As expected, the post-Doug McDermott era got off to a rough start for the Creighton Bluejays as they finished tied for last place in the Big East. While the team loses five key contributors from last year, the addition of a pair of transfers should provide a needed boost this season.
CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS
Last Season: T-9th, 4-14 in Big East, 14-19 overall
Predicted Big East Finish: 7th
Projected Depth Chart
C: Geoffery Goeselle (Sr)/Zach Hanson (Jr)/Justin Patton (Fr)
PF: Toby Hegner (So)/Martin Krampelj (Fr)
F: Cole Huff (Jr)/Ronnie Harrell (Fr)
G: Isaiah Zierden (Jr)/James Milliken (Sr)/Malik Albert (Jr)
PG: Mo Watson Jr. (Jr)/Tyler Clement (So)/Marlon Stewart (Fr)
Gone: PG-Austin Chapman, G-Devin Brooks, SG-Ricky Kreklow, C-Will Artino, SF-Avery Dingman, PF-Leon Gilmore (transfer-Trinity Valley CC)
Strengths:
During the 2013-14 season, Creighton shot a blistering 41.4% from three-point range but that number drastically dipped to 34.5% last season. With James Milliken and Isaiah Zierden returning, the Bluejays bring back their top two threats from downtown. 6-10 Toby Hegner is a true stretch four who can space defenses with his outside shooting and is another perimeter weapon. Add in Nevada transfer, Cole Huff who knocked down 40.3% of his three-pointers during the 2013-14 season and JUCO transfer Malik Albert who sank 108 triples a year ago, and Creighton should be a much more dangerous team from distance.
Question Marks:
Greg McDermott used a three-headed monster at center last season that was mediocre in terms of their production. Two of those bigs are back in Geoffrey Groselle and Zach Hanson but neither brings enough to the floor to garner major minutes. Freshman Justin Patton joins the mix but likely isn’t ready for a significant role right away. As a result, Creighton could use a smaller, three-guard lineup with Hegner sliding to center and Huff playing the four. That would make the Bluejays more explosive on offense but would hurt them defensively as they lack a true rim protector and tenacity on the glass.
Player to Watch:
Boston transfer, Maurice Watson is a complete point guard who can score when needed but also finished third in the nation in assists during his sophomore season at BU. It has been several years since Creighton had a true creating, playmaking point guard who should initiate the offense on nearly every possession.
X-Factor:
Offensively, Creighton has the balance and firepower to score with most teams but the defensive end is going to determine the success of their season and whether the Bluejays can emerge as a middle of the pack Big East squad.
Looking Ahead to 2016-17:
With only two seniors on the roster, Creighton will return the majority of their roster in 2016-17. McDermott was once again active on the transfer front as the team added former Kansas State guard, Marcus Foster. After a terrific freshman campaign, Foster fell into the doghouse at K-State and was dismissed from the program. He looks for new life as a Blue Jay and should add another scoring option on the wing.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/19 at Indiana
11/23 vs. Rutgers (in Las Vegas)
11/25 vs. Clemson/UMass (in Las Vegas)
12/2 vs. Arizona State
12/9 vs. Nebraska
12/19 at Oklahoma
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.