Men's Basketball Visits Georgetown on Wednesday

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Game #21: #16 Creighton at Georgetown • Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 • 6:01 p.m. CST
Verizon Center (20,600) • Washington, D.C.
Radio: KOZN 1620 AM; www.1620thezone.com
Television: FOX Sports Midwest (Scott Graham, Donny Marshall)
Series History: Georgetown leads, 5-3
Last Meeting: Georgetown 74, Creighton 73 on Jan. 26, 2016 in Washington, D.C.

Next Game
No. 16 Creighton (18-2, 5-2 BIG EAST) tries to remain unbeaten on the road when it visits Georgetown (10-10, 1-6 BIG EAST) on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
   Tip-off at Verizon Center (20,600) in Washington, D.C., is set for 6:01 pm Central.

Radio Broadcast Information
KOZN (1620 AM) will broadcast all Creighton men's basketball games during the 2016-17 season, while KOOO (101.9 FM) will also broadcast all home games. The audio is also webcast live at www.1620thezone.com.
   John Bishop and former Bluejay Nick Bahe will call the action.

Television Information
Wednesday's game will air on FOX Sports Midwest in Nebraska (Cox Channel 47 and 1047, DirecTV channel 671-1, AT&T U-verse channel 747 and 1747 and DISH Network 451 or 412-39.
   It also airs on FOX Sports Midwest Plus in St. Louis, Illinois and Indiana, and on other FOX Sports regional networks throughout the country.
   Scott Graham and Donny Marshall will announce.

Video Webcast Information
Live streaming video of Wednesday's game will be available via FOXSportsGO.com for desktop users, and via the FOX Sports GO app for mobile devices (iOS, Android, Kindle Fire tablets and Fire phones and select Window devices). A cable authorization may be required. The direct webcast link is http://a.fsgo.com/uaDf/ILjnHNha6z.
   The FOX Sports GO mobile app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store or the Windows Store, and the games are now available internationally.

Live Stats Information
All of Creighton's games this season will have free live stats. Visit www.gocreighton.com and click on the small bar graph icon on the scoreboard at the top of the page for the event of your choosing.
   Home games can also be followed by those who have mobile devices with internet capability at www.gocreightonstats.com.

Scouting No. 16 Creighton
Creighton is ranked 16th in this week's Associated Press poll after a stellar start to the season that includes wins over No. 9 Wisconsin, No. 12 Butler, No. 22 Xavier, North Carolina State, Ole Miss, Buffalo, Akron, Nebraska, Arizona State, Seton Hall, St. John's and Providence.
   Creighton's 18-2 start matches the program's best mark ever after 20 games, and including an 8-0 record in road and neutral games.
   The Bluejays are putting up 87.1 points per game (10th nationally) while shooting 52.8 percent from the field (second nationally) and 40.6 percent from three-point territory (12th nationally).
   Kansas State transfer Marcus Foster (18.7 ppg.) leads the Bluejays in scoring, and is averaging the most points by a Bluejay newcomer since Cyril Baptiste in 1969-70. He's scored 15 points or more in all but two games so far, and has already been named Paradise Jam MVP and a two-time BIG EAST Player of the Week in this young season.
   Two Omaha products in the starting line-up are also doing big things. Vastly improved Khyri Thomas averages 11.9 points per game, and is second on the team in blocks, assists and rebounding. Redshirt freshman big man Justin Patton averages 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He's shooting 71.8 percent from the field (third nationally) and has 50 dunks already.
   Maurice Watson Jr. (12.9 ppg., 8.5 apg.) was a preseason All-BIG EAST selection who directed Creighton's potent offensive attack, but the nation's active leader with 801 career assists tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last Monday (Jan. 16) at Xavier.

Scouting Georgetown
Georgetown is 10-10 this season, including a 7-5 mark at home. The Hoyas have wins over teams like Connecticut, Oregon and Syracuse.
   Robert Morris transfer Rodney Pryor averages 18.0 points per game, while LJ Peak isn't far behind with 15.9 points per contest.
   Jessie Govan (9.0 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 1.0 bpg.) leads the Hoyas in rebounding and blocked shots.
   The Hoyas average 76.2 points per game and shoot 45.7 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from three-point range and 75.6 percent at the line.

The Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) is in his seventh season as head coach at Creighton. He is 159-74 with the Bluejays. 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 owns a career mark of 439-269 in his 23rd season and is 308-205 in his 16th Division I campaign. McDermott is assisted by Darian DeVries, Steve Lutz and Preston Murphy.
   John Thompson III (Princeton, 1988) is 274-143 in his 13th season at Georgetown, moving his career mark to 342-185 in 17 seasons overall. He is the son of legendary Hoyas head coach John Thompson, and is assisted by Kevin Broadus, Anthony Solomon and Akbar Waheed.

The Series With Georgetown
Creighton is 3-5 all-time against Georgetown, but winless in three previous trips to Washington, D.C., to meet the Hoyas. The series began in 1970 in West Palm Beach, Fla., before resuming in 2014 in BIG EAST play.
   The teams split the series last season, with the home team winning each time.
   Greg McDermott is 2-6 all-time (2-5 at Creighton) against Georgetown and coach John Thompson III. Thompson is 5-2 against Creighton.

Road History
Creighton has won all five road games this season, and with a win on Wednesday at Georgetown will produce a six-game win streak on the road for just the second time in more than 40 years.
   Below is a list of Creighton's road win streaks of six or longer:
Creighton's Longest Road Win Streaks
   Streak   Dates
   14   Feb. 14, 1942 - Dec. 20, 1945
   11   Feb. 26, 1917 - Feb. 27, 1919
   8   Jan. 10, 1925 - Jan. 16, 1926
   7   Jan. 27 - Dec. 1, 1962
   7   Jan. 31, 1928 - Jan. 19, 1929
   6   Jan. 2 - Feb. 15, 1975
   6   Dec. 19, 2011 - Jan. 25, 2012

Road Warriors
Creighton is a perfect 8-0 away from home this winter, with those wins coming by an average of 13.8 points per game. Creighton's victims in that time include Washington State, North Carolina State, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Arizona State, St. John's, Providence and No. 22 Xavier.
   Creighton has scored 88.6 points per game in those road/neutral contests this season, shooting 53.5 percent from the floor and 45.7 percent from three-point range. CU has averaged 10.0 three-pointers per game away from home this season.
   Two Bluejay veterans, Toby Hegner (13-23, 56.5%) and Isaiah Zierden (13-23, 56.5%), have combined to shoot 56.5 percent from long-range in 46 attempts, while Maurice Watson Jr. (6-11) and Justin Patton (2-3) are also shooting at a prolific clip from deep in those contests outside Omaha.
   Creighton has won its first eight games away from home for just the first time since the 1942-43 team that opened a school-record 16-0 won its first eight road/neutral games, before losing in the NIT to Washington & Jefferson.
   This year also marks the first time that Creighton has won its first five true road games since the 1942-43 club won its first eight.
   Each of Creighton's last 11 NCAA Tournament teams have won 10 or more games away from home, and 10 of those teams had a winning record in true road contests.
   The nation's only teams that are unbeaten in true road games this season are Creighton (5-0), Arizona (5-0), Kansas (4-0), Maryland (4-0) and Gonzaga (3-0).
   With a win on Wednesday, Creighton will start 4-0 in conference road games for just the second time since 1943-44, as the 2011-12 team won its first five league games on the road.

The Road Less Travelled
Since the BIG EAST was reformatted in the summer of 2013, this year's Creighton team is one of five teams to start 3-0 on the road in league play.
   Villanova started 7-0 on the road in 2013-14 before losing at Creighton, and 7-0 last year before falling at Xavier.
   Last year Providence started 4-0 and Creighton opened 3-0 on the road in BIG EAST play last year.
   In the first three years of the restructured BIG EAST, teams with three or more BIG EAST road wins finished in the top-six of the league standings on 18 of 21 occasions, while teams with two or less league road wins finished in the top six on just one of nine occasions.

