (27-7).
   Tip-off at Rupp Arena (20,545) in Lexington, Ky., will be at 11:15 a.m. Central (12:15 p.m. Eastern).
   CU's practice time (open to the media & public) is Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. Central (11:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. Eastern) at Rupp Arena. The Bluejays will also meet the media on Wednesday from 9:20 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Central (10:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Eastern).
Television Broadcast Information
This week's NCAA Tournament games in Lexington will be called by Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce.
   Creighton's game vs. Louisville will be nationally-televised on CBS. Creighton is 3-5 under Greg McDermott on CBS, including wins in 2012 (Illinois State), 2013 (Cincinnati) and 2023 (Xavier). This will be CU's debut this year on The Tiffany Network.
   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.
Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) will broadcast Creighton men's basketball games during the NCAA Tournament. John Bishop and former Bluejay Ross Ferrarini will call the action. While KOZN is prevented from streaming the game on its app and website, fans can listen to Bishop & Ferrarini 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 John Sadak and LaPhonso Ellis on the call. The game can be heard on Sirius channel 208 or XM channel 201, 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 WestwoodOneSports.com/Lexington.
   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".
Scouting Creighton
Creighton is 24-10 this year entering the NCAA Tournament. The Bluejays took second in the BIG EAST regular-season after posting a 15-5 mark in league play, then were the runner-up at the BIG EAST Tournament last weekend as well.
   Unanimous All-BIG EAST pick Ryan Kalkbrenner (19.4 ppg., 8.8 rpg., 2.7 bpg., .655 FG%) was named a Second Team All-American by College Hoops Today and Third Team All-American by The Sporting News and Field of 68. In addition to being one of the most efficient shooters in NCAA history, Kalkbrenner joined Patrick Ewing as the second man named a four-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. He was named BIG EAST and National Player of the Week on Nov. 11 and Jan. 21 and became the third player in CU history to surpass 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
   Steven Ashworth (16.3 ppg., 7.0 apg., .926 FT%) was a Second Team All-BIG EAST choice at point guard, and is joined on the wing by Jamiya Neal (11.5 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 4.4 apg.). Those three seniors scored 66.1 percent of CU's points in league play.
   Creighton averages 75.2 points per game and shoots 47.5 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from three-point range and 73.3 percent at the line while grabbing 3.4 rebounds per game more than the opposition.
Scouting No. 10 Louisville
Louisville has won 21 of its last 23 games and is 27-7Â on the season. The Cardinals were runner-up to Duke in both the ACC regular-season and ACC Tournament, losing the Blue Devils by 11 points in each meeting.
   Terrence Edwards Jr. (16.6 ppg.), Chucky Hepburn (16.2 ppg., 6.0 apg.), Reyne Smith (13.4 ppg.) and J'Vonne Hadley (12.1 ppg., 7.3 rpg.) lead the Cards in scoring.
   Louisville averages 78.6 points per game and allows 68.9 per contest. The Cardinals shoot 45.4 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from three-point land and 74.4 percent at the line while outrebounding foes by 4.1 caroms per contest.
Series History
Creighton is 2-1 all-time against Louisville with a 2-0 record in NCAA Tournament action.
   The series began with Creighton's 80-71 NCAA Tournament win in Tulsa, Okla., in 1974 in a Regional Consolation game. Most recently, Creighton won 62-58 in Orlando on March 11, 1999 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
   Louisville's lone win was a 69-66 double-overtime meeting in 1976 in Louisville.
   Greg McDermott has never faced Louisville nor Pat Kelsey.
The Creighton Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) owns a 349-170 record in his 15th season with the Bluejays, as he passed Dana Altman (327-176) as the winningest coach in program history on Nov. 13, 2024. He owns a career mark of 629-365 in his 31st season, and is 498-301 in his 24th 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 its first Elite Eight since 1941 in 2022-23.
   McDermott has previously been a head coach at Iowa State (2006-10), Northern Iowa (2001-06), North Dakota State (2000-01) and Wayne State (1994-2000).
   He is assisted by Ryan Miller, Derek Kellogg and Trey Zeigler.
With A Win...
- Creighton would advance to Saturday's Second Round game against the winner of Auburn and either Alabama State or St. Francis.
- Creighton would earn its second Top 10 win of the season and fourth Top 25 victory of the year.
- Creighton would improve to 5-19 all-time against Top 25 teams in the NCAA Tournament and 1-10 against Top 10 opposition.
- Creighton would win an NCAA Tournament game for an unprecedented fifth straight season.
- Creighton would improve to 21-26 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
- Creighton would improve to 3-1 all-time against Louisville, with all three victories taking place in the NCAA Tournament.
- Greg McDermott would improve to 12-9 as Creighton's head coach in the NCAA Tournament.
- Creighton would win 25 games in a season for the eighth time, with six of those coming under Greg McDermott.
- Creighton would win its 25th game for the second straight season, doing it in back-to-back campaigns for just the second time ever (also 2011/2012/2013).
• Creighton would improve to 14-12 in its first NCAA Tournament game of an appearance.
- Improve to 2-1 as a No. 9 seed and 2-0 against No. 8 seeds.
Milestone Watch
Upcoming Creighton milestones include...
- Steven Ashworth is 41 points shy of 2,000 in his career.
- Steven Ashworth has attempted 279 three-pointers this season, 10 attempts shy of Baylor Scheierman's school record of 289 from 2023-24.
- Ryan Kalkbrenner is five blocks away from 400 in his career and six three-pointers shy of 50. He is also 10 rebounds shy of 300 this season and 29 field goals short of 1,000.
- Jackson McAndrew (62) is six three-pointers shy of Ethan Wragge's (68) Creighton record by a freshman.
- Greg McDermott owns 349 wins at Creighton and is one short of 350. He owns 498 Division I wins.
- Jamiya Neal is 44 points away from 1,000 in his career.
- Louisville will be the first NCAA Tournament opponent that Creighton will play three times.
About Creighton
Creighton is a private, Jesuit institution located in Omaha, Neb., with 8,403 students (which includes 4,276 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 (Sacramento 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 a few storylines as it relates to Creighton's trip to Lexington against Louisville.
- Creighton assistant coach Ryan Miller was officially announced as head coach at Murray State on Monday. Murray State is located roughly four hours away in Murray, Ky. Miller intends to finish the season on the Creighton sideline.
- Louisville guard Chucky Hepburn hails from Bellevue, Neb. Hepburn's Bellevue West High School team played for the state title his final two years of high school (2019-20, 2020-21) against Millard North High School, going 1-1 against a Mustangs team that included current Creighton forward Jasen Green as well as Wake Forest star Hunter Sallis.
- Creighton's last player from the state of Kentucky was Louisville native Johnny Mathies (2003-06).
- Creighton's last game played in the state of Kentucky came in Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center when it lost in the Elite Eight to San Diego State in 2023.
NCAA Tournament History
Creighton is making its 26th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, and 17th in the last 27 years. The Bluejays are 20-26 all-time in NCAA action, including a 13-12 record in its first game.
   Last season Creighton defeated Akron and Oregon to reach the Sweet 16, where it fell to Tennessee.
   Creighton owns a 4-4 record all-time in the South Region, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2023.
   Creighton has had at least one sport reach the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 38 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 will be making its 26th postseason appearance in the last 28 seasons on Thursday. The 2019-20 team 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.
Men's & Women's Success
Creighton is one of six schools to make the NCAA Tournament in both men's and women's basketball each of the last four seasons, a list that consists of Baylor, Creighton, Iowa State, Tennessee, Texas and UConn.
   Creighton is one of 14 schools that won an NCAA Tournament game last season in both men's and women's basketball: Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, Texas, and UConn. Of those teams, the only nine schools with teams in both the men's and women's tournaments this year are: Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Iowa State, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and UConn.
   Twenty-seven schools have both their men's and women's teams in this year's NCAA Tournaments:
Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Grand Canyon, High Point, Illinois, Iowa State, Kentucky, Liberty, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Norfolk State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, San Diego State, Tennessee, Texas, UC San Diego, UCLA, UConn, Vanderbilt.
   Of those 27 teams, the only 17 schools that had its men's and women's basketball teams both earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournaments were Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Illinois, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Vanderbilt.
   Creighton is the nation's only school to reach the Elite Eight in women's volleyball (2024), women's basketball (2021), men's basketball (2022) and men's soccer (2022) since the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
Make It Five
Even though a certain NCAA bid was wiped away in 2020 by COVID-19, Creighton has still appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments (2021-25).
   The only previous time that Creighton has appeared in five straight NCAA Tournaments was from 1999-2003. The only other BIG EAST team with an active streak of five straight NCAA trips is UConn.
   Including this season, Creighton has made 26 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 10 under Greg McDermott, and was one of the final eight teams remaining in both 1941 and 2023.
Others With Five
Creighton is one of 13 teams to have appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments (2021-25).
   That list consists of Alabama, Baylor, Connecticut, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, San Diego State, Tennessee and Texas.
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. The only other time that Creighton has won an NCAA Tournament game in consecutive seasons came in 2012, 2013 and 2014, also under Greg McDermott.
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 Louisville share just one common opponent this season, as both teams beat Notre Dame.
Team   CU Result   Louisville Result
Notre Dame   W 80-76    W 75-60
Dance Partners
Creighton is 6-8 against teams in the 2025 NCAA Tournament field, including two wins over UConn and one each against Kansas, St. John's, Xavier, and Marquette.
   Statistically, Pop Isaacs averaged 23.3 points in the three games he appeared in against those NCAA qualifiers. Ryan Kalkbrenner averaged 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds while Steven Ashworth (15.5 ppg., 6.7 apg.) and Jamiya Neal (12.5 ppg., 6.1 rpg.) also averaged in double-figures.
   Louisville was 3-6 against the NCAA Tournament field, picking up two wins against Clemson and one over North Carolina.
Merfeld's One Shining Moment Turns 24
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 13 of Last 15 Openers
Creighton has won at least one game in 13 of its last 15 postseason appearances. The stretch began in 2007-08.
Creighton's Last 15 Postseason Openers
Year   Tourney   First Game
2007-08Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â Beat Rhode Island, 74-73
2008-09Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â Beat Bowling Green, 73-71
2009-10Â Â Â CITÂ Â Â Beat South Dakota, 89-78
2010-11Â Â Â CBIÂ Â Â Beat San Jose State, 85-74
2011-12Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat Alabama, 58-57
2012-13Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat Cincinnati, 67-63
2013-14Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat Louisiana, 76-66
2015-16Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â Beat Alabama, 72-54
2016-17Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Lost to Rhode Island, 84-72
2017-18Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Lost to Kansas State, 69-59
2018-19Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â Beat Loyola (Chicago), 70-61
2020-21Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat UCSB, 63-62
2021-22Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat San Diego St., 72-69 (OT)
2022-23Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat NC State, 72-63
2023-24Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat Akron, 77-60
Perfect 10
Greg McDermott has guided his team to the NCAA Tournament 10 times at Creighton. That put him in the company of some of the greatest coaches in CU Athletics history, and most among basketball coaches.
   McDermott is one of four head coaches in Creighton history to lead eight or more NCAA Tournament teams.
Name   Sport   NCAA's @CU
Kirsten Bernthal Booth   Volleyball   14
Bob Warming   Men's Soccer   11
Greg McDermott   Men's Basketball   10
Jim Flanery   Women's Basketball   8
Dana Altman   Men's Basketball   7
Brent Vigness   Softball   7
McDermott In The Postseason
Creighton coach Greg McDermott is making his 13th postseason appearance at Creighton, and 16th overall as a Division I head coach when you include his time at Northern Iowa.
   McDermott's Division I teams own an 19-16 record in 15 previous postseason appearances, including a 19-13 mark in 12 previous appearances at Creighton.
McDermott's Division I Postseason Appearances
Year (School)   Tourney   Postseason W-L
2003-04 (UNI)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2004-05 (UNI)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2005-06 (UNI)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2010-11 (CU)Â Â Â CBIÂ Â Â 4-2
2011-12 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 1-1
2012-13 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 1-1
2013-14 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 1-1
2015-16 (CU)Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â 2-1
2016-17 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2017-18 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2018-19 (CU)Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â 2-1
2020-21 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 2-1
2021-22 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 1-1
2022-23 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 3-1
2023-24 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 2-1
2024-25 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â ? ? ?
Most Postseason Bids By CU Coaches
This year's bid to the NCAA Tournament is the 13th postseason bid for Greg McDermott at Creighton, tying him with Dana Altman for the most postseason appearances in men's basketball in school history.
   McDermott's 10 NCAA Tournament trips are the most in program history as well, three more than what Altman did.
   McDermott's 11 NCAA Tournament wins are a school record, eight more than second-place John J. "Red" McManus.
   McDermott's 19 postseason wins at Creighton are the most in school history, 12 more than Altman's seven.
   McDermott (19-13) is one of two coaches in program history with a winning record in postseason play, joining Eddie Sutton (2-1).
Coach (Bids)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â NITÂ Â Â CBIÂ Â Â CITÂ Â Â NCITÂ Â Â Total
Hickey (3)Â Â Â 1-1Â Â Â 2-2Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 3-3
Belford (1)Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-1Â Â Â 0-1
McManus (3)Â Â Â 3-3Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 1-1Â Â Â 4-4
Sutton (1)Â Â Â 2-1Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 2-1
Apke (4)Â Â Â 0-3Â Â Â 0-1Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-4
Barone (3)Â Â Â 1-2Â Â Â 0-1Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 1-3
Altman (13)Â Â Â 2-7Â Â Â 3-5Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 2-1Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 7-13
McDermott (13*)Â Â Â 11-9Â Â Â 4-2Â Â Â 4-2Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 19-13
*The 2025 NCAA Tournament will be McDermott's
13th postseason appearance at Creighton
Coaching Experience In The Dance
Creighton's full-time coaching staff boasts a combined 76 Division I NCAA Tournament games under their collective belts as either a player (10-8, full-time assistant coach (21-12) or head coach (11-14), winning 42 of those games.
   Greg McDermott is 11-12 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 11-9 at Creighton (3-1 in 2023, 2-1 in 2021 and 2024, 1-1 in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2022 and 0-1 in 2017 and 2018). In 2022, McDermott led the Bluejays to their 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 in 2023 and 2-1 in 2024 with 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.
   Trey Zeigler is 0-1 in the NCAA Tournament, losing his lone appearance as a player in 2013 with Pittsburgh.
   Derek Kellogg is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament either, 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]). As a head coach, he went 0-1 with both LIU in 2018 and UMass in 2014. He also went 2-1 last year with Creighton.
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NCAA Experience
Nine players on the Creighton team have played in a NCAA Tournament game before, and seven 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 Kalkbrenner (1-0) and Osmani (0-1) played in one game. Mason Miller was also on that roster as a redshirt.
   From its 2023 Elite Eight team that went 3-1, Kalkbrenner and Fredrick King 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.
   Last year's Sweet 16 run saw Kalkbrenner, , Miller, Green, Steven Ashworth and Isaac Traudt all play in three games (2-1). King played in two games (1-1). Redshirting on last season's team were Osmani, Shane Thomas and Josh Townley-Thomas.
   Additionally, Ashworth played in one 2023 NCAA Tournament game (a loss) in 2023 for Utah State, Traudt redshirted on Virginia's 2023 team that lost in the First Round. Jamiya Neal played in Arizona State's NCAA Tournament team in 2023 that went 1-1 and Pop Isaacs' Texas Tech team lost its lone game in 2024.
   In other words, only Jackson McAndrew, Ty Davis and Fedor Zugic have not been part of an NCAA Tournament team in some capacity.
BIG EAST Success
Creighton is one of five BIG EAST teams to make the NCAA Tournament this season, joining St. John's, Marquette, Connecticut and Xavier.
   The BIG EAST has had a Sweet 16 squad in 28 of the past 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 16 NCAA men's and women's basketball titles in the previous 24 tournaments.
   The BIG EAST is responsible for four of the last eight NCAA titles (2016 & 2018 Villanova; 2023 & 2024 Connecticut).
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History As A No. 9 Seed
Since the NCAA began seeding all the teams in 1979, this year marks the second time Creighton has been a No. 9 seed (also 2022).
   Creighton's best seed ever was being a No. 3 in 2014 and 2024.
   Since 1985, No. 9 seeds are 81-75 (.519) against No. 8 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. The No. 9 seed has won at least one game in eight of the past nine years, and are 20-12 in the past eight tournaments.
   The only two No. 9 seeds to ever make the Final Four was Wichita State in 2013, a team that Creighton defeated in the regular-season finale, as well as a week later in the MVC Tournament final, and also Florida Atlantic in 2023.
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   2-1
2025   9th   ? ? ?
Planting Seeds
Since NCAA Tourney seeding began in 1979, the 24 ACC teams with 0, 1 or 2 league losses before 2025 received 21 #1 seeds & three #2 seeds.
   This year... Duke is a 1 seed, Clemson is a 5 seed, Louisville is an 8 seed.
ACC Teams With 2 League Losses Or Less
Since NCAA Seeding Began in 1979
Year   Team   ACC W-L   NCAA Seed
1981   Virginia   13-1   1
1982   North Carolina   12-2   1
1982   Virginia   12-2   1
1983   Virginia   12-2   1
1983   North Carolina   12-2   2
1984   North Carolina   14-0   1
1986   Duke   12-2   1
1987   North Carolina   14-0   1
1992   Duke   14-2   1
1993   North Carolina   14-2   1
1998   Duke   15-1   1
1999   Duke   16-0   1
2000   Duke   15-1   1
2002   Maryland   15-1   1
2005   North Carolina   14-2   1
2006   Duke   14-2   1
2008   North Carolina   14-2   1
2011   North Carolina   14-2   2
2012   North Carolina   14-2   1
2014   Virginia   16-2   1
2015   Virginia   16-2   2
2018   Virginia   17-1   1
2019   Virginia   16-2   1
2019   North Carolina   16-2   1
2025   Duke   19-1   1
2025   Clemson   18-2   5
2025   Louisvile   18-2   8
Planting Seeds, Part 2
Since NCAA Tourney seeding began in 1979, there have been 57 teams that finished BIG EAST play alone in first or second place.
   Sixteen of those teams earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, 18 were a No. 2 seed and 11 were a No. 3 seed. There's also been four No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, one No. 6 seed, two No. 7 seeds and one No. 9 seed. That No. 9 seed is this year's Creighton team.
BIG EAST Teams to Finish Alone in 1st or 2nd Place
Since NCAA Seeding Began in 1979
Year   Team   BE Finish   NCAA Seed
1981   Boston College   1st   5
1981   Georgetown   2nd   7
1982   Villanova   1st   3
1982   Georgetown   2nd   1
1984   Georgetown   1st   1
1985   St. John's   1st   1
1985   Georgetown   2nd   1
1988   Pittsburgh   1st   2
1988   Syracuse   2nd   3
1989   Georgetown   1st   1
1989   Seton Hall   2nd   3
1991   Syracuse   1st   2
1991   St. John's   2nd   4
1993   Seton Hall   1st   2
1993   St. John's   2nd   5
1994   UConn   1st   2
1994   Syracuse   2nd   4
1995   UConn   1st   2
1995   Villanova   2nd   3
1996   UConn   1st   1
1996   Villanova   2nd   3
1998   UConn   1st   2
1998   St. John's   2nd   7
1999   UConn   1st   1
1999   Miami   2nd   2
2001   Boston College   1st   3
2002   UConn   1st   2
2002   Pittsburgh   2nd   3
2004   Pittsburgh   1st   3
2004   UConn   2nd   2
2007   Georgetown   1st   2
2008   Georgetown   1st   2
2009   Louisville   1st   1
2010   Syracuse   1st   1
2011   Pittsburgh   1st   1
2011   Notre Dame   2nd   2
2012   Syracuse   1st   1
2012   Marquette   2nd   3
2014   Villanova   1st   2
2014   Creighton   2nd   3
2015   Villanova   1st   1
2016   Villanova   1st   2
2016   Xavier   2nd   2
2017   Villanova   1st   1
2017   Butler   2nd   4
2018   Xavier   1st   1
2018   Villanova   2nd   1
2019   Villanova   1st   6
2019   Marquette   2nd   5
2021   Villanova   1st   5
2022   Providence   1st   4
2022   Villanova   2nd   2
2023   Marquette   1st   2
2023   Xavier   2nd   3
2024   UConn   1st   1
2025   St. John's   1st   2
2025   Creighton   2nd   9
Postseason Features Last-Second Drama
Fifteen of Creighton's previous 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 year Creighton won an 86-73 double-overtime win after overcoming a four-point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
   In 2023 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.
On This Date
Creighton is 1-2 on March 20th in history, winning in the 2021 NCAA Tournament UCSB (63-62).
   Creighton also lost 53-52 to Miami (Fla.) in the 2006 NIT, as well as to Central Michigan (79-73) in the 20023 NCAA Tournament First Round.
Seeking 25
Creighton owns 24 wins and can reach the 25 win mark with a win on Thursday. It would be Creighton's eighth time ever with 25 wins or more, with six of those seasons coming under Greg McDermott.
   Creighton would also win 25 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since doing it in three straight seasons from 2011-12 to 2013-14, also under McDermott.
   Creighton, which owns 26 women's basketball wins, is one of eight schools nationally with 24+ wins in both men's and women's basketball.
   Duke is the only other Power 5 school to do it, and the Bluejays and Blue Devils are joined by Charleston, George Mason, Grand Canyon, Liberty, Norfolk State and North Texas.
Two Dozen, Cousin
Creighton is one of 12 schools to have won 24 games or more in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. That group consists of Alabama, Charleston, Creighton, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, Houston, Saint Mary's, Tennessee, Utah State and VCU.
Top 10 Wins Under McDermott
Creighton went 14,588 days from Feb. 10, 1974 to Jan. 19, 2014 without a win over a Top 10 team.
   Since Jan. 20, 2014, it has 15 such wins, including at least one Top 10 win in each of the last 10 seasons.
   Here's a list of all 20 Top 10 wins in program history.
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 89-75   McDermott
12/04/24   #1 Kansas   W 76-63   McDermott
How They Rank?
Creighton's March 20th game against No. 10 Louisville will be its ninth game of the year against a top-25 team.
   This was the 11th straight season that the Bluejays have faced at least six ranked teams in one season, after doing it twice total prior to Greg McDermott's arrival in 2010-11.
   Thursday's contest against Louisville will also set a program record for most games played against Top 10 teams in a season with six, breaking the mark of five done last season.
Most Games vs. Top 25 Teams, Season
   Games (W-L)   Season   Coach
   14 (6-8)   2022-23   Greg McDermott
   12 (5-7)   2021-22   Greg McDermott
   10 (4-6)   2017-18   Greg McDermott
   8 (1-7)   2014-15   Greg McDermott
   8 (2-6)   2015-16   Greg McDermott
   8 (6-2)   2019-20   Greg McDermott
   8 (3-5)   2024-25   Greg McDermott
   7 (4-3)   2016-17   Greg McDermott
   6 (1-5)   1968-69   John J. Red McManus
   6 (1-5)   1971-72   Eddie Sutton
   6 (2-4)   2018-19   Greg McDermott
   6 (3-3)   2020-21   Greg McDermott
   6 (3-3)   2023-24   Greg McDermott
Most Games vs. Top 10 Teams, Season
   Games (W-L)   Season   Coach
   5 (2-3)   2023-24   Greg McDermott
   5 (1-4)   2024-25   Greg McDermott
   4 (1-3)   1965-66   Red McManus
   4 (0-4)   1971-72   Eddie Sutton
   4 (0-4)   1981-82   Willis Reed
   4 (1-3)   2015-16   Greg McDermott
   4 (1-3)   2016-17   Greg McDermott
   4 (0-4)   2017-18   Greg McDermott
   4 (3-1)   2019-20   Greg McDermott
   4 (1-3)   2022-23   Greg McDermott
Top 25 Victims
This is Creighton's 10th straight season with multiple Top 25 wins, and 14th time overall (and 11th time under Greg McDermott).
   This year is the eighth time in the last nine seasons with three or more Top 25 wins, something that had never happened even once in program history 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
   3   2024-25   #1 Kansas, #11 Marquette, #14 UConn
   2   1972-73   #7 Houston, #20 Santa Clara
   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 Top 25 Notes
Creighton is 61-175 all-time against top 25 teams.
   Creighton is 41-58 under Greg McDermott against nationally-ranked teams, 34 more top 25 wins than any other coach in Creighton history. Prior to McDermott's arrival, Creighton was 20-117 all-time against top 25 foes.
   Creighton has beaten at least one ranked team in each of the last 12 seasons (including 2024-25). On a national basis, the only teams with a top-25 win each of the last 12 seasons (including 2024-25) are Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas Tech, Villanova, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
   Creighton has beaten multiple ranked foes in each of the last 10 seasons (including 2024-25), something only Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, Purdue and Villanova can claim. Texas Tech (1) is still trying to get there to extend their streak.
   Creighton owns at least one Top 10 win each of the last 10 seasons (including 2024-25). The only schools with at least one top-10 win every season from 2015-16 to 2024-25 have been Creighton, Kansas and Texas Tech.
Accomplished, To Say The Least
No Creighton player has put up career totals at the NCAA Tournament like Ryan Kalkbrenner has.
   He owns the following records:
Single-Game
Points   31 vs. NC State, 3/17/23
FT Percentage   1.000 (6-6) vs. San Diego State, 3/17/22
Blocked Shots   5 vs. Oregon, 3/23/24
Single-Tournament
Points   80 (2023)
Field Goals Made   32 (2023)
Blocked Shots   10 (2024)
Career
Points   154
Field Goals Made   60
Blocked Shots   18
Years Played In   4
Wins Played In   8
Kalkbrenner Leads The Way
Ryan Kalkbrenner is prominent among active NCAA Tournament leaders in a number of categories:
Points
Caleb Love   173
Mark Sears   170
Ryan Kalkbrenner   154
RJ Davis   151
Jeremy Roach   151
Rebounds
Hunter Dickinson   80
Ryan Kalkbrenner   68
Alex Karaban   66
J'Wan Roberts   60
Norchad Omier   60
FG Made
Caleb Love   61
Ryan Kalkbrenner   60
Hunter Dickinson   57
Davonte Davis   55
Mark Sears   53
Jeremy Roach   53
Games Played
Dajuan Harris Jr.   12
J'Wan Roberts   12
Hassan Diarra   12
Ben Gregg   12
Samson Johnson   12
Alex Karaban   12
Apostolos Roumoglou   12
Jeremy Roach   11
Ryan Kalkbrenner   11
Davonte Davis   11
Mason Gillis   11
Lamont Butler   11
Blocks
Ryan Kalkbrenner   18
Hunter Dickinson   18
J'Wan Roberts   13
Jonas Aidoo   11
Alex Karaban   11
Kalkbrenner A Top Defender, Again
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in 2024-25 for the fourth straight season.
   Kalkbrenner is just the second player in league history to win the recognition four times, joining Georgetown great Patrick Ewing.
   Between Kalkbrenner and 2017 & 2018 winner Khyri Thomas, Creighton has now had a BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in six of the last nine seasons.
Most BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Honors
   Honors   Name, School   Years (*ties)
   4   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton   2022, 23, '24, '25
   4   Patrick Ewing, Georgetown   1982, 83, 84, 85
   3   Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown   1989, 90*, 92
   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
All-Conference Honors Roll In
Creighton seniors Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth earned All-BIG EAST honors and Jackson McAndrew landed a spot on the BIG EAST's All-Freshman Team.
   Kalkbrenner was a unanimous selection to the First Team, while Ashworth was a Second Team honoree. It's the sixth time in the last nine seasons that Creighton has had at least one honoree on both the First and Second Teams.
   Kalkbrenner leads the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (.655), rebounds (8.8) and blocked shots per game (2.7) while ranking second with 19.4 points per contest. An All-BIG EAST First Team pick in 2022-23 and Second Team choice last year, Kalkbrenner is just the second player in program history to be a two-time First Team selection, joining Marcus Foster (2016-17 and 2017-18).
   Ashworth leads the BIG EAST with 6.85 assists per game, 3.12 three-pointers per game and a .926 free-throw percentage, in addition to averaging 16.8 points per game. This is Ashworth's second All-Conference selection, as he was named First Team All-Mountain West Conference while playing for Utah State in 2022-23.
   McAndrew is Creighton's first All-Freshman Team honoree since 2021-22, when Trey Alexander, Arthur Kaluma and Ryan Nembhard were all recognized. The Wayzata, Minn., native is averaging 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season and picked up his first BIG EAST Freshman of the Week accolade on March 9th.
Thank You Seniors!
Creighton honored Jamiya Neal, Steven Ashworth, Sami Osmani and Ryan Kalkbrenner, following last its March 8th game vs. Butler as part of Senior Day festivities.
   Over the last five years, Creighton has been to three Sweet 16's, one Elite Eight and beaten six Top 10 teams, including victories over No. 1 UConn last year and No. 1 Kansas this year. Creighton has also spent 51-of-95 weeks in the Top 25 of the AP poll, including 16 weeks in the Top 10.
   The Bluejays are 118-54 (.686) since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, tied for the nation's 18th-most victories. Its 69 BIG EAST wins in league play over the past five years lead the league.
   Creighton also recognized managers Julien Berry and Gabe Greene following the game.
Best BIG EAST Years
Creighton's 15 league wins set a program record for most conference wins in any of its 12 seasons in the BIG EAST. It's the third straight season CU has won 14 league games or more, something only Villanova (2013-14 to 2017-18) and Connecticut (1993-94 to 1995-96) have done in BIG EAST history.
   Four of CU's seven teams to win 12 or more BIG EAST games reached the BIG EAST Tournament final, with the prematurely cancelled 2019-20 campaign being one of the exceptions.
   Creighton's 15 conference wins match its most as a member of any league, as it picked up 15 conference wins in 2002-03 when it was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
   Creighton has now set or tied program records for most conference wins in a one-year span (15), two-year span (29), thee-year span (43), four-year span (55), five-year span (69), six-year span (82) and seven-year span (91).
   Creighton has now finished first or second in the BIG EAST in four of the last six seasons.
Creighton's Most BIG EAST Wins, Season
   W-L   Year   BIG EAST Tourney
   15-5   2024-25   Lost in Final
   14-4   2013-14   Lost in Final
   14-6   2020-21   Lost in Final
   14-6   2022-23   Lost in Semi's
   14-6   2023-24   Lost in Quarterfinals
   13-5   2019-20   Tourney Cancelled
   12-7   2021-22   Lost in Final
Creighton's Most Conference Wins, Season
   W-L   Year   League
   15-3   2002-03   MVC
   15-5   2024-25   BIG EAST
   14-4   2000-01   MVC
   14-4   2001-02   MVC
   14-4   2008-09   MVC
   14-4   2011-12   MVC
   14-4   2013-14   BIG EAST
   14-6   2020-21   BIG EAST
   14-6   2022-23   BIG EAST
   14-6   2023-24   BIG EAST
The First With 500/200
Steven Ashworth owns 538 points and 226 assists this season, becoming the first player in Creighton history with at least 500 points and 200 assists in the same season. The only two other players that can say that this season are Purdue's Braden Smith and New Mexico's Donovan Dent.
   He's just the 13th different BIG EAST player to compile the a 500/200 season in league history.