Zierden Has Connection To Washington
Senior guard Isaiah Zierden is the son of former Washington Wizards assistant coach Don Zierden.
   Last Saturday vs. Marquette, Zierden got the starting nod at point guard with Maurice Watson Jr. sidelined by injury.
   Zierden responded with a season-high 15 points while sinking 4-of-4 three-point shots. He also added a team-best five rebounds and did not commit a turnover in 25 minutes of play.

Big Night For OPS
Three former Omaha Public Schools products will be on display on Wednesday, as Creighton's Khyri Thomas (Omaha Benson) and Justin Patton (Omaha North), as well as Georgetown's Akoy Agau (Omaha Central) all figure to see double-figure minutes.
   Thomas was a First Team All-State pick by the Omaha World-Herald in 2014, when he was also captain of that team.
   Patton was a First Team All-State pick by the Omaha World-Herald in 2015.
   Agau was a three-time (2011, 2012, 2013) First Team All-State pick by the Omaha World-Herald, and captain of the 2013 team.

Foster Goes For 30
Marcus Foster scored 30 points in last Saturday's game vs. Marquette, making 13-of-24 shots from the floor. It's a season-high for the junior, and the second time in his college career that he's gone for 30 or more points.
   Foster scored a career-high 34 points vs. No. 15 Texas during his freshman season at Kansas State in 2013-14.
   Foster is the first Bluejay to score 30 or more in a game since Cole Huff had a career-high 35 points vs. Seton Hall in the quarterfinals of the 2016 BIG EAST Tournament.

Home Run
Since Greg McDermott took over in 2010, Creighton is averaging 79.28 points per home game (9,449 points in 119 home games).
   Since a 92-83 loss to Southern Illinois on Feb. 19, 2000, Creighton had been 127-0 at home (97-0 at CenturyLink Center Omaha) when scoring 78 points or more, and 107-0 at home (80-0 at CenturyLink Center Omaha) when scoring 80 points or more at home dating to that same setback, before last Saturday's 102-94 loss to Marquette.

Point Taken
The absence of Maurice Watson Jr. last Saturday changed the rotation around a little bit, but Creighton still managed to put up 94 points while shooting 48.5 percent from the field, 45.8 percent from three-point range and 81.0 percent at the line.
   The Bluejays scored on 41-of-81 possessions and averaged 1.160 points per possession.
   Creighton's two point guard replacements, Isaiah Zierden (who also played 11 minutes as a shooting guard) and Davion Mintz combined for 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists while committing just two turnovers in 51 minutes while going 6-for-6 from three-point range.
Player   PTS   REB   AST   TO   MIN
Zierden   15   5   1   0   25
Mintz   17   4   8   2   26

94 Usually Enough
Creighton lost Saturday's game to Marquette despite putting up 94 points. It was the most points that one of Greg McDermott's teams scored in a loss in 20 years, dating to a 103-94 loss by his Wayne State (Neb.) team to Midland in 1997.
   McDermott's teams are now 81-6 all-time in his head coaching career when scoring 90 points or more, including a 43-2 mark at the Division I level.
   Creighton had not lost a game when scoring 94 points or more since a 102-98 loss to Southern Illinois on January 11, 1988.

Mintz Shows His Stuff
Freshman Davion Mintz showed what he was capable of on Saturday in his first extensive playing time with the regular rotation.
   Mintz came off the bench and established or tied season-highs in virtually every category, including minutes (26), points (17), assists (8), rebounds (3), field goals (4), free throws (7) and blocks (1). Creighton outscored Marquette 69-63 with him on the floor.
   Mintz is one of seven BIG EAST players in the last seven years with a game of at least 17 points and eight assists against Marquette, joining star guards such as Ryan Arcidiacono, Bryce Cotton, Sterling Gibbs, Isaiah Whitehead, Trevon Bluiett and Maurice Watson Jr. Of that group, Mintz was the only one to do it in a reserve role.
   Among Creighton players, Mintz joins Austin Chatman (twice), Grant Gibbs (once), Maurice Watson Jr. (six times) and Antoine Young (once) as the only players with a game of 17 points and eight assists in the seven-year era of Greg McDermott.
   No other Bluejay has had a game of 17 points and eight assists off the bench in the last 35 seasons (going back to 1981-82).

What's Your 20?
Including this season, Creighton has been .500 or better after 20 games in 21 of the last 22 seasons.
   Even more impressive, Creighton has now won at least 13 of its first 20 games in 18 of the last 20 seasons.
Creighton -- First 20 Games, Last 22 Years
Year   First 20 W-L   Final W-L   Postseason
2016-17   18-2   ???   ???
2015-16   14-6   20-15   NIT
2014-15   9-11   14-19   --
2013-14   17-3   27-8   NCAA
2012-13   17-3   28-8   NCAA
2011-12   18-2   29-6   NCAA
2010-11   13-7   23-16   CBI
2009-10   10-10   18-16   CIT
2008-09   15-5   27-8   NIT
2007-08   14-6   22-11   NIT
2006-07   13-7   22-11   NCAA
2005-06   15-5    20-10   NIT
2004-05   13-7   23-11   NCAA
2003-04   17-3   20-9   NIT
2002-03   18-2   29-5   NCAA
2001-02   14-6   23-9   NCAA
2000-01   14-6   24-8   NCAA
1999-00   14-6   23-10   NCAA
1998-99   14-6   22-9   NCAA
1997-98   14-6   18-10   NIT

Strong League Start Projects To Postseason
Creighton has started 5-2 or better in league play for the fifth time in Greg McDermott's seven seasons at the helm.
   His first three teams that started 5-2 or better not only reached the NCAA Tournament, but won a game in the Big Dance. Last year's team opened 5-2 and won a pair of NIT games before falling in the quarterfinals.
   Each of Creighton's 12 teams since 1988-89 to start 5-2, 6-1 or 7-0 in league play have reached the postseason, a stretch that includes seven NCAA Tournaments and five NIT's.

Against The BIG EAST
Since joining the BIG EAST in 2014, Creighton is unbeaten at home against St. John's, the only team it can say that for. On Wednesday, CU treks to Georgetown, the only place it hasn't won a visiting game in BIG EAST play.
Team   CU Home Games   CU Road Games
Butler   3-1   1-2
DePaul   2-1   3-0
Georgetown   2-1   0-3
Marquette   2-2   2-1
Providence   1-2   1-3
Seton Hall   2-2   2-1
St. John's   3-0   2-2
Villanova   1-3   1-2
Xavier   2-1   2-2
Total   18-13   14-16

A Great Start
Creighton is off to a tremendous start with an 18-2 record to date, tying program's best mark ever after 20 games. This is the fourth time the program has started 18-2 or better.
   Creighton's 1921-22 team started 21-2 before finishing 23-5.
   Creighton started 22-2 in 2002-03 and finished 29-5.
   Creighton's 2011-12 team started 21-2 and finished 29-6. That team was also coached by Greg McDermott.

Standard Five
Creighton used the same starting line-up in each of its first 19 games before finally making a change on Jan. 21 (in game 20) when Isaiah Zierden replaced Maurice Watson Jr. in the first five.
   Last year Creighton used the same starting line-up in each of its first 18 games this season before finally making a change on Jan. 17 (in game 19) when Toby Hegner replaced Cole Huff.
   In 2014-15, Creighton used 10 different starting line-up combinations, its most in any season since using 11 pairings in 1994-95.
   Creighton used the same starting five combination for every game in 2011-12, and then again in 2012-13.

Defensive Lessons
Creighton doesn't give up 100 points very often, but when it does, the Bluejays have responded in their next game. In fact, each of the last six times that Creighton has allowed 100+ points it has won its next game played that season.
   In those six games, Creighton has allowed an average of 73.3 points per game.
Game After Allowing 100+ Points, Same Season
Date   Result   Next Game Result
12/12/1987   L 115-73 at Iowa State   W 85-84
01/11/1988   L 102-98 to Southern Illinois   W 84-77
03/06/1988   L 101-77 to Bradley   Season Over
02/16/1989   W 102-100 vs Southern Illinois   W 91-80
12/10/1992   L 100-83 at Nebraska   W 70-63
12/01/1993   L 107-63 at Iowa State   W 83-66
03/01/2008   W 111-110 vs. Bradley   W 74-70

Pink Out Auction Raises More Than $26,300
Creighton raised $26,361.64 for this weekend's "Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out" Pink Out game on Saturday vs. DePaul.
   The past six seasons has seen $157,564.68 raised.
   Below is the final numbers for each item in the auction this year:
#0   $1875   #1   $1700   #2   $3300
#4   $627   #5   $510   #10   $2408
#11   $760   #13   $1530   #14   $590
#15   $620   #21   $1525   #23   $3850
#24   $610   #31   $426.65   #32   $1054.99
#40   $850
Basketballs: $910, $590, $585, $660
McDermott's Shoes: $1,025   McDermott's Tie: $355

Yearly Pink Out Totals
Creighton has raised $157,564.68 since the start of the 2011-12 season during its annual men's basketball Pink Out.
2011-12:   $20,600
2012-13:   $24,444
2013-14:   $48,247.11
2014-15:   $16,384.03
2015-16:   $16,527.90 (plus another $5,000 in donations)
2016-17:   $26,361.64
Six-Year Totals: $157,564.68

Patton Up For Wayman Tisdale Award
Creighton center Justin Patton has been named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's midseason watch list for the Wayman Tisdale Award, given to the National Freshman of the Year.
   Patton ranks second on the Creighton team with 13.7 points per game, and leads the club with 6.5 rebounds per game and 32 blocked shots. Patton ranks third nationally in field goal percentage (71.8 percent) and owns 50 dunks through 20 career games.
   Balloting for the USBWA's All-America Team, All-District Teams and the association's individual awards will take place in March.

Watson Out With Torn ACL
Creighton University senior guard Maurice Watson Jr. tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Monday's 72-67 win at No. 22 Xavier, head coach Greg McDermott confirmed on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
   Watson was leading the nation with 162 overall assists and 8.5 assists per game at the time of his injury, also leads the nation's active players with 801 career assists. He is ranked ninth in Creighton history with 391 assists. The Philadelphia, Pa., native spent the first two years of his college career at Boston University.
   Watson was a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection and was one of 25 men on the Wooden Award Midseason List, as well as one of 30 men up for the Senior CLASS Award. Sites such as CBSSports.com and NBCSports.com had him among their top-10 in the National Player of the Year standings.
   "We are sorry to learn of the severity of Maurice's injury, but are thankful for his contributions since joining the Bluejay program three years ago," said McDermott. "Our team will regroup, and we have a lot of young men who are capable of stepping up to fill the void in Maurice's absence. Maurice's leadership role on our team will continue to be huge part of our success."
    "I'm going to fight to get back," said Watson. "And my teammates need to keep fighting through the year. The fact that these guys battled through yesterday's game gives me confidence and security that they'll be able to go on and do great things. I intend to finish my college career and have a great impact, even if it's not on the court."

Tributes Come In
The injury to Maurice Watson Jr. brought in no shortage of tributes and mentions from national media and opposing teams over social media, including (but not limited to) Jay Bilas, Tim Brando, Butler Basketball, Evan Daniels, Rob Dauster, Myles Davis, Seth Davis, Pat Forde, Jeff Goodman, Doug Gottlieb, Roosvelt Jones, Kara Lawson, Chris Mack, Matt Norlander, Dana O'Neil, Jerry Palm, Gary Parrish, Jon Rothstein, Patrick Sellers, Scott Van Pelt, Isaiah Whitehead, Steve Wojciechowski and Jay Wright.

Paint It Blue
Creighton's offense is known for its proficiency from three-point range, but don't overlook the work done inside the paint, as well.
   Creighton has outscored opponents 836-608 in the paint this year, the program's best margin in that category since the school started tracking the stat in 2003-04.
   Creighton has outscored the opposition in the paint in all seven BIG EAST games to date. In fact, the only opponent all year to outscore CU in the paint has been Arizona State. On that night, Creighton made 14-of-25 three-point shots.

Patton vs. Other Freshman Years
How does Justin Patton's freshman season compare to those of some other notable freshmen post players in recent seasons?
   Quite favorably, if you ask us, through 20 career games:
Through 20 Career Games
Player, Year   PPG   RPG   BPG   APG   FG%
Justin Patton, 2017   13.7   6.5   1.6   1.3   .718
Henry Ellenson, 2016   15.7   9.9   1.6   2.1   .428
Karl-Anthony Towns, 2015   8.0   6.1   2.5   0.9   .491
Myles Turner, 2015   11.9   6.8   2.8   0.8   .467
Jahlil Okafor, 2015   18.7   9.4   1.5   1.5   .662
Joel Embiid, 2014   11.4   7.6   2.7   1.4   .659
Jabari Parker, 2014   18.7   8.0   1.2   1.4   .471
Steven Adams, 2013   6.7   5.9   2.0   0.5   .588
Nerlens Noel, 2013   10.2   9.3   4.8   1.7   .582
Anthony Davis, 2012   13.7   10.3   4.7   0.9   .630
Tristan Thompson, 2011   13.1   7.4   2.3   1.2   .537
Doug McDermott, 2011   13.6   7.1   0.1   1.1   .514

Quick Out Of The Gates
Creighton continues to race to the lead in the opening minutes on a regular basis this season.
   In fact, Creighton has owned a double-digit lead at some point in every game but one (Marquette) it has played in this season, and 22 of its last 23 games dating back to the final three games last season.
   Below is a list of some of Creighton's runs to start the game this season:
Opponent   Score   Time Left in 1st Half
UMKC   15-2   14:25
#9 Wisconsin   8-0   18:39
Washington State   12-4   17:27
Buffalo   15-6   13:18
Akron   12-3   15:20
Nebraska   14-2   15:17
Longwood   11-2   16:42
Oral Roberts   6-0   19:10
#1 Villanova   19-9   14:30
St. John's   7-0   16:25
Providence   10-0   16:31
#12 Butler   19-9   12:12
Truman State   17-3   13:56
#22 Xavier   11-4   15:16

Playing With The Lead
Creighton has trailed for just 119:13 of a possible 800 minutes this season, just 14.9 percent of the time.
   The Oral Roberts and Xavier games are the only contests this season in which Creighton has had a lead change in the final five minutes of any game. There was one such lead change down the stretch in the ORU game and two in the Xavier game.
   Since losing to Villanova on New Year's Eve, Creighton has trailed for a total of 35:56 of 200 possible minutes, just 13.0 percent of the time.
   In last year's game at Georgetown, Creighton led for all but six seconds of the final 18 minutes, but lost by one after a late Hoyas comeback.

Watson Makes Cut On Wooden List
Creighton guard Maurice Watson Jr. is one of three BIG EAST players on the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's Midseason Top 25, it was announced on January 11. Watson joins Villanova's Josh Hart and Butler's Kelan Martin.
   Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor, based on their performances during the first half of the 2016-17 season.
   The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2017 John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's. The leading candidates will be further pared to 20 top players in early February.
   Fifteen top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA will be submitted to voters on the Final Ballot prior to the NCAA Tournament.
   Every year, players have made the Final Ballot that were not on the preseason or midseason lists. Voters are permitted to take into consideration the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament when casting the ballot. The 10-man Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament.
   Watson is the first CU player named to the Midseason Top 25 list for the Wooden Award since 2013-14, when Doug McDermott went on to win the award.