BIG EAST Men With Seasons of 500 Points & 200 Assists
Name, School   Year   Points   Assists
Pearl Washington, SYRÂ Â Â 1985-86Â Â Â 554Â Â Â 250
Sherman Douglas, SYRÂ Â Â 1986-87Â Â Â 659Â Â Â 289
Billy Donovan, PCÂ Â Â 1986-87Â Â Â 702Â Â Â 243
Sherman Douglas, SYRÂ Â Â 1987-88Â Â Â 562Â Â Â 288
Sherman Douglas, SYRÂ Â Â 1988-89Â Â Â 693Â Â Â 326
Doron Sheffer, UCONNÂ Â Â 1995-96Â Â Â 560Â Â Â 212
Chris Thomas, NDÂ Â Â 2001-02Â Â Â 516Â Â Â 252
Brandin Knight, PITTÂ Â Â 2001-02Â Â Â 546Â Â Â 251
Chris Thomas, NDÂ Â Â 2002-03Â Â Â 637Â Â Â 236
Gerry McNamara, SYRÂ Â Â 2005-06Â Â Â 560Â Â Â 207
Jonny Flynn, SYRÂ Â Â 2008-09Â Â Â 663Â Â Â 254
Jordan Theodore, SHUÂ Â Â 2011-12Â Â Â 546Â Â Â 226
Bryce Cotton, PCÂ Â Â 2013-14Â Â Â 763Â Â Â 205
Kris Dunn, PCÂ Â Â 2014-15Â Â Â 515Â Â Â 247
Kris Dunn, PCÂ Â Â 2015-16Â Â Â 542Â Â Â 206
Tristen Newton, UCONNÂ Â Â 2023-24Â Â Â 603Â Â Â 248
Steven Ashworth, CUÂ Â Â 2024-25Â Â Â 538Â Â Â 226
Creighton Players With 200+ Assists In A Season
Name   Year   Points   Assists
Ralph Bobik   1973-74   266   252
Maurice Watson Jr.   2015-16   492   229
Steven Ashworth   2024-25   538   226
Grant Gibbs   2012-13   306   210
Randy Eccker   1976-77   132   205
Kalkbrenner Passes BIG EAST Legends
Ryan Kalkbrenner set five BIG EAST career records in league play. He now owns the career record for field goal percentage in BIG EAST play (min. 5 FG/game) among multi-year players at 64.2 percent, as well as with 248 blocked shots, 557 career field goals made, 98 games played and 2,930 minutes played.
   Kalkbrenner finished his career third all-time with 1,400 career points in BIG EAST play and third all-time with 674 career rebounds in BIG EAST play.
   Kalkbrenner became the 11th man with 1,000+ points and 500+ rebounds in BIG EAST action over a career, but the only man in history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 blocked shots in BIG EAST play during a career.
Best Career FG% in BIG EAST Play (min. 5 FG/game)
   Pct.   FG-FGA   Name, School
   .642   557-868   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   .608   377-620   Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
   .593   270-455   Emeka Okafor, UConn
   .575   337-586   Otis Thorpe, Providence
Most Career Games in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   Games   Name, School
   1.   98   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2.   92   Myles Cale, Seton Hall
       92   Dylan Addae-Wusu, STJ/BU/SHU
   4.   91   Eric Dixon, Villanova
   5.   90   Nate Watson, Providence
Most Career Minutes in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   Minutes   Name, School
   1.   2,930   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2.   2,660   LaDontae Henton, Providence
   3.   2,610   Eric Dixon, Villanova
   4.   2,512   Collin Gillespie, Villanova
   5.   2,510   Tory Jackson, Notre Dame
Most Career Blocks in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   Blocks   Name, School
   1.   248   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2.   247   Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
   3.   243   Hasheem Thabeet, UConn
   4.   232   Etan Thomas, Syracuse
   5.   224   Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown
1,000 Career Points & 500 Rebounds in BIG EAST Play
   PTS   REB   Name, School
   1,400   674   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   1,329   662   Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
   1,177   561   Bill Curley, Boston College
   1,173   534   Ryan Gomes, Providence
   1,170   582   John Wallace, Syracuse
   1,152   580   Zendon Hamilton, St. John's
   1,148   609   Danya Abrams, Boston College
   1,071   563   LaDontae Henton, Providence
   1,062   545   Tim James, Miami (Fla.)
   1,047   502   Charles Smith, Pittsburgh
   1,033   701   Derrick Coleman, Syracuse
Most Career Field Goals in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   FG Made   Name, School
   1.   557   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2.   506   Markus Howard, Marquette
   3.   503   Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
   4.   499   Lawrence Moten, Syracuse
   5.   472   Eric Dixon, Villanova
Most Career Points in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   Points   Name, School
   1.   1,587   Markus Howard, Marquette
   2.   1,405   Lawrence Moten, Syracuse
   3.   1,400   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   4.   1,388   Troy Bell, Boston College
   5.   1,365   Eric Dixon, Villanova
Most Career Rebounds in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.      Rebounds   Name, School
   1.   828   Angel Delgado, Seton Hall
   2.   701   Derrick Coleman, Syracuse
   3.   674   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   4.   662   Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
   5.   630   Michael Smith, Notre Dame
League Leaders in BIG EAST Play
Ryan Kalkbrenner led all players in BIG EAST play with 9.35 rebounds per game, finishing ahead of Zuby Ejiofor's 8.45 per contest. Kalkbrenner is Creighton's second straight league rebounding champ (after Baylor Scheierman last year).
   Kalkbrenner also earned his third straight BIG EAST title in field goal percentage in league play. The CU center is shooting 64.2 percent from the floor, while no other player that has met the league minimum of 5 FG/game shot better than 52 percent.
   Kalkbrenner also won his third straight title in blocks per league game with 2.75 swats per game. The only others to lead the BIG EAST in blocks in three straight years are Patrick Ewing (1981-85), Jason Lawson (1995-97), Emeka Okafor (2004-06) and Hasheem Thabeet (2007-09).
   Kalkbrenner also was tops with 6.90 defensive rebounds per game.
   Steven Ashworth led the BIG EAST with 7.45 assists per game in league play. CU's only other BIG EAST assist champ was Maurice Watson Jr. (6.7) in 2015-16. Ashworth was also tops in free throw percentage (.884). CU's only other prior BIG EAST free throw titlist was Denzel Mahoney (.898) in 2019-20.
   Lastly, Ashworth made 3.25 three-pointers per game, edging UConn's Solo Ball (3.20) on the final day of the regular-season.
Half The Story
Creighton shot 84.2 percent in the second half of its March 4th win at Seton Hall, sinking 14-of-17 shots.
   It was the program's best shooting percentage in any half since making 84.2 percent of its second half shots (also 14-17) at Wichita State on Feb. 16, 2005.
   It was the fourth time in 515 games under Greg McDermott that Creighton shot 75 percent or better from the field.
Creighton's Best FG% in a Half Under McDermott
   FG%   FG-FGA   Opponent, Date   Half
   .842   14-17   at Seton Hall, 3/4/25   2nd
   .800   16-20   at Southern Illinois, 2/14/12   2nd
   .759   22-29   Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 11/9/21   2nd
   .750   15-20   at Southern Illinois, 2/14/12   1st
   .750   18-24   vs. Connecticut, 3/14/25   1st
On Your Mark
Creighton is 12-0 when scoring 80+ points this year and averages 79.2 points in its wins, compared to its 65.8 points per game average in its 10 losses.
   Creighton has won a BIG EAST-leading 17 straight games when scoring 80+ points, just ahead of Butler (13), and is 189-21 under McDermott when scoring 80 points or more.
Ain't Too Proud To Brag
Creighton's win over DePaul on Feb. 26th extended its streak of 20-win seasons to 10 in a row, tied for the nation's fourth-longest active streak. Kansas leads the way with 36 (including 2024-25). The others on that list have already won 20+ games this year, a group that features Gonzaga (28 including 2024-25), Belmont (15 including 2024-25), Oregon (10 including 2024-25) and Houston (10 including 2024-25).
   Creighton has now won 22 games or more in six straight seasons (including 2024-25). Only Gonzaga (28 including 2024-25) and Houston (8 including 2024-25) have longer streaks. San Diego State (21 wins in 2024-25) and Baylor (19) both can extend their streaks to six straight seasons in the postseason this month.
   Creighton is one of three schools to have men's and women's basketball programs to both own 22 wins or more each of the last four seasons (including 2024-25), a list that includes Creighton, Princeton and UConn. Princeton (19 men's wins, 21 women's wins) could also still get there this season.
   Creighton was one of six teams in the nation with 25 or more wins in both men's basketball and women's basketball last season. That list consisted of Creighton, Gonzaga, NC State, South Carolina, UConn and Vermont.
Most Consecutive 20-Win Seasons
(Including 2024-25)
Team                Consecutive 20-Win Seasons  Â
Kansas   36  Â
Gonzaga   28  Â
Belmont   15  Â
Oregon   15  Â
Creighton   10  Â
Houston   10  Â
Most Consecutive 22-Win Seasons
(Entering 2024-25)
Team                Consec. 22-Win Yrs.   2024-25 W-L   Next
Gonzaga   27   25-8   3/20
Houston   7   30-4   3/20
Creighton   5   24-10   3/20
San Diego State   5   21-9   3/18
Baylor   5   19-14   3/21
25 of 27 Seasons With 20 Wins
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 25 of the last 27 seasons (including 2024-25), a feat that puts the Jays among an exclusive group, nationally.
   Entering 2024-25, just two schools have had 20 or more wins each of the previous 26 years: Gonzaga and Kansas. Duke has done it 25 times, Creighton and Kentucky 24 times each.
Most 20-Win Seasons, Previous 26 Seasons
(Entering 2024-25)
Team                20-Win Seasons   2024-25 W-L   Next
Gonzaga   26   25-8   3/20
Kansas   26   21-12   3/20
Duke   25   31-3   3/21
Creighton   24   24-10   3/20
Kentucky   24   22-11   3/21
Arizona   22   22-12   3/2
Florida   22   29-4   3/21
Ohio State   22   17-15   Done
Michigan State   22   27-6   3/21
BYUÂ Â Â 21Â Â Â 24-9Â Â Â 3/20
Memphis   21   28-5   3/16
North Carolina   21   22-13   3/18
Wisconsin   21   26-8   3/16
Seeking 20
Including 2024-25, Creighton has won 20 or more games 36 times in program history. That includes a program-record 14 times under Greg McDermott.
Creighton's 20 Win Seasons Before 2024-25
   Total Wins   How Often   Last Time before '24-25
   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
   14   Greg McDermott
   11   Dana Altman
   3   Tom Apke
   3   Tony Barone
   2   Red McManus
   1   Charles Kearney
   1   Eddie Sutton
   1   Willis Reed
League Of Their Own
Creighton has finished with a .500 mark or better in league play 29 times in the last 30 seasons (including 2024-25), one of seven schools nationally that can say that.
   The only BIG EAST teams to finish .500 or better in league play each of the previous 10 seasons are Creighton and Villanova.
   Creighton is the only "Power 5" school with an active streak of six years or longer with 12 or more league wins.
Most Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Last 30 Seasons (Includes 2024-25)
   Seasons   Team  Â
   30   Duke  Â
   30   Kansas  Â
   30   Gonzaga  Â
   29   Kentucky  Â
   29   Michigan State  Â
   29   Creighton  Â
Consecutive Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Power 5 Schools (Includes 2024-25)
   Seasons   Team  Â
   36   Kansas  Â
   30   Duke  Â
   14   Oregon  Â
   13   Villanova  Â
   10   Creighton  Â
   10   Houston  Â
   10   Florida  Â
Consecutive Seasons 12+ League Wins
Power 5 Schools (Includes 2024-25)
   Seasons   Team   2024-25 W-L
   6   Creighton   15-5
20 & 10 For Kalkbrenner
Ryan Kalkbrenner closed the regular-season with 27 points and 13 rebounds, his 12th career game with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the same contest and sixth this season.
   In the last 20 seasons, the only other two Creighton basketball players (men or women) with eight or more 20/10 career games were both First Round NBA Draft picks.
CU's Most Career Games With 20 Points & 10 Rebounds
(Since 2005-06)
   Qty.   Name   Years
   25   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   12   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   8   Baylor Scheierman   2022-24
   Kalkbrenner now owns 26 double-doubles, the third-most by any Bluejay under Greg McDermott.
Most CU Double-Doubles Under Greg McDermott
   Qty.   Name   Years
   37   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   29   Baylor Scheierman   2022-24
   26   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   13   Martin Krampelj   2015-19
   11   Ryan Hawkins   2021-22
Kalkbrenner Named All-Tourney, Again
Ryan Kalkbrenner averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game last weekend to earn All-BIG EAST Tournament Team honors. It's his third such honor.
   The only players in league history to be named to three All-Tournament Teams are Ryan Kalkbrenner (2022-23-25), Marquette's Kam Jones (2023-24-25, Connecticut's Ben Gordon (2002-03-04) and Khalid El-Amin (1998-99-2000). Georgetown's Alonzo Mourning (1989-91-92), Patrick Ewing (1982-84-85) and Eric Floyd (1980-81-82), Louisville's Peyton Siva (2011-12-13), Syracuse's Sherman Douglas (1987-88-89) and Leo Rautins (1981-82-83), Villanova's Josh Hart (2015-16-17) and Ed Pinckney (1982-84-85) and Xavier's Trevon Bluiett (2016-17-18).
Neal's Near Triple-Double
Jamiya Neal had 13 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the Feb. 23rd win over Georgetown, coming just one assist shy of Creighton's second point/rebound/assist triple-double in program history.
   Neal picked up his ninth assist with 5:44 left. In the rest of the game, Neal made seven passes in the front court, but his teammates missed all four shots they took that could have helped Neal make history.
   Neal's 12 rebounds and nine assists both tied his career-highs, and he and St. John's guard Kadary Richmond are the only players to rank in the Top 11 in the BIG EAST in both categories.
   Neal was the first BIG EAST player since at least 2005-06 with at least 13 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and one or fewer turnovers in a league game.
All About The Benchamins
Creighton's bench has scored 465 points in 34 games this season, easily outscoring last year's point production of 367 in 35 games a season ago.
   Creighton had not scored 400 bench points or more since 2020-21 after doing it for 14 straight seasons from 2007-08 to 2020-21. Its 465 points are its most since scoring 476 in 2020-21 and 496 in 2019-20.
   The Bluejays have won 48 straight games when scoring 17 or more bench points.
Mr. Reliable
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns at least 10 points and a blocked shot in each of the last 19 games. He's the only Bluejay in the past 20 seasons to have done it in 10 or more consecutive games in his career, and owns three such streaks.
   Kalkbrenner is the nation's only player with an active streak of 15 or longer, and the nation's only player with a longer streak since 2005-06 is Johni Broome's 22 in a row during the 2021-22 campaign while at Morehead State.
   Since 2005-06, the only player with more than Kalkbrenner's 118 career games with 10+ points and a block is Broome's 127, which includes his current run starring at Auburn after transferring.
   After not having anyone average at least 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for 32 years from 1991-92 to 2022-23, Kalkbrenner (19.4 ppg., 8.8 rpg.) is attempting to give Creighton a second straight player as he joins Baylor Scheierman (18.5 ppg., 9.0 rpg. in 2023-24).
   Kalkbrenner is one of two major conference players this season to average at least 19.0 and 8.7 this season, joining Stanford's Maxime Raynaud.
Big Man With Big Numbers
The numbers surrounding Ryan Kalkbrenner's career continue to impress.
   Kalkbrenner owns 640 points this season, joining Doug McDermott (3), Bob Portman (2) and Marcus Foster (2) as the only Bluejay men in history with multiple seasons of 600 or more points.
   Kalkbrenner is also one of three Bluejay men with four seasons of 400 or more points along with McDermott and Rodney Buford.
   Kalkbrenner also has 89 blocked shots this season. He's now responsible for four seasons of 69 swats or more in his career, while all other Bluejays in program history have four total (three by Benoit Benjamin, one by Chad Gallagher).
   Kalkbrenner is one of 24 players in NCAA history with four seasons of 69+ blocks.
Coaching Consistency Is Key
Between women's basketball coach Jim Flanery (453) and men's basketball coach Greg McDermott (349), Creighton is the nation's only school with a pair of active head coaches with at least 345 victories at their current school.
   Flanery (hired in 2002) and McDermott (2010) also make Creighton one of three schools to have the same men's and women's basketball head coaches each of the last 15 seasons, joining Boise State (Leon Rice and Gordy Presnell) and Northern Iowa (Ben Jacobsen and Tanya Warren).
   Jacobsen played on teams McDermott assisted at North Dakota from 1989-93 and later replaced McDermott as head coach at UNI In 2006, while Warren was a former Creighton player and assistant and is one of two women in program history to have her number retired.
Some Loyal Fans
Creighton's average home crowd of 17,366 this year ranked third-most in program history and included eight sellout crowds.
   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 21 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 22nd season.
Highest Average Attendance, Creighton History
   Avg. Att.   School   Year
   17,896   Creighton   2013-14
   17,413   Creighton   2016-17
   17,366   Creighton   2024-25
   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
McDermott Among The Best
Greg McDermott ranks sixth in BIG EAST history with 138 regular-season league wins.
   McDermott, along with Ed Cooley and Rick 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 (15 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 14 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 Jr., Georgetown
   5.   140   Rick Pitino, Prov./Louisville/SJU
   6.   138   Greg McDermott, Creighton
   7.   136   Mike Brey, Notre Dame
   8.   131   John Thompson III, Georgetown
   9.   129   Ed Cooley, Providence/G'Town
   10.   127   Lou Carnesecca, St. John's
Automatic Ashworth
Steven Ashworth set a Creighton single-game record on Nov. 6 vs. UTRGV when he was a perfect 17-for-17 at the free throw line. It's the most attempts without a miss in a game in CU history.
   The 17 makes at the line were an arena record (two others had made 15), and tied for second-most in a game in CU history behind only Bob Portman's 19 vs. UW-Milwaukee on Dec. 16, 1967.
   Ashworth's 17 attempts were 10th-most in CU history, and the most by a Bluejay since Nate Funk shot 18 in a double-overtime win vs. Dayton on Nov. 26, 2005.
   Ashworth's streak of 41 consecutive made free throws was snapped on Nov. 27th vs. Texas A&M, four shy of the record set by Doug McDermott in 2013-14. Ashworth shook off that rare miss and then made 38 free throws in a row, CU's third-longest streak ever. Ashworth made his first nine tries at the charity stripe on Feb. 11th before a miss, snapping his streak at 31 in a row.
   Ashworth is the lone player in program history with multiple streaks of 30 free throws made or more, and now has three such streaks this year.
Most Consecutive Free Throws Made Since 1980
   FT   Name   Dates of Streak
   45   Doug McDermott   Dec. 1, 2013-Jan. 4, 2014
   41   Steven Ashworth   March 2 - Nov. 22, 2024
   38   Steven Ashworth   Nov. 27, 2024 - Jan. 11, 2025
   36   Booker Woodfox   Dec. 6, 2008-Jan. 6, 2009
   35   Bob Portman   1967-68
   32   Michael Lindeman   Jan. 23-Nov. 29, 2003
   31   Baylor Scheierman   Feb. 17-March 29, 2024
   31   Steven Ashworth   Jan. 18 - Feb. 11, 2025
   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
#1 In Your Program, #1 In Your Record Book
Steven Ashworth has made 92.6 percent of his free throw attempts this season. Not only does that put him on pace to shatter the Creighton single-season record, but he's also fifth in the nation this year.
   Ashworth shot 60-for-65 (.923) at the line at CHI Health Center Omaha this season, setting a single-season facility record.
Best Season FT Percentage, Creighton History (Min. 70 Attempts)
   Pct.   Name (Class, Year)   FTM-FTA
   .926   Steven Ashworth (Sr., 2024-25)   113-122
   .908   Kyle Korver (Sr., 2002-03)   109-120
   .907   Steven Ashworth (Sr., 2023-24)   68-75
   .890   Kyle Korver (Jr., 2001-02)   97-109
   .882   Doug Brookins (Sr., 1974-75)   98-111
   .880   Mike Caruso (Sr., 1970-71)   95-108
   .876   Baylor Scheierman (Sr., 2023-24)   99-113
   .875   Doug McDermott (Jr., 2012-13)   189-216
   .871   Ryan Nembhard (So., 2022-23)   74-85
   .868   Booker Woodfox (Sr., 2008-09)   99-114
   .867   Kyle Korver (So., 2000-01)   72-83
Among The Best
Creighton owns more BIG EAST wins (82) than any other school in the last six seasons, 11 more than Marquette and Villanova's 71.
   Since the league's 2013 realignment, Villanova has 161 league wins to lead the BIG EAST by a wide margin, but Creighton's 138 league victories are second-most.
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2019-20 to 2024-25)
Team   W   L   Pct.
Creighton   82   35   .701
Villanova   71   42   .628
Marquette   71   45   .612
UConn   69   27   .719
Providence   64   50   .561
Seton Hall   59   57   .509
Xavier   59   51   .536
St. John's   59   57   .509
Butler   45   73   .381
Georgetown   24   89   .212
DePaul   18   95   .159
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2013-14 to 2024-25)
Team   W   L   Pct.
Villanova   161   60   .729
Creighton   138   87   .613
Xavier   125   93   .573
Marquette   123   101   .549
Providence   122   100   .550
Seton Hall   112   112   .500
Butler   99   127   .438
St. John's   99   125   .442
Georgetown   70   151   .317
UConn   69   27   .719
DePaul   43   178   .195
McAndrew Moves Up The Charts
Jackson McAndrew has made 62 three-pointers and drained at least one three-pointer in all but five games this season.
   McAndrew's 62 triples are fourth-most in program history by a freshman.
   Most 3-Pointers Made by a Creighton Freshman
   3FG-FGA   3FG%   Name   Year
   68-157   .433   Ethan Wragge   2009-10
   63-161   .391   Ryan Sears   1997-98
   63-145   .434   Kyle Korver   1999-00
   62-180   .344   Jackson McAndrew   2024-25
   60-141   .426   Marcus Zegarowski   2018-19
   47-116   .405   Doug McDermott   2010-11
   46-118   .390   Rodney Buford   1995-96
   45-125   .360   Toby Hegner   2014-15
   44-135   .326   Mitch Ballock   2017-18
   41-105   .390   Jahenns Manigat   2010-11
Guarding The Paint
The presence of four-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner is key to Creighton's success in defending the paint.
   While Creighton opponents shoot a respectable 60.8 percent at the rim, that number falls off from there. Bluejay foes are shooting 36.9 percent from the paint outside the charge circle, and just 38.0 percent from two-point range outside the paint.
   In other words, Creighton is shooting 63.8 percent from the painted area this year, while its opponents are shooting 48.1 percent.
Area   Opp.   FG%   CU   FG%
Inside Circle   318-523   .608   372-519   .717
Paint No Circle   219-594   .369   175-339   .516
2FG Outside Paint   124-326   .380   49-128   .383
3-Point FG's   257-786   .327   321-947   .339
More Than Just Being Tall
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 327 dunks in his career, including 91 this season. He has 206 more career dunks more than any other Bluejay player since Greg McDermott's arrival in 2010, as well as the single-season high in that time.
    Here's a look at the Creighton student-athletes with 25 or more dunks in a season, and 30 or more dunks in a career, under McDermott:
Most Creighton Dunks, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Year
91   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2024-25
75   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2023-24
74   Martin Krampelj   2018-19
72   Justin Patton   2016-17
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
Most Creighton Dunks, Career, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Years
327   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
121   Martin Krampelj   2015-19
103   Christian Bishop   2018-21
90   Gregory Echenique   2010-13
72   Justin Patton   2016-17
55   Fredrick King   2022-Pres.
52   Marcus Foster   2016-18
51   Khyri Thomas   2015-18
43   Arthur Kaluma   2021-23
38   Will Artino   2011-15
33   Zach Hanson   2013-17
Most Creighton Dunks, Team, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Year   Team W-L
147Â Â Â 2024-25Â Â Â 24-10 so far (NCAA)
144Â Â Â 2016-17Â Â Â 25-10 (NCAA)
132Â Â Â 2021-22Â Â Â 23-12 (NCAA)
115Â Â Â 2022-23Â Â Â 24-13 (NCAA)
107Â Â Â 2017-18Â Â Â 21-12 (NCAA)
106Â Â Â 2018-19Â Â Â 20-15 (NIT)
102Â Â Â 2023-24Â Â Â 25-10 (NCAA)
90Â Â Â 2020-21Â Â Â 22-9 (NCAA)
60Â Â Â 2019-20Â Â Â 24-7 (Postseason Canceled)
58Â Â Â 2015-16Â Â Â 20-15 (NIT)
The Bank of Morman
Steven Ashworth's final 30 seconds at Villanova on Feb. 1 was quite the roller coaster. His turnover led to a breakaway dunk with 15.3 left by Wooga Poplar that gave the Wildcats a 60-59 lead.
   Ashworth then brought the ball upcourt and airballed a pull-up three-pointer, only to have teammate Jasen Green grab the rebound and alertly call timeout while falling out of bounds.
   Given another chance to redeem himself, Ashworth caught Green's inbounds pass in the left corner and improbably banked in a game-winning three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left to seal the regular-season sweep over the Wildcats.
   It was the first time Creighton has squandered a lead in the final minute of an eventual win since its memorable triple-overtime win at Seton Hall on Jan. 20, 2024. On that day, CU led 90-89 before the Pirates took the lead on two Kadary Richmond foul shots with 42.3 seconds left in triple-OT. CU answered with a Trey Alexander three-pointer with 28.4 seconds left, followed by two game-clinching free throws each from Steven Ashworth and Baylor Scheierman in the final 12 seconds.
   It was also Creighton's first go-ahead basket in the final 10 seconds of a victory since Trey Alexander's game-winner with 0.2 seconds left at Villanova last season.
   Below is a list of Creighton's victories under Greg McDermott in which it scored a go-ahead points in the final 30 seconds* of a victory.
Go-Ahead Points in Last 30 Seconds* of Wins Under McDermott
Player   Time   Opponent   Date
Kenny Lawson Jr.   18.1, Dunk   Northern Arizona   11/14/10
Antoine Young   0.3, FG   Long Beach St.   02/18/12
Josh Jones   22.6, FG   Evansville   02/21/12
Doug McDermott   4.9, FG   at Saint Joseph's   11/16/13
Doug McDermott   2.8, 3FG   St. John's   01/28/14
Marcus Foster   6.6, 3FG   vs. Xavier   03/10/17
Marcus Foster   14.4, 3FG   at DePaul   02/07/18
Marcus Zegarowski   3.2 3FG   Providence   01/18/20
Christian Bishop   0.8, Dunk   at Providence   01/02/21
Christian Bishop   16.0, 2 FT   vs. UCSB   03/20/21
Ryan Nembhard   0.0, FG   vs. So. Illinois   11/22/21
Trey Alexander   26.2, 2 FT   Villanova   02/04/23
Trey Alexander   12.3, 2 FT   St. John's   01/13/24
Trey Alexander   28.4, 3FG   at Seton Hall   01/20/24
Trey Alexander   0.2, FG   at Villanova   03/09/24
Steven Ashworth   5.8, 3FG   at Villanova   02/01/25
*go-ahead points in regulation not listed if game went to overtime
Road Trio
Creighton was just the fifth team since 1993-94 to beat Connecticut, Villanova and Providence on the road in the same season.
   The only other teams to do it since 1993-94 were Xavier (2022-23), Marquette (2011-12) and Syracuse (2011-12 and 1996-97), though Syracuse later vacated the wins from 2011-12.
  Â
Kalkbrenner Passes 1,100 at CHI
Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 1,133 career points inside CHI Health Center Omaha. He's the second player to score 1,000 points in the facility, joining Doug McDermott (1,573 points).
Most Career Points at CHI Health Center Omaha
   Rk.   Name, Years   Points (Games)
   1.   Doug McDermott, 2010-14   1,573 (71)
   2.   Ryan Kalkbrenner, 2020-Pres.   1,133 (77)
   3.   Nate Funk, 2003-07   735 (47)
   4.   Marcus Zegarowski, 2018-21   728 (50)
   5.   Ty-Shon Alexander, 2017-20   727 (55)
   6.   Marcus Foster, 2016-18   723 (35)
   7.   Mitch Ballock, 2017-21   721 (69)
   8.   Kenny Lawson Jr., 2006-11   707 (76)
   9.   Trey Alexander, 2021-24   655 (43)
   10.   Antoine Young, 2008-12   634 (71)
   Kalkbrenner set the facility records for career field goal percentage (.727), offensive rebounds (204) and blocks (177) and also ranked second in arena history in field goals made (457; McDermott had 563), field goal attempts (629; McDermott had 999), free throws made (200; McDermott had 313), free throws attempted (286; McDermott had 376), and rebounds (525; McDermott had 534).
Chairmen Of The Boards
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 1,133 rebounds in his career, far ahead of Eric Dixon's 890 to rank tops among active BIG EAST players. That ranks second-most in CU history.
   Reb.   Name   Years
   1,751   Paul Silas   1961-64
   1,133   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   1,126   Bob Harstad   1987-91
   1,088   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   1,005   Benoit Benjamin   1982-85
      979   Bob Portman   1966-69
Into The Top 35
Ryan Kalkbrenner enters Thursday 32nd in NCAA history with 395 career blocked shots. He can become the 29th man ever to reach 400 with five swats in the NCAA Tournament.
     Rank   Blk.   Name   School
   1.   564   Jarvis Varnado   Mississippi State
---
   26.   412   Shaquille O'Neal   LSU
   27.   411   Benoit Benjamin   Creighton
   28.   409   Kevin Roberson   Vermont
   29.   399   Jim McIlvaine   Marquette
       399   Stephane Lasme   Massachusetts
   31.   396   Mickell Gladness   Alabama A&M
   32.   395   Ryan Kalkbrenner   Creighton
Kalkbrenner Passes 2,000 Points
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 2,411 career points after passing the 2,000 point milestone on Jan. 3 at Marquette.
   He is the fourth player to surpass 2,000 career points for Creighton, joining Doug McDermott (3,150), Rodney Buford (2,116) and Bob Harstad (2,110).
   McDermott reached 2,000 points in 101 games, Buford needed 111 games, Harstad required 121 contests to reach 2,000 points, and Kalkbrenner did it in 148 games.
   If you're curious, Kalkbrenner reached 1,000 career points in his 91st career game on Feb. 25, 2023. McDermott got to 1,000 in 57 games, Buford needed 59 and Harstad reached that milestone in 73 games.
   Here's a list of Creighton's top scorers ever.
Most Career Points, Creighton History
   Rank   Pts.   Name   Years
   1.   3,150   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   2.   2,411   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   3.   2,116   Rodney Buford   1995-99
   4.   2,110   Bob Harstad    1987-91
   5.   1,983   Chad Gallagher    1987-91
KKalkbrenner
Ryan Kalkbrenner enters Thursday with 2,411 points and 1,133 career rebounds after becoming the 132nd men's player in NCAA history have recorded at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career on Jan. 25 vs. Seton Hall.
   He joins Doug McDermott (3,150/1,088) and Bob Harstad (2,110/1,126) as the third player in CU history in the exclusive 2,000/1,000 club.
   Creighton is now the seventh school in NCAA history to have three different men reach 2,000 points & 1,000 rebounds with only one school, joining Duke (4), Kansas (3), La Salle (3), North Carolina (3), Syracuse (3) and Utah (3).
   Baylor Scheierman surpassed 2,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds last year, but that combined three years at South Dakota State with two campaigns at Creighton.
All He Does Is Win
Ryan Kalkbrenner has appeared in 117 wins over the past five seasons and is easily the winningest player in program history.
   Here's a list of the only players on record to have appeared in at least 98 wins in a Creighton uniform:
Most Wins Played In For Creighton
   Wins   Name   Years
   117   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   107   Ethan Wragge   2009-14
   107   Jahenns Manigat   2010-14
   107   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   98   Kyle Korver   1999-03
   98   Austin Chatman   2011-15
Can't Stop, Won't Stop
Ryan Kalkbrenner has played in 167 games in his career, a Creighton record. Fellow fifth-year senior Steven Ashworth has played in 165 career games, but the first 97 of those came with Utah State.
Most Games Played For Creighton
   Games   Name   Years
   167   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   149   Ethan Wragge   2009-14
   145   Jahenns Manigat   2010-14
   145   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   143   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2006-11
He Shoots, He Scores
There's been 713 players in NCAA history to score 2,000 career points, but Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks second among that list in field goal percentage.
   The top seven men on that list combined to win six AP National Player of the Year awards.
Best FG%, 2,000 Point Scorers, NCAA History
   FG%   FG-FGA   Name   School
   .678   828-1222   Steve Johnson   Oregon State
   .661   971-1474   Ryan Kalkbrenner   Creighton
   .639   943-1476   Lew Alcindor   UCLA
   .621   925-1490   Zach Edey   Purdue
   .620   857-1382   Patrick Ewing   Georgetown
   .618   910-1473   Drew Timme   Gonzaga
   .613   1032-1683   David Robinson   Navy
Give Me 10
Creighton owned 15 home wins this season, the 28th time in the last 29 seasons that CU has won at least 10 games at home.
   The only exception in that time came in 2014-15, when the Jays won nine times at home.
Filling The Building
Creighton ranks sixth nationally in average home attendance. Excluding the 2020-21 season that had limited fans due to COVID, this would be Creighton MBB's 13th straight season in the Top 10 in average home attendance.
Average Home Attendance Leaders (3/16)
   Rk.   Avg.   Team   Next Home Game
   1.   20,521   North Carolina   Next Year
   2.   20,334   Kentucky   Next Year
   3.   20,026   Tennessee   Next Year
   4.   18,996   Arkansas   Next Year
   5.   18,888   Syracuse   Next Year
   6.   17,366   Creighton   Next Year
   7.   17,054   BYU   Next Year
   8.   16,447   Indiana   Next Year
   9.   15,571   Marquette   Next Year
   10.   15,300   Kansas   Next Year
Yearly Pink Out Totals
Creighton has raised $1,000,074.65 since the start of the 2011-12 season during its annual men's and basketball Pink Out auctions, plus additional money collected on gameday, underwriting, matching donations and volleyball/women's basketball jersey auctions.
   The numbers below show the annual figures for the men's basketball jersey auction unless otherwise noted, but do not include the matching totals or donations collected at the door in 2025, as those were still being calculated at press time.
2011-12:Â Â Â $20,600
2012-13:Â Â Â $24,444
2013-14:Â Â Â $48,247.11
2014-15:Â Â Â $16,384.03
2015-16:Â Â Â $16,527.90
2016-17:Â Â Â $26,361.64
2017-18:Â Â Â $28,796
2018-19:Â Â Â $19,595
2019-20:Â Â Â $31,803.18
2020-21:Â Â Â $40,381
2021-22:Â Â Â $24,165
2022-23:Â Â Â $27,432
2023-24:Â Â Â $36,002.46
2024-25:Â Â Â $43,995.92
MBB Auction Totals = $404,735.24
WBB/VB Auctions + Additional Donations: $595,339.41
14-Year Totals: $1,000,074.65
Taking Down The Champs, And #1
Creighton beat No. 1 Kansas on December 4th, defeated defending NCAA champion UConn on Jan. 18th and defending NIT champion Seton Hall on Jan. 25th. For good measure, CU also topped defending runner-up Purdue in an exhibition game this season.
   Even when you take out the Purdue win, Creighton is first team to defeat the defending NCAA champ, the defending NIT champ and the No. 1 team in the country in the same season since Michigan State in 2008-09. The Spartans beat NCAA champ Kansas (twice), NIT champ Ohio State (twice) and No. 1 Louisville.
Hands Off
Creighton owns a nation-leading 19 games this season with 10 fouls or less, more than double any other school except Central Connecticut State (16).
   Creighton had 10 fouls or less in 13-of-20 BIG EAST games, while all other BIG EAST teams did it a combined total of 13 times this season.
   Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Creighton owns 48 games with 10 fouls or less, with Central Connecticut State second with just 26 such contests.
   Since the start of last season, Creighton owns a nation-leading 14 conference games with nine fouls or less.
Jays Don't Foul...Do You Follow?
Creighton led the nation with just 11.5 fouls per game last year, well ahead of runner-up Lipscomb's 12.9 per contest, and are averaging an 10.94 fouls per game this season to lead the country. That puts CU on pace to set the NCAA single-season record for fewest fouls per game, a mark currently held by the 1961-62 Air Force team that averaged 11.00 fouls per game.
   Creighton's streak of 60 straight games without a foul out was snapped on Nov. 30 vs. Notre Dame. Per Elias, that streak had been the nation's longest since at least 2005-06.
   Since the start of last year, Creighton has committed three fouls or less in 32 different halves.
   In 68 games since the start of last season, Creighton has allowed just 71 made free throws in a 1-and-1 situation, and just 29 made free throws in the double bonus (and 6 of those came in an overtime session). Only four of those made free throws in a 1-and-1 situation came in the first half (2 each vs. Alabama and San Diego State).
   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   OT
UTRGVÂ Â Â 4Â Â Â 7
FDUÂ Â Â 5Â Â Â 7
Houston Christian   2   6
Kansas City   2   4
Nebraska   7   12
San Diego State   1   5
Texas A&MÂ Â Â 9Â Â Â 8
Notre Dame   5   8
#1 Kansas   3   4
UNLVÂ Â Â 4Â Â Â 4
#7 Alabama   7   11
Georgetown   4   4
Villanova   1   7
St. John's   3   6
#8 Marquette   3   9
Butler   1   8
Providence   5   3
#14 UConn   3   5
DePaul   5   7
Seton Hall   4   5
Xavier   4   7
Villanova   7   7
Providence   5   5
#11 Marquette   3   4
UConn   4   9
#9 St. John's   7   16
Georgetown   2   8
DePaul   4   9
Xavier   3   7
Seton Hall   1   7
Butler   5   4
DePaul   5   7   3
Connecticut   2   7
St. John's   1   11
Total   131   228   3
The McDermott Era
Greg McDermott owns 349 wins in 519 games at Creighton since his arrival in 2010-11.
   That gives Creighton the 22nd-most wins nationally in that span, but it's eighth-most of programs that have had the same coach the entire time.
Schools With Most Wins Since 2010-11, Only 1 Coach
(After 3/16/25)
Rk.   Wins   School   Coach   Next
1.   450   Gonzaga   Mark Few   3/20
2.   426   Kansas   Bill Self   3/20
3.   381   Saint Mary's   Randy Bennett   3/21
4.   370   Michigan State   Tom Izzo   3/21
5.   369   Oregon   Dana Altman   3/21
6.   357   Purdue   Matt Painter   3/20
7.   356   Baylor   Scott Drew   3/21
8.   349   Creighton   Greg McDermott   3/20
9.   314   Boise State   Leon Rice   3/31
10.   312   Colorado   Tad Boyle   4/1
   McDermott's 349 wins since the start of the 2010-11 season started are 11th-most nationally among all coaches at the Division I level, including those at multiple schools and/or retired coaches.
Most Division I Coaching Wins Since 2010-11
(Can Include Multiple Schools - after 3/9/25)
Rk.   W-L   Coach   Next
1.   449-78   Mark Few   3/20
2.   422-112   Bill Self   3/20
3.   394-134   John Calipari   3/20
4.   377-118   Randy Bennett   3/21
5.   372-142   Mick Cronin   3/20
6.   370-155   Tom Izzo   3/21
7.   369-161   Dana Altman   3/21
8.   357-158   Matt Painter   3/20
9.   356-155   Scott Drew   3/21
10.   350-133   Sean Miller   3/19
11.   349-170   Greg McDermott   3/20
   349-120   Tony Bennett   --
13.   343-173   Shaka Smart   3/21
Video Game Numbers
Ryan Kalkbrenner's numbers defy logic. Let's take a look:
   In his career, Kalkbrenner has been fouled 586 times, owns 395 blocked shots, 327 dunks and just 271 career personal fouls in 167 games played.
   This year only, he's been fouled 153 times and has 89 blocks, 91 dunks and committed 46 fouls.
   The only major conference men's players in history besides Kalkbrenner (+124) to block 360 shots and own at least 100 more blocks than fouls are Jarvis Varnado (+220), Tim Duncan (+178), Emeka Okafor (+170), Calvin Booth (+165), Hasheem Thabeet (+159) and Shaquille O'Neal (+125).
Neal Passing The Rock
Jamiya Neal played 93 games in the previous three seasons at Arizona State and had just one outing with five assists in a game.
   He's transformed his game in Omaha, where he's now sixth in the BIG EAST with his 4.4 assists per game average, and he's one of two players in the BIG EAST that's top 12 in the league in both rebounds and assists per game.
   Neal owns six assists or more in 12 games this season, with Creighton going 10-2 in those contests.
   Neal's 150 assists are more than his 119 total in three seasons at ASU.
   Neal opened his senior season with 17 straight games of three assists or more before it was snapped in the win at UConn, when he scored a career-high 24 points.
More Kalkbrenner Unicornisms
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 2,411 points and 395 blocks in his career.
   Per Basketball-Reference.com, he is the seventh player in Division I men's basketball history with at least 2,100 points and 350 blocked shots in a career.
   Each of the first five men to do it were picked No. 1 in the NBA Draft. The other, Auburn star Johni Broome, is currently active.
2,100 Points & 350 Career Blocks, NCAA History
   PTS   BLK   DRAFT   Name, School
   2,669   516   1   David Robinson, Navy
   2,184   493   1   Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
   2,117   481   1   Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
   2,228   462   1   Ralph Sampson, Virginia
   2,614   414   Active   Johni Broome, Morehead St./Auburn
   2,411   395   Active   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2,143   374   1   Pervis Ellison, Louisville
How Much Is 2,411 Points?
Per Basketball-Reference.com, Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks 117th in NCAA history with 2,411 career points. He can move into 112th if he reaches his average of 19 points, and climb into the top 105 with 39 points.
   Among the notable players that Kalkbrenner could pass on Thursday are Steve Alford (2,438), Chris Mullin (2,440) and Glen Rice (2,442).
Eyebrow Raising Numbers
Ryan Kalkbrenner had quite the stat line on Jan. 11 at Butler, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots, three steals and no fouls while also making three three-pointers.
   Before Kalkbrenner that game at Butler, the nation's last player with 26 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots in a game...was also Kalkbrenner, who had a 28/9/7 line in a triple-overtime win at Seton Hall on Jan. 20, 2024.
   Digging deeper, Kalkbrenner became the nation's first Division I men's player with at least 26 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots while not committing a foul in a conference game since Kentucky's Anthony Davis had 27/14/7 vs. Arkansas on Jan. 17, 2012.
   Kalkbrenner was the first high major player with at least 26 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots in a game that he made three or more three-pointers since Oregon's Chris Boucher had a 26/10/7/4 line at Arizona State on Jan. 31, 2016.
   And if you combine his whole line of 26 points, nine rebounds, six blocks, three steals and three three-pointers and you'll learn Kalkbrenner is the nation's only high-major player since 2005-06 with such a box score line like that.
Rare Air
Ryan Kalkbrenner is the nation's only high major player to average at least 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game this season.
   In the last 25 seasons, only eight high-major players have finished a season hitting each of those benchmarks, with five of those men hailing from the BIG EAST.
High Major Players to Average 17 PPG, 8 RPG & 2.6 BPG
(Last 25 Seasons)
Name, School   Year   PPG   RPG   BPG
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton   '24-25   19.4   8.8   2.7
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana   '22-23   20.9   10.8   2.9
Herbert Hill, Providence   '06-07   18.1   8.8   2.9
Shelden Williams, Duke   '05-06   18.8   10.7   3.8
Emeka Okafor, UConn   '03-04   17.6   11.5   4.1
David Harrison, Colorado   '03-04   17.1   8.8   2.9
Mike Sweetney, Georgetown   '02-03   22.8   10.4   3.2
Ryan Humphrey, Notre Dame   '01-02   18.9   10.9   2.8
Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall   '00-01   17.8   10.8   4.4
On The Double
After not having a double-double in the first 143 games of his career, Steven Ashworth has had five double-doubles in his last 22 games.
   He's one of just five Bluejay men to have multiple points/assists double-doubles in a season since 1992-93.
   Ashworth, who is now averaging 16.3 points and 6.8 assists per game, is trying to become the seventh different BIG EAST player in the last 40 years to average at least 16.3 points and 6.5 assists per game. Of that grouping, he'd be the first to do it while making at least 2.90 three-pointers per game.
Most Points/Assists Double-Doubles, Season (Since 1992-93)
   P/A D-D   Name   Years
   6   Maurice Watson Jr.   2016-17
   4   Steven Ashworth   2024-25
   3   Maurice Watson Jr.   2015-16
   2   Edward St. Fleur   1995-96
   2   Marcus Zegarowski   2020-21
   2   Trey Alexander   2023-24
BIG EAST Seasons With 16.3 PPG & 6.5 APG (Since 1986-87)
   PPG   APG   3FG/G   Name, School   Year
   17.3   7.8   --   Pearl Washington, Syracuse   1985-86
   20.6   7.1   2.9   Billy Donovan, Providence   1986-87
   17.3   7.6   0.4   Sherman Douglas, Syracuse   1986-87
   18.2   8.6   1.0   Sherman Douglas, Syracuse   1988-89
   18.7   6.9   2.4   Chris Thomas, Notre Dame   2002-03
   17.4   6.7   1.2   Jonny Flynn, Syracuse   2008-09
   16.3   6.8   3.1   Steven Ashworth, Creighton   2024-25
Sniper!
Jackson McAndrew made a three-pointer in each of his first nine BIG EAST games before being blanked on Jan. 29 vs. Xavier. He was Creighton's first freshman in the BIG EAST era to make a triple in nine straight league games. After that, he started a new streak and made a trey in CU's final 10 league games again to break his own record.
   McAndrew is the first freshman in BIG EAST history to make a three-pointer in 19 different conference games of the same season.
   Before McAndrew, no CU freshman had made a triple in at least 10 straight league games since Ethan Wragge's streak of 16 in a row from Jan. 3 - Feb. 27, 2010 when the Bluejays were part of the Missouri Valley Conference.
   McAndrew is the only freshman in the BIG EAST to make a three-pointer in 10 straight league games this season, and was the league's first freshman to do it in 10 straight conference games since Villanova's Cam Whitmore's 11 game streak in 2022-23.
Consecutive BIG EAST Games With A 3FG
Creighton Freshmen
   3FG Streak   Name   Year
   10   Jackson McAndrew   2024-25
   9   Jackson McAndrew   2024-25
   6   Marcus Zegarowski   2018-19
Let's Compare
How did Jackson McAndrew's league stats as a freshman compare to some other Creighton power forwards of note in recent years?
   Let's have a look...
Name, Year   MPG   PPG   RPG   3FG   3FG%
Jackson McAndrew, 2024-25Â Â Â 22.2Â Â Â 7.4Â Â Â 4.5Â Â Â 38Â Â Â .373
Arthur Kaluma, 2021-22Â Â Â 26.5Â Â Â 9.9Â Â Â 5.1Â Â Â 14Â Â Â .304
Toby Hegner, 2014-15Â Â Â 16.8Â Â Â 5.5Â Â Â 3.4Â Â Â 22Â Â Â .373
Doug McDermott, 2010-11Â Â Â 30.6Â Â Â 15.3Â Â Â 8.1Â Â Â 23Â Â Â .442
Ethan Wragge, 2009-10Â Â Â 15.4Â Â Â 5.8Â Â Â 1.9Â Â Â 32Â Â Â .390
Dane Watts, 2004-05Â Â Â 19.3Â Â Â 6.3Â Â Â 3.1Â Â Â 17Â Â Â .370
Anthony Tolliver, 2003-04Â Â Â 6.1Â Â Â 0.6Â Â Â 1.1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â .000
Kyle Korver, 1999-00Â Â Â 18.6Â Â Â 10.5Â Â Â 3.3Â Â Â 41Â Â Â .526
McAndrew Making History
Jackson McAndrew scored 13 points in each of his first two BIG EAST games and has scored in double-figures 12 times this winter.
   McAndrew was Creighton's first true freshman with 13 or more points in each of Creighton's first two conference games since Chad Gallagher in 1988-89 when CU was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Gallagher is now Creighton's fifth-leading scorer in program history with 1,983 career points.
   CU's only other freshman in the last 35 years to score 13+ in his first four league games was redshirt freshman Justin Patton, who did it in his first four BIG EAST games in 2016-17. Patton would go on to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors and went on to become the No. 16 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
   McAndrew's 12 games this season with 10 or more points ranks tied for seventh-most among Creighton true freshmen in the last 25 seasons. All of them, including McAndrew, went on to be named to the conference's All-Freshman Team.
   This season, the only other BIG EAST players with more than 11 double-digit performances this season have been UConn's Liam McNeeley (19) and Georgetown's Thomas Sorber (18).
Most 10+ Point Games, Creighton True Freshmen
Since 1999-2000
   Rk.   10+ Pts   Player (All-Frosh Team?)   Year
   1.   32   Doug McDermott (Y)   2010-11
   2.   21   P'Allen Stinnett (Y)   2007-08
   3.   17   Marcus Zegarowski (Y)   2018-19
       17   Ryan Nembhard (Y)   2021-22
   5.   14   Arthur Kaluma (Y)   2021-22
   6.   13   Kyle Korver (Y)   1999-00
   7.   12   Jackson McAndrew (Y)   2024-25
   8.   11   Trey Alexander (Y)   2021-22
       11   Terrell Taylor (Y)   1999-00
   10.   10   Mitch Ballock (Y)   2017-18
Kalkbrenner On Midseason Wooden Award List
Ryan Kalkbrenner was named to the John R. Wooden Award Top 15 List by the Los Angeles Athletic Club on March 9th.
   Selected by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list comprises 15 student-athletes who are frontrunners for the most prestigious honors in college basketball: the Wooden Award All-American Team™ and the Wooden Award® Most Outstanding Player.
   The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2025 John R. Wooden Award® Men's Player of the Year. Players not selected for the midseason list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award® National Ballot. The National Ballot will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award® qualifications.
   Nearly 1,000 voters will be invited to rank 10 of the 15 players on the ballot in order of preference when voting opens during the NCAA Tournament. Voters will also consider performances in the tournament's early rounds, players' contributions to their teams and their character. The Wooden Award All-American Team™ will be announced during the week of the NCAA Tournament's "Elite Eight."
   The winners and the All Americans of the 2025 John R. Wooden Award®, presented by Principal, will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 11.
Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 30 victories since the start of the 2010-11 season after trailing by double-figures at some point, including three such games this year.
   Fourteen of those 30 comebacks have come away from home.
   If you're curious, CU's largest comeback win since 2000 came on Jan. 28, 2006, when the Jays trailed 25-6 early before rallying to beat Wichita State on a buzzer-beater by Anthony Tolliver.
CU's Double-Digit Comebacks Under McDermott
Deficit   Opponent   Date
18   #18 Oklahoma   11/19/14
17   at San Diego State   11/30/11
17   vs. DePaul   03/13/25
16   at Evansville   02/16/13
16   at Seton Hall   01/27/21
16   SIU Edwardsville   11/27/21
15   Arkansas-Pine Bluff   11/09/21
14   Evansville   02/21/12
14   vs. San Diego State   03/17/22
13   at Saint Joseph's   11/16/13
13   Xavier   01/12/14
13   #22 Xavier   12/23/20
12   Saint Joseph's   12/11/10
12   at DePaul   01/17/16
12   East Tennessee State   11/11/18
11   at Wichita State   12/31/11
11   Northern Iowa   01/10/12
11   vs. Alabama   03/16/12
11   vs. Ole Miss   11/21/16
11   vs. Connecticut   03/12/21
11   DePaul   01/22/22
11   St. John's   12/31/24
10Â Â Â UABÂ Â Â 11/14/12
10   vs. Drake   03/02/12
10   at Nebraska   12/07/14
10   South Dakota   12/09/14
10   St. John's   01/03/18
10   at DePaul   02/07/18
10   Bemidji State   02/13/18
10   Georgetown   02/23/25
Stat Leaders, Nationally
Here's a list of the categories that Creighton is in the Top 20 in, through games of March 16th.
Category   Rank   Stat
Team Fouls Per Game   1st   10.9
Team Defensive Rebounds Per Game   3rd   29.09
Field Goals Made (Kalkbrenner)   3rd   258
Blocks (Kalkbrenner)   3rd   89
Field Goal Percentage (Kalkbrenner)   4th   .655
Blocks Per Game (Kalkbrenner)   4th   2.70
FT Pct. (Ashworth)   5th   .926
Assists (Ashworth)   7th   226
Assists Per Game (Ashworth)   8th   6.8
Team Assists Per Game   10th   17.1
3-Point Attempts (Ashworth)   14th   279
3-Pointers Made (Ashworth)   16th   103
300 In The Books
Creighton is 307-64 all-time inside CHI Health Center Omaha.
   Creighton needed 118 games to reach 100 victories, with that coming on Nov. 1\7, 2010, a 63-58 win over Louisiana.       Creighton's Nov. 25, 2017 win over SIU Edwardsville was the program's 200th at the facility and came in its 242nd home game.
   Creighton won its 300th game vs. St. John's on Dec. 31, 2024 in its 363rd game.
Thomas Earns Scholarship Under Xmas Tree
Redshirt freshman guard Shane Thomas was surprised on Christmas morning, as one of the gifts he received was an envelope from the Creighton Basketball program.
   Thomas opened the letter and read it to himself with a puzzled look. After his family asked him what the letter said, Thomas recited aloud "full grant in aid, spring of 2025...I think it's a scholarship."
   Thomas' guess was accurate, as the former walk-on will now be on scholarship for the spring semester.
Steven's Streaks   Speaking of streaks owned by Steven Ashworth, the senior had buried a three-pointer in 42 games in a row before it was snapped on Feb. 11th vs. UConn. That's the second-longest in program history, trailing Baylor Scheierman's 48 in a row (which didn't include his final 10 games at South Dakota State).
   Ashworth's streak of 16 straight games with multiple three-pointers was snapped on Jan. 3 at Marquette, but it was still tied for the second-longest in the BIG EAST since 2005-06.
Consecutive Games With A 3-Pointer, Creighton History
   Streak   Name   Dates of Streak
   48   Baylor Scheierman   Nov. 7, 2022 - Dec. 16, 2023
   42   Steven Ashworth   Jan. 13, 2024 - Feb. 8, 2025
   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
Consecutive Games With Multiple 3-Pointers
BIG EASTÂ Players Since 2005-06
   Streak   Name, School   Streak
   25   Frank Young, WVU   Nov. 18, 2006 - Feb. 20, 2007
   16   Steven Ashworth, CU   March 21 - Dec. 31, 2024
   16   Ethan Wragge, CU   Nov. 28, 2013 - Jan. 25, 2014
   16   Taquan Dean, LOU   Jan. 25-March 28, 2006
   16   Steve Novak, MU   Nov. 25, 2005 - Jan. 20, 2006
   15   Baylor Scheierman, CU   Nov. 7, 2022 - Jan. 1, 2023
   15   Myles Powell, SHU   Jan. 30 - Nov. 2019
Isaacs To Miss Remainder Of Season
Junior guard Pop Isaacs will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season as the Las Vegas native underwent hip surgery on Dec. 11th.
   Isaacs ranked second on the team with 16.3 points per game in eight appearances, including a season-high 27 points in CU's victory over No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 4 in his final game, which helped him earn BIG EAST Player of the Week honors.
Combo #7
Creighton has used seven different starting line-up combinations thanks to a variety of injuries and other circumstances, even though it's kept the same starting five over each of the last 20 games.
   In McDermott's 15 years patrolling the Bluejay sideline, this year's seven different line-ups are the second-most he's used over the course of an entire campaign.
   Different Starting Lineups Under Greg McDermott
Year       Entire Season
2010-11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
2011-12Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
2012-13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
2013-14Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3
2014-15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 10
2015-16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6
2016-17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4
2017-18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
2018-19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
2019-20Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3
2020-21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3
2021-22Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4
2022-23Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
2023-24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
2024-25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7 so far
Preseason BIG EAST Poll
The Creighton men's basketball team was picked to finish second in the BIG EAST Conference in the annual survey of league coaches, which was unveiled as part of BIG EAST Media Day.
   It marks the second straight year CU has been picked second, and fourth time in the past five seasons the Bluejays have been tabbed for a top-two finish. CU's 2020-21 squad and 2023-24 teams were also both picked second, and eventually finished in second place, while the 2022-23 squad that eventually reached the Elite Eight was picked first and finished in third place.
   Connecticut, the defending BIG EAST regular season and tournament champion and the reigning national champion, was chosen to finish first in the poll. The Huskies received all possible 10 first-place votes and 100 points from the league's head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
   Creighton will be led by Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is a Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST selection for the third time and also earned his first Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year accolade. Kalkbrenner remains the only player in program history to earn Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST honors multiple times. The only other Bluejays to be named Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year have been Doug McDermott (2013-14) and Marcus Zegarowski (2020-21).
   Joining Kalkbrenner with Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST acclaim was Connecticut's Alex Karaban, Marquette's Kam Jones, Providence's Bryce Hopkins, St. John's Kadary Richmond and Villanova's Eric Dixon.
   Creighton has matched or exceeded its preseason projection in all but one season since joining the BIG EAST in 2013-14, the best showing in the league in that time. The Bluejays earned their ninth straight finish in the top four of the league standings in 2024-25. CU's team three years ago was predicted to finish eighth in the BIG EAST, then ended up in fourth. Five years ago, a team picked seventh in the BIG EAST's preseason poll went 13-5 in league play to share its first league title with Villanova and Seton Hall. That Bluejay team ended the year ranked seventh in the entire nation.
Creighton's BIG EAST Preseason Poll History
Year    Preseason    Actual    Preseason All-BIG EAST
2013-14    3rd    2nd    Doug McDermott (POY, 1st)
2014-15    9th    T-9th    -
2015-16    9th    6th    -
2016-17    3rd    T-3rd    Maurice Watson Jr. (1st); Marcus Foster (HM)
2017-18    5th    T-3rd    Marcus Foster (1st); Khyri Thomas (HM)
2018-19    9th    T-3rd    Martin Krampelj (HM)
2019-20    7th    T-1st   Ty-Shon Alexander (1st)
2020-21    2nd    2nd   Marcus Zegarowski (POY, 1st); Mitch Ballock (2nd)
2021-22   8th   4th   -
2022-23   1st   3rd   Ryan Kalkbrenner (1st); Arthur Kaluma (2nd)
           Ryan Nembhard (2nd); Baylor Scheierman (HM)
2023-24   2nd   T-2nd   Ryan Kalkbrenner (1st); Trey Alexander (1st)
           Baylor Scheierman (2nd)
2024-25   2nd   2nd   Ryan Kalkbrenner (POY, 1st); Steven Ashworth (3rd)
Reserves Get It Done
Creighton's bench combined for a season-high 33 points in its Dec. 7th win vs. UNLV, making 13-of-20 shots overall and 7-of-9 three-pointers.
   The 33 bench points were CU's most since scoring 47 on Dec. 9, 2023 vs. Central Michigan.
   Creighton scored 29 bench points vs. Providence on Jan. 14th, its most in a league game since also scoring 29 vs. St. John's on Jan. 25, 2023.
   Creighton has won 48 straight games when scoring 17 bench points or more.
Did You Know?
Ryan Kalkbrenner had 17 points and 10 rebounds vs. No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 4th, making him Creighton's first player ever with a double-double against a top-ranked team.
   Kalkbrenner's 10 rebounds also tied the most ever by a Bluejay against a No.1 squad, as George Morrow also had 10 boards vs. DePaul on Jan. 28, 1980.
   Pop Isaacs' 27 points tied a program-record for the most by any Bluejay against a top-ranked team, something Ty-Shon Alexander also did vs. Gonzaga on Dec. 1, 2018. Isaacs is also the first player since Marquette's Dwyane Wade (vs. Kentucky in 2003) with at least 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a win over the No. 1 ranked team.
Something Special
Per OptaStats, Creighton became the first team to beat two different AP No. 1 teams by double digits in the same calendar year since Oklahoma did it in back-to-back games in February 1990 (beat Missouri & Kansas). In addition to the 76-63 win over Kansas on Dec. 4, CU also topped UConn 85-66 on Feb. 20th.
   Per ESPN, the Dec. 4 loss to Creighton was the third-largest margin in 105 all-time losses by a top-ranked Kansas team to an unranked foe, and the most since losing by 16 in 2011 to Kansas State.
   At the time, the only other unranked team in the last five seasons (2020-21 to 2024-25) to beat the No. 1 team by 13+ points was Nebraska vs. Purdue on Jan. 9, 2024.
   Elias Sports Bureau has confirmed that Creighton is the nation's third team in the last 20 seasons to beat a top-ranked program with a +13 advantage in both scoring and rebounding, joining No. 5 Kentucky vs. #1 Tennessee on Feb. 16, 2019 as well as No. 3 Baylor over No. 1 Gonzaga in the 2021 national title game.
Down Goes #1
Creighton is one of just eight teams in the last 15 seasons to defeat a No. 1 team in the country in back-to-back seasons. Here's a list at the others to have done it:
Creighton   2023-24 (UConn) and 2024-25 (Kansas)
Northwestern   2022-23 (Purdue) and 2023-24 (Purdue)
Rutgers   2021-22 (Purdue) and 2022-23 (Purdue)
Kentucky   2018-19 (Tennessee) and 2019-20 (Michigan State)
Butler   2016-17 (Villanova) and 2017-18 (Villanova)
UCLAÂ Â Â 2015-16 (Kentucky) and 2016-17 (Kentucky)
West Virginia   2015-16 (Kansas) and 2016-17 (Baylor)
Indiana   2011-12 (Kentucky) and 2012-13 (Michigan)
Unsung Heroes
Creighton has the luxury of bringing three veterans off the bench who can play a variety of positions and shoot it from deep in Mason Miller, Isaac Traudt and Jasen Green.
   The trio has scored 297 points (12.4 ppg.) in Creighton's 24 wins, but have a total of 66 points (6.6 ppg.) in CU's 10 losses to date.
Denied!
Ryan Kalkbrenner has blocked a shot in 19 straight games, his fourth such streak of his college career. He is the nation's only player since 2005-06 with four such streaks.
   Kalkbrenner's owns five or more blocks 22 times in his career. All other Bluejay players since 2005-06 have combined for 16 such games (7 by Gregory Echenique, 4 by Anthony Tolliver, 2 by Kenny Lawson Jr. and 1 each by Fredrick King, Jacob Epperson and Justin Patton).
Creighton's Longest Streaks With A Block, Since 1984-85
   Streak   Name   Dates
   28   Benoit Benjamin   12/14/84 - 3/5/85
   27   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2/2/24 - 12/31/24
   26   Ryan Kalkbrenner   11/16/21 - 2/26/22
   25   Ryan Kalkbrenner   11/14/22 - 3/1/23
   19   Ryan Kalkbrenner   1/11/25 - Present
   17   Brody Deren   2/4/03 - 12/6/03
   17   Gregory Echenique   2/16/11 - 11/25/11
Action Jackson
Jackson McAndrew had 12 points and 14 rebounds on Nov. 26 vs. San Diego State, then followed that up with a season-high 16 points vs. No. 20 Texas A&M a day later.
   McAndrew was the first Bluejay freshman with a double-double since Fredrick King had 16 points and 10 rebounds at Marquette on Dec. 16, 2022.
   McAndrew was the first Bluejay with a double-double in his first start at Creighton since South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman had 11 points and 10 rebounds on Nov. 7, 2022 vs. Florida A&M.
   McAndrew was the first Bluejay freshman with a double-double in his first career start since Ryan Nembhard (15 points, 10 assists). No Bluejay freshman since at least 1987-88 had owned a points/rebounds double-double in his first career start.
   McAndrew is one of three freshmen in the BIG EAST this season to have a double-double in his first career start, joining UConn's Liam McNeeley (18 & 10 vs. Sacred Heart) and Georgetown's Thomas Sorber (20 & 13 vs. Lehigh).