It's Been 100 Years
January 12th marked the 100th anniversary of the first recorded game in Creighton men's basketball history, as Creighton topped Peru State 30-17 on January 12, 1917 in Omaha.
   Creighton went 17-3 in that first season despite never scoring more than 40 points in any game.
   Thomas E. Mills was the coach of that team.
   Omaha's population in 1920 was 191,601, while Creighton has hosted 208,502 fans this season in 12 home games.

Jays Move To 7th In AP Poll
The Creighton men's basketball team is ranked 16th in the country in this week's Associated Press poll. That's down nine spots from last week's No. 7 spot that was in the best in program history.
   Creighton has now been ranked in all 12 AP polls this year and been ranked 80 weeks in program history, with 52 of those under the direction of seventh-year head coach Greg McDermott.
   The Bluejays are one of four BIG EAST teams in the top-25, as Villanova ranks first, Butler is 11th and Xavier is 24th.
   Creighton is ranked 16th in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll. Last week the team was ranked seventh to mark the program's best in that poll, as well.
   Below is a list of the top weekly rankings in the AP poll in program history:
Best Weekly AP Rankings, Creighton History
7th - 1/16/17
8th - 1/9/17
9th - 3/1/14
9th - 12/19/16
10th - 1/20/03
10th - 11/28/16
10th - 12/5/16
10th - 12/12/16
10th - 12/26/16
10th - 1/2/17

Watson's Dimes
Maurice Watson Jr. owns 801 career assists to date, easily the most among the nation's active players.
   Watson also leads the nation with 8.5 assists per game and was topping the country with 162 overall helpers at the time of his injury.
   Watson's 162 assists this year were spread among nine different players, and have led to 71 three-pointers, 46 lay-ups, 30 dunks and 15 other two-point jump shots (see chart, bottom of page four).
   Including eight converted "and-1" free throw opportunities, Watson's 162 assists have led to 403 points, an average of 21.2 points per game that he appeared in.

Watson Moves Into Creighton's Top 10
Just 54 games into his Bluejay career, Maurice Watson Jr. ranks ninth on Creighton's all-time assists chart with 391. No other player in the top-10 has appeared in fewer than 82 games.
   Watson's 162 assists this season rank tied for ninth on Creighton's all-time list.
Most Career Creighton Assists, Since 1970-71
   Ast.   GP   Name   Years
   570   124   Ryan Sears   1997-01
   549   82   Ralph Bobik   1971-74
   505   142   Antoine Young   2008-12
   498   100   Grant Gibbs   2011-14
   493   139   Austin Chatman   2011-15
   458   89   Randy Eccker   1974-78
   430   110   Tyler McKinney   2001-05
   418   115   Vernon Moore   1981-85
   391   54   Maurice Watson Jr.   2015-Pres.
   388   117   Josh Dotzler   2005-09

Most Single-Season Creighton Assists, Since 1970-71
   Ast.   GP   Name (Class)   Year
   252   30   Ralph Bobik (Sr.)   1973-74
   229   35   Maurice Watson Jr. (Jr.)   2015-16
   210   36   Grant Gibbs (Jr.)   2012-13
   205   28   Randy Eccker (Jr.)   1976-77
   195   39   Antoine Young (Jr.)   2010-11
   184   34   Tyler McKinney (Sr.)   2004-05
   176   35   Grant Gibbs (So.)   2011-12
   175   33   Ryan Sears (Jr.)   1999-00
   162   26   Ralph Bobik (Jr.)   1972-73
   162   19   Maurice Watson Jr. (Sr.)   2016-17
   159   32   Vernon Moore (Sr.)   1984-85

We're Jamming!
Justin Patton has 50 of CU's 93 dunks this season, with Marcus Foster (18), Khyri Thomas (11), Martin Krampelj (4), Ronnie Harrell Jr. (3), Toby Hegner (2), Zach Hanson (2), Cole Huff (1), Davion Mintz (1) and Kobe Paras (1) accounting for the others. Of Patton's dunks, 24 have been on lobs.
   The 93 dunks are far more than any previous season under Greg McDermott, easily eclipsing the mark of 58 dunks in 35 games last year, and exceeding the 87 dunks in 68 games over the previous two seasons combined.
   Here's a look at the Creighton student-athletes with 20 or more dunks in a season, and 19 or more dunks in a career, under McDermott:
Most Creighton Dunks, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Year
50   Justin Patton   2016-17
36   Gregory Echenique   2012-13
30   Gregory Echenique   2011-12
24   Gregory Echenique   2010-11
22   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2010-11

Most Creighton Dunks, Career, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Name   Years
90   Gregory Echenique   2010-13
50   Justin Patton   2016-Pres.
38   Will Artino   2011-15
29   Zach Hanson   2013-Pres.
25   Geoffrey Groselle   2012-16
23   Khyri Thomas   2015-Pres.
22   Kenny Lawson Jr.   2010-11
19   Doug McDermott   2010-14

Most Creighton Dunks, Team, Season, Since 2010-11
Dunks   Year   Team W-L
93   2016-17   ? ? ?
58   2015-16   20-15 (NIT)
56   2010-11   23-16 (CBI)
54   2012-13   28-8 (NCAA)
42   2011-12   29-6 (NCAA)
35   2013-14   27-8 (NCAA)
29   2014-15   14-19

Creighton vs. Cancer Auction Underway
As part of the nationwide Coaches vs. Cancer event, men's basketball fans are encouraged to wear pink to promote cancer awareness and participate in the "Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out" game when the Bluejays host the DePaul Blue Demons on First National Bank Court at CenturyLink Center Omaha on Saturday, Jan. 28 (1:30 p.m., tip-off).
   Bluejay players will wear pink shooting shirts and pink jerseys for the game and fans had the opportunity to honor a friend or family member who has battled cancer or is currently battling cancer by purchasing the apparel via auction (the shooting shirt can be personalized – last name, nickname, etc.).
   The first 16,000 fans entering the venue on Saturday, Jan. 28 will receive a complimentary pink t-shirt courtesy of CHI Health and Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center. "Pink Out" t-shirts are also available for purchase at the following Lawlor's Custom Sportswear locations: Westroads Mall and the Superstore located at 84th & J Streets.
   Complimentary "Pink Out" posters will be available to fans exiting the venue after the game on Saturday, Jan. 28.