   McAndrew's 14 rebounds were the third-most by any freshman in Greg McDermott's 15 years as Creighton head coach (491 games). Doug McDermott had 17 at Bradley on Feb. 1, 2011 and 16 at Akron on Feb. 19, 2011.
   McAndrew was also the first Bluejay freshman since Fredrick King in December of 2022 to score 12+ points in consecutive games.
McDermott Passes Altman On CU Wins List
Greg McDermott has 349 victories at Creighton, passing his predecessor Dana Altman (327) for the most in program history in CU's Nov. 13 win vs. Houston Christian.
   McDermott broke a different record on Jan. 21 at DePaul when he coached his 504th game on the Bluejay sideline, breaking the mark of 503 held by Altman.
   McDermott's .672 winning percentage is Creighton's best since Arthur A. Schabinger's .714 win rate from 90 years ago.
   Below is a list of the most victorious Creighton coaches in program history, as well as the history of the Creighton Athletic Department.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton MBB History
Rk.   W-L   Name   Years
1.   349-170   Greg McDermott   2010-Pres.
2.   327-176   Dana Altman   1994-2010
3.   165-66   Arthur A. Schabinger    1922-1935
4.   138-118   John J. "Red" McManus    1959-1969
5.   130-64   Tom Apke   1974-1981
Most Wins, Creighton Athletics History (after 3/16/25)
Coach, Sport   Victories
Brent Vigness, Softball   819
Ed Servais, Baseball   691*
Mary Higgins, Softball   564
Tom Lilly, Men's & Women's Tennis   549*#
Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Volleyball   502*
Jim Flanery, Women's Basketball   453*
Greg McDermott, Men's Basketball   349*
Ed Hubbs, Men's & Women's Tennis   347
Dana Altman, Men's Basketball   327
*still active coaching at Creighton
#currently just the women's tennis coach
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 31 years, Dana Altman (1994-2010) and Greg McDermott (2010-Present).
   Here's a list of major conference schools to have a coach with 300 wins at that school, and their predecessor also had 300 wins at the school:
School   Former Coach   Current Coach
Creighton   Dana Altman   Greg McDermott
Kansas   Roy Williams   Bill Self
Michigan State   Jud Heathcote   Tom Izzo
Purdue   Gene Keady   Matt Painter
The Launch Pad
Basketball-Reference.com did the math, and Creighton owns 9,622 three-pointers in 1,259 games since the rule went national in 1986-87.
   That ranks second-most in the country in that span, trailing only Duke (10,034 through March 19).
   Additionally, Creighton's 7.64 three-pointers per game in that time lead the nation among programs who are currently in a major conference.
7-Foot-1 Of Awesome
A few notes about Ryan Kalkbrenner.
   There's only two BIG EAST players to score 73+ points in 60 minutes or less in any two game span since 2005-06. Ryan Kalkbrenner (73 points in 58 minutes) in the opening week this season and UConn's Kemba Walker (73 points in 60 minutes) in 2010.
   Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of three major conference players since 2005-06 to score 73 points and block six shots in any two game span, joining Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kansas State's Michael Beasley.
   There's been only four BIG EAST players to score 73+ points to score any two-game span since 2012: Marquette's Markus Howard (7x), DePaul's Max Strus, Creighton's Doug McDermott and Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner.
   Kalkbrenner is the nation's second player since 2005-06 to score 24+ points and shoot 90 percent (min. 10 FGA) in consecutive games, joining Belmont's Evan Bradds from November of 2015.
   Evan Bradds (7x) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (7x) are the only men in the country with five or more career games of 90 percent shooting (min. 10 FGA) since 2005-06.
Kalkbrenner Block Machine
Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks second in program history in blocked shots with 395. Kalkbrenner had 107 swats last year and is now 16 blocks behind Benoit Benjamin.
Most Creighton Blocked Shots, Since 1979-80
   Blk.   Name   Years
   411   Benoit Benjamin   1982-85
   395   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   183   Chad Gallagher   1987-91
Among The Best...EVER!
Ryan Kalkbrenner has made 945 of 1,430 career shots, putting him at 65.9 percent overall. That places the senior center fourth in field goal percentage in NCAA history among players to make 700 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....he's taken 144.
Best Career FG%, NCAA History (min. 700 FG, 4FG/game)
   Pct. (FG-FGA)   Name, School   Years
   .678 (828-1222)   Steve Johnson, Oregon State   1976-81
   .667 (740-1109)   Evan Bradds, Belmont   2013-17
   .664 (702-1058)   Todd MacCulloch, Washington   1995-99
.659 (971-1474)   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton   2020-Pres.
   .651 (747-1147)   Bill Walton, UCLA   1971-74
He Shoots, He Scores
Ryan Kalkbrenner had a night for the ages on Nov. 6 in the season-opener vs. UTRGV, finishing with 49 points on 20-of-22 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 free throws while adding 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
   Kalkbrenner's 49 points were the second-most in program history, two behind Bob Portman's 51 on Dec. 16, 1967 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Portman made 16-of-35 field goal attempts and 18-of-23 foul shots in his record-setting contest.
   Below is a list of the previous Bluejay performances of 40 points or more
Most Points, Creighton Game
   Pts.   Name, Opponent   Date   FG   FT
   51   Bob Portman vs. UW-Milwaukee   12/16/1967   16   19
   49   Ryan Kalkbrenner vs. UTRGV   11/06/2024   20*   7
   47   Eddie Cole vs. Morningside (OT)   11/29/1954   18   11
   46   Bob Portman vs. Weber State   12/23/1968   19   8
   45   Tim Powers at Idaho State   01/29/1966   17   11
   45   Benoit Benjamin vs. Indiana State   01/19/1985   18   9
   45   Doug McDermott vs. Providence   03/08/2014   17#   6
   44   Doug McDermott at Bradley   01/07/2012   18@   5
   43   Bob Portman at Kansas State   02/12/1968   16   11
   43   Benoit Benjamin vs. Southern Illinois   01/17/1985   18   7
   42   Bob Portman vs. LaSalle   01/30/1968   19   4
   42   Cavel Witter vs. Bradley (2OT)   03/01/2008   13%   12
   41   Doug McDermott vs. Wichita State   03/02/2013   15#   6
   40   Chad Gallagher vs. Wichita State   02/17/1990   14   12
   40   Rodney Buford vs. Bradley   12/30/1998   13$   8
*includes 2 three-pointers
@includes 3 three-pointers
%includes 4 three-pointers
#includes 5 three-pointers
$includes 6 three-pointers
Honors Roll In For Kalkbrenner
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner was named the first BIG EAST Player of the Week of the 2024-25 season, the conference announced on Nov. 11. He also picked up National Player of the Week acclaim from ESPN's Dick Vitale, NCAA.com's Andy Katz, the USBWA, Associated Press as well as the Lute Olson Award.
   The 7-foot-1 center averaged 36.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots per game as No. 15 Creighton posted a pair of double-digit victories to open the season. The three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year shot 90.6 percent from the field (29-32), including 100 percent from three-point range (3-3), and also made 92.3 percent (12-13) of his free throw attempts.
   It was the first weekly honor from the BIG EAST of Kalkbrenner's career, though he's certainly no stranger to hardware. Kalkbrenner is one of three men to earn at least three BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was named First Team All-BIG EAST in 2022-23, Second Team All-BIG EAST in 2023-24 and Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST in 2021-22. Prior to this season, Kalkbrenner was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year. He is also a four-time member of the BIG EAST's All-Academic Team.
Kalkbrenner Scoring Tidbits
Ryan Kalkbrenner's 49 points vs. UTRGV on Nov. 6 bring up all sorts of notes.
- In the last 25 years, the only player nationally with more points in a season-opener than Kalkbrenner's 49 was Arkansas' Rotnei Clarke, who had 51 in 2009 against Alcorn State.
-Â Â Â Kalkbrenner's 49 points are the fourth-most ever in a season-opener by a player on a Top 25 team, trailing only LSU's Bob Pettit (60 in 1953), UCLA's Lew Alcindor (56 in 1966) and Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore (50 in 1970). Those other three men are in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Kalkbrenner is the first Bluejay with 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in the same game since Chad Gallagher had 40 points and 11 rebounds vs. Wichita State on Feb. 17, 1990.
- Kalkbrenner's 49 points were the fifth-most points in a game in BIG EAST history. Marquette's Markus Howard had games of 53, 52 and 51, while Providence's MarShon Brooks had a 52 point game as well.
- Kalkbrenner's 49 points were the most in a double-double performance in BIG EAST history.
- Before Kalkbrenner's 49 points and 11 rebounds, no other high major player has posted as many points and rebounds in any game over the past 30 years.
- Kalkbrenner is also the nation's only player with 49+ points and 3+ blocks in the same game since at least 2005-06.
- Kalkbrenner scored Creighton's first eight points and got better as the game went on. He had nine points in the first 10 minutes, then scored 11 in the final 10 minutes before half for the highest-scoring first half of his career.
   Kalkbrenner then scored 14 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half before closing his masterpiece with 15 points in the final 10 minutes.
- Kalkbrenner's 49 points broke Doug McDermott's record of 45 points by a Creighton player at CHI Health Center Omaha. The overall record is 53 by Marquette's Markus Howard on Jan. 9, 2019.
Having A Field Day
Ryan Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals made on Nov. 6 were a Creighton single-game record, eclipsing the previous mark of 19 done twice by Bob Portman in 1968.
   Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals are the most in a season-opener by any player nationally in the last 15 seasons.
   Kalkbrenner is the only player in the BIG EAST in at least 30 years with 49+ points and 20+ field goals in a game.
   Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals tied the single-game BIG EAST record held by Providence's MarShon Brooks vs. Notre Dame in 2011.
   Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals made were a CHI Health Center Omaha record, breaking the old mark of 17 done twice by Doug McDermott and once by Evansville's Colt Ryan.
   Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals made were the most by any player in a game against a Division I foe since Iowa State's Melvin Ejim made 20 hoops vs. TCU on Feb. 8, 2014.
   Kalkbrenner's 90.9 percent shooting from the field was the highest field goal percentage in a 45-point game by any Division I player in the past 25 seasons, and the highest by a player to attempt 20 or more shots in a game in the past 25 years.
- Kalkbrenner was the first player with 20 field goals on 90 percent shooting in a Division I game since UCLA's Bill Walton made 21-of-22 shots vs. Memphis in the 1973 NCAA final.
- Kalkbrenner missed just three shots (2 FG, 1 FT). He's the first Division I or NBA player to score 45+ points while missing no more than three shots (FG or FT) since Dirk Nowitzki did in the 2011 NBA playoffs.
- Kalkbrenner made his final three field goal attempts in the first half, then made 11-of-11 shots in the second half, giving him 14 buckets in a row. That's two shy of the NCAA single-game record of 16 made field goals in a row set by Kent State's Doug Grayson vs. North Carolina on Dec. 6, 1967.
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Dynamic Duo
Ryan Kalkbrenner (49) and Steven Ashworth (25) combined for 74 points on Nov. 6th. It was the most points by any BIG EAST duo since at least 1996-97.
   It's the second-most points by any Creighton pair in the same game, one point shy of the mark set on Jan. 19, 1985 when Benoit Benjamin (45) and Vernon Moore (30) combined for 75.
   It's the most points by any Creighton duo in 15 seasons under Greg McDermott. The previous high was 62, done on March 9, 2019 by Mitch Ballock (39) and Martin Krampelj (23) vs. DePaul. Ballock is now a graduate manager on the Bluejay staff.
    In addition to Ballock and Krampelj, Creighton's only other duo to combine for 62+ points in a game since 1996-97 was Nate Funk (38) and Johnny Mathies (24), who did it in double-overtime on Nov. 26, 2005 vs. Dayton.
   The last Division I duo to combine for 74+ points in a non-overtime game was Austin Peay's Terry Taylor and Jordyn Adams (both with 37) vs. Tennessee State on Jan. 23, 2020.
Nifty Fifty Leads To Postseason?
Not counting 2019-20, when there was no postseason, Creighton has made the postseason each of the last 12 times (including 2024-25) in which it has made at least 50 percent of its field goal attempts to open the year.
   Ten of those postseason trips were NCAA Tournament berths. The last time that didn't hold true was 1991-92, when CU shot 51.0 percent in the opener but finished just 9-19.
   Creighton has shot 50 percent or better in nine of its last 13 season-openers.
CU Season-Opener Field Goal Percentage 50+%
Since 1993-94
FG%   Year   Opponent   Postseason
.541Â Â Â 1997-98Â Â Â UMKCÂ Â Â NIT
.524   1998-99   Towson State   NCAA
.569   2000-01   Western Illinois   NCAA
.594   2002-03   UT Arlington   NCAA
.500   2012-13   North Texas   NCAA
.556   2013-14   Alcorn State   NCAA
.528   2015-16   Texas Southern   NIT
.508Â Â Â 2016-17Â Â Â UMKCÂ Â Â NCAA
.558   2017-18   Yale   NCAA
.524   2019-20   Kennesaw St.   Postseason Ccd.
.585   2021-22   Ark.-Pine Bluff   NCAA
.567Â Â Â 2023-24Â Â Â Florida A&MÂ Â Â NCAA
.600Â Â Â 2024-25Â Â Â UTRGVÂ Â Â NCAA
The Push For 90
Of Creighton's 25 all-time NCAA Tournament teams, 12 have scored 90 or more points in their season-opener.
   Put another way...of CU's 20 teams (including 2024-25) to score 90 points in an opener, 13 would reach the NCAA Tournament.
   Here's a look at Creighton's last 12 teams to score 90 or more points in a season-opener:
               Final   Post-
   Score   Opponent   Date   W-L   Season
   93-47   UT-San Antonio   11/30/90   24-8   NCAA
   93-48   Towson State   11/14/98   22-9   NCAA
   96-50   Western Illinois   11/20/00   24-8   NCAA
   106-50   Texas-Arlington   11/17/02   29-5   NCAA
   97-65   North Carolina A&T   11/11/11   29-6   NCAA
   107-61   Alcorn State   11/08/13   27-8   NCAA
   104-77   Central Arkansas   11/14/14   14-19   --
   93-70   Texas Southern   11/14/15   20-15   NIT
   92-76   Yale   11/10/17   21-12   NCAA
   90-77   Arkansas-Pine Bluff   11/09/21   23-12   NCAA
   105-54   Florida A&M   11/07/23   25-10   NCAA
   99-86   UTRGV   11/06/24   ? ? ?   NCAA
Who's Back?
With Creighton returning six of the 11 men who appeared in a game last season, it's no surprise that a similar ratio of the production from 2023-24 is also gone. Below is a breakdown of what is back:
Stat   Returners   Departures
Blocks   119 (83.2%)   24 (16.8%)
Starts   105 (60.0%)   70 (40.0%)
Minutes   3684 (51.3%)   3491 (48.7%)
Rebounds   636 (51.1%)   608 (48.9%)
Points   1383 (49.1%)   1432 (50.9%)
3FG Made   171 (45.6%)   204 (54.4%)
Assists   226 (38.4%)   362 (61.6%)
Steals   42 (31.3%)   92 (68.7%)
Charges Taken   4 (30.8%)   9 (69.2%)
Preseason Top 15
The Creighton men's basketball team was ranked 15th in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll, the third straight season the Bluejays have been ranked among the nation's best in the preseason.
   This year's announcement marks the seventh time in program history the writers have voted CU to the top-25 in the preseason, joining 2006-07 (No. 19), 2012-13 (No. 16) and 2016-17 (No. 22), 2020-21 (No. 11), 2022-23 (No. 9) and 2023-24 (No. 8). All six of those teams would end up in the NCAA Tournament, with the last three most recent squads making the Sweet 16.
   Creighton's best ranking in program history is seventh, done five times (Jan. 16, 2017, March 10, 2020, March 18, 2020, Jan. 7, 2021 and Nov. 28, 2022).
   Creighton has been ranked 146 times in program history, with 118 of those under the direction of McDermott. Creighton is 180-76 all-time as a ranked team, including a 146-64 mark under McDermott. Creighton has now been ranked at least one week in 11 of McDermott's 15 seasons on The Hilltop after doing it just five different seasons in program history before his 2010 arrival.
   Creighton is one of 13 schools ranked in the Top 25 of the Preseason AP poll each of the last three years, joining Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Narrow that list to just the Preseason Top 15 the past three seasons and only seven schools can claim that, with Creighton joining Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, North Carolina and Tennessee.
   Creighton was one of three BIG EAST Conference schools in the preseason poll, joining No. 3 Connecticut and No. 18 Marquette. Two of Creighton's December opponents, No. 1 Kansas (Dec. 4) and No. 2 Alabama (Dec. 14), are atop the poll. CU met preseason No. 13 Texas A&M on Nov. 27 in Las Vegas.
   Creighton was also 14th in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll.
   CU dropped out of both polls on Monday, Dec. 9 but returned on Feb. 11th when it was No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 21 in the Coaches poll before dropping out again on Feb. 17th.
   Creighton was ranked 25th in the Feb. 24th USA Today Coaches poll.
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 March 16, 2024
Category   CU Stat   CU Rank
3FG Made   4,639   2nd
2FG Percentage   .552   3rd
FG Percentage   .477   4th
Assists   8,330   5th
3FG Percentage   .372   6th
FG Made   14,187   7th
Points   39,653   9th
Wins   349   22nd
Winning Percentage   .672   30th
Who Are These Guys?
Creighton returns 105 starts from last year's team, the fifth time in the past six seasons its returned at least 100 starts.
   Creighton has won 20 or more games each of the previous nine times (and 13 of the last 14 times) it has returned 100 or more starts.
   Returning   Returning Starts    Final
Year   Starters   From Previous Year   W-L
2024-25Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 105Â Â Â ? ? ?
2023-24Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 111Â Â Â 25-10
2022-23Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 104Â Â Â 24-13
2021-22Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 23-12
2020-21Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 124Â Â Â 22-9
2019-20Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 136Â Â Â 24-7
2018-19Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 57Â Â Â 20-15
2017-18Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 72Â Â Â 21-12
2016-17Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 130Â Â Â 25-10
2015-16Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 64Â Â Â 20-15
2014-15Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 49Â Â Â 14-19
2013-14Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 144Â Â Â 27-8
2012-13Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 140Â Â Â 28-8
2011-12Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 101Â Â Â 29-6
2010-11Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 123Â Â Â 23-16
2009-10Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 106Â Â Â 18-16
2008-09Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 83Â Â Â 27-8
2007-08Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 44Â Â Â 22-11
2006-07Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 120Â Â Â 22-11
2005-06Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 134Â Â Â 20-10
2004-05Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 58Â Â Â 23-11
2003-04Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 101Â Â Â 20-9
2002-03Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 159Â Â Â 29-5
2001-02Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 65Â Â Â 23-9
2000-01Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 90Â Â Â 24-8
1999-00Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 84Â Â Â 23-10
1998-99Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 84Â Â Â 22-9
1997-98Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 72Â Â Â 18-10
1996-97Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 126Â Â Â 15-15
1995-96Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 100Â Â Â 14-15
1994-95Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 52Â Â Â 7-19
1993-94Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 73Â Â Â 7-22
1992-93Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 64Â Â Â 8-18
1991-92Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 51Â Â Â 9-19
1990-91Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 132Â Â Â 24-8
1989-90Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 127Â Â Â 21-12
1988-89Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 123Â Â Â 20-11
1987-88Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 83Â Â Â 16-16
1986-87Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 65Â Â Â 9-19
1985-86Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 48Â Â Â 12-16
1984-85Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 124Â Â Â 20-12
1983-84Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 72Â Â Â 17-14
1982-83Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 77Â Â Â 8-19
1981-82Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 78Â Â Â 7-20
1980-81Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 112Â Â Â 21-9
#ProJays
Creighton has three alums in the NBA this season.
   Former Creighton All-American Doug McDermott is with the Sacramento Kings as he begins his 11th year in the NBA.
   Baylor Scheierman was a First Round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the NBA champion Boston Celtics.
   Trey Alexander went undrafted, but was signed on a two-way contract by the Denver Nuggets.
   These men give Creighton at least one NBA player for the 41st time in the last 42 seasons.
   Other famous Bluejays to play in the NBA in the past include Paul Silas, Kyle Korver, Benoit Benjamin and Anthony Tolliver.
Top 25 Men & Women
Creighton was one of 12 schools with a preseason top-25 squad on both the men's and women's side in 2024-25, joining Alabama, Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas and UCLA.
   The only five schools to be ranked in the preseason men's and women's basketball Top 25 of the AP Poll each of the last three seasons are Baylor, Creighton, North Carolina and Texas.
   Creighton is one of six schools to make the NCAA Tournament in both men's and women's basketball each of the last four seasons, a list that consists of Baylor, Creighton, Iowa State, Tennessee, Texas and UConn.
   Creighton is one of 14 schools that won an NCAA Tournament game last season in both men's and women's basketball: Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, Texas, and UConn.
Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 1,054 straight games. That ranks as the nation's 10th-longest active streak.
   Creighton's last game without a three-pointer came at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993, when the Jays were 0-for-5. Creighton's last win without making a three-point basket came on March 3, 1991 when the Jays went 0-for-2 from three-point range in a 71-66 win over Southern Illinois in the championship game of the MVC Tournament.
   Below is a list of the nation's longest active three-point streaks.
Longest Active 3-Point Streaks (through 3/16)
   Rk.   Streak   School   Next Game
   1.   1,260   UNLV   Season Over
   2.   1,259   Duke   3/21
   3.   1,191   East Tennessee State   Season Over
   4.   1,167   Oakland   Season Over
   5.   1,161   Pacific   Season Over
       1,161   Texas   3/19
   7.   1,099   Marshall   Season Over
   8.   1,092   Gonzaga   3/20
   9.   1,080   Princeton   Season Over
   10.   1,054   Creighton   3/20
   11.   1,047   Long Island   Season Over
   12.   1,039   Mount St. Mary's   3/19
Triple Trouble
During Creighton's current streak of 1,054 straight games with a three-pointer, the Jays have drained 8,481 trifectas, an average of 8.05 treys per game.
   Only five times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 321 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 102-25 when making eight or more three-pointers, compared to a 37-35 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: 113 times
7:  153 times   8:  132 times   9: 96 times
10: 89 times   11: 65 times   12: 63 times
13: 50 times   14: 26 times   15: 9 times
16: 9 times   17: 4 times   18: 1 time
19: 2 times   20: 1 time   21: 1 time   22: 1 time
Top-20 Crowds
Here's a look at Creighton's top-20 home crowds all-time.
     Rank   Att.   Opponent   Date
   1.   18,868   Providence   03/08/14
   2.   18,859   Georgetown   01/25/14
   3.   18,831   #1 Villanova   12/31/16
   4.   18,797   #6 Villanova   02/16/14
   5.   18,759   #1 Gonzaga   12/01/18
   6.   18,742   Seton Hall   02/23/14
   7.   18,735   Wichita State   02/11/12
   8.   18,613   Wichita State   03/02/13
   9.   18,571   DePaul   01/22/24
   10.   18,525   Marquette   12/31/13
   11.   18,519   #8 Seton Hall   03/07/20
   12.   18,518   Georgetown   01/27/18
   13.   18,509   Villanova   02/04/23
   14.   18,495   Marquette   02/17/18
   15.   18,494   Illinois State   02/09/13
   16.   18,475   Nebraska   11/22/24
   17.   18,458   Evansville   12/29/12
   18.   18,436   Bradley   01/28/12
   19.   18,430   Seton Hall   01/25/25
   20.   18,323   DePaul   02/07/14
CHI Health Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 371 regular and postseason contests at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time in the now 22-year-old facility.
   The Bluejays own a 307-64 (.827) record all-time at the facility.
   Creighton's Nov. 25, 2017 win over SIU Edwardsville was the program's 200th at the facility, coming in its 242nd home game. CU's 100th win came on Nov. 17, 2010, a 63-58 win over Louisiana.
   Creighton has outscored its opponents 29,153-24,362 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.91 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 93 different times, including twice this year (Kansas City, #1 Kansas).
   Incredibly, Creighton hasn't trailed in its home opener in 10 of the past 24 seasons (2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2016-17 and 2019-20).
   Creighton is also 34-37 all-time in the 71 games at the arena in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 8-12 when down by 10+ points at halftime in the facility, and 42-30 when trailing at halftime at CHI Health Center Omaha.
   Creighton is 210-46 (.820) at CHI Health Center Omaha under Greg McDermott and hasn't trailed in 66 of those games. In that same span, CU owns a 106-10 home record (.914) 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 325-64 (.835) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
Home Run
Under Greg McDermott Creighton is averaging 80.70 points per home game (20,659 points in 256 home games), a figure that climbs to 84.23 points in non-conference home games (9,855 points in 117 home games).
   Creighton is 155-7 all-time at CHI Health Center Omaha when scoring 80 or points.
Jays Reach 29K at CHI
Creighton has outscored its opponents 29,153-24,362 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.91 points per game in 371 all-time games in the building that count.
   Creighton is 27-2 all-time in games where it moves over any 1,000 point milestone at CHI Health Center Omaha, as seen below:
Date   Pts-Opp (CLCO Game #)   Who/How vs. Opp.
02/18/04Â Â Â 1,000-787 (14)Â Â Â Lindeman FG vs. Indiana State
02/05/05Â Â Â 2,000-1,696 (28)Â Â Â Funk FG vs. Missouri St.
01/18/06Â Â Â 3,000-2,504 (41)Â Â Â Watts FT vs. Bradley
01/09/07Â Â Â 4,000-3,359 (56)Â Â Â Tolliver FG vs. Drake
12/17/07Â Â Â 5,000-4,174 (69)Â Â Â Kaleb Korver 3FG vs. Hou. Baptist
11/16/08Â Â Â 6,000-5,048 (82)Â Â Â Dotzler FG vs. New Mexico
02/11/09Â Â Â 7,000-5,870 (95)Â Â Â Witter 3FG vs. Bradley
01/16/10Â Â Â 8,000-6,750 (109)Â Â Â Young FG vs. Wichita State
12/20/10Â Â Â 9,000-7,645 (123)Â Â Â Wragge FG vs. W. Illinois
03/23/11Â Â Â 10,000-8,500 (136)Â Â Â Lawson FG vs. UCF
01/21/12Â Â Â 11,000-9,310 (148)Â Â Â McDermott FG vs. Ind. St.
12/19/12Â Â Â 12,000-10,136 (161)Â Â Â Echenique FG vs. Tulsa
11/23/13Â Â Â 13,000-10,922 (173)Â Â Â Artino FG vs. Tulsa
02/23/14Â Â Â 14,000-11,711 (185)Â Â Â Gibbs FG vs. Seton Hall
01/28/15Â Â Â 15,000-12,612 (198)Â Â Â Hanson FT vs. St. John's
12/28/15Â Â Â 16,000-13,498 (211)Â Â Â Huff FG vs. Coppin State
11/15/16Â Â Â 17,000-14,349 (224)Â Â Â Patton FG vs. #9 Wisconsin
01/28/17Â Â Â 18,000-15,166 (235)Â Â Â Hanson FG vs. DePaul
12/18/17Â Â Â 19,000-15,927 (246)Â Â Â Foster 3FG vs. UT Arlington
11/06/18Â Â Â 20,000-16,741 (258)Â Â Â Ballock 3FG vs. W. Illinois
02/03/19Â Â Â 21,000-17,619 (270)Â Â Â Zegarowski FG vs. Xavier
12/07/19Â Â Â 22,000-18,463 (282)Â Â Â Ballock 3FG vs. Nebraska
03/07/20Â Â Â 23,000-19,280 (294)Â Â Â Mahoney 3FG vs. #8 Seton Hall
02/13/21Â Â Â 24,000-20,103 (306)Â Â Â Zegarowski FG vs. #5 Villanova
02/14/22Â Â Â 25,000-20,950 (320)Â Â Â Hawkins 3FG vs. Georgetown
01/25/23Â Â Â 26,000-21,786 (333)Â Â Â Nembhard 3FG vs. St. John's
12/20/23Â Â Â 27,000-22,535 (345)Â Â Â Kalkbrenner FG vs. Villanova
11/13/24Â Â Â 28,000-23,388 (357)Â Â Â Isaacs 3FG vs. Hou. Christian
02/26/25Â Â Â 29,000-24,231 (370)Â Â Â Kalkbrenner FG vs. DePaul
Firing On All Cylinders
Creighton finished the 2023-24 season ranked 11th overall by KenPom.com. That included the nation's No. 9 offense, and No. 24 defense.
   Creighton has finished with a top-25 offense per KenPom eight times and a top-25 defense three times in 14 completed seasons under Greg McDermott.
Year   Off. Rating   Def. Rating   Overall Rank
2010-11Â Â Â 66Â Â Â 174Â Â Â 98
2011-12Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 166Â Â Â 28
2012-13Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 66Â Â Â 15
2013-14Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 124Â Â Â 17
2014-15Â Â Â 59Â Â Â 138Â Â Â 79
2015-16Â Â Â 43Â Â Â 76Â Â Â 40
2016-17Â Â Â 32Â Â Â 46Â Â Â 28
2017-18Â Â Â 25Â Â Â 58Â Â Â 30
2018-19Â Â Â 47Â Â Â 83Â Â Â 55
2019-20Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 78Â Â Â 12
2020-21Â Â Â 25Â Â Â 32Â Â Â 22
2021-22Â Â Â 112Â Â Â 19Â Â Â 50
2022-23Â Â Â 23Â Â Â 14Â Â Â 12
2023-24Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 24Â Â Â 11
2024-25Â Â Â 34Â Â Â 42Â Â Â 37
New Court Debuts
Creighton played home games on a new basketball court designed to tell the story of Creighton University and the program's proud history.
   The court was designed by GLGR out of Beaverton, Ore., and produced by Ledford Sports Floors out of Jenks, Okla.
   The court includes multiple intricate features that merit up-close inspection to gain a full appreciation for the attention to detail in the new Creighton-centric design.
• Six numbers will appear on the west sideline, three in front of each bench, to recognize the retired jersey numbers for No. 3 (Doug McDermott), No. 25 (Kyle Korver), No. 30 (Bob Harstad), No. 33 (Bob Portman), No. 35 (Paul Silas) and No. 45 (Bob Gibson).
• Within the eye of the Bluejay logo at midcourt will be the number 1916, a nod to Creighton's first recognized year of intercollegiate basketball.
• Just inside the three-point line on the South end will be text of seven core Jesuit values, such as "Women and Men For and With Others". It is believed that Creighton is the nation's first Division I team with its school motto included inside its basketball court.
• Also inside the three-point line on the North side of the court are Heritage logos to honor Creighton's history.
• The new color scheme also features an updated courtside gradient, in addition to a feather pattern inside the three-point line, a nod to Creighton's Bluejay nickname.
McDermott's Coaching Tree
Greg McDermott's coaching tree owns 11 men who are currently a head coach at the Division I level. Seven of the 10 won 20+ games last season. Here's a list:
Darian DeVries - West Virginia
Eric Henderson - South Dakota State
Alan Huss - High Point
Ben Jacobson - Northern Iowa
Steve Lutz - Oklahoma State
Ryan Miller - Murray State
TJ Otzelberger - Iowa State
David Richman - North Dakota State
Daniyal Robinson - Cleveland State
Paul Sather - North Dakota
Patrick Sellers - Central Connecticut State
Thursday, March 20, 2025 • 11:15 a.m. Central • Lexington, Ky. • Rupp Arena
| LIVE VIDEO | WESTWOOD ONE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES | UofL NOTES | BRACKET |
Next Game
Eighth-seeded Creighton (24-10) will make its 26th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history on Thursday, March 20th, when it faces eighth-seeded and No. 10 ranked Louisville (27-7).
   Tip-off at Rupp Arena (20,545) in Lexington, Ky., will be at 11:15 a.m. Central (12:15 p.m. Eastern).
   CU's practice time (open to the media & public) is Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. Central (11:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. Eastern) at Rupp Arena. The Bluejays will also meet the media on Wednesday from 9:20 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Central (10:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. Eastern).
Television Broadcast Information
This week's NCAA Tournament games in Lexington will be called by Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce.
   Creighton's game vs. Louisville will be nationally-televised on CBS. Creighton is 3-5 under Greg McDermott on CBS, including wins in 2012 (Illinois State), 2013 (Cincinnati) and 2023 (Xavier). This will be CU's debut this year on The Tiffany Network.
   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.
Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) will broadcast Creighton men's basketball games during the NCAA Tournament. John Bishop and former Bluejay Ross Ferrarini will call the action. While KOZN is prevented from streaming the game on its app and website, fans can listen to Bishop & Ferrarini 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 John Sadak and LaPhonso Ellis on the call. The game can be heard on Sirius channel 208 or XM channel 201, 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 WestwoodOneSports.com/Lexington.
   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".
Scouting Creighton
Creighton is 24-10 this year entering the NCAA Tournament. The Bluejays took second in the BIG EAST regular-season after posting a 15-5 mark in league play, then were the runner-up at the BIG EAST Tournament last weekend as well.
   Unanimous All-BIG EAST pick Ryan Kalkbrenner (19.4 ppg., 8.8 rpg., 2.7 bpg., .655 FG%) was named a Second Team All-American by College Hoops Today and Third Team All-American by The Sporting News and Field of 68. In addition to being one of the most efficient shooters in NCAA history, Kalkbrenner joined Patrick Ewing as the second man named a four-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. He was named BIG EAST and National Player of the Week on Nov. 11 and Jan. 21 and became the third player in CU history to surpass 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
   Steven Ashworth (16.3 ppg., 7.0 apg., .926 FT%) was a Second Team All-BIG EAST choice at point guard, and is joined on the wing by Jamiya Neal (11.5 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 4.4 apg.). Those three seniors scored 66.1 percent of CU's points in league play.
   Creighton averages 75.2 points per game and shoots 47.5 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from three-point range and 73.3 percent at the line while grabbing 3.4 rebounds per game more than the opposition.
Scouting No. 10 Louisville
Louisville has won 21 of its last 23 games and is 27-7Â on the season. The Cardinals were runner-up to Duke in both the ACC regular-season and ACC Tournament, losing the Blue Devils by 11 points in each meeting.
   Terrence Edwards Jr. (16.6 ppg.), Chucky Hepburn (16.2 ppg., 6.0 apg.), Reyne Smith (13.4 ppg.) and J'Vonne Hadley (12.1 ppg., 7.3 rpg.) lead the Cards in scoring.
   Louisville averages 78.6 points per game and allows 68.9 per contest. The Cardinals shoot 45.4 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from three-point land and 74.4 percent at the line while outrebounding foes by 4.1 caroms per contest.
Series History
Creighton is 2-1 all-time against Louisville with a 2-0 record in NCAA Tournament action.
   The series began with Creighton's 80-71 NCAA Tournament win in Tulsa, Okla., in 1974 in a Regional Consolation game. Most recently, Creighton won 62-58 in Orlando on March 11, 1999 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
   Louisville's lone win was a 69-66 double-overtime meeting in 1976 in Louisville.
   Greg McDermott has never faced Louisville nor Pat Kelsey.
The Creighton Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) owns a 349-170 record in his 15th season with the Bluejays, as he passed Dana Altman (327-176) as the winningest coach in program history on Nov. 13, 2024. He owns a career mark of 629-365 in his 31st season, and is 498-301 in his 24th 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 its first Elite Eight since 1941 in 2022-23.
   McDermott has previously been a head coach at Iowa State (2006-10), Northern Iowa (2001-06), North Dakota State (2000-01) and Wayne State (1994-2000).
   He is assisted by Ryan Miller, Derek Kellogg and Trey Zeigler.
With A Win...
- Creighton would advance to Saturday's Second Round game against the winner of Auburn and either Alabama State or St. Francis.
- Creighton would earn its second Top 10 win of the season and fourth Top 25 victory of the year.
- Creighton would improve to 5-19 all-time against Top 25 teams in the NCAA Tournament and 1-10 against Top 10 opposition.
- Creighton would win an NCAA Tournament game for an unprecedented fifth straight season.
- Creighton would improve to 21-26 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
- Creighton would improve to 3-1 all-time against Louisville, with all three victories taking place in the NCAA Tournament.
- Greg McDermott would improve to 12-9 as Creighton's head coach in the NCAA Tournament.
- Creighton would win 25 games in a season for the eighth time, with six of those coming under Greg McDermott.
- Creighton would win its 25th game for the second straight season, doing it in back-to-back campaigns for just the second time ever (also 2011/2012/2013).
• Creighton would improve to 14-12 in its first NCAA Tournament game of an appearance.
- Improve to 2-1 as a No. 9 seed and 2-0 against No. 8 seeds.
Milestone Watch
Upcoming Creighton milestones include...
- Steven Ashworth is 41 points shy of 2,000 in his career.
- Steven Ashworth has attempted 279 three-pointers this season, 10 attempts shy of Baylor Scheierman's school record of 289 from 2023-24.
- Ryan Kalkbrenner is five blocks away from 400 in his career and six three-pointers shy of 50. He is also 10 rebounds shy of 300 this season and 29 field goals short of 1,000.
- Jackson McAndrew (62) is six three-pointers shy of Ethan Wragge's (68) Creighton record by a freshman.
- Greg McDermott owns 349 wins at Creighton and is one short of 350. He owns 498 Division I wins.
- Jamiya Neal is 44 points away from 1,000 in his career.
- Louisville will be the first NCAA Tournament opponent that Creighton will play three times.
About Creighton
Creighton is a private, Jesuit institution located in Omaha, Neb., with 8,403 students (which includes 4,276 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 (Sacramento 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 a few storylines as it relates to Creighton's trip to Lexington against Louisville.
- Creighton assistant coach Ryan Miller was officially announced as head coach at Murray State on Monday. Murray State is located roughly four hours away in Murray, Ky. Miller intends to finish the season on the Creighton sideline.
- Louisville guard Chucky Hepburn hails from Bellevue, Neb. Hepburn's Bellevue West High School team played for the state title his final two years of high school (2019-20, 2020-21) against Millard North High School, going 1-1 against a Mustangs team that included current Creighton forward Jasen Green as well as Wake Forest star Hunter Sallis.
- Creighton's last player from the state of Kentucky was Louisville native Johnny Mathies (2003-06).
- Creighton's last game played in the state of Kentucky came in Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center when it lost in the Elite Eight to San Diego State in 2023.
NCAA Tournament History
Creighton is making its 26th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, and 17th in the last 27 years. The Bluejays are 20-26 all-time in NCAA action, including a 13-12 record in its first game.
   Last season Creighton defeated Akron and Oregon to reach the Sweet 16, where it fell to Tennessee.
   Creighton owns a 4-4 record all-time in the South Region, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2023.
   Creighton has had at least one sport reach the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 38 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 will be making its 26th postseason appearance in the last 28 seasons on Thursday. The 2019-20 team 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.
Men's & Women's Success
Creighton is one of six schools to make the NCAA Tournament in both men's and women's basketball each of the last four seasons, a list that consists of Baylor, Creighton, Iowa State, Tennessee, Texas and UConn.
   Creighton is one of 14 schools that won an NCAA Tournament game last season in both men's and women's basketball: Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, Texas, and UConn. Of those teams, the only nine schools with teams in both the men's and women's tournaments this year are: Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Iowa State, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and UConn.
   Twenty-seven schools have both their men's and women's teams in this year's NCAA Tournaments:
Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Grand Canyon, High Point, Illinois, Iowa State, Kentucky, Liberty, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Norfolk State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, San Diego State, Tennessee, Texas, UC San Diego, UCLA, UConn, Vanderbilt.
   Of those 27 teams, the only 17 schools that had its men's and women's basketball teams both earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournaments were Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Illinois, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Vanderbilt.
   Creighton is the nation's only school to reach the Elite Eight in women's volleyball (2024), women's basketball (2021), men's basketball (2022) and men's soccer (2022) since the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
Make It Five
Even though a certain NCAA bid was wiped away in 2020 by COVID-19, Creighton has still appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments (2021-25).
   The only previous time that Creighton has appeared in five straight NCAA Tournaments was from 1999-2003. The only other BIG EAST team with an active streak of five straight NCAA trips is UConn.
   Including this season, Creighton has made 26 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 10 under Greg McDermott, and was one of the final eight teams remaining in both 1941 and 2023.
Others With Five
Creighton is one of 13 teams to have appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments (2021-25).
   That list consists of Alabama, Baylor, Connecticut, Creighton, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, San Diego State, Tennessee and Texas.
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. The only other time that Creighton has won an NCAA Tournament game in consecutive seasons came in 2012, 2013 and 2014, also under Greg McDermott.
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 Louisville share just one common opponent this season, as both teams beat Notre Dame.
Team   CU Result   Louisville Result
Notre Dame   W 80-76    W 75-60
Dance Partners
Creighton is 6-8 against teams in the 2025 NCAA Tournament field, including two wins over UConn and one each against Kansas, St. John's, Xavier, and Marquette.
   Statistically, Pop Isaacs averaged 23.3 points in the three games he appeared in against those NCAA qualifiers. Ryan Kalkbrenner averaged 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds while Steven Ashworth (15.5 ppg., 6.7 apg.) and Jamiya Neal (12.5 ppg., 6.1 rpg.) also averaged in double-figures.
   Louisville was 3-6 against the NCAA Tournament field, picking up two wins against Clemson and one over North Carolina.
Merfeld's One Shining Moment Turns 24
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 13 of Last 15 Openers
Creighton has won at least one game in 13 of its last 15 postseason appearances. The stretch began in 2007-08.
Creighton's Last 15 Postseason Openers
Year   Tourney   First Game
2007-08Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â Beat Rhode Island, 74-73
2008-09Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â Beat Bowling Green, 73-71
2009-10Â Â Â CITÂ Â Â Beat South Dakota, 89-78
2010-11Â Â Â CBIÂ Â Â Beat San Jose State, 85-74
2011-12Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat Alabama, 58-57
2012-13Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat Cincinnati, 67-63
2013-14Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat Louisiana, 76-66
2015-16Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â Beat Alabama, 72-54
2016-17Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Lost to Rhode Island, 84-72
2017-18Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Lost to Kansas State, 69-59
2018-19Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â Beat Loyola (Chicago), 70-61
2020-21Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat UCSB, 63-62
2021-22Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat San Diego St., 72-69 (OT)
2022-23Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat NC State, 72-63
2023-24Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â Beat Akron, 77-60
Perfect 10
Greg McDermott has guided his team to the NCAA Tournament 10 times at Creighton. That put him in the company of some of the greatest coaches in CU Athletics history, and most among basketball coaches.
   McDermott is one of four head coaches in Creighton history to lead eight or more NCAA Tournament teams.
Name   Sport   NCAA's @CU
Kirsten Bernthal Booth   Volleyball   14
Bob Warming   Men's Soccer   11
Greg McDermott   Men's Basketball   10
Jim Flanery   Women's Basketball   8
Dana Altman   Men's Basketball   7
Brent Vigness   Softball   7
McDermott In The Postseason
Creighton coach Greg McDermott is making his 13th postseason appearance at Creighton, and 16th overall as a Division I head coach when you include his time at Northern Iowa.
   McDermott's Division I teams own an 19-16 record in 15 previous postseason appearances, including a 19-13 mark in 12 previous appearances at Creighton.
McDermott's Division I Postseason Appearances
Year (School)   Tourney   Postseason W-L
2003-04 (UNI)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2004-05 (UNI)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2005-06 (UNI)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2010-11 (CU)Â Â Â CBIÂ Â Â 4-2
2011-12 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 1-1
2012-13 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 1-1
2013-14 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 1-1
2015-16 (CU)Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â 2-1
2016-17 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2017-18 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 0-1
2018-19 (CU)Â Â Â NITÂ Â Â 2-1
2020-21 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 2-1
2021-22 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 1-1
2022-23 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 3-1
2023-24 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â 2-1
2024-25 (CU)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â ? ? ?
Most Postseason Bids By CU Coaches
This year's bid to the NCAA Tournament is the 13th postseason bid for Greg McDermott at Creighton, tying him with Dana Altman for the most postseason appearances in men's basketball in school history.
   McDermott's 10 NCAA Tournament trips are the most in program history as well, three more than what Altman did.
   McDermott's 11 NCAA Tournament wins are a school record, eight more than second-place John J. "Red" McManus.
   McDermott's 19 postseason wins at Creighton are the most in school history, 12 more than Altman's seven.
   McDermott (19-13) is one of two coaches in program history with a winning record in postseason play, joining Eddie Sutton (2-1).
Coach (Bids)Â Â Â NCAAÂ Â Â NITÂ Â Â CBIÂ Â Â CITÂ Â Â NCITÂ Â Â Total
Hickey (3)Â Â Â 1-1Â Â Â 2-2Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 3-3
Belford (1)Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-1Â Â Â 0-1
McManus (3)Â Â Â 3-3Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 1-1Â Â Â 4-4
Sutton (1)Â Â Â 2-1Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 2-1
Apke (4)Â Â Â 0-3Â Â Â 0-1Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-4
Barone (3)Â Â Â 1-2Â Â Â 0-1Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 1-3
Altman (13)Â Â Â 2-7Â Â Â 3-5Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 2-1Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 7-13
McDermott (13*)Â Â Â 11-9Â Â Â 4-2Â Â Â 4-2Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 0-0Â Â Â 19-13
*The 2025 NCAA Tournament will be McDermott's
13th postseason appearance at Creighton
Coaching Experience In The Dance
Creighton's full-time coaching staff boasts a combined 76 Division I NCAA Tournament games under their collective belts as either a player (10-8, full-time assistant coach (21-12) or head coach (11-14), winning 42 of those games.
   Greg McDermott is 11-12 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 11-9 at Creighton (3-1 in 2023, 2-1 in 2021 and 2024, 1-1 in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2022 and 0-1 in 2017 and 2018). In 2022, McDermott led the Bluejays to their 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 in 2023 and 2-1 in 2024 with 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.
   Trey Zeigler is 0-1 in the NCAA Tournament, losing his lone appearance as a player in 2013 with Pittsburgh.
   Derek Kellogg is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament either, 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]). As a head coach, he went 0-1 with both LIU in 2018 and UMass in 2014. He also went 2-1 last year with Creighton.
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NCAA Experience
Nine players on the Creighton team have played in a NCAA Tournament game before, and seven 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 Kalkbrenner (1-0) and Osmani (0-1) played in one game. Mason Miller was also on that roster as a redshirt.
   From its 2023 Elite Eight team that went 3-1, Kalkbrenner and Fredrick King 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.
   Last year's Sweet 16 run saw Kalkbrenner, , Miller, Green, Steven Ashworth and Isaac Traudt all play in three games (2-1). King played in two games (1-1). Redshirting on last season's team were Osmani, Shane Thomas and Josh Townley-Thomas.
   Additionally, Ashworth played in one 2023 NCAA Tournament game (a loss) in 2023 for Utah State, Traudt redshirted on Virginia's 2023 team that lost in the First Round. Jamiya Neal played in Arizona State's NCAA Tournament team in 2023 that went 1-1 and Pop Isaacs' Texas Tech team lost its lone game in 2024.
   In other words, only Jackson McAndrew, Ty Davis and Fedor Zugic have not been part of an NCAA Tournament team in some capacity.
BIG EAST Success
Creighton is one of five BIG EAST teams to make the NCAA Tournament this season, joining St. John's, Marquette, Connecticut and Xavier.
   The BIG EAST has had a Sweet 16 squad in 28 of the past 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 16 NCAA men's and women's basketball titles in the previous 24 tournaments.
   The BIG EAST is responsible for four of the last eight NCAA titles (2016 & 2018 Villanova; 2023 & 2024 Connecticut).
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History As A No. 9 Seed
Since the NCAA began seeding all the teams in 1979, this year marks the second time Creighton has been a No. 9 seed (also 2022).
   Creighton's best seed ever was being a No. 3 in 2014 and 2024.
   Since 1985, No. 9 seeds are 81-75 (.519) against No. 8 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. The No. 9 seed has won at least one game in eight of the past nine years, and are 20-12 in the past eight tournaments.
   The only two No. 9 seeds to ever make the Final Four was Wichita State in 2013, a team that Creighton defeated in the regular-season finale, as well as a week later in the MVC Tournament final, and also Florida Atlantic in 2023.
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   2-1
2025   9th   ? ? ?
Planting Seeds
Since NCAA Tourney seeding began in 1979, the 24 ACC teams with 0, 1 or 2 league losses before 2025 received 21 #1 seeds & three #2 seeds.
   This year... Duke is a 1 seed, Clemson is a 5 seed, Louisville is an 8 seed.
ACC Teams With 2 League Losses Or Less
Since NCAA Seeding Began in 1979
Year   Team   ACC W-L   NCAA Seed
1981   Virginia   13-1   1
1982   North Carolina   12-2   1
1982   Virginia   12-2   1
1983   Virginia   12-2   1
1983   North Carolina   12-2   2
1984   North Carolina   14-0   1
1986   Duke   12-2   1
1987   North Carolina   14-0   1
1992   Duke   14-2   1
1993   North Carolina   14-2   1
1998   Duke   15-1   1
1999   Duke   16-0   1
2000   Duke   15-1   1
2002   Maryland   15-1   1
2005   North Carolina   14-2   1
2006   Duke   14-2   1
2008   North Carolina   14-2   1
2011   North Carolina   14-2   2
2012   North Carolina   14-2   1
2014   Virginia   16-2   1
2015   Virginia   16-2   2
2018   Virginia   17-1   1
2019   Virginia   16-2   1
2019   North Carolina   16-2   1
2025   Duke   19-1   1
2025   Clemson   18-2   5
2025   Louisvile   18-2   8
Planting Seeds, Part 2
Since NCAA Tourney seeding began in 1979, there have been 57 teams that finished BIG EAST play alone in first or second place.
   Sixteen of those teams earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, 18 were a No. 2 seed and 11 were a No. 3 seed. There's also been four No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, one No. 6 seed, two No. 7 seeds and one No. 9 seed. That No. 9 seed is this year's Creighton team.
BIG EAST Teams to Finish Alone in 1st or 2nd Place
Since NCAA Seeding Began in 1979
Year   Team   BE Finish   NCAA Seed
1981   Boston College   1st   5
1981   Georgetown   2nd   7
1982   Villanova   1st   3
1982   Georgetown   2nd   1
1984   Georgetown   1st   1
1985   St. John's   1st   1
1985   Georgetown   2nd   1
1988   Pittsburgh   1st   2
1988   Syracuse   2nd   3
1989   Georgetown   1st   1
1989   Seton Hall   2nd   3
1991   Syracuse   1st   2
1991   St. John's   2nd   4
1993   Seton Hall   1st   2
1993   St. John's   2nd   5
1994   UConn   1st   2
1994   Syracuse   2nd   4
1995   UConn   1st   2
1995   Villanova   2nd   3
1996   UConn   1st   1
1996   Villanova   2nd   3
1998   UConn   1st   2
1998   St. John's   2nd   7
1999   UConn   1st   1
1999   Miami   2nd   2
2001   Boston College   1st   3
2002   UConn   1st   2
2002   Pittsburgh   2nd   3
2004   Pittsburgh   1st   3
2004   UConn   2nd   2
2007   Georgetown   1st   2
2008   Georgetown   1st   2
2009   Louisville   1st   1
2010   Syracuse   1st   1
2011   Pittsburgh   1st   1
2011   Notre Dame   2nd   2
2012   Syracuse   1st   1
2012   Marquette   2nd   3
2014   Villanova   1st   2
2014   Creighton   2nd   3
2015   Villanova   1st   1
2016   Villanova   1st   2
2016   Xavier   2nd   2
2017   Villanova   1st   1
2017   Butler   2nd   4
2018   Xavier   1st   1
2018   Villanova   2nd   1
2019   Villanova   1st   6
2019   Marquette   2nd   5
2021   Villanova   1st   5
2022   Providence   1st   4
2022   Villanova   2nd   2
2023   Marquette   1st   2
2023   Xavier   2nd   3
2024   UConn   1st   1
2025   St. John's   1st   2
2025   Creighton   2nd   9
Postseason Features Last-Second Drama
Fifteen of Creighton's previous 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 year Creighton won an 86-73 double-overtime win after overcoming a four-point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
   In 2023 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.
On This Date
Creighton is 1-2 on March 20th in history, winning in the 2021 NCAA Tournament UCSB (63-62).
   Creighton also lost 53-52 to Miami (Fla.) in the 2006 NIT, as well as to Central Michigan (79-73) in the 20023 NCAA Tournament First Round.
Seeking 25
Creighton owns 24 wins and can reach the 25 win mark with a win on Thursday. It would be Creighton's eighth time ever with 25 wins or more, with six of those seasons coming under Greg McDermott.
   Creighton would also win 25 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since doing it in three straight seasons from 2011-12 to 2013-14, also under McDermott.
   Creighton, which owns 26 women's basketball wins, is one of eight schools nationally with 24+ wins in both men's and women's basketball.
   Duke is the only other Power 5 school to do it, and the Bluejays and Blue Devils are joined by Charleston, George Mason, Grand Canyon, Liberty, Norfolk State and North Texas.
Two Dozen, Cousin
Creighton is one of 12 schools to have won 24 games or more in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. That group consists of Alabama, Charleston, Creighton, Drake, Duke, Gonzaga, Grand Canyon, Houston, Saint Mary's, Tennessee, Utah State and VCU.
Top 10 Wins Under McDermott
Creighton went 14,588 days from Feb. 10, 1974 to Jan. 19, 2014 without a win over a Top 10 team.
   Since Jan. 20, 2014, it has 15 such wins, including at least one Top 10 win in each of the last 10 seasons.
   Here's a list of all 20 Top 10 wins in program history.
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 89-75   McDermott
12/04/24   #1 Kansas   W 76-63   McDermott
How They Rank?
Creighton's March 20th game against No. 10 Louisville will be its ninth game of the year against a top-25 team.
   This was the 11th straight season that the Bluejays have faced at least six ranked teams in one season, after doing it twice total prior to Greg McDermott's arrival in 2010-11.
   Thursday's contest against Louisville will also set a program record for most games played against Top 10 teams in a season with six, breaking the mark of five done last season.
Most Games vs. Top 25 Teams, Season
   Games (W-L)   Season   Coach
   14 (6-8)   2022-23   Greg McDermott
   12 (5-7)   2021-22   Greg McDermott
   10 (4-6)   2017-18   Greg McDermott
   8 (1-7)   2014-15   Greg McDermott
   8 (2-6)   2015-16   Greg McDermott
   8 (6-2)   2019-20   Greg McDermott
   8 (3-5)   2024-25   Greg McDermott
   7 (4-3)   2016-17   Greg McDermott
   6 (1-5)   1968-69   John J. Red McManus
   6 (1-5)   1971-72   Eddie Sutton
   6 (2-4)   2018-19   Greg McDermott
   6 (3-3)   2020-21   Greg McDermott
   6 (3-3)   2023-24   Greg McDermott
Most Games vs. Top 10 Teams, Season
   Games (W-L)   Season   Coach
   5 (2-3)   2023-24   Greg McDermott
   5 (1-4)   2024-25   Greg McDermott
   4 (1-3)   1965-66   Red McManus
   4 (0-4)   1971-72   Eddie Sutton
   4 (0-4)   1981-82   Willis Reed
   4 (1-3)   2015-16   Greg McDermott
   4 (1-3)   2016-17   Greg McDermott
   4 (0-4)   2017-18   Greg McDermott
   4 (3-1)   2019-20   Greg McDermott
   4 (1-3)   2022-23   Greg McDermott
Top 25 Victims
This is Creighton's 10th straight season with multiple Top 25 wins, and 14th time overall (and 11th time under Greg McDermott).
   This year is the eighth time in the last nine seasons with three or more Top 25 wins, something that had never happened even once in program history 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
   3   2024-25   #1 Kansas, #11 Marquette, #14 UConn
   2   1972-73   #7 Houston, #20 Santa Clara
   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 Top 25 Notes
Creighton is 61-175 all-time against top 25 teams.
   Creighton is 41-58 under Greg McDermott against nationally-ranked teams, 34 more top 25 wins than any other coach in Creighton history. Prior to McDermott's arrival, Creighton was 20-117 all-time against top 25 foes.
   Creighton has beaten at least one ranked team in each of the last 12 seasons (including 2024-25). On a national basis, the only teams with a top-25 win each of the last 12 seasons (including 2024-25) are Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas Tech, Villanova, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
   Creighton has beaten multiple ranked foes in each of the last 10 seasons (including 2024-25), something only Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, Purdue and Villanova can claim. Texas Tech (1) is still trying to get there to extend their streak.
   Creighton owns at least one Top 10 win each of the last 10 seasons (including 2024-25). The only schools with at least one top-10 win every season from 2015-16 to 2024-25 have been Creighton, Kansas and Texas Tech.
Accomplished, To Say The Least
No Creighton player has put up career totals at the NCAA Tournament like Ryan Kalkbrenner has.
   He owns the following records:
Single-Game
Points   31 vs. NC State, 3/17/23
FT Percentage   1.000 (6-6) vs. San Diego State, 3/17/22
Blocked Shots   5 vs. Oregon, 3/23/24
Single-Tournament
Points   80 (2023)
Field Goals Made   32 (2023)
Blocked Shots   10 (2024)
Career
Points   154
Field Goals Made   60
Blocked Shots   18
Years Played In   4
Wins Played In   8
Kalkbrenner Leads The Way
Ryan Kalkbrenner is prominent among active NCAA Tournament leaders in a number of categories:
Points
Caleb Love   173
Mark Sears   170
Ryan Kalkbrenner   154
RJ Davis   151
Jeremy Roach   151
Rebounds
Hunter Dickinson   80
Ryan Kalkbrenner   68
Alex Karaban   66
J'Wan Roberts   60
Norchad Omier   60
FG Made
Caleb Love   61
Ryan Kalkbrenner   60
Hunter Dickinson   57
Davonte Davis   55
Mark Sears   53
Jeremy Roach   53
Games Played
Dajuan Harris Jr.   12
J'Wan Roberts   12
Hassan Diarra   12
Ben Gregg   12
Samson Johnson   12
Alex Karaban   12
Apostolos Roumoglou   12
Jeremy Roach   11
Ryan Kalkbrenner   11
Davonte Davis   11
Mason Gillis   11
Lamont Butler   11
Blocks
Ryan Kalkbrenner   18
Hunter Dickinson   18
J'Wan Roberts   13
Jonas Aidoo   11
Alex Karaban   11
Kalkbrenner A Top Defender, Again
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in 2024-25 for the fourth straight season.
   Kalkbrenner is just the second player in league history to win the recognition four times, joining Georgetown great Patrick Ewing.
   Between Kalkbrenner and 2017 & 2018 winner Khyri Thomas, Creighton has now had a BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in six of the last nine seasons.
Most BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Honors
   Honors   Name, School   Years (*ties)
   4   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton   2022, 23, '24, '25
   4   Patrick Ewing, Georgetown   1982, 83, 84, 85
   3   Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown   1989, 90*, 92
   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
All-Conference Honors Roll In
Creighton seniors Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth earned All-BIG EAST honors and Jackson McAndrew landed a spot on the BIG EAST's All-Freshman Team.
   Kalkbrenner was a unanimous selection to the First Team, while Ashworth was a Second Team honoree. It's the sixth time in the last nine seasons that Creighton has had at least one honoree on both the First and Second Teams.
   Kalkbrenner leads the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (.655), rebounds (8.8) and blocked shots per game (2.7) while ranking second with 19.4 points per contest. An All-BIG EAST First Team pick in 2022-23 and Second Team choice last year, Kalkbrenner is just the second player in program history to be a two-time First Team selection, joining Marcus Foster (2016-17 and 2017-18).
   Ashworth leads the BIG EAST with 6.85 assists per game, 3.12 three-pointers per game and a .926 free-throw percentage, in addition to averaging 16.8 points per game. This is Ashworth's second All-Conference selection, as he was named First Team All-Mountain West Conference while playing for Utah State in 2022-23.
   McAndrew is Creighton's first All-Freshman Team honoree since 2021-22, when Trey Alexander, Arthur Kaluma and Ryan Nembhard were all recognized. The Wayzata, Minn., native is averaging 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season and picked up his first BIG EAST Freshman of the Week accolade on March 9th.
Thank You Seniors!
Creighton honored Jamiya Neal, Steven Ashworth, Sami Osmani and Ryan Kalkbrenner, following last its March 8th game vs. Butler as part of Senior Day festivities.
   Over the last five years, Creighton has been to three Sweet 16's, one Elite Eight and beaten six Top 10 teams, including victories over No. 1 UConn last year and No. 1 Kansas this year. Creighton has also spent 51-of-95 weeks in the Top 25 of the AP poll, including 16 weeks in the Top 10.
   The Bluejays are 118-54 (.686) since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, tied for the nation's 18th-most victories. Its 69 BIG EAST wins in league play over the past five years lead the league.
   Creighton also recognized managers Julien Berry and Gabe Greene following the game.
Best BIG EAST Years
Creighton's 15 league wins set a program record for most conference wins in any of its 12 seasons in the BIG EAST. It's the third straight season CU has won 14 league games or more, something only Villanova (2013-14 to 2017-18) and Connecticut (1993-94 to 1995-96) have done in BIG EAST history.
   Four of CU's seven teams to win 12 or more BIG EAST games reached the BIG EAST Tournament final, with the prematurely cancelled 2019-20 campaign being one of the exceptions.
   Creighton's 15 conference wins match its most as a member of any league, as it picked up 15 conference wins in 2002-03 when it was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
   Creighton has now set or tied program records for most conference wins in a one-year span (15), two-year span (29), thee-year span (43), four-year span (55), five-year span (69), six-year span (82) and seven-year span (91).
   Creighton has now finished first or second in the BIG EAST in four of the last six seasons.
Creighton's Most BIG EAST Wins, Season
   W-L   Year   BIG EAST Tourney
   15-5   2024-25   Lost in Final
   14-4   2013-14   Lost in Final
   14-6   2020-21   Lost in Final
   14-6   2022-23   Lost in Semi's
   14-6   2023-24   Lost in Quarterfinals
   13-5   2019-20   Tourney Cancelled
   12-7   2021-22   Lost in Final
Creighton's Most Conference Wins, Season
   W-L   Year   League
   15-3   2002-03   MVC
   15-5   2024-25   BIG EAST
   14-4   2000-01   MVC
   14-4   2001-02   MVC
   14-4   2008-09   MVC
   14-4   2011-12   MVC
   14-4   2013-14   BIG EAST
   14-6   2020-21   BIG EAST
   14-6   2022-23   BIG EAST
   14-6   2023-24   BIG EAST
The First With 500/200
Steven Ashworth owns 538 points and 226 assists this season, becoming the first player in Creighton history with at least 500 points and 200 assists in the same season. The only two other players that can say that this season are Purdue's Braden Smith and New Mexico's Donovan Dent.
   He's just the 13th different BIG EAST player to compile the a 500/200 season in league history.