Terrific Start
Junior Marcus Foster's 373 points so far are the most by any Bluejay newcomer through 20 games since at least 1979-80. His 18.7 points per game is the best by a Bluejay newcomer since Cyril Baptiste's 18.9 points per game in 1969-70.
   For comparison, Doug McDermott had 271 points through 20 games and 286 points after the 21st career game of his freshman season. He would finish his career with 3,150 in 145 career games to rank fifth in NCAA history.
Most Points, CU Newcomers First 20 Games Since 1995-96
   Pts.   Name, Class   Year   After 21
   373   Marcus Foster, Jr.   2016-17   ? ? ?
   280   Maurice Watson Jr., Jr.   2015-16   296
   273   Justin Patton, Fr.   2016-17   ? ? ?
   271   Doug McDermott, Fr.    2010-11   286
   265   Rodney Buford, Fr.   1995-96   301
   218   P'Allen Stinnett, Fr.   2007-08   228
   215   Gregory Echenique, So.   2010-11   229
   212   Ryan Sears, Fr.   1997-98   227
   211   Doug Swenson, Jr.   1997-98   226
   210   Brody Deren, So.   2001-02   217
   198   Cole Huff, Jr.   2015-16   212

On Pace For History?
Justin Patton has made 71.6 percent of his field goal attempts this season, good enough to lead the BIG EAST and rank third nationally in 2016-17.
   The best season-ending mark in NCAA history, with a minimum of 5 FG/game, is 74.6 percent in 1980-81 by Oregon State's Steve Johnson.
   That being said, Patton's marksmanship this season trails two other men who are also on pace to set the NCAA record for field goal percentage, as UNCW's Devontae Cacok is at 80.3 percent and UCF's Tacko Fall not far behind at 78.5 percent this season.
   The chart below lists the top-five single-season marks for field goal percentage in NCAA history entering 2016-17:
Best FG %, NCAA History
(minimum 5 FG/game)
1.   Steve Johnson, Oregon State   1980-81   235-315   .746
2.   Dwayne Davis, Florida   1988-89   179-248   .722
3.   Evan Bradds, Belmont   2015-16   210-294   .714
4.   Keith Walker, Utica   1984-85   154-216   .713
5.   Steve Johnson, Oregon State   1979-80   211-297   .710

Patton Wins Third Freshman of the Week Honor
Creighton's Justin Patton was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for the third time this season on January 9th. This week's recognition comes after the 7-footer led Creighton to a 2-0 week on the road with team-high averages of 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
   The Omaha native made 20-of-27 shots from the field (74.1%), including his only three-point attempt, and also drained 4-of-7 free throw attempts (57.1%).
    Patton's week started with a season-high 25 points to go with nine rebounds, a season-high four assists, a block and a steal in a road win at St. John's. Patton sank 11-of-14 shot attempts, including five dunks, as Creighton never trailed.
    On Saturday at Providence, Patton delivered 20 points and six rebounds while matching his career-high with three blocked shots. Patton converted 9-of-13 shots from the floor, including three more dunks, and was 2-of-3 at the charity stripe.

Wire-To-Wire Road Wins
Creighton never trailed in its Jan. 4th win at St. John's, throwing a lob to Marcus Foster in the opening seconds en route to a 7-0 lead out of the gates of a 85-72 victory.
   The Bluejays also didn't trail in its 78-64 win at Providence on Saturday, Jan. 7th.
   It was just the second and third times in Creighton's 29 all-time BIG EAST road games that the Bluejays never trailed.
   The first time came on January 20, 2014, in a 96-68 win at No. 4 Villanova. In that contest, Creighton made a three-pointer on its first nine possessions and finished with a league-record 21 trifectas overall.

Building A Resume
Creighton is tied for second nationally with seven top-50 RPI wins, per figures on WarrenNolan.com through games of Sunday, trailing only Florida State.
   Creighton's strength of schedule currently ranks 23rd.

Watson A Senior CLASS Candidate
Creighton men's basketball point guard Maurice Watson Jr. is one of 30 NCAA men's basketball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court that were selected as candidates for the 2016-17 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate basketball.
   To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.
   An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
   Each of the 30 candidate classes will be narrowed to fields of 10 finalists in February, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
   Watson is the seventh Creighton Men's Basketball student-athlete to make the Senior CLASS cut in recent seasons, joining Kyle Korver (2002-03), Anthony Tolliver (2006-07), Dane Watts (2007-08), Josh Dotzler (2008-09), Kenny Lawson Jr. (2010-11), Doug McDermott (2013-14). Former Creighton men's soccer goalkeeper Brian Holt won the 2011 Senior CLASS Award on the pitch, while McDermott won the 2014 Senior CLASS Award on the hardwood.
   The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four® and NCAA Women's Final Four® this spring.

Three-Point Options
Toby Hegner's fourth and final trey at Arizona State was the 100th trifecta of his career. He now owns 106, and is the fourth active Bluejay with 100 or more three-pointers, joining Marcus Foster (182, with 44 at CU), Isaiah Zierden (155) and Cole Huff (164, with 97 at CU).
   Zierden stands in 10th place in Creighton history with 155 career three-pointers.
   3FG   Name   Years
   371   Kyle Korver   1999-03
   334   Ethan Wragge   2009-14
   274   Doug McDermott   2010-14
   245   Ryan Sears   1997-01
   212   Rodney Buford   1995-99
   206   Jahenns Manigat   2010-14
   200   Nate Funk   2002-07
   185   Matt Roggenburk   1986-90
   177   Duan Cole   1987-92
   155   Isaiah Zierden   2013-17
   147   Booker Woodfox   2007-09

About That 13-0 Start
Creighton started this season 13-0 for the first time since the 1942-43 team started 16-0. Below is a list of Creighton's most successful starts without a loss, all-time:
Best Starts Without A Loss, Creighton History
Start   Year       Final W-L   First Loss
16-0   1942-43   *   16-1   Washington & Jefferson
13-0   2016-17       ? ? ?   #1 Villanova
12-0   2003-04   #   20-9   Northern Iowa
*Reached NCAA Tournament; #Reached NIT
!No postseason tournaments existed yet

#Winning
Creighton reeled off 13 straight wins to start the 2016-17 season. It was Creighton's longest win streak under Greg McDermott, as seen below.
Longest Win Streaks Under Greg McDermott at CU
   W's   Dates   Snapped By
   13   Nov. 11, 2016 - Present   #1 Villanova
   11   Dec. 1, 2012 - Jan. 15, 2013   at Wichita State
   11   Dec. 31, 2011 - Feb. 1, 2012   at Northern Iowa
   10   Dec. 3, 2013 - Jan. 14, 2014   at Providence

Win Streak History
Creighton's 13-0 start was its sixth streak of 13 straight wins or more all-time, and Creighton's longest winning streak since Tom Apke's 1974-75 club won 14 straight.
   The school-record streak is 38 straight wins, set over the course of CU's first four seasons of organized basketball nearly 100 years ago.
Creighton's Longest Win Streaks, All-Time
   W's   Dates   Coach   NCAA/NIT
   38   Feb. 22, 1917 - Feb. 11, 1920   Mills   Didn't exist
   17   Mar. 25, 1942 - Mar. 4, 1943   Hickey   NIT
   16   Jan. 31, 1928 - Jan. 23, 1929   Schabinger   Didn't exist
   14   Jan. 3 - Feb. 21, 1925   Schabinger   Didn't exist
   14   Jan. 2 - Feb. 22, 1975   Apke   NCAA
   13   Nov. 11 - Dec. 28, 2016    McDermott   ? ? ?

Scoring In Bunches
Creighton has scored 1,742 points through 20 games, to rank 10th nationally with 87.1 points per contest.
   The 1,742 points are the second-most points than Creighton has ever scored in its first 20 games of any season, as seen below:
Most Points Through 20 Games, Creighton History
   Points   Year   Final W-L (Postseason)
   1,773   1965-66   14-12
   1,742   2016-17   ? ? ?
   1,725   1970-71   14-11

100!
Creighton is 105-35 all-time when ranked in the Associated Press poll, picking up its 100th win as a top-25 team on Dec. 28th when it hosted and beat Seton Hall.
   That includes a 71-23 mark under Greg McDermott when ranked.

Foster Named BIG EAST Player of the Week
Marcus Foster was named BIG EAST Player of the Week for the second time this season on Dec. 26th.
   The honor comes after Foster had a season-high 29 points in Creighton's 96-85 win at Arizona State on Dec. 20th. Foster made 10-of-18 shots from the floor and 6-of-8 shots at the line while adding four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
   Foster had 17 points after the break, including the team's final four points from the free throw line to hold off ASU's upset bid.
   He was previously honored on Nov. 28th.