BIG EAST Men With Seasons of 500 Points & 200 Assists
Name, School   Year   Points   Assists
Pearl Washington, SYRÂ Â Â 1985-86Â Â Â 554Â Â Â 250
Sherman Douglas, SYRÂ Â Â 1986-87Â Â Â 659Â Â Â 289
Billy Donovan, PCÂ Â Â 1986-87Â Â Â 702Â Â Â 243
Sherman Douglas, SYRÂ Â Â 1987-88Â Â Â 562Â Â Â 288
Sherman Douglas, SYRÂ Â Â 1988-89Â Â Â 693Â Â Â 326
Doron Sheffer, UCONNÂ Â Â 1995-96Â Â Â 560Â Â Â 212
Chris Thomas, NDÂ Â Â 2001-02Â Â Â 516Â Â Â 252
Brandin Knight, PITTÂ Â Â 2001-02Â Â Â 546Â Â Â 251
Chris Thomas, NDÂ Â Â 2002-03Â Â Â 637Â Â Â 236
Gerry McNamara, SYRÂ Â Â 2005-06Â Â Â 560Â Â Â 207
Jonny Flynn, SYRÂ Â Â 2008-09Â Â Â 663Â Â Â 254
Jordan Theodore, SHUÂ Â Â 2011-12Â Â Â 546Â Â Â 226
Bryce Cotton, PCÂ Â Â 2013-14Â Â Â 763Â Â Â 205
Kris Dunn, PCÂ Â Â 2014-15Â Â Â 515Â Â Â 247
Kris Dunn, PCÂ Â Â 2015-16Â Â Â 542Â Â Â 206
Tristen Newton, UCONNÂ Â Â 2023-24Â Â Â 603Â Â Â 248
Steven Ashworth, CUÂ Â Â 2024-25Â Â Â 538Â Â Â 226
Creighton Players With 200+ Assists In A Season
Name   Year   Points   Assists
Ralph Bobik   1973-74   266   252
Maurice Watson Jr.   2015-16   492   229
Steven Ashworth   2024-25   538   226
Grant Gibbs   2012-13   306   210
Randy Eccker   1976-77   132   205
Kalkbrenner Passes BIG EAST Legends
Ryan Kalkbrenner set five BIG EAST career records in league play. He now owns the career record for field goal percentage in BIG EAST play (min. 5 FG/game) among multi-year players at 64.2 percent, as well as with 248 blocked shots, 557 career field goals made, 98 games played and 2,930 minutes played.
   Kalkbrenner finished his career third all-time with 1,400 career points in BIG EAST play and third all-time with 674 career rebounds in BIG EAST play.
   Kalkbrenner became the 11th man with 1,000+ points and 500+ rebounds in BIG EAST action over a career, but the only man in history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 blocked shots in BIG EAST play during a career.
Best Career FG% in BIG EAST Play (min. 5 FG/game)
   Pct.   FG-FGA   Name, School
   .642   557-868   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   .608   377-620   Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
   .593   270-455   Emeka Okafor, UConn
   .575   337-586   Otis Thorpe, Providence
Most Career Games in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   Games   Name, School
   1.   98   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2.   92   Myles Cale, Seton Hall
       92   Dylan Addae-Wusu, STJ/BU/SHU
   4.   91   Eric Dixon, Villanova
   5.   90   Nate Watson, Providence
Most Career Minutes in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   Minutes   Name, School
   1.   2,930   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2.   2,660   LaDontae Henton, Providence
   3.   2,610   Eric Dixon, Villanova
   4.   2,512   Collin Gillespie, Villanova
   5.   2,510   Tory Jackson, Notre Dame
Most Career Blocks in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   Blocks   Name, School
   1.   248   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2.   247   Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
   3.   243   Hasheem Thabeet, UConn
   4.   232   Etan Thomas, Syracuse
   5.   224   Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown
1,000 Career Points & 500 Rebounds in BIG EAST Play
   PTS   REB   Name, School
   1,400   674   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   1,329   662   Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
   1,177   561   Bill Curley, Boston College
   1,173   534   Ryan Gomes, Providence
   1,170   582   John Wallace, Syracuse
   1,152   580   Zendon Hamilton, St. John's
   1,148   609   Danya Abrams, Boston College
   1,071   563   LaDontae Henton, Providence
   1,062   545   Tim James, Miami (Fla.)
   1,047   502   Charles Smith, Pittsburgh
   1,033   701   Derrick Coleman, Syracuse
Most Career Field Goals in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   FG Made   Name, School
   1.   557   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2.   506   Markus Howard, Marquette
   3.   503   Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
   4.   499   Lawrence Moten, Syracuse
   5.   472   Eric Dixon, Villanova
Most Career Points in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.   Points   Name, School
   1.   1,587   Markus Howard, Marquette
   2.   1,405   Lawrence Moten, Syracuse
   3.   1,400   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   4.   1,388   Troy Bell, Boston College
   5.   1,365   Eric Dixon, Villanova
Most Career Rebounds in BIG EAST Play
   Rk.      Rebounds   Name, School
   1.   828   Angel Delgado, Seton Hall
   2.   701   Derrick Coleman, Syracuse
   3.   674   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   4.   662   Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
   5.   630   Michael Smith, Notre Dame
League Leaders in BIG EAST Play
Ryan Kalkbrenner led all players in BIG EAST play with 9.35 rebounds per game, finishing ahead of Zuby Ejiofor's 8.45 per contest. Kalkbrenner is Creighton's second straight league rebounding champ (after Baylor Scheierman last year).
   Kalkbrenner also earned his third straight BIG EAST title in field goal percentage in league play. The CU center is shooting 64.2 percent from the floor, while no other player that has met the league minimum of 5 FG/game shot better than 52 percent.
   Kalkbrenner also won his third straight title in blocks per league game with 2.75 swats per game. The only others to lead the BIG EAST in blocks in three straight years are Patrick Ewing (1981-85), Jason Lawson (1995-97), Emeka Okafor (2004-06) and Hasheem Thabeet (2007-09).
   Kalkbrenner also was tops with 6.90 defensive rebounds per game.
   Steven Ashworth led the BIG EAST with 7.45 assists per game in league play. CU's only other BIG EAST assist champ was Maurice Watson Jr. (6.7) in 2015-16. Ashworth was also tops in free throw percentage (.884). CU's only other prior BIG EAST free throw titlist was Denzel Mahoney (.898) in 2019-20.
   Lastly, Ashworth made 3.25 three-pointers per game, edging UConn's Solo Ball (3.20) on the final day of the regular-season.
Half The Story
Creighton shot 84.2 percent in the second half of its March 4th win at Seton Hall, sinking 14-of-17 shots.
   It was the program's best shooting percentage in any half since making 84.2 percent of its second half shots (also 14-17) at Wichita State on Feb. 16, 2005.
   It was the fourth time in 515 games under Greg McDermott that Creighton shot 75 percent or better from the field.
Creighton's Best FG% in a Half Under McDermott
   FG%   FG-FGA   Opponent, Date   Half
   .842   14-17   at Seton Hall, 3/4/25   2nd
   .800   16-20   at Southern Illinois, 2/14/12   2nd
   .759   22-29   Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 11/9/21   2nd
   .750   15-20   at Southern Illinois, 2/14/12   1st
   .750   18-24   vs. Connecticut, 3/14/25   1st
On Your Mark
Creighton is 12-0 when scoring 80+ points this year and averages 79.2 points in its wins, compared to its 65.8 points per game average in its 10 losses.
   Creighton has won a BIG EAST-leading 17 straight games when scoring 80+ points, just ahead of Butler (13), and is 189-21 under McDermott when scoring 80 points or more.
Ain't Too Proud To Brag
Creighton's win over DePaul on Feb. 26th extended its streak of 20-win seasons to 10 in a row, tied for the nation's fourth-longest active streak. Kansas leads the way with 36 (including 2024-25). The others on that list have already won 20+ games this year, a group that features Gonzaga (28 including 2024-25), Belmont (15 including 2024-25), Oregon (10 including 2024-25) and Houston (10 including 2024-25).
   Creighton has now won 22 games or more in six straight seasons (including 2024-25). Only Gonzaga (28 including 2024-25) and Houston (8 including 2024-25) have longer streaks. San Diego State (21 wins in 2024-25) and Baylor (19) both can extend their streaks to six straight seasons in the postseason this month.
   Creighton is one of three schools to have men's and women's basketball programs to both own 22 wins or more each of the last four seasons (including 2024-25), a list that includes Creighton, Princeton and UConn. Princeton (19 men's wins, 21 women's wins) could also still get there this season.
   Creighton was one of six teams in the nation with 25 or more wins in both men's basketball and women's basketball last season. That list consisted of Creighton, Gonzaga, NC State, South Carolina, UConn and Vermont.
Most Consecutive 20-Win Seasons
(Including 2024-25)
Team                Consecutive 20-Win Seasons  Â
Kansas   36  Â
Gonzaga   28  Â
Belmont   15  Â
Oregon   15  Â
Creighton   10  Â
Houston   10  Â
Most Consecutive 22-Win Seasons
(Entering 2024-25)
Team                Consec. 22-Win Yrs.   2024-25 W-L   Next
Gonzaga   27   25-8   3/20
Houston   7   30-4   3/20
Creighton   5   24-10   3/20
San Diego State   5   21-9   3/18
Baylor   5   19-14   3/21
25 of 27 Seasons With 20 Wins
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 25 of the last 27 seasons (including 2024-25), a feat that puts the Jays among an exclusive group, nationally.
   Entering 2024-25, just two schools have had 20 or more wins each of the previous 26 years: Gonzaga and Kansas. Duke has done it 25 times, Creighton and Kentucky 24 times each.
Most 20-Win Seasons, Previous 26 Seasons
(Entering 2024-25)
Team                20-Win Seasons   2024-25 W-L   Next
Gonzaga   26   25-8   3/20
Kansas   26   21-12   3/20
Duke   25   31-3   3/21
Creighton   24   24-10   3/20
Kentucky   24   22-11   3/21
Arizona   22   22-12   3/2
Florida   22   29-4   3/21
Ohio State   22   17-15   Done
Michigan State   22   27-6   3/21
BYUÂ Â Â 21Â Â Â 24-9Â Â Â 3/20
Memphis   21   28-5   3/16
North Carolina   21   22-13   3/18
Wisconsin   21   26-8   3/16
Seeking 20
Including 2024-25, Creighton has won 20 or more games 36 times in program history. That includes a program-record 14 times under Greg McDermott.
Creighton's 20 Win Seasons Before 2024-25
   Total Wins   How Often   Last Time before '24-25
   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
   14   Greg McDermott
   11   Dana Altman
   3   Tom Apke
   3   Tony Barone
   2   Red McManus
   1   Charles Kearney
   1   Eddie Sutton
   1   Willis Reed
League Of Their Own
Creighton has finished with a .500 mark or better in league play 29 times in the last 30 seasons (including 2024-25), one of seven schools nationally that can say that.
   The only BIG EAST teams to finish .500 or better in league play each of the previous 10 seasons are Creighton and Villanova.
   Creighton is the only "Power 5" school with an active streak of six years or longer with 12 or more league wins.
Most Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Last 30 Seasons (Includes 2024-25)
   Seasons   Team  Â
   30   Duke  Â
   30   Kansas  Â
   30   Gonzaga  Â
   29   Kentucky  Â
   29   Michigan State  Â
   29   Creighton  Â
Consecutive Seasons .500 or Better League Record
Power 5 Schools (Includes 2024-25)
   Seasons   Team  Â
   36   Kansas  Â
   30   Duke  Â
   14   Oregon  Â
   13   Villanova  Â
   10   Creighton  Â
   10   Houston  Â
   10   Florida  Â
Consecutive Seasons 12+ League Wins
Power 5 Schools (Includes 2024-25)
   Seasons   Team   2024-25 W-L
   6   Creighton   15-5
20 & 10 For Kalkbrenner
Ryan Kalkbrenner closed the regular-season with 27 points and 13 rebounds, his 12th career game with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the same contest and sixth this season.
   In the last 20 seasons, the only other two Creighton basketball players (men or women) with eight or more 20/10 career games were both First Round NBA Draft picks.
CU's Most Career Games With 20 Points & 10 Rebounds
(Since 2005-06)
   Qty.   Name   Years
   25   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   12   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   8   Baylor Scheierman   2022-24
   Kalkbrenner now owns 26 double-doubles, the third-most by any Bluejay under Greg McDermott.
Most CU Double-Doubles Under Greg McDermott
   Qty.   Name   Years
   37   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   29   Baylor Scheierman   2022-24
   26   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   13   Martin Krampelj   2015-19
   11   Ryan Hawkins   2021-22
Kalkbrenner Named All-Tourney, Again
Ryan Kalkbrenner averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game last weekend to earn All-BIG EAST Tournament Team honors. It's his third such honor.
   The only players in league history to be named to three All-Tournament Teams are Ryan Kalkbrenner (2022-23-25), Marquette's Kam Jones (2023-24-25, Connecticut's Ben Gordon (2002-03-04) and Khalid El-Amin (1998-99-2000). Georgetown's Alonzo Mourning (1989-91-92), Patrick Ewing (1982-84-85) and Eric Floyd (1980-81-82), Louisville's Peyton Siva (2011-12-13), Syracuse's Sherman Douglas (1987-88-89) and Leo Rautins (1981-82-83), Villanova's Josh Hart (2015-16-17) and Ed Pinckney (1982-84-85) and Xavier's Trevon Bluiett (2016-17-18).
Neal's Near Triple-Double
Jamiya Neal had 13 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the Feb. 23rd win over Georgetown, coming just one assist shy of Creighton's second point/rebound/assist triple-double in program history.
   Neal picked up his ninth assist with 5:44 left. In the rest of the game, Neal made seven passes in the front court, but his teammates missed all four shots they took that could have helped Neal make history.
   Neal's 12 rebounds and nine assists both tied his career-highs, and he and St. John's guard Kadary Richmond are the only players to rank in the Top 11 in the BIG EAST in both categories.
   Neal was the first BIG EAST player since at least 2005-06 with at least 13 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and one or fewer turnovers in a league game.
All About The Benchamins
Creighton's bench has scored 465 points in 34 games this season, easily outscoring last year's point production of 367 in 35 games a season ago.
   Creighton had not scored 400 bench points or more since 2020-21 after doing it for 14 straight seasons from 2007-08 to 2020-21. Its 465 points are its most since scoring 476 in 2020-21 and 496 in 2019-20.
   The Bluejays have won 48 straight games when scoring 17 or more bench points.
Mr. Reliable
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns at least 10 points and a blocked shot in each of the last 19 games. He's the only Bluejay in the past 20 seasons to have done it in 10 or more consecutive games in his career, and owns three such streaks.
   Kalkbrenner is the nation's only player with an active streak of 15 or longer, and the nation's only player with a longer streak since 2005-06 is Johni Broome's 22 in a row during the 2021-22 campaign while at Morehead State.
   Since 2005-06, the only player with more than Kalkbrenner's 118 career games with 10+ points and a block is Broome's 127, which includes his current run starring at Auburn after transferring.
   After not having anyone average at least 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for 32 years from 1991-92 to 2022-23, Kalkbrenner (19.4 ppg., 8.8 rpg.) is attempting to give Creighton a second straight player as he joins Baylor Scheierman (18.5 ppg., 9.0 rpg. in 2023-24).
   Kalkbrenner is one of two major conference players this season to average at least 19.0 and 8.7 this season, joining Stanford's Maxime Raynaud.
Big Man With Big Numbers
The numbers surrounding Ryan Kalkbrenner's career continue to impress.
   Kalkbrenner owns 640 points this season, joining Doug McDermott (3), Bob Portman (2) and Marcus Foster (2) as the only Bluejay men in history with multiple seasons of 600 or more points.
   Kalkbrenner is also one of three Bluejay men with four seasons of 400 or more points along with McDermott and Rodney Buford.
   Kalkbrenner also has 89 blocked shots this season. He's now responsible for four seasons of 69 swats or more in his career, while all other Bluejays in program history have four total (three by Benoit Benjamin, one by Chad Gallagher).
   Kalkbrenner is one of 24 players in NCAA history with four seasons of 69+ blocks.
Coaching Consistency Is Key
Between women's basketball coach Jim Flanery (453) and men's basketball coach Greg McDermott (349), Creighton is the nation's only school with a pair of active head coaches with at least 345 victories at their current school.
   Flanery (hired in 2002) and McDermott (2010) also make Creighton one of three schools to have the same men's and women's basketball head coaches each of the last 15 seasons, joining Boise State (Leon Rice and Gordy Presnell) and Northern Iowa (Ben Jacobsen and Tanya Warren).
   Jacobsen played on teams McDermott assisted at North Dakota from 1989-93 and later replaced McDermott as head coach at UNI In 2006, while Warren was a former Creighton player and assistant and is one of two women in program history to have her number retired.
Some Loyal Fans
Creighton's average home crowd of 17,366 this year ranked third-most in program history and included eight sellout crowds.
   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 21 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 22nd season.
Highest Average Attendance, Creighton History
   Avg. Att.   School   Year
   17,896   Creighton   2013-14
   17,413   Creighton   2016-17
   17,366   Creighton   2024-25
   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
McDermott Among The Best
Greg McDermott ranks sixth in BIG EAST history with 138 regular-season league wins.
   McDermott, along with Ed Cooley and Rick 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 (15 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 14 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 Jr., Georgetown
   5.   140   Rick Pitino, Prov./Louisville/SJU
   6.   138   Greg McDermott, Creighton
   7.   136   Mike Brey, Notre Dame
   8.   131   John Thompson III, Georgetown
   9.   129   Ed Cooley, Providence/G'Town
   10.   127   Lou Carnesecca, St. John's
Automatic Ashworth
Steven Ashworth set a Creighton single-game record on Nov. 6 vs. UTRGV when he was a perfect 17-for-17 at the free throw line. It's the most attempts without a miss in a game in CU history.
   The 17 makes at the line were an arena record (two others had made 15), and tied for second-most in a game in CU history behind only Bob Portman's 19 vs. UW-Milwaukee on Dec. 16, 1967.
   Ashworth's 17 attempts were 10th-most in CU history, and the most by a Bluejay since Nate Funk shot 18 in a double-overtime win vs. Dayton on Nov. 26, 2005.
   Ashworth's streak of 41 consecutive made free throws was snapped on Nov. 27th vs. Texas A&M, four shy of the record set by Doug McDermott in 2013-14. Ashworth shook off that rare miss and then made 38 free throws in a row, CU's third-longest streak ever. Ashworth made his first nine tries at the charity stripe on Feb. 11th before a miss, snapping his streak at 31 in a row.
   Ashworth is the lone player in program history with multiple streaks of 30 free throws made or more, and now has three such streaks this year.
Most Consecutive Free Throws Made Since 1980
   FT   Name   Dates of Streak
   45   Doug McDermott   Dec. 1, 2013-Jan. 4, 2014
   41   Steven Ashworth   March 2 - Nov. 22, 2024
   38   Steven Ashworth   Nov. 27, 2024 - Jan. 11, 2025
   36   Booker Woodfox   Dec. 6, 2008-Jan. 6, 2009
   35   Bob Portman   1967-68
   32   Michael Lindeman   Jan. 23-Nov. 29, 2003
   31   Baylor Scheierman   Feb. 17-March 29, 2024
   31   Steven Ashworth   Jan. 18 - Feb. 11, 2025
   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
#1 In Your Program, #1 In Your Record Book
Steven Ashworth has made 92.6 percent of his free throw attempts this season. Not only does that put him on pace to shatter the Creighton single-season record, but he's also fifth in the nation this year.
   Ashworth shot 60-for-65 (.923) at the line at CHI Health Center Omaha this season, setting a single-season facility record.
Best Season FT Percentage, Creighton History (Min. 70 Attempts)
   Pct.   Name (Class, Year)   FTM-FTA
   .926   Steven Ashworth (Sr., 2024-25)   113-122
   .908   Kyle Korver (Sr., 2002-03)   109-120
   .907   Steven Ashworth (Sr., 2023-24)   68-75
   .890   Kyle Korver (Jr., 2001-02)   97-109
   .882   Doug Brookins (Sr., 1974-75)   98-111
   .880   Mike Caruso (Sr., 1970-71)   95-108
   .876   Baylor Scheierman (Sr., 2023-24)   99-113
   .875   Doug McDermott (Jr., 2012-13)   189-216
   .871   Ryan Nembhard (So., 2022-23)   74-85
   .868   Booker Woodfox (Sr., 2008-09)   99-114
   .867   Kyle Korver (So., 2000-01)   72-83
Among The Best
Creighton owns more BIG EAST wins (82) than any other school in the last six seasons, 11 more than Marquette and Villanova's 71.
   Since the league's 2013 realignment, Villanova has 161 league wins to lead the BIG EAST by a wide margin, but Creighton's 138 league victories are second-most.
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2019-20 to 2024-25)
Team   W   L   Pct.
Creighton   82   35   .701
Villanova   71   42   .628
Marquette   71   45   .612
UConn   69   27   .719
Providence   64   50   .561
Seton Hall   59   57   .509
Xavier   59   51   .536
St. John's   59   57   .509
Butler   45   73   .381
Georgetown   24   89   .212
DePaul   18   95   .159
Most Men's Basketball BIG EAST Wins
(2013-14 to 2024-25)
Team   W   L   Pct.
Villanova   161   60   .729
Creighton   138   87   .613
Xavier   125   93   .573
Marquette   123   101   .549
Providence   122   100   .550
Seton Hall   112   112   .500
Butler   99   127   .438
St. John's   99   125   .442
Georgetown   70   151   .317
UConn   69   27   .719
DePaul   43   178   .195
McAndrew Moves Up The Charts
Jackson McAndrew has made 62 three-pointers and drained at least one three-pointer in all but five games this season.
   McAndrew's 62 triples are fourth-most in program history by a freshman.
   Most 3-Pointers Made by a Creighton Freshman
   3FG-FGA   3FG%   Name   Year
   68-157   .433   Ethan Wragge   2009-10
   63-161   .391   Ryan Sears   1997-98
   63-145   .434   Kyle Korver   1999-00
   62-180   .344   Jackson McAndrew   2024-25
   60-141   .426   Marcus Zegarowski   2018-19
   47-116   .405   Doug McDermott   2010-11
   46-118   .390   Rodney Buford   1995-96
   45-125   .360   Toby Hegner   2014-15
   44-135   .326   Mitch Ballock   2017-18
   41-105   .390   Jahenns Manigat   2010-11
Guarding The Paint
The presence of four-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner is key to Creighton's success in defending the paint.
   While Creighton opponents shoot a respectable 60.8 percent at the rim, that number falls off from there. Bluejay foes are shooting 36.9 percent from the paint outside the charge circle, and just 38.0 percent from two-point range outside the paint.
   In other words, Creighton is shooting 63.8 percent from the painted area this year, while its opponents are shooting 48.1 percent.
Area   Opp.   FG%   CU   FG%
Inside Circle   318-523   .608   372-519   .717
Paint No Circle   219-594   .369   175-339   .516
2FG Outside Paint   124-326   .380   49-128   .383
3-Point FG's   257-786   .327   321-947   .339
More Than Just Being Tall
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 327 dunks in his career, including 91 this season. He has 206 more career dunks more than any other Bluejay player since Greg McDermott's arrival in 2010, as well as the single-season high in that time.
    Here's a look at the Creighton student-athletes with 25 or more dunks in a season, and 30 or more dunks in a career, under McDermott:
Most Creighton Dunks, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Year
91   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2024-25
75   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2023-24
74   Martin Krampelj   2018-19
72   Justin Patton   2016-17
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
Most Creighton Dunks, Career, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Years
327   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
121   Martin Krampelj   2015-19
103   Christian Bishop   2018-21
90   Gregory Echenique   2010-13
72   Justin Patton   2016-17
55   Fredrick King   2022-Pres.
52   Marcus Foster   2016-18
51   Khyri Thomas   2015-18
43   Arthur Kaluma   2021-23
38   Will Artino   2011-15
33   Zach Hanson   2013-17
Most Creighton Dunks, Team, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Year   Team W-L
147Â Â Â 2024-25Â Â Â 24-10 so far (NCAA)
144Â Â Â 2016-17Â Â Â 25-10 (NCAA)
132Â Â Â 2021-22Â Â Â 23-12 (NCAA)
115Â Â Â 2022-23Â Â Â 24-13 (NCAA)
107Â Â Â 2017-18Â Â Â 21-12 (NCAA)
106Â Â Â 2018-19Â Â Â 20-15 (NIT)
102Â Â Â 2023-24Â Â Â 25-10 (NCAA)
90Â Â Â 2020-21Â Â Â 22-9 (NCAA)
60Â Â Â 2019-20Â Â Â 24-7 (Postseason Canceled)
58Â Â Â 2015-16Â Â Â 20-15 (NIT)
The Bank of Morman
Steven Ashworth's final 30 seconds at Villanova on Feb. 1 was quite the roller coaster. His turnover led to a breakaway dunk with 15.3 left by Wooga Poplar that gave the Wildcats a 60-59 lead.
   Ashworth then brought the ball upcourt and airballed a pull-up three-pointer, only to have teammate Jasen Green grab the rebound and alertly call timeout while falling out of bounds.
   Given another chance to redeem himself, Ashworth caught Green's inbounds pass in the left corner and improbably banked in a game-winning three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left to seal the regular-season sweep over the Wildcats.
   It was the first time Creighton has squandered a lead in the final minute of an eventual win since its memorable triple-overtime win at Seton Hall on Jan. 20, 2024. On that day, CU led 90-89 before the Pirates took the lead on two Kadary Richmond foul shots with 42.3 seconds left in triple-OT. CU answered with a Trey Alexander three-pointer with 28.4 seconds left, followed by two game-clinching free throws each from Steven Ashworth and Baylor Scheierman in the final 12 seconds.
   It was also Creighton's first go-ahead basket in the final 10 seconds of a victory since Trey Alexander's game-winner with 0.2 seconds left at Villanova last season.
   Below is a list of Creighton's victories under Greg McDermott in which it scored a go-ahead points in the final 30 seconds* of a victory.
Go-Ahead Points in Last 30 Seconds* of Wins Under McDermott
Player   Time   Opponent   Date
Kenny Lawson Jr.   18.1, Dunk   Northern Arizona   11/14/10
Antoine Young   0.3, FG   Long Beach St.   02/18/12
Josh Jones   22.6, FG   Evansville   02/21/12
Doug McDermott   4.9, FG   at Saint Joseph's   11/16/13
Doug McDermott   2.8, 3FG   St. John's   01/28/14
Marcus Foster   6.6, 3FG   vs. Xavier   03/10/17
Marcus Foster   14.4, 3FG   at DePaul   02/07/18
Marcus Zegarowski   3.2 3FG   Providence   01/18/20
Christian Bishop   0.8, Dunk   at Providence   01/02/21
Christian Bishop   16.0, 2 FT   vs. UCSB   03/20/21
Ryan Nembhard   0.0, FG   vs. So. Illinois   11/22/21
Trey Alexander   26.2, 2 FT   Villanova   02/04/23
Trey Alexander   12.3, 2 FT   St. John's   01/13/24
Trey Alexander   28.4, 3FG   at Seton Hall   01/20/24
Trey Alexander   0.2, FG   at Villanova   03/09/24
Steven Ashworth   5.8, 3FG   at Villanova   02/01/25
*go-ahead points in regulation not listed if game went to overtime
Road Trio
Creighton was just the fifth team since 1993-94 to beat Connecticut, Villanova and Providence on the road in the same season.
   The only other teams to do it since 1993-94 were Xavier (2022-23), Marquette (2011-12) and Syracuse (2011-12 and 1996-97), though Syracuse later vacated the wins from 2011-12.
  Â
Kalkbrenner Passes 1,100 at CHI
Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 1,133 career points inside CHI Health Center Omaha. He's the second player to score 1,000 points in the facility, joining Doug McDermott (1,573 points).
Most Career Points at CHI Health Center Omaha
   Rk.   Name, Years   Points (Games)
   1.   Doug McDermott, 2010-14   1,573 (71)
   2.   Ryan Kalkbrenner, 2020-Pres.   1,133 (77)
   3.   Nate Funk, 2003-07   735 (47)
   4.   Marcus Zegarowski, 2018-21   728 (50)
   5.   Ty-Shon Alexander, 2017-20   727 (55)
   6.   Marcus Foster, 2016-18   723 (35)
   7.   Mitch Ballock, 2017-21   721 (69)
   8.   Kenny Lawson Jr., 2006-11   707 (76)
   9.   Trey Alexander, 2021-24   655 (43)
   10.   Antoine Young, 2008-12   634 (71)
   Kalkbrenner set the facility records for career field goal percentage (.727), offensive rebounds (204) and blocks (177) and also ranked second in arena history in field goals made (457; McDermott had 563), field goal attempts (629; McDermott had 999), free throws made (200; McDermott had 313), free throws attempted (286; McDermott had 376), and rebounds (525; McDermott had 534).
Chairmen Of The Boards
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 1,133 rebounds in his career, far ahead of Eric Dixon's 890 to rank tops among active BIG EAST players. That ranks second-most in CU history.
   Reb.   Name   Years
   1,751   Paul Silas   1961-64
   1,133   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   1,126   Bob Harstad   1987-91
   1,088   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   1,005   Benoit Benjamin   1982-85
      979   Bob Portman   1966-69
Into The Top 35
Ryan Kalkbrenner enters Thursday 32nd in NCAA history with 395 career blocked shots. He can become the 29th man ever to reach 400 with five swats in the NCAA Tournament.
     Rank   Blk.   Name   School
   1.   564   Jarvis Varnado   Mississippi State
---
   26.   412   Shaquille O'Neal   LSU
   27.   411   Benoit Benjamin   Creighton
   28.   409   Kevin Roberson   Vermont
   29.   399   Jim McIlvaine   Marquette
       399   Stephane Lasme   Massachusetts
   31.   396   Mickell Gladness   Alabama A&M
   32.   395   Ryan Kalkbrenner   Creighton
Kalkbrenner Passes 2,000 Points
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 2,411 career points after passing the 2,000 point milestone on Jan. 3 at Marquette.
   He is the fourth player to surpass 2,000 career points for Creighton, joining Doug McDermott (3,150), Rodney Buford (2,116) and Bob Harstad (2,110).
   McDermott reached 2,000 points in 101 games, Buford needed 111 games, Harstad required 121 contests to reach 2,000 points, and Kalkbrenner did it in 148 games.
   If you're curious, Kalkbrenner reached 1,000 career points in his 91st career game on Feb. 25, 2023. McDermott got to 1,000 in 57 games, Buford needed 59 and Harstad reached that milestone in 73 games.
   Here's a list of Creighton's top scorers ever.
Most Career Points, Creighton History
   Rank   Pts.   Name   Years
   1.   3,150   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   2.   2,411   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   3.   2,116   Rodney Buford   1995-99
   4.   2,110   Bob Harstad    1987-91
   5.   1,983   Chad Gallagher    1987-91
KKalkbrenner
Ryan Kalkbrenner enters Thursday with 2,411 points and 1,133 career rebounds after becoming the 132nd men's player in NCAA history have recorded at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career on Jan. 25 vs. Seton Hall.
   He joins Doug McDermott (3,150/1,088) and Bob Harstad (2,110/1,126) as the third player in CU history in the exclusive 2,000/1,000 club.
   Creighton is now the seventh school in NCAA history to have three different men reach 2,000 points & 1,000 rebounds with only one school, joining Duke (4), Kansas (3), La Salle (3), North Carolina (3), Syracuse (3) and Utah (3).
   Baylor Scheierman surpassed 2,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds last year, but that combined three years at South Dakota State with two campaigns at Creighton.
All He Does Is Win
Ryan Kalkbrenner has appeared in 117 wins over the past five seasons and is easily the winningest player in program history.
   Here's a list of the only players on record to have appeared in at least 98 wins in a Creighton uniform:
Most Wins Played In For Creighton
   Wins   Name   Years
   117   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   107   Ethan Wragge   2009-14
   107   Jahenns Manigat   2010-14
   107   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   98   Kyle Korver   1999-03
   98   Austin Chatman   2011-15
Can't Stop, Won't Stop
Ryan Kalkbrenner has played in 167 games in his career, a Creighton record. Fellow fifth-year senior Steven Ashworth has played in 165 career games, but the first 97 of those came with Utah State.
Most Games Played For Creighton
   Games   Name   Years
   167   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   149   Ethan Wragge   2009-14
   145   Jahenns Manigat   2010-14
   145   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   143   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2006-11
He Shoots, He Scores
There's been 713 players in NCAA history to score 2,000 career points, but Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks second among that list in field goal percentage.