Defense Pitches A Late Shutout
Creighton's offense gets all the attention, but the defense stepped up when it was needed most on Dec. 17 against Oral Roberts.
   Creighton found itself trailing 65-60 with 6:08 left after ORU's Albert Owens banked in a three-pointer to stun the crowd. The Golden Eagles would go scoreless in their final 10 possessions the rest of the way.
   Creighton would steadily come back, getting two hoops from Justin Patton before a Marcus Foster drive with 3:21 to play gave CU a 66-65 lead.
   Neither team would score in the final 3:21 of the contest.
   That contest marked the first time since December 22, 2010, that Creighton held an opponent scoreless over the final 6:08 of regulation. That came when CU held Samford scoreless in the final 6:48 of a 58-40 victory.
   Those are the only two contests in the 432 games since the start of 2004-05 campaign that the Bluejays have held an opponent scoreless in the final 6:08 of any game.

BIG EAST > "Football 5" So Far
Creighton has knocked off teams from the Big Ten (Wisconsin and Nebraska), Pac-12 (Arizona State and Washington State), ACC (North Carolina State) and SEC (Ole Miss) this year, all by nine or more points.
   Those six non-conference wins over the "Football 5" leagues are the most of any other team in the nation.
   The BIG EAST owns 27 non-conference wins over "Football 5" leagues, second-most of any league in the nation.
   Both figures are through games of January 22.
MBB Non-Conference Wins Over
"Football 5" Leagues, By Team
   6   Creighton
   5   Butler
   5   Gonzaga
   5   UCLA
   4   Seton Hall
   4   Kansas
   4   Xavier
   4   Clemson

MBB Wins Over "Football 5" Leagues, By Conference
   31   Atlantic Coast
   27   BIG EAST
   17   Big Ten
   16   Big 12
   13   Southeastern
   12   Pac-12

A Good Start
Here's a look at how Creighton has done statistically after 20 games in recent seasons.
   Of note, Creighton has started 13-7 or better after 20 games in 18 of the past 20 seasons.
   Creighton's 87.1 points per game clip is the team's second-highest mark after 20 games in program history, trailing only the 1965-66 team.
   Creighton's 52.8 percent field goal percentage through 20 games is the best mark in the last 23 years, a good trend since the next three spots are owned by the three winningest teams in program history.
   Creighton's 175 three-pointers through 20 games are fourth-most in the last 23 years, as well.
Year   W-L   PPG   FG%   3FG   10+ PPG guys
2016-17   18-2   87.1   .528   175   4
2015-16   14-6   82.9   .481   173   3
2014-15   9-11   67.8   .417   163   1
2013-14   17-3   82.2   .493   223   2
2012-13   17-3   78.4   .515   187   2
2011-12   18-2   81.4   .514   174   2
2010-11   13-7   67.0   .443   141   4
2009-10   10-10   69.2   .434   136   1
2008-09   15-5   74.3   .443   170   3
2007-08   14-6   72.3   .453   172   2
2006-07   13-7   66.6   .444   123   2
2005-06   15-5   68.2   .428   145   3
2004-05   13-7   69.5   .449   164   2
2003-04   17-3   69.3   .471   116   2
2002-03   18-2   82.4   .511   177   2
2001-02   14-6   74.9   .453   124   3
2000-01   14-6   72.7   .430   145   3
1999-00   14-6   72.3   .473   167   3
1998-99   14-6   77.4   .465   157   2
1997-98   14-6   75.5   .462   148   3
1996-97   10-10   65.8   .411   103   3
1995-96   11-9   66.3   .396   123   1
1994-95   6-14   62.2   .382   132   1

1,000 x 3
Cole Huff became the third member of the current Creighton team to surpass 1,000 career points when he reached the mark at Nebraska on Dec. 7. Huff entered the game with 999 points (including 527) at Nevada, then added 13 points in the win on 4-of-5 shooting from long-range.
   Marcus Foster surpassed the 1,000 point mark during the Nov. 29 win over Buffalo. Foster owns 373 points this season, after scored 875 points during his first two seasons at Kansas State. It took Foster 69 games total to reach the mark.
   Last year Maurice Watson Jr. surpassed 1,000 career points (including Boston), and he now owns 1,537 career points.
   Creighton has never previously had three players with 1,000 career points on the roster at the same time.

BIG EAST Playing Big
Though the BIG EAST may not be considered of the traditional "Football 5" Conferences due to its lack of big time football, the performance of the league has been big time for a long time.
   The league has owned a top-five RPI in the NCAA RPI rankings in every season since 2000-01, as seen below:
BIG EAST in Conference RPI Rankings
2016-17:   2nd (per WarrenNolan.com)
2015-16:   4th
2014-15:   3rd
2013-14:   4th
2012-13:   2nd
2011-12:   2nd
2010-11:   1st
2009-10:   3rd
2008-19:   4th
2007-08:   5th
2006-07:   5th
2005-06:   3rd
2004-05:   2nd
2003-04:   4th
2002-03:   5th
2001-02:   3rd
2000-01:   3rd

Top Five RPI
According to WarrenNolan.com on Monday morning, Creighton ranked No. 12 nationally in the RPI.
   Villanova was second, Xavier was 15th and Butler fourth, which has helped the BIG EAST to No. 2 in the conference RPI rankings.

15 Treys & 50 Percent?
Creighton shot made 44-of-81 three-point attempts in three games at the Paradise Jam, good for 54.3 percent, in its only three previous games outside Omaha.
   The Bluejays shot 15-of-28 (53.6%) against Washington State, 13-of-27 (48.1%) against North Carolina State and 16-of-26 (61.5%) in the title tilt vs. Ole Miss.
   In program history, Creighton owns 11 all-time games in which it has made 15 or more three-pointers and shot 50 percent or better, as seen below. Two of those were in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Best 3FG%, Minimum 15 3FG Made
3FG%   Opponent   3FG-3FGA   Date
.667   Chattanooga   20-30   02/19/05
.640   Chicago State   16-25   12/29/13
.625   at Indiana State   15-24   12/31/08
.615   vs. Ole Miss   16-26   11/21/16
.600   at #4 Villanova   21-35   01/24/14
.600   Texas-Arlington   15-25   11/17/02
.600   vs. IUPUI   15-25   11/25/02
.593   Drake   16-27   01/08/13
.536   Missouri State   15-28   01/30/13
.536   vs. Washington State   15-28   11/18/16
.533   Evansville   16-30   01/04/99

First Half Blitz
Creighton led 62-25 at halftime on Dec. 9 vs. Longwood. The 62 points were a CenturyLink Center Omaha record for points in a half, and the most by the Bluejays in any half since scoring 63 in the second half of a 106-50 win over Texas-Arlington on Nov. 17, 2002.
   Creighton's 55-point win was also its largest since that same 106-50 win over Texas-Arlington on Nov. 17, 2002.
   Creighton has won 72 straight games in which it has scored 42 or more points in the first half, and 57 straight when scoring 44 or more in the first half.

Watson Still The Assist Leader
Despite the torn ACL he suffered on Jan. 16 at Xavier, Maurice Watson Jr. remains the nation's active leader in assists with 801.
   At the time of his injury he was also fifth in steals (187), 11th in field goals made (590), 12th in assist/turnover ratio (2.12) and 31st in points scored (1,537).
   Below is a look at the national active leaders in assists, through Jan. 22.
Active Leaders in Career Assists
1.   Maurice Watson Jr., Creighton   801
2.   Monte Morris, Iowa State   659
3.   Alec Wintering, Portland   568
4.   Marquis Wright, Siena   535
5.   Siyani Chambers, Harvard   532

Hanson Hurt, But Healing
Senior center Zach Hanson was expected to miss 8-12 weeks after tearing a tendon and the ligaments in his left ankle during Creighton's win over Ole Miss on Nov. 21st. Hanson underwent surgery on Nov. 28th, and recent reports indicate he is progressing ahead of schedule and eyeing an early February return.
   A Pierre, S.D., native, Hanson was averaging 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 68.0 percent from the field in 13.2 minutes per game.
   Though he will not be on the court, look for Hanson to maintain a strong leadership role on the team as he mentors freshmen centers Justin Patton and Martin Krampelj.

Omaha's Team
Creighton has started Omaha natives Justin Patton and Khyri Thomas in each of its games so far.
   It's the first time Creighton has started two Omaha products in the same game since March 16, 2000 vs. Auburn, when Matt West (Omaha Westside) and Donnie Johnson (Omaha Central) earned a nod.
   Johnson, coincidentally, coached Thomas at Omaha Benson High School.

Preseason BIG EAST Poll
Creighton was picked to finish third in its fourth season as BIG EAST Conference members according to a preseason poll of league coaches. Villanova was picked first with 81 points and nine first-place votes, while Xavier and Creighton round out the top three. Seton Hall and Georgetown tied for fourth place, while Butler, Marquette, St. John's, Providence and DePaul rounded out the bottom half.
   Creighton guard Maurice Watson Jr. was named Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, while Marcus Foster was picked to be a Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable-Mention choice.

NBA Representation
This year marks the third straight season that Creighton has three NBA players at the same time, as Kyle Korver (Cleveland Cavaliers), Anthony Tolliver (Sacramento Kings) and Doug McDermott (Chicago Bulls) are all in the league.
   Including 2016-17, Creighton has now had an NBA player in 33 of the last 34 years.
   Korver ranks eighth in NBA history with 1,959 three-pointers and is also eighth in league history with 42.8 percent marksmanship from three-point range (through January 22). He set a single-season NBA mark that still stands with his 53.6 percent shooting from three-point range in 2009-10, and is the only player in league history to lead the NBA in three-point percentage three times. He's currently averaging 9.3 points per game while making 40.5 percent of his three-point attempts this year.
   Tolliver is averaging 6.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game this season for the Kings, his 11th NBA organization.
   McDermott is in his third season with the Chicago Bulls, where he's averaging 9.8 points per game and shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three-point range for fellow Ames High alum Fred Hoiberg. Hoiberg, ironically, is the same man who replaced Greg McDermott as Iowa State's head coach in 2010.

Among The Nation's Best
Below is where Creighton ranks nationally in the since Greg McDermott took over in 2010-11, per Basketball-Reference.com:
2010-11 to 2015-16
Category   Stat   NCAA Rank
FG Percentage   .476   4th
3FG Made   1,775   4th
3FG Percentage   .386   5th
Assists   3392   7th
FG Made   5,534   18th
Wins   141   31st
Winning Percentage   .662   47th

Going For 20, Again
Creighton has won 20 or more games in 16 of the last 18 seasons (including 2015-16), a feat that puts the Jays among an exclusive group, nationally.
   Just three schools nationally have had 20 or more wins each of the last 18 years: Duke, Gonzaga and Kansas.
   Kentucky , Florida, Texas and Syracuse have each done it in 17 of the last 18 seasons.
   Along with Arizona, Xavier and Connecticut, Creighton is one of four schools with 20 or more wins in exactly 16 of the past 18 years.

Eight Out Of 18 Tourney Titles
Creighton owns eight league tournament titles in the last 18 years. On a national basis, the only schools that can claim this are Gonzaga (14), Duke (10), Winthrop (9), Creighton (8), Kansas (8) and Kentucky (8).

Full House
Creighton is averaging 17,375 fans per home game this season, fourth-best nationally. That figure would rank 17th best in the NBA, ahead of 14 franchises.
   Last year was the 11th straight season that CU has been among the nation's top 25 in average home attendance, and the fifth straight season in the top-10 nationally in attendance, as well.
2016-17 Attendance Leaders (1/23)
   Rk.   School   Average   Next Home
   1.   Kentucky   23,100   1/28
   2.   Syracuse   20,776   1/24
   3.   Louisville   20,391   1/29
   4.   Creighton   17,375   1/28
   5.   Wisconsin   17,286   1/24
   6.   North Carolina   16,870   1/26
   7.   Kansas   16,438   2/1
   8.   Indiana   16,119   2/1
   9.   Maryland   16,045   1/24
   10.   North Carolina State   15,353   2/1

Highest Average Attendance, Creighton History
   Avg. Att.   School   Year
   17,896   Creighton   2013-14
   17,375 so far   Creighton   2016-17
   17,155   Creighton   2012-13
   17,048   Creighton   2014-15
   16,665   Creighton   2011-12

Some Loyal Fans
Creighton has surpassed 200,000 home fans for the 12th straight season in 2016-17. The 302,887 home fans last season ranked as the most in school history.
   Creighton had never attracted more than 141,000 home fans in any season prior to the opening of CenturyLink Center Omaha, and now has done it in the last 14 seasons (including this year).
   Creighton has led its conference in home attendance every year since moving into CenturyLink Center Omaha, which is opening its 14th season.
Creighton's Most Home Fans, Season
Rk.   Year   G   Attendance   Average
1.   2015-16   19   302,887   15,941
2.   2008-09   19   302,676   15,930
3.   2010-11   22   297,161   13,507
4.   2012-13   17   291,643   17,155
5.   2014-15   17   289,808   17,048

Release, Rotation, Splash, Repeat
Creighton has made at least one three-pointer in 768 straight games since a 59-53 loss at Illinois State on Feb. 20, 1993. The streak is the nation's 21st-longest active streak through games of January 22.
   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 (1/22)
   Rk.   Streak   School   Next Game
   1.   993   UNLV   1/25
       993   Kentucky   1/24
   3.   983   Vanderbilt   1/24
   4.   966   Duke   1/23
   5.   925   Western Kentucky   1/26
   6.   920   Arkansas   1/24
   7.   912   East Tennessee State   1/25
   8.   905   Pacific   1/26
   9.   887   Oakland   1/27
   10.   879   Texas   1/23
   11.   860   Princeton   2/3
   12.   828   Marshall   1/26
   13.   827   La Salle   1/25
   14.   819   Baylor   1/25
   15.   797   LIU-Brooklyn   1/26
   16.   792   Gonzaga   1/23
   17.   789   Cornell   1/27
   18.   777   Mount St. Mary's   1/26
   19.   775   Tennessee State   1/25
   20.   769   East Carolina   1/25
   21.   768   Creighton   1/25

Making A Jump
Creighton went from 14-19 in 2014-15 to 20-15 last season. In the last 50 seasons of Creighton basketball, there has been only six seasons where the team has grown its win total by six or more victories from one year to the next, with two of those gains under the direction of Greg McDermott:
Biggest Win Improvements, Last 50 Years
Jump   Year   W-L   Year   W-L
+8   1972-73   15-11   1973-74   23-7
+7   1986-87   9-19   1987-88   16-16
+7   1994-95   7-19   1995-96   14-15
+6   2001-02   23-9   2002-03   29-5
+6   2010-11   23-16   2011-12   29-6
+6   2014-15   14-19   2015-16   20-15

Top-20 Crowds
Here's a look at Creighton's top-20 home crowds all-time. The Villanova crowd of 18,831 Dec. 31 was third-most in school history.
      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.   18,742   Seton Hall   02/23/14
   6.   18,735   Wichita State   02/11/12
   7.   18,613   Wichita State   03/02/13
   8.   18,525   Marquette   12/31/13
   9.   18,494   Illinois State   02/09/13
   10.   18,458   Evansville   12/29/12
   11.   18,436   Bradley   01/28/12
   12.   18,323   DePaul   02/07/14
   13.   18,160   Central Arkansas   11/14/14
   14.   18,145   Marquette   01/21/17
   15.   18,111   Bradley   02/02/13
   16.   18,084   Seton Hall   12/28/16
   17.   18,078   Tulsa   11/23/13
   18.   18,073   Drake   01/08/13
   19.   18,032   #12 Butler   01/11/17
   20.   17,971   #19 Butler   02/16/15

Multiple Choices
Creighton had four men average in double-figures in 2015-16, Maurice Watson Jr. (14.1), Cole Huff (11.3), Geoffrey Groselle (11.2) and Isaiah Zierden (10.2).
   Creighton had not previously had four men finish the year scoring in double-figures since 1979-80, when Kevin McKenna, Jim Honz, George Morrow and Daryl Stovall did so.
   This year's team also has four men scoring at a double-figure clip, with Huff not far behind at 8.8 ppg.