   The top seven men on that list combined to win six AP National Player of the Year awards.
Best FG%, 2,000 Point Scorers, NCAA History
   FG%   FG-FGA   Name   School
   .678   828-1222   Steve Johnson   Oregon State
   .661   971-1474   Ryan Kalkbrenner   Creighton
   .639   943-1476   Lew Alcindor   UCLA
   .621   925-1490   Zach Edey   Purdue
   .620   857-1382   Patrick Ewing   Georgetown
   .618   910-1473   Drew Timme   Gonzaga
   .613   1032-1683   David Robinson   Navy
Give Me 10
Creighton owned 15 home wins this season, the 28th time in the last 29 seasons that CU has won at least 10 games at home.
   The only exception in that time came in 2014-15, when the Jays won nine times at home.
Filling The Building
Creighton ranks sixth nationally in average home attendance. Excluding the 2020-21 season that had limited fans due to COVID, this would be Creighton MBB's 13th straight season in the Top 10 in average home attendance.
Average Home Attendance Leaders (3/16)
   Rk.   Avg.   Team   Next Home Game
   1.   20,521   North Carolina   Next Year
   2.   20,334   Kentucky   Next Year
   3.   20,026   Tennessee   Next Year
   4.   18,996   Arkansas   Next Year
   5.   18,888   Syracuse   Next Year
   6.   17,366   Creighton   Next Year
   7.   17,054   BYU   Next Year
   8.   16,447   Indiana   Next Year
   9.   15,571   Marquette   Next Year
   10.   15,300   Kansas   Next Year
Yearly Pink Out Totals
Creighton has raised $1,000,074.65 since the start of the 2011-12 season during its annual men's and basketball Pink Out auctions, plus additional money collected on gameday, underwriting, matching donations and volleyball/women's basketball jersey auctions.
   The numbers below show the annual figures for the men's basketball jersey auction unless otherwise noted, but do not include the matching totals or donations collected at the door in 2025, as those were still being calculated at press time.
2011-12:Â Â Â $20,600
2012-13:Â Â Â $24,444
2013-14:Â Â Â $48,247.11
2014-15:Â Â Â $16,384.03
2015-16:Â Â Â $16,527.90
2016-17:Â Â Â $26,361.64
2017-18:Â Â Â $28,796
2018-19:Â Â Â $19,595
2019-20:Â Â Â $31,803.18
2020-21:Â Â Â $40,381
2021-22:Â Â Â $24,165
2022-23:Â Â Â $27,432
2023-24:Â Â Â $36,002.46
2024-25:Â Â Â $43,995.92
MBB Auction Totals = $404,735.24
WBB/VB Auctions + Additional Donations: $595,339.41
14-Year Totals: $1,000,074.65
Taking Down The Champs, And #1
Creighton beat No. 1 Kansas on December 4th, defeated defending NCAA champion UConn on Jan. 18th and defending NIT champion Seton Hall on Jan. 25th. For good measure, CU also topped defending runner-up Purdue in an exhibition game this season.
   Even when you take out the Purdue win, Creighton is first team to defeat the defending NCAA champ, the defending NIT champ and the No. 1 team in the country in the same season since Michigan State in 2008-09. The Spartans beat NCAA champ Kansas (twice), NIT champ Ohio State (twice) and No. 1 Louisville.
Hands Off
Creighton owns a nation-leading 19 games this season with 10 fouls or less, more than double any other school except Central Connecticut State (16).
   Creighton had 10 fouls or less in 13-of-20 BIG EAST games, while all other BIG EAST teams did it a combined total of 13 times this season.
   Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Creighton owns 48 games with 10 fouls or less, with Central Connecticut State second with just 26 such contests.
   Since the start of last season, Creighton owns a nation-leading 14 conference games with nine fouls or less.
Jays Don't Foul...Do You Follow?
Creighton led the nation with just 11.5 fouls per game last year, well ahead of runner-up Lipscomb's 12.9 per contest, and are averaging an 10.94 fouls per game this season to lead the country. That puts CU on pace to set the NCAA single-season record for fewest fouls per game, a mark currently held by the 1961-62 Air Force team that averaged 11.00 fouls per game.
   Creighton's streak of 60 straight games without a foul out was snapped on Nov. 30 vs. Notre Dame. Per Elias, that streak had been the nation's longest since at least 2005-06.
   Since the start of last year, Creighton has committed three fouls or less in 32 different halves.
   In 68 games since the start of last season, Creighton has allowed just 71 made free throws in a 1-and-1 situation, and just 29 made free throws in the double bonus (and 6 of those came in an overtime session). Only four of those made free throws in a 1-and-1 situation came in the first half (2 each vs. Alabama and San Diego State).
   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   OT
UTRGVÂ Â Â 4Â Â Â 7
FDUÂ Â Â 5Â Â Â 7
Houston Christian   2   6
Kansas City   2   4
Nebraska   7   12
San Diego State   1   5
Texas A&MÂ Â Â 9Â Â Â 8
Notre Dame   5   8
#1 Kansas   3   4
UNLVÂ Â Â 4Â Â Â 4
#7 Alabama   7   11
Georgetown   4   4
Villanova   1   7
St. John's   3   6
#8 Marquette   3   9
Butler   1   8
Providence   5   3
#14 UConn   3   5
DePaul   5   7
Seton Hall   4   5
Xavier   4   7
Villanova   7   7
Providence   5   5
#11 Marquette   3   4
UConn   4   9
#9 St. John's   7   16
Georgetown   2   8
DePaul   4   9
Xavier   3   7
Seton Hall   1   7
Butler   5   4
DePaul   5   7   3
Connecticut   2   7
St. John's   1   11
Total   131   228   3
The McDermott Era
Greg McDermott owns 349 wins in 519 games at Creighton since his arrival in 2010-11.
   That gives Creighton the 22nd-most wins nationally in that span, but it's eighth-most of programs that have had the same coach the entire time.
Schools With Most Wins Since 2010-11, Only 1 Coach
(After 3/16/25)
Rk.   Wins   School   Coach   Next
1.   450   Gonzaga   Mark Few   3/20
2.   426   Kansas   Bill Self   3/20
3.   381   Saint Mary's   Randy Bennett   3/21
4.   370   Michigan State   Tom Izzo   3/21
5.   369   Oregon   Dana Altman   3/21
6.   357   Purdue   Matt Painter   3/20
7.   356   Baylor   Scott Drew   3/21
8.   349   Creighton   Greg McDermott   3/20
9.   314   Boise State   Leon Rice   3/31
10.   312   Colorado   Tad Boyle   4/1
   McDermott's 349 wins since the start of the 2010-11 season started are 11th-most nationally among all coaches at the Division I level, including those at multiple schools and/or retired coaches.
Most Division I Coaching Wins Since 2010-11
(Can Include Multiple Schools - after 3/9/25)
Rk.   W-L   Coach   Next
1.   449-78   Mark Few   3/20
2.   422-112   Bill Self   3/20
3.   394-134   John Calipari   3/20
4.   377-118   Randy Bennett   3/21
5.   372-142   Mick Cronin   3/20
6.   370-155   Tom Izzo   3/21
7.   369-161   Dana Altman   3/21
8.   357-158   Matt Painter   3/20
9.   356-155   Scott Drew   3/21
10.   350-133   Sean Miller   3/19
11.   349-170   Greg McDermott   3/20
   349-120   Tony Bennett   --
13.   343-173   Shaka Smart   3/21
Video Game Numbers
Ryan Kalkbrenner's numbers defy logic. Let's take a look:
   In his career, Kalkbrenner has been fouled 586 times, owns 395 blocked shots, 327 dunks and just 271 career personal fouls in 167 games played.
   This year only, he's been fouled 153 times and has 89 blocks, 91 dunks and committed 46 fouls.
   The only major conference men's players in history besides Kalkbrenner (+124) to block 360 shots and own at least 100 more blocks than fouls are Jarvis Varnado (+220), Tim Duncan (+178), Emeka Okafor (+170), Calvin Booth (+165), Hasheem Thabeet (+159) and Shaquille O'Neal (+125).
Neal Passing The Rock
Jamiya Neal played 93 games in the previous three seasons at Arizona State and had just one outing with five assists in a game.
   He's transformed his game in Omaha, where he's now sixth in the BIG EAST with his 4.4 assists per game average, and he's one of two players in the BIG EAST that's top 12 in the league in both rebounds and assists per game.
   Neal owns six assists or more in 12 games this season, with Creighton going 10-2 in those contests.
   Neal's 150 assists are more than his 119 total in three seasons at ASU.
   Neal opened his senior season with 17 straight games of three assists or more before it was snapped in the win at UConn, when he scored a career-high 24 points.
More Kalkbrenner Unicornisms
Ryan Kalkbrenner owns 2,411 points and 395 blocks in his career.
   Per Basketball-Reference.com, he is the seventh player in Division I men's basketball history with at least 2,100 points and 350 blocked shots in a career.
   Each of the first five men to do it were picked No. 1 in the NBA Draft. The other, Auburn star Johni Broome, is currently active.
2,100 Points & 350 Career Blocks, NCAA History
   PTS   BLK   DRAFT   Name, School
   2,669   516   1   David Robinson, Navy
   2,184   493   1   Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
   2,117   481   1   Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
   2,228   462   1   Ralph Sampson, Virginia
   2,614   414   Active   Johni Broome, Morehead St./Auburn
   2,411   395   Active   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
   2,143   374   1   Pervis Ellison, Louisville
How Much Is 2,411 Points?
Per Basketball-Reference.com, Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks 117th in NCAA history with 2,411 career points. He can move into 112th if he reaches his average of 19 points, and climb into the top 105 with 39 points.
   Among the notable players that Kalkbrenner could pass on Thursday are Steve Alford (2,438), Chris Mullin (2,440) and Glen Rice (2,442).
Eyebrow Raising Numbers
Ryan Kalkbrenner had quite the stat line on Jan. 11 at Butler, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots, three steals and no fouls while also making three three-pointers.
   Before Kalkbrenner that game at Butler, the nation's last player with 26 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots in a game...was also Kalkbrenner, who had a 28/9/7 line in a triple-overtime win at Seton Hall on Jan. 20, 2024.
   Digging deeper, Kalkbrenner became the nation's first Division I men's player with at least 26 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots while not committing a foul in a conference game since Kentucky's Anthony Davis had 27/14/7 vs. Arkansas on Jan. 17, 2012.
   Kalkbrenner was the first high major player with at least 26 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots in a game that he made three or more three-pointers since Oregon's Chris Boucher had a 26/10/7/4 line at Arizona State on Jan. 31, 2016.
   And if you combine his whole line of 26 points, nine rebounds, six blocks, three steals and three three-pointers and you'll learn Kalkbrenner is the nation's only high-major player since 2005-06 with such a box score line like that.
Rare Air
Ryan Kalkbrenner is the nation's only high major player to average at least 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game this season.
   In the last 25 seasons, only eight high-major players have finished a season hitting each of those benchmarks, with five of those men hailing from the BIG EAST.
High Major Players to Average 17 PPG, 8 RPG & 2.6 BPG
(Last 25 Seasons)
Name, School   Year   PPG   RPG   BPG
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton   '24-25   19.4   8.8   2.7
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana   '22-23   20.9   10.8   2.9
Herbert Hill, Providence   '06-07   18.1   8.8   2.9
Shelden Williams, Duke   '05-06   18.8   10.7   3.8
Emeka Okafor, UConn   '03-04   17.6   11.5   4.1
David Harrison, Colorado   '03-04   17.1   8.8   2.9
Mike Sweetney, Georgetown   '02-03   22.8   10.4   3.2
Ryan Humphrey, Notre Dame   '01-02   18.9   10.9   2.8
Eddie Griffin, Seton Hall   '00-01   17.8   10.8   4.4
On The Double
After not having a double-double in the first 143 games of his career, Steven Ashworth has had five double-doubles in his last 22 games.
   He's one of just five Bluejay men to have multiple points/assists double-doubles in a season since 1992-93.
   Ashworth, who is now averaging 16.3 points and 6.8 assists per game, is trying to become the seventh different BIG EAST player in the last 40 years to average at least 16.3 points and 6.5 assists per game. Of that grouping, he'd be the first to do it while making at least 2.90 three-pointers per game.
Most Points/Assists Double-Doubles, Season (Since 1992-93)
   P/A D-D   Name   Years
   6   Maurice Watson Jr.   2016-17
   4   Steven Ashworth   2024-25
   3   Maurice Watson Jr.   2015-16
   2   Edward St. Fleur   1995-96
   2   Marcus Zegarowski   2020-21
   2   Trey Alexander   2023-24
BIG EAST Seasons With 16.3 PPG & 6.5 APG (Since 1986-87)
   PPG   APG   3FG/G   Name, School   Year
   17.3   7.8   --   Pearl Washington, Syracuse   1985-86
   20.6   7.1   2.9   Billy Donovan, Providence   1986-87
   17.3   7.6   0.4   Sherman Douglas, Syracuse   1986-87
   18.2   8.6   1.0   Sherman Douglas, Syracuse   1988-89
   18.7   6.9   2.4   Chris Thomas, Notre Dame   2002-03
   17.4   6.7   1.2   Jonny Flynn, Syracuse   2008-09
   16.3   6.8   3.1   Steven Ashworth, Creighton   2024-25
Sniper!
Jackson McAndrew made a three-pointer in each of his first nine BIG EAST games before being blanked on Jan. 29 vs. Xavier. He was Creighton's first freshman in the BIG EAST era to make a triple in nine straight league games. After that, he started a new streak and made a trey in CU's final 10 league games again to break his own record.
   McAndrew is the first freshman in BIG EAST history to make a three-pointer in 19 different conference games of the same season.
   Before McAndrew, no CU freshman had made a triple in at least 10 straight league games since Ethan Wragge's streak of 16 in a row from Jan. 3 - Feb. 27, 2010 when the Bluejays were part of the Missouri Valley Conference.
   McAndrew is the only freshman in the BIG EAST to make a three-pointer in 10 straight league games this season, and was the league's first freshman to do it in 10 straight conference games since Villanova's Cam Whitmore's 11 game streak in 2022-23.
Consecutive BIG EAST Games With A 3FG
Creighton Freshmen
   3FG Streak   Name   Year
   10   Jackson McAndrew   2024-25
   9   Jackson McAndrew   2024-25
   6   Marcus Zegarowski   2018-19
Let's Compare
How did Jackson McAndrew's league stats as a freshman compare to some other Creighton power forwards of note in recent years?
   Let's have a look...
Name, Year   MPG   PPG   RPG   3FG   3FG%
Jackson McAndrew, 2024-25Â Â Â 22.2Â Â Â 7.4Â Â Â 4.5Â Â Â 38Â Â Â .373
Arthur Kaluma, 2021-22Â Â Â 26.5Â Â Â 9.9Â Â Â 5.1Â Â Â 14Â Â Â .304
Toby Hegner, 2014-15Â Â Â 16.8Â Â Â 5.5Â Â Â 3.4Â Â Â 22Â Â Â .373
Doug McDermott, 2010-11Â Â Â 30.6Â Â Â 15.3Â Â Â 8.1Â Â Â 23Â Â Â .442
Ethan Wragge, 2009-10Â Â Â 15.4Â Â Â 5.8Â Â Â 1.9Â Â Â 32Â Â Â .390
Dane Watts, 2004-05Â Â Â 19.3Â Â Â 6.3Â Â Â 3.1Â Â Â 17Â Â Â .370
Anthony Tolliver, 2003-04Â Â Â 6.1Â Â Â 0.6Â Â Â 1.1Â Â Â 0Â Â Â .000
Kyle Korver, 1999-00Â Â Â 18.6Â Â Â 10.5Â Â Â 3.3Â Â Â 41Â Â Â .526
McAndrew Making History
Jackson McAndrew scored 13 points in each of his first two BIG EAST games and has scored in double-figures 12 times this winter.
   McAndrew was Creighton's first true freshman with 13 or more points in each of Creighton's first two conference games since Chad Gallagher in 1988-89 when CU was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. Gallagher is now Creighton's fifth-leading scorer in program history with 1,983 career points.
   CU's only other freshman in the last 35 years to score 13+ in his first four league games was redshirt freshman Justin Patton, who did it in his first four BIG EAST games in 2016-17. Patton would go on to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors and went on to become the No. 16 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
   McAndrew's 12 games this season with 10 or more points ranks tied for seventh-most among Creighton true freshmen in the last 25 seasons. All of them, including McAndrew, went on to be named to the conference's All-Freshman Team.
   This season, the only other BIG EAST players with more than 11 double-digit performances this season have been UConn's Liam McNeeley (19) and Georgetown's Thomas Sorber (18).
Most 10+ Point Games, Creighton True Freshmen
Since 1999-2000
   Rk.   10+ Pts   Player (All-Frosh Team?)   Year
   1.   32   Doug McDermott (Y)   2010-11
   2.   21   P'Allen Stinnett (Y)   2007-08
   3.   17   Marcus Zegarowski (Y)   2018-19
       17   Ryan Nembhard (Y)   2021-22
   5.   14   Arthur Kaluma (Y)   2021-22
   6.   13   Kyle Korver (Y)   1999-00
   7.   12   Jackson McAndrew (Y)   2024-25
   8.   11   Trey Alexander (Y)   2021-22
       11   Terrell Taylor (Y)   1999-00
   10.   10   Mitch Ballock (Y)   2017-18
Kalkbrenner On Midseason Wooden Award List
Ryan Kalkbrenner was named to the John R. Wooden Award Top 15 List by the Los Angeles Athletic Club on March 9th.
   Selected by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list comprises 15 student-athletes who are frontrunners for the most prestigious honors in college basketball: the Wooden Award All-American Team™ and the Wooden Award® Most Outstanding Player.
   The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2025 John R. Wooden Award® Men's Player of the Year. Players not selected for the midseason list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award® National Ballot. The National Ballot will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award® qualifications.
   Nearly 1,000 voters will be invited to rank 10 of the 15 players on the ballot in order of preference when voting opens during the NCAA Tournament. Voters will also consider performances in the tournament's early rounds, players' contributions to their teams and their character. The Wooden Award All-American Team™ will be announced during the week of the NCAA Tournament's "Elite Eight."
   The winners and the All Americans of the 2025 John R. Wooden Award®, presented by Principal, will be honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 11.
Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 30 victories since the start of the 2010-11 season after trailing by double-figures at some point, including three such games this year.
   Fourteen of those 30 comebacks have come away from home.
   If you're curious, CU's largest comeback win since 2000 came on Jan. 28, 2006, when the Jays trailed 25-6 early before rallying to beat Wichita State on a buzzer-beater by Anthony Tolliver.
CU's Double-Digit Comebacks Under McDermott
Deficit   Opponent   Date
18   #18 Oklahoma   11/19/14
17   at San Diego State   11/30/11
17   vs. DePaul   03/13/25
16   at Evansville   02/16/13
16   at Seton Hall   01/27/21
16   SIU Edwardsville   11/27/21
15   Arkansas-Pine Bluff   11/09/21
14   Evansville   02/21/12
14   vs. San Diego State   03/17/22
13   at Saint Joseph's   11/16/13
13   Xavier   01/12/14
13   #22 Xavier   12/23/20
12   Saint Joseph's   12/11/10
12   at DePaul   01/17/16
12   East Tennessee State   11/11/18
11   at Wichita State   12/31/11
11   Northern Iowa   01/10/12
11   vs. Alabama   03/16/12
11   vs. Ole Miss   11/21/16
11   vs. Connecticut   03/12/21
11   DePaul   01/22/22
11   St. John's   12/31/24
10Â Â Â UABÂ Â Â 11/14/12
10   vs. Drake   03/02/12
10   at Nebraska   12/07/14
10   South Dakota   12/09/14
10   St. John's   01/03/18
10   at DePaul   02/07/18
10   Bemidji State   02/13/18
10   Georgetown   02/23/25
Stat Leaders, Nationally
Here's a list of the categories that Creighton is in the Top 20 in, through games of March 16th.
Category   Rank   Stat
Team Fouls Per Game   1st   10.9
Team Defensive Rebounds Per Game   3rd   29.09
Field Goals Made (Kalkbrenner)   3rd   258
Blocks (Kalkbrenner)   3rd   89
Field Goal Percentage (Kalkbrenner)   4th   .655
Blocks Per Game (Kalkbrenner)   4th   2.70
FT Pct. (Ashworth)   5th   .926
Assists (Ashworth)   7th   226
Assists Per Game (Ashworth)   8th   6.8
Team Assists Per Game   10th   17.1
3-Point Attempts (Ashworth)   14th   279
3-Pointers Made (Ashworth)   16th   103
300 In The Books
Creighton is 307-64 all-time inside CHI Health Center Omaha.
   Creighton needed 118 games to reach 100 victories, with that coming on Nov. 1\7, 2010, a 63-58 win over Louisiana.       Creighton's Nov. 25, 2017 win over SIU Edwardsville was the program's 200th at the facility and came in its 242nd home game.
   Creighton won its 300th game vs. St. John's on Dec. 31, 2024 in its 363rd game.
Thomas Earns Scholarship Under Xmas Tree
Redshirt freshman guard Shane Thomas was surprised on Christmas morning, as one of the gifts he received was an envelope from the Creighton Basketball program.
   Thomas opened the letter and read it to himself with a puzzled look. After his family asked him what the letter said, Thomas recited aloud "full grant in aid, spring of 2025...I think it's a scholarship."
   Thomas' guess was accurate, as the former walk-on will now be on scholarship for the spring semester.
Steven's Streaks   Speaking of streaks owned by Steven Ashworth, the senior had buried a three-pointer in 42 games in a row before it was snapped on Feb. 11th vs. UConn. That's the second-longest in program history, trailing Baylor Scheierman's 48 in a row (which didn't include his final 10 games at South Dakota State).
   Ashworth's streak of 16 straight games with multiple three-pointers was snapped on Jan. 3 at Marquette, but it was still tied for the second-longest in the BIG EAST since 2005-06.
Consecutive Games With A 3-Pointer, Creighton History
   Streak   Name   Dates of Streak
   48   Baylor Scheierman   Nov. 7, 2022 - Dec. 16, 2023
   42   Steven Ashworth   Jan. 13, 2024 - Feb. 8, 2025
   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
Consecutive Games With Multiple 3-Pointers
BIG EASTÂ Players Since 2005-06
   Streak   Name, School   Streak
   25   Frank Young, WVU   Nov. 18, 2006 - Feb. 20, 2007
   16   Steven Ashworth, CU   March 21 - Dec. 31, 2024
   16   Ethan Wragge, CU   Nov. 28, 2013 - Jan. 25, 2014
   16   Taquan Dean, LOU   Jan. 25-March 28, 2006
   16   Steve Novak, MU   Nov. 25, 2005 - Jan. 20, 2006
   15   Baylor Scheierman, CU   Nov. 7, 2022 - Jan. 1, 2023
   15   Myles Powell, SHU   Jan. 30 - Nov. 2019
Isaacs To Miss Remainder Of Season
Junior guard Pop Isaacs will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season as the Las Vegas native underwent hip surgery on Dec. 11th.
   Isaacs ranked second on the team with 16.3 points per game in eight appearances, including a season-high 27 points in CU's victory over No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 4 in his final game, which helped him earn BIG EAST Player of the Week honors.
Combo #7
Creighton has used seven different starting line-up combinations thanks to a variety of injuries and other circumstances, even though it's kept the same starting five over each of the last 20 games.
   In McDermott's 15 years patrolling the Bluejay sideline, this year's seven different line-ups are the second-most he's used over the course of an entire campaign.
   Different Starting Lineups Under Greg McDermott
Year       Entire Season
2010-11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
2011-12Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
2012-13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1
2013-14Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3
2014-15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 10
2015-16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6
2016-17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4
2017-18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
2018-19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5
2019-20Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3
2020-21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3
2021-22Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4
2022-23Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
2023-24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
2024-25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 7 so far
Preseason BIG EAST Poll
The Creighton men's basketball team was picked to finish second in the BIG EAST Conference in the annual survey of league coaches, which was unveiled as part of BIG EAST Media Day.
   It marks the second straight year CU has been picked second, and fourth time in the past five seasons the Bluejays have been tabbed for a top-two finish. CU's 2020-21 squad and 2023-24 teams were also both picked second, and eventually finished in second place, while the 2022-23 squad that eventually reached the Elite Eight was picked first and finished in third place.
   Connecticut, the defending BIG EAST regular season and tournament champion and the reigning national champion, was chosen to finish first in the poll. The Huskies received all possible 10 first-place votes and 100 points from the league's head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
   Creighton will be led by Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is a Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST selection for the third time and also earned his first Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year accolade. Kalkbrenner remains the only player in program history to earn Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST honors multiple times. The only other Bluejays to be named Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year have been Doug McDermott (2013-14) and Marcus Zegarowski (2020-21).
   Joining Kalkbrenner with Preseason First Team All-BIG EAST acclaim was Connecticut's Alex Karaban, Marquette's Kam Jones, Providence's Bryce Hopkins, St. John's Kadary Richmond and Villanova's Eric Dixon.
   Creighton has matched or exceeded its preseason projection in all but one season since joining the BIG EAST in 2013-14, the best showing in the league in that time. The Bluejays earned their ninth straight finish in the top four of the league standings in 2024-25. CU's team three years ago was predicted to finish eighth in the BIG EAST, then ended up in fourth. Five years ago, a team picked seventh in the BIG EAST's preseason poll went 13-5 in league play to share its first league title with Villanova and Seton Hall. That Bluejay team ended the year ranked seventh in the entire nation.
Creighton's BIG EAST Preseason Poll History
Year    Preseason    Actual    Preseason All-BIG EAST
2013-14    3rd    2nd    Doug McDermott (POY, 1st)
2014-15    9th    T-9th    -
2015-16    9th    6th    -
2016-17    3rd    T-3rd    Maurice Watson Jr. (1st); Marcus Foster (HM)
2017-18    5th    T-3rd    Marcus Foster (1st); Khyri Thomas (HM)
2018-19    9th    T-3rd    Martin Krampelj (HM)
2019-20    7th    T-1st   Ty-Shon Alexander (1st)
2020-21    2nd    2nd   Marcus Zegarowski (POY, 1st); Mitch Ballock (2nd)
2021-22   8th   4th   -
2022-23   1st   3rd   Ryan Kalkbrenner (1st); Arthur Kaluma (2nd)
           Ryan Nembhard (2nd); Baylor Scheierman (HM)
2023-24   2nd   T-2nd   Ryan Kalkbrenner (1st); Trey Alexander (1st)
           Baylor Scheierman (2nd)
2024-25   2nd   2nd   Ryan Kalkbrenner (POY, 1st); Steven Ashworth (3rd)
Reserves Get It Done
Creighton's bench combined for a season-high 33 points in its Dec. 7th win vs. UNLV, making 13-of-20 shots overall and 7-of-9 three-pointers.
   The 33 bench points were CU's most since scoring 47 on Dec. 9, 2023 vs. Central Michigan.
   Creighton scored 29 bench points vs. Providence on Jan. 14th, its most in a league game since also scoring 29 vs. St. John's on Jan. 25, 2023.
   Creighton has won 48 straight games when scoring 17 bench points or more.
Did You Know?
Ryan Kalkbrenner had 17 points and 10 rebounds vs. No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 4th, making him Creighton's first player ever with a double-double against a top-ranked team.
   Kalkbrenner's 10 rebounds also tied the most ever by a Bluejay against a No.1 squad, as George Morrow also had 10 boards vs. DePaul on Jan. 28, 1980.
   Pop Isaacs' 27 points tied a program-record for the most by any Bluejay against a top-ranked team, something Ty-Shon Alexander also did vs. Gonzaga on Dec. 1, 2018. Isaacs is also the first player since Marquette's Dwyane Wade (vs. Kentucky in 2003) with at least 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a win over the No. 1 ranked team.
Something Special
Per OptaStats, Creighton became the first team to beat two different AP No. 1 teams by double digits in the same calendar year since Oklahoma did it in back-to-back games in February 1990 (beat Missouri & Kansas). In addition to the 76-63 win over Kansas on Dec. 4, CU also topped UConn 85-66 on Feb. 20th.
   Per ESPN, the Dec. 4 loss to Creighton was the third-largest margin in 105 all-time losses by a top-ranked Kansas team to an unranked foe, and the most since losing by 16 in 2011 to Kansas State.
   At the time, the only other unranked team in the last five seasons (2020-21 to 2024-25) to beat the No. 1 team by 13+ points was Nebraska vs. Purdue on Jan. 9, 2024.
   Elias Sports Bureau has confirmed that Creighton is the nation's third team in the last 20 seasons to beat a top-ranked program with a +13 advantage in both scoring and rebounding, joining No. 5 Kentucky vs. #1 Tennessee on Feb. 16, 2019 as well as No. 3 Baylor over No. 1 Gonzaga in the 2021 national title game.
Down Goes #1
Creighton is one of just eight teams in the last 15 seasons to defeat a No. 1 team in the country in back-to-back seasons. Here's a list at the others to have done it:
Creighton   2023-24 (UConn) and 2024-25 (Kansas)
Northwestern   2022-23 (Purdue) and 2023-24 (Purdue)
Rutgers   2021-22 (Purdue) and 2022-23 (Purdue)
Kentucky   2018-19 (Tennessee) and 2019-20 (Michigan State)
Butler   2016-17 (Villanova) and 2017-18 (Villanova)
UCLAÂ Â Â 2015-16 (Kentucky) and 2016-17 (Kentucky)
West Virginia   2015-16 (Kansas) and 2016-17 (Baylor)
Indiana   2011-12 (Kentucky) and 2012-13 (Michigan)
Unsung Heroes
Creighton has the luxury of bringing three veterans off the bench who can play a variety of positions and shoot it from deep in Mason Miller, Isaac Traudt and Jasen Green.
   The trio has scored 297 points (12.4 ppg.) in Creighton's 24 wins, but have a total of 66 points (6.6 ppg.) in CU's 10 losses to date.
Denied!
Ryan Kalkbrenner has blocked a shot in 19 straight games, his fourth such streak of his college career. He is the nation's only player since 2005-06 with four such streaks.
   Kalkbrenner's owns five or more blocks 22 times in his career. All other Bluejay players since 2005-06 have combined for 16 such games (7 by Gregory Echenique, 4 by Anthony Tolliver, 2 by Kenny Lawson Jr. and 1 each by Fredrick King, Jacob Epperson and Justin Patton).
Creighton's Longest Streaks With A Block, Since 1984-85
   Streak   Name   Dates
   28   Benoit Benjamin   12/14/84 - 3/5/85
   27   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2/2/24 - 12/31/24
   26   Ryan Kalkbrenner   11/16/21 - 2/26/22
   25   Ryan Kalkbrenner   11/14/22 - 3/1/23
   19   Ryan Kalkbrenner   1/11/25 - Present
   17   Brody Deren   2/4/03 - 12/6/03
   17   Gregory Echenique   2/16/11 - 11/25/11
Action Jackson
Jackson McAndrew had 12 points and 14 rebounds on Nov. 26 vs. San Diego State, then followed that up with a season-high 16 points vs. No. 20 Texas A&M a day later.
   McAndrew was the first Bluejay freshman with a double-double since Fredrick King had 16 points and 10 rebounds at Marquette on Dec. 16, 2022.
   McAndrew was the first Bluejay with a double-double in his first start at Creighton since South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman had 11 points and 10 rebounds on Nov. 7, 2022 vs. Florida A&M.
   McAndrew was the first Bluejay freshman with a double-double in his first career start since Ryan Nembhard (15 points, 10 assists). No Bluejay freshman since at least 1987-88 had owned a points/rebounds double-double in his first career start.
   McAndrew is one of three freshmen in the BIG EAST this season to have a double-double in his first career start, joining UConn's Liam McNeeley (18 & 10 vs. Sacred Heart) and Georgetown's Thomas Sorber (20 & 13 vs. Lehigh).
   McAndrew's 14 rebounds were the third-most by any freshman in Greg McDermott's 15 years as Creighton head coach (491 games). Doug McDermott had 17 at Bradley on Feb. 1, 2011 and 16 at Akron on Feb. 19, 2011.
   McAndrew was also the first Bluejay freshman since Fredrick King in December of 2022 to score 12+ points in consecutive games.
McDermott Passes Altman On CU Wins List
Greg McDermott has 349 victories at Creighton, passing his predecessor Dana Altman (327) for the most in program history in CU's Nov. 13 win vs. Houston Christian.
   McDermott broke a different record on Jan. 21 at DePaul when he coached his 504th game on the Bluejay sideline, breaking the mark of 503 held by Altman.
   McDermott's .672 winning percentage is Creighton's best since Arthur A. Schabinger's .714 win rate from 90 years ago.
   Below is a list of the most victorious Creighton coaches in program history, as well as the history of the Creighton Athletic Department.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton MBB History
Rk.   W-L   Name   Years
1.   349-170   Greg McDermott   2010-Pres.
2.   327-176   Dana Altman   1994-2010
3.   165-66   Arthur A. Schabinger    1922-1935
4.   138-118   John J. "Red" McManus    1959-1969
5.   130-64   Tom Apke   1974-1981
Most Wins, Creighton Athletics History (after 3/16/25)
Coach, Sport   Victories
Brent Vigness, Softball   819
Ed Servais, Baseball   691*
Mary Higgins, Softball   564
Tom Lilly, Men's & Women's Tennis   549*#
Kirsten Bernthal Booth, Volleyball   502*
Jim Flanery, Women's Basketball   453*
Greg McDermott, Men's Basketball   349*
Ed Hubbs, Men's & Women's Tennis   347
Dana Altman, Men's Basketball   327
*still active coaching at Creighton
#currently just the women's tennis coach
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 31 years, Dana Altman (1994-2010) and Greg McDermott (2010-Present).
   Here's a list of major conference schools to have a coach with 300 wins at that school, and their predecessor also had 300 wins at the school:
School   Former Coach   Current Coach
Creighton   Dana Altman   Greg McDermott
Kansas   Roy Williams   Bill Self
Michigan State   Jud Heathcote   Tom Izzo
Purdue   Gene Keady   Matt Painter
The Launch Pad
Basketball-Reference.com did the math, and Creighton owns 9,622 three-pointers in 1,259 games since the rule went national in 1986-87.
   That ranks second-most in the country in that span, trailing only Duke (10,034 through March 19).
   Additionally, Creighton's 7.64 three-pointers per game in that time lead the nation among programs who are currently in a major conference.
7-Foot-1 Of Awesome
A few notes about Ryan Kalkbrenner.
   There's only two BIG EAST players to score 73+ points in 60 minutes or less in any two game span since 2005-06. Ryan Kalkbrenner (73 points in 58 minutes) in the opening week this season and UConn's Kemba Walker (73 points in 60 minutes) in 2010.
   Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of three major conference players since 2005-06 to score 73 points and block six shots in any two game span, joining Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kansas State's Michael Beasley.
   There's been only four BIG EAST players to score 73+ points to score any two-game span since 2012: Marquette's Markus Howard (7x), DePaul's Max Strus, Creighton's Doug McDermott and Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner.
   Kalkbrenner is the nation's second player since 2005-06 to score 24+ points and shoot 90 percent (min. 10 FGA) in consecutive games, joining Belmont's Evan Bradds from November of 2015.
   Evan Bradds (7x) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (7x) are the only men in the country with five or more career games of 90 percent shooting (min. 10 FGA) since 2005-06.
Kalkbrenner Block Machine
Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks second in program history in blocked shots with 395. Kalkbrenner had 107 swats last year and is now 16 blocks behind Benoit Benjamin.
Most Creighton Blocked Shots, Since 1979-80
   Blk.   Name   Years
   411   Benoit Benjamin   1982-85
   395   Ryan Kalkbrenner   2020-Pres.
   183   Chad Gallagher   1987-91
Among The Best...EVER!
Ryan Kalkbrenner has made 945 of 1,430 career shots, putting him at 65.9 percent overall. That places the senior center fourth in field goal percentage in NCAA history among players to make 700 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....he's taken 144.
Best Career FG%, NCAA History (min. 700 FG, 4FG/game)
   Pct. (FG-FGA)   Name, School   Years
   .678 (828-1222)   Steve Johnson, Oregon State   1976-81
   .667 (740-1109)   Evan Bradds, Belmont   2013-17
   .664 (702-1058)   Todd MacCulloch, Washington   1995-99
.659 (971-1474)   Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton   2020-Pres.
   .651 (747-1147)   Bill Walton, UCLA   1971-74
He Shoots, He Scores
Ryan Kalkbrenner had a night for the ages on Nov. 6 in the season-opener vs. UTRGV, finishing with 49 points on 20-of-22 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 free throws while adding 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
   Kalkbrenner's 49 points were the second-most in program history, two behind Bob Portman's 51 on Dec. 16, 1967 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Portman made 16-of-35 field goal attempts and 18-of-23 foul shots in his record-setting contest.
   Below is a list of the previous Bluejay performances of 40 points or more
Most Points, Creighton Game
   Pts.   Name, Opponent   Date   FG   FT
   51   Bob Portman vs. UW-Milwaukee   12/16/1967   16   19
   49   Ryan Kalkbrenner vs. UTRGV   11/06/2024   20*   7
   47   Eddie Cole vs. Morningside (OT)   11/29/1954   18   11
   46   Bob Portman vs. Weber State   12/23/1968   19   8
   45   Tim Powers at Idaho State   01/29/1966   17   11
   45   Benoit Benjamin vs. Indiana State   01/19/1985   18   9
   45   Doug McDermott vs. Providence   03/08/2014   17#   6
   44   Doug McDermott at Bradley   01/07/2012   18@   5
   43   Bob Portman at Kansas State   02/12/1968   16   11
   43   Benoit Benjamin vs. Southern Illinois   01/17/1985   18   7
   42   Bob Portman vs. LaSalle   01/30/1968   19   4
   42   Cavel Witter vs. Bradley (2OT)   03/01/2008   13%   12
   41   Doug McDermott vs. Wichita State   03/02/2013   15#   6
   40   Chad Gallagher vs. Wichita State   02/17/1990   14   12
   40   Rodney Buford vs. Bradley   12/30/1998   13$   8
*includes 2 three-pointers
@includes 3 three-pointers
%includes 4 three-pointers
#includes 5 three-pointers
$includes 6 three-pointers
Honors Roll In For Kalkbrenner
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner was named the first BIG EAST Player of the Week of the 2024-25 season, the conference announced on Nov. 11. He also picked up National Player of the Week acclaim from ESPN's Dick Vitale, NCAA.com's Andy Katz, the USBWA, Associated Press as well as the Lute Olson Award.
   The 7-foot-1 center averaged 36.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots per game as No. 15 Creighton posted a pair of double-digit victories to open the season. The three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year shot 90.6 percent from the field (29-32), including 100 percent from three-point range (3-3), and also made 92.3 percent (12-13) of his free throw attempts.
   It was the first weekly honor from the BIG EAST of Kalkbrenner's career, though he's certainly no stranger to hardware. Kalkbrenner is one of three men to earn at least three BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was named First Team All-BIG EAST in 2022-23, Second Team All-BIG EAST in 2023-24 and Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST in 2021-22. Prior to this season, Kalkbrenner was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year. He is also a four-time member of the BIG EAST's All-Academic Team.
Kalkbrenner Scoring Tidbits
Ryan Kalkbrenner's 49 points vs. UTRGV on Nov. 6 bring up all sorts of notes.
- In the last 25 years, the only player nationally with more points in a season-opener than Kalkbrenner's 49 was Arkansas' Rotnei Clarke, who had 51 in 2009 against Alcorn State.
-Â Â Â Kalkbrenner's 49 points are the fourth-most ever in a season-opener by a player on a Top 25 team, trailing only LSU's Bob Pettit (60 in 1953), UCLA's Lew Alcindor (56 in 1966) and Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore (50 in 1970). Those other three men are in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Kalkbrenner is the first Bluejay with 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in the same game since Chad Gallagher had 40 points and 11 rebounds vs. Wichita State on Feb. 17, 1990.
- Kalkbrenner's 49 points were the fifth-most points in a game in BIG EAST history. Marquette's Markus Howard had games of 53, 52 and 51, while Providence's MarShon Brooks had a 52 point game as well.
- Kalkbrenner's 49 points were the most in a double-double performance in BIG EAST history.
- Before Kalkbrenner's 49 points and 11 rebounds, no other high major player has posted as many points and rebounds in any game over the past 30 years.
- Kalkbrenner is also the nation's only player with 49+ points and 3+ blocks in the same game since at least 2005-06.
- Kalkbrenner scored Creighton's first eight points and got better as the game went on. He had nine points in the first 10 minutes, then scored 11 in the final 10 minutes before half for the highest-scoring first half of his career.
   Kalkbrenner then scored 14 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half before closing his masterpiece with 15 points in the final 10 minutes.
- Kalkbrenner's 49 points broke Doug McDermott's record of 45 points by a Creighton player at CHI Health Center Omaha. The overall record is 53 by Marquette's Markus Howard on Jan. 9, 2019.
Having A Field Day
Ryan Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals made on Nov. 6 were a Creighton single-game record, eclipsing the previous mark of 19 done twice by Bob Portman in 1968.
   Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals are the most in a season-opener by any player nationally in the last 15 seasons.
   Kalkbrenner is the only player in the BIG EAST in at least 30 years with 49+ points and 20+ field goals in a game.
   Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals tied the single-game BIG EAST record held by Providence's MarShon Brooks vs. Notre Dame in 2011.
   Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals made were a CHI Health Center Omaha record, breaking the old mark of 17 done twice by Doug McDermott and once by Evansville's Colt Ryan.
   Kalkbrenner's 20 field goals made were the most by any player in a game against a Division I foe since Iowa State's Melvin Ejim made 20 hoops vs. TCU on Feb. 8, 2014.
   Kalkbrenner's 90.9 percent shooting from the field was the highest field goal percentage in a 45-point game by any Division I player in the past 25 seasons, and the highest by a player to attempt 20 or more shots in a game in the past 25 years.
- Kalkbrenner was the first player with 20 field goals on 90 percent shooting in a Division I game since UCLA's Bill Walton made 21-of-22 shots vs. Memphis in the 1973 NCAA final.
- Kalkbrenner missed just three shots (2 FG, 1 FT). He's the first Division I or NBA player to score 45+ points while missing no more than three shots (FG or FT) since Dirk Nowitzki did in the 2011 NBA playoffs.
- Kalkbrenner made his final three field goal attempts in the first half, then made 11-of-11 shots in the second half, giving him 14 buckets in a row. That's two shy of the NCAA single-game record of 16 made field goals in a row set by Kent State's Doug Grayson vs. North Carolina on Dec. 6, 1967.
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Dynamic Duo
Ryan Kalkbrenner (49) and Steven Ashworth (25) combined for 74 points on Nov. 6th. It was the most points by any BIG EAST duo since at least 1996-97.
   It's the second-most points by any Creighton pair in the same game, one point shy of the mark set on Jan. 19, 1985 when Benoit Benjamin (45) and Vernon Moore (30) combined for 75.
   It's the most points by any Creighton duo in 15 seasons under Greg McDermott. The previous high was 62, done on March 9, 2019 by Mitch Ballock (39) and Martin Krampelj (23) vs. DePaul. Ballock is now a graduate manager on the Bluejay staff.
    In addition to Ballock and Krampelj, Creighton's only other duo to combine for 62+ points in a game since 1996-97 was Nate Funk (38) and Johnny Mathies (24), who did it in double-overtime on Nov. 26, 2005 vs. Dayton.
   The last Division I duo to combine for 74+ points in a non-overtime game was Austin Peay's Terry Taylor and Jordyn Adams (both with 37) vs. Tennessee State on Jan. 23, 2020.
Nifty Fifty Leads To Postseason?
Not counting 2019-20, when there was no postseason, Creighton has made the postseason each of the last 12 times (including 2024-25) in which it has made at least 50 percent of its field goal attempts to open the year.
   Ten of those postseason trips were NCAA Tournament berths. The last time that didn't hold true was 1991-92, when CU shot 51.0 percent in the opener but finished just 9-19.
   Creighton has shot 50 percent or better in nine of its last 13 season-openers.
CU Season-Opener Field Goal Percentage 50+%
Since 1993-94
FG%   Year   Opponent   Postseason
.541Â Â Â 1997-98Â Â Â UMKCÂ Â Â NIT
.524   1998-99   Towson State   NCAA
.569   2000-01   Western Illinois   NCAA
.594   2002-03   UT Arlington   NCAA
.500   2012-13   North Texas   NCAA
.556   2013-14   Alcorn State   NCAA
.528   2015-16   Texas Southern   NIT
.508Â Â Â 2016-17Â Â Â UMKCÂ Â Â NCAA
.558   2017-18   Yale   NCAA
.524   2019-20   Kennesaw St.   Postseason Ccd.
.585   2021-22   Ark.-Pine Bluff   NCAA
.567Â Â Â 2023-24Â Â Â Florida A&MÂ Â Â NCAA
.600Â Â Â 2024-25Â Â Â UTRGVÂ Â Â NCAA
The Push For 90
Of Creighton's 25 all-time NCAA Tournament teams, 12 have scored 90 or more points in their season-opener.
   Put another way...of CU's 20 teams (including 2024-25) to score 90 points in an opener, 13 would reach the NCAA Tournament.
   Here's a look at Creighton's last 12 teams to score 90 or more points in a season-opener:
               Final   Post-
   Score   Opponent   Date   W-L   Season
   93-47   UT-San Antonio   11/30/90   24-8   NCAA
   93-48   Towson State   11/14/98   22-9   NCAA
   96-50   Western Illinois   11/20/00   24-8   NCAA
   106-50   Texas-Arlington   11/17/02   29-5   NCAA
   97-65   North Carolina A&T   11/11/11   29-6   NCAA
   107-61   Alcorn State   11/08/13   27-8   NCAA
   104-77   Central Arkansas   11/14/14   14-19   --
   93-70   Texas Southern   11/14/15   20-15   NIT
   92-76   Yale   11/10/17   21-12   NCAA
   90-77   Arkansas-Pine Bluff   11/09/21   23-12   NCAA
   105-54   Florida A&M   11/07/23   25-10   NCAA
   99-86   UTRGV   11/06/24   ? ? ?   NCAA
Who's Back?
With Creighton returning six of the 11 men who appeared in a game last season, it's no surprise that a similar ratio of the production from 2023-24 is also gone. Below is a breakdown of what is back:
Stat   Returners   Departures
Blocks   119 (83.2%)   24 (16.8%)
Starts   105 (60.0%)   70 (40.0%)
Minutes   3684 (51.3%)   3491 (48.7%)
Rebounds   636 (51.1%)   608 (48.9%)
Points   1383 (49.1%)   1432 (50.9%)
3FG Made   171 (45.6%)   204 (54.4%)
Assists   226 (38.4%)   362 (61.6%)
Steals   42 (31.3%)   92 (68.7%)
Charges Taken   4 (30.8%)   9 (69.2%)
Preseason Top 15
The Creighton men's basketball team was ranked 15th in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll, the third straight season the Bluejays have been ranked among the nation's best in the preseason.
   This year's announcement marks the seventh time in program history the writers have voted CU to the top-25 in the preseason, joining 2006-07 (No. 19), 2012-13 (No. 16) and 2016-17 (No. 22), 2020-21 (No. 11), 2022-23 (No. 9) and 2023-24 (No. 8). All six of those teams would end up in the NCAA Tournament, with the last three most recent squads making the Sweet 16.
   Creighton's best ranking in program history is seventh, done five times (Jan. 16, 2017, March 10, 2020, March 18, 2020, Jan. 7, 2021 and Nov. 28, 2022).
   Creighton has been ranked 146 times in program history, with 118 of those under the direction of McDermott. Creighton is 180-76 all-time as a ranked team, including a 146-64 mark under McDermott. Creighton has now been ranked at least one week in 11 of McDermott's 15 seasons on The Hilltop after doing it just five different seasons in program history before his 2010 arrival.
   Creighton is one of 13 schools ranked in the Top 25 of the Preseason AP poll each of the last three years, joining Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Narrow that list to just the Preseason Top 15 the past three seasons and only seven schools can claim that, with Creighton joining Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, North Carolina and Tennessee.
   Creighton was one of three BIG EAST Conference schools in the preseason poll, joining No. 3 Connecticut and No. 18 Marquette. Two of Creighton's December opponents, No. 1 Kansas (Dec. 4) and No. 2 Alabama (Dec. 14), are atop the poll. CU met preseason No. 13 Texas A&M on Nov. 27 in Las Vegas.
   Creighton was also 14th in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll.
   CU dropped out of both polls on Monday, Dec. 9 but returned on Feb. 11th when it was No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 21 in the Coaches poll before dropping out again on Feb. 17th.
   Creighton was ranked 25th in the Feb. 24th USA Today Coaches poll.
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 March 16, 2024
Category   CU Stat   CU Rank
3FG Made   4,639   2nd
2FG Percentage   .552   3rd
FG Percentage   .477   4th
Assists   8,330   5th
3FG Percentage   .372   6th
FG Made   14,187   7th
Points   39,653   9th
Wins   349   22nd
Winning Percentage   .672   30th
Who Are These Guys?
Creighton returns 105 starts from last year's team, the fifth time in the past six seasons its returned at least 100 starts.
   Creighton has won 20 or more games each of the previous nine times (and 13 of the last 14 times) it has returned 100 or more starts.
   Returning   Returning Starts    Final
Year   Starters   From Previous Year   W-L
2024-25Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 105Â Â Â ? ? ?
2023-24Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 111Â Â Â 25-10
2022-23Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 104Â Â Â 24-13
2021-22Â Â Â 0Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 23-12
2020-21Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 124Â Â Â 22-9
2019-20Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 136Â Â Â 24-7
2018-19Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 57Â Â Â 20-15
2017-18Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 72Â Â Â 21-12
2016-17Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 130Â Â Â 25-10
2015-16Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 64Â Â Â 20-15
2014-15Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 49Â Â Â 14-19
2013-14Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 144Â Â Â 27-8
2012-13Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 140Â Â Â 28-8
2011-12Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 101Â Â Â 29-6
2010-11Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 123Â Â Â 23-16
2009-10Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 106Â Â Â 18-16
2008-09Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 83Â Â Â 27-8
2007-08Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 44Â Â Â 22-11
2006-07Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 120Â Â Â 22-11
2005-06Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 134Â Â Â 20-10
2004-05Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 58Â Â Â 23-11
2003-04Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 101Â Â Â 20-9
2002-03Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 159Â Â Â 29-5
2001-02Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 65Â Â Â 23-9
2000-01Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 90Â Â Â 24-8
1999-00Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 84Â Â Â 23-10
1998-99Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 84Â Â Â 22-9
1997-98Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 72Â Â Â 18-10
1996-97Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 126Â Â Â 15-15
1995-96Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 100Â Â Â 14-15
1994-95Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 52Â Â Â 7-19
1993-94Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 73Â Â Â 7-22
1992-93Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 64Â Â Â 8-18
1991-92Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 51Â Â Â 9-19
1990-91Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 132Â Â Â 24-8
1989-90Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 127Â Â Â 21-12
1988-89Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 123Â Â Â 20-11
1987-88Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 83Â Â Â 16-16
1986-87Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 65Â Â Â 9-19
1985-86Â Â Â 1Â Â Â 48Â Â Â 12-16
1984-85Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 124Â Â Â 20-12
1983-84Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 72Â Â Â 17-14
1982-83Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 77Â Â Â 8-19
1981-82Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 78Â Â Â 7-20
1980-81Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 112Â Â Â 21-9
#ProJays
Creighton has three alums in the NBA this season.
   Former Creighton All-American Doug McDermott is with the Sacramento Kings as he begins his 11th year in the NBA.
   Baylor Scheierman was a First Round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the NBA champion Boston Celtics.
   Trey Alexander went undrafted, but was signed on a two-way contract by the Denver Nuggets.
   These men give Creighton at least one NBA player for the 41st time in the last 42 seasons.
   Other famous Bluejays to play in the NBA in the past include Paul Silas, Kyle Korver, Benoit Benjamin and Anthony Tolliver.
Top 25 Men & Women
Creighton was one of 12 schools with a preseason top-25 squad on both the men's and women's side in 2024-25, joining Alabama, Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas and UCLA.
   The only five schools to be ranked in the preseason men's and women's basketball Top 25 of the AP Poll each of the last three seasons are Baylor, Creighton, North Carolina and Texas.
   Creighton is one of six schools to make the NCAA Tournament in both men's and women's basketball each of the last four seasons, a list that consists of Baylor, Creighton, Iowa State, Tennessee, Texas and UConn.
   Creighton is one of 14 schools that won an NCAA Tournament game last season in both men's and women's basketball: Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Duke, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, Texas, and UConn.
Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 1,054 straight games. That ranks as the nation's 10th-longest active streak.
   Creighton's last game without a three-pointer came at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993, when the Jays were 0-for-5. Creighton's last win without making a three-point basket came on March 3, 1991 when the Jays went 0-for-2 from three-point range in a 71-66 win over Southern Illinois in the championship game of the MVC Tournament.
   Below is a list of the nation's longest active three-point streaks.
Longest Active 3-Point Streaks (through 3/16)
   Rk.   Streak   School   Next Game
   1.   1,260   UNLV   Season Over
   2.   1,259   Duke   3/21
   3.   1,191   East Tennessee State   Season Over
   4.   1,167   Oakland   Season Over
   5.   1,161   Pacific   Season Over
       1,161   Texas   3/19
   7.   1,099   Marshall   Season Over
   8.   1,092   Gonzaga   3/20
   9.   1,080   Princeton   Season Over
   10.   1,054   Creighton   3/20
   11.   1,047   Long Island   Season Over
   12.   1,039   Mount St. Mary's   3/19
Triple Trouble
During Creighton's current streak of 1,054 straight games with a three-pointer, the Jays have drained 8,481 trifectas, an average of 8.05 treys per game.
   Only five times in the streak has Creighton made just one three-pointer, but on 321 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 102-25 when making eight or more three-pointers, compared to a 37-35 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: 113 times
7:  153 times   8:  132 times   9: 96 times
10: 89 times   11: 65 times   12: 63 times
13: 50 times   14: 26 times   15: 9 times
16: 9 times   17: 4 times   18: 1 time
19: 2 times   20: 1 time   21: 1 time   22: 1 time
Top-20 Crowds
Here's a look at Creighton's top-20 home crowds all-time.
     Rank   Att.   Opponent   Date
   1.   18,868   Providence   03/08/14
   2.   18,859   Georgetown   01/25/14
   3.   18,831   #1 Villanova   12/31/16
   4.   18,797   #6 Villanova   02/16/14
   5.   18,759   #1 Gonzaga   12/01/18
   6.   18,742   Seton Hall   02/23/14
   7.   18,735   Wichita State   02/11/12
   8.   18,613   Wichita State   03/02/13
   9.   18,571   DePaul   01/22/24
   10.   18,525   Marquette   12/31/13
   11.   18,519   #8 Seton Hall   03/07/20
   12.   18,518   Georgetown   01/27/18
   13.   18,509   Villanova   02/04/23
   14.   18,495   Marquette   02/17/18
   15.   18,494   Illinois State   02/09/13
   16.   18,475   Nebraska   11/22/24
   17.   18,458   Evansville   12/29/12
   18.   18,436   Bradley   01/28/12
   19.   18,430   Seton Hall   01/25/25
   20.   18,323   DePaul   02/07/14
CHI Health Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 371 regular and postseason contests at CHI Health Center Omaha all-time in the now 22-year-old facility.
   The Bluejays own a 307-64 (.827) record all-time at the facility.
   Creighton's Nov. 25, 2017 win over SIU Edwardsville was the program's 200th at the facility, coming in its 242nd home game. CU's 100th win came on Nov. 17, 2010, a 63-58 win over Louisiana.
   Creighton has outscored its opponents 29,153-24,362 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.91 points per game. Creighton has not trailed 93 different times, including twice this year (Kansas City, #1 Kansas).
   Incredibly, Creighton hasn't trailed in its home opener in 10 of the past 24 seasons (2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2016-17 and 2019-20).
   Creighton is also 34-37 all-time in the 71 games at the arena in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 8-12 when down by 10+ points at halftime in the facility, and 42-30 when trailing at halftime at CHI Health Center Omaha.
   Creighton is 210-46 (.820) at CHI Health Center Omaha under Greg McDermott and hasn't trailed in 66 of those games. In that same span, CU owns a 106-10 home record (.914) 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 325-64 (.835) at home since the start of the 2002-03 campaign.
Home Run
Under Greg McDermott Creighton is averaging 80.70 points per home game (20,659 points in 256 home games), a figure that climbs to 84.23 points in non-conference home games (9,855 points in 117 home games).
   Creighton is 155-7 all-time at CHI Health Center Omaha when scoring 80 or points.
Jays Reach 29K at CHI
Creighton has outscored its opponents 29,153-24,362 in games at CHI Health Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.91 points per game in 371 all-time games in the building that count.
   Creighton is 27-2 all-time in games where it moves over any 1,000 point milestone at CHI Health Center Omaha, as seen below:
Date   Pts-Opp (CLCO Game #)   Who/How vs. Opp.
02/18/04Â Â Â 1,000-787 (14)Â Â Â Lindeman FG vs. Indiana State
02/05/05Â Â Â 2,000-1,696 (28)Â Â Â Funk FG vs. Missouri St.
01/18/06Â Â Â 3,000-2,504 (41)Â Â Â Watts FT vs. Bradley
01/09/07Â Â Â 4,000-3,359 (56)Â Â Â Tolliver FG vs. Drake
12/17/07Â Â Â 5,000-4,174 (69)Â Â Â Kaleb Korver 3FG vs. Hou. Baptist
11/16/08Â Â Â 6,000-5,048 (82)Â Â Â Dotzler FG vs. New Mexico
02/11/09Â Â Â 7,000-5,870 (95)Â Â Â Witter 3FG vs. Bradley
01/16/10Â Â Â 8,000-6,750 (109)Â Â Â Young FG vs. Wichita State
12/20/10Â Â Â 9,000-7,645 (123)Â Â Â Wragge FG vs. W. Illinois
03/23/11Â Â Â 10,000-8,500 (136)Â Â Â Lawson FG vs. UCF
01/21/12Â Â Â 11,000-9,310 (148)Â Â Â McDermott FG vs. Ind. St.
12/19/12Â Â Â 12,000-10,136 (161)Â Â Â Echenique FG vs. Tulsa
11/23/13Â Â Â 13,000-10,922 (173)Â Â Â Artino FG vs. Tulsa
02/23/14Â Â Â 14,000-11,711 (185)Â Â Â Gibbs FG vs. Seton Hall
01/28/15Â Â Â 15,000-12,612 (198)Â Â Â Hanson FT vs. St. John's
12/28/15Â Â Â 16,000-13,498 (211)Â Â Â Huff FG vs. Coppin State
11/15/16Â Â Â 17,000-14,349 (224)Â Â Â Patton FG vs. #9 Wisconsin
01/28/17Â Â Â 18,000-15,166 (235)Â Â Â Hanson FG vs. DePaul
12/18/17Â Â Â 19,000-15,927 (246)Â Â Â Foster 3FG vs. UT Arlington
11/06/18Â Â Â 20,000-16,741 (258)Â Â Â Ballock 3FG vs. W. Illinois
02/03/19Â Â Â 21,000-17,619 (270)Â Â Â Zegarowski FG vs. Xavier
12/07/19Â Â Â 22,000-18,463 (282)Â Â Â Ballock 3FG vs. Nebraska
03/07/20Â Â Â 23,000-19,280 (294)Â Â Â Mahoney 3FG vs. #8 Seton Hall
02/13/21Â Â Â 24,000-20,103 (306)Â Â Â Zegarowski FG vs. #5 Villanova
02/14/22Â Â Â 25,000-20,950 (320)Â Â Â Hawkins 3FG vs. Georgetown
01/25/23Â Â Â 26,000-21,786 (333)Â Â Â Nembhard 3FG vs. St. John's
12/20/23Â Â Â 27,000-22,535 (345)Â Â Â Kalkbrenner FG vs. Villanova
11/13/24Â Â Â 28,000-23,388 (357)Â Â Â Isaacs 3FG vs. Hou. Christian
02/26/25Â Â Â 29,000-24,231 (370)Â Â Â Kalkbrenner FG vs. DePaul
Firing On All Cylinders
Creighton finished the 2023-24 season ranked 11th overall by KenPom.com. That included the nation's No. 9 offense, and No. 24 defense.
   Creighton has finished with a top-25 offense per KenPom eight times and a top-25 defense three times in 14 completed seasons under Greg McDermott.
Year   Off. Rating   Def. Rating   Overall Rank
2010-11Â Â Â 66Â Â Â 174Â Â Â 98
2011-12Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 166Â Â Â 28
2012-13Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 66Â Â Â 15
2013-14Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 124Â Â Â 17
2014-15Â Â Â 59Â Â Â 138Â Â Â 79
2015-16Â Â Â 43Â Â Â 76Â Â Â 40
2016-17Â Â Â 32Â Â Â 46Â Â Â 28
2017-18Â Â Â 25Â Â Â 58Â Â Â 30
2018-19Â Â Â 47Â Â Â 83Â Â Â 55
2019-20Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 78Â Â Â 12
2020-21Â Â Â 25Â Â Â 32Â Â Â 22
2021-22Â Â Â 112Â Â Â 19Â Â Â 50
2022-23Â Â Â 23Â Â Â 14Â Â Â 12
2023-24Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 24Â Â Â 11
2024-25Â Â Â 34Â Â Â 42Â Â Â 37
New Court Debuts
Creighton played home games on a new basketball court designed to tell the story of Creighton University and the program's proud history.
   The court was designed by GLGR out of Beaverton, Ore., and produced by Ledford Sports Floors out of Jenks, Okla.
   The court includes multiple intricate features that merit up-close inspection to gain a full appreciation for the attention to detail in the new Creighton-centric design.
• Six numbers will appear on the west sideline, three in front of each bench, to recognize the retired jersey numbers for No. 3 (Doug McDermott), No. 25 (Kyle Korver), No. 30 (Bob Harstad), No. 33 (Bob Portman), No. 35 (Paul Silas) and No. 45 (Bob Gibson).
• Within the eye of the Bluejay logo at midcourt will be the number 1916, a nod to Creighton's first recognized year of intercollegiate basketball.
• Just inside the three-point line on the South end will be text of seven core Jesuit values, such as "Women and Men For and With Others". It is believed that Creighton is the nation's first Division I team with its school motto included inside its basketball court.
• Also inside the three-point line on the North side of the court are Heritage logos to honor Creighton's history.
• The new color scheme also features an updated courtside gradient, in addition to a feather pattern inside the three-point line, a nod to Creighton's Bluejay nickname.
McDermott's Coaching Tree
Greg McDermott's coaching tree owns 11 men who are currently a head coach at the Division I level. Seven of the 10 won 20+ games last season. Here's a list:
Darian DeVries - West Virginia
Eric Henderson - South Dakota State
Alan Huss - High Point
Ben Jacobson - Northern Iowa
Steve Lutz - Oklahoma State
Ryan Miller - Murray State
TJ Otzelberger - Iowa State
David Richman - North Dakota State
Daniyal Robinson - Cleveland State
Paul Sather - North Dakota
Patrick Sellers - Central Connecticut State
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballMeet the Jays - MBB Blake Harper
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Austin Swartz
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Jasen Green
Friday, August 15
Meet the Jays - MBB Ty Davis
Friday, August 15