Très Bien
Since 2011-12, Creighton is 59-46 (.562) when shooting 40.00 percent or worse from three-point range. While respectable, that pales in comparison to CU's 76-11 (.874) mark the last six years when shooting better than 40.00 percent from downtown.
   Lower the standards to 30%, and it's still impressive. Creighton is 117-31 in the last six years when shooting 30 percent or better from deep, compared to 18-27 when shooting 29.99 percent or less.

Big Deficits, No Big Deal
Creighton owns 16 victories under Greg McDermott after trailing by double-figures at some point. Nine of those comebacks came away from home, including the win over Ole Miss in the Virgin Islands on Nov. 21st.
   On Nov. 19, 2014, Creighton trailed 42-24 to No. 18 Oklahoma with 18:30 to go before putting together a comeback for the ages. It was CU's largest comeback victory under Greg McDermott (see chart below), and the second-biggest in the history of CenturyLink Center Omaha (see chart, left column on page four).
   On the other hand, CU is 138-10 under McDermott when putting together double-digit leads, including wins 126 of the last 132 times.
Double-Digit Comebacks Under Greg McDermott
Deficit   Opponent   Date
18   #18 Oklahoma   11/19/14
17   at San Diego State   11/30/11
16   at Evansville   02/16/13
14   Evansville   02/21/12
13   at Saint Joseph's   11/16/13
13   Xavier   01/12/14
12   Saint Joseph's   12/11/10
12   at DePaul   01/17/16
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
10   UAB   11/14/12
10   vs. Drake   03/02/12
10   at Nebraska   12/07/14
10   South Dakota   12/09/14

CenturyLink Center Omaha Dramatics
Providence's Kris Dunn hit a game-winning shot as time expired to beat Creighton last Jan. 12th. It was the first game-winning shot with no time left to ever to beat Creighton at CenturyLink Center Omaha, exceeding the previous low with 1.9 seconds left by Butler's Roosevelt Jones in 2014-15.
   Dunn's shot was the first to beat Creighton (at any site) with no time left on the clock since Anthony James drained a game-winning three-pointer for Northern Iowa in a 65-62 win on Feb. 4, 2012 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
   Creighton is 7-6 in games with a game-winning go-ahead score in the final 10 seconds in the 14-year old facility.
Creighton's Go-Ahead Scores in Wins at CLCO, Last 10 Seconds
Date   Opponent   Score   Player/Score   Time
11/26/05   Dayton   W 91-90*   Funk FG   :5.7
01/28/06   Wichita St.   W 57-55   Tolliver FG   :0.0
11/25/06   George Mason   W 58-56   Watts FT   :7.5
03/18/08   Rhode Island   W 74-73   Witter 3FG   :3.2
01/13/10   Southern Illinois   W 71-69   Young FG   :1.3
02/18/12   Long Beach St.   W 81-79   Young FG   :0.3
01/28/14   St. John's   W 63-60   McDermott 3FG   :2.8
*double-overtime
Opponent Go-Ahead Scores in CU Losses at CLCO, Last 10 Seconds
Date   Opponent   Score   Player/Score   Time
03/20/06   Miami (Fla.)   53-52   G. Diaz FT   :2.6
01/20/07   Southern Illinois   58-57   B. Mullins FG   :4.1
01/10/15   #19 Seton Hall   68-67   S. Gibbs 3FG   :2.2
02/16/15   #19 Butler   58-56   R. Jones FG   :1.9
03/07/15   Xavier   74-73   D. Davis FT's   :6.3
01/12/16   #12 Providence   50-48   K. Dunn FG   :0.0

What A Start!
Greg McDermott is 159-74 on the Creighton sideline in his seventh year at the helm. The 159 wins are easily the most in Creighton history in the first seven seasons, way more than Tom Apke's 130.
Most Wins at CU, First Seven Seasons
Coach   Years   W-L After 7 Yrs
Greg McDermott   2010-Pres.   159-74 so far
Tom Apke   1974-80   130-64
Dana Altman   1994-00   123-86
Red McManus   1959-65   105-75

McDermott Passes McManus On CU Wins List
Greg McDermott currently has 159 victories at Creighton, good for third place on CU's all-time wins list.
   McDermott's .682 winning percentage is Creighton's best since Arthur A. Schabinger's .714 win rate more 80 years ago.
   Below is a list of the most victorious Creighton coaches in program history.
Most Coaching Wins, Creighton History
Rk.   W-L   Name   Years
1.   327-176   Dana Altman   1994-2010
2.   165-66   Arthur A. Schabinger    1922-35
3.   159-74   Greg McDermott    2010-Pres.
4.   138-118   John J. "Red" McManus    1959-69
5.   130-64   Tom Apke   1974-81

CenturyLink Center Omaha Success
Creighton has played 234 regular and postseason contests at CenturyLink Center Omaha all-time in the 14-year-old facility.
   The Bluejays own a 194-40 (.829) record all-time at the facility, and have never lost there on a Thursday (7-0) or Friday (12-0).
   Creighton has outscored its opponents 17,943-15,123 in games at CenturyLink Center Omaha, an average margin of 12.05 points per game. Creighton has led wire-to-wire 64 different times, including 12 of its last 31 home games.
   Creighton is also 25-24 all-time in the 47 games at CLCO in which it's fallen behind by double-figures at any point, 7-9 when down by 10+ points at halftime at The Link, and 31-22 when trailing at halftime at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
   Creighton is 97-21 (.822) at CenturyLink Center Omaha under Greg McDermott, including a 57-4 record vs. non-conference teams.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go
Creighton averaged 79.63 points per game in 2015-16, and is scoring 87.10 points per game in 2016-17.
   Greg McDermott is 43-2 as a Division I head coach when his teams score 90 or more points, including a 37-2 mark on the Creighton sideline.
   In fact, McDermott's team scored 90 or more points 10 times (in 35 games) last season, compared to six total times in 280 games on the sideline in nine years at Northern Iowa and Iowa State.
   Creighton had won 75 straight games when scoring 90 or more points at all sites since a Jan. 11, 1988 loss to Southern Illinois, before a March 5, 2016 loss at Xavier by a 98-93 score.
   Creighton is 57-2 all-time when scoring 100 points or more, including 29 straight wins since a 1977 loss to North Texas.

Pizza Pie, Piled High = Wins
Thanks to a promotion with Omaha-based Godfather's Pizza, Creighton season ticket-holders can get a free mini pizza any time the Jays score 75 points at home.
   History has proven that when the team earns the fans pizza, it often leads to a victory as well.
   The first three years of CenturyLink Center Omaha (2003-06), Creighton needed 70 points to earn its fans free pizza, and the Jays went 27-3 when reaching that threshold, closing out that run with 12 straight wins.
   Since upping the standard to 75 points prior to the 2006-07 campaign, Creighton is 105-2 when scoring 75 points or more at CenturyLink Center Omaha. In other words, Creighton is 117-2 in CenturyLink Center Omaha since Feb. 6, 2005 when scoring enough points to earn its fans some free pizza. A perfect streak of 101-0 was snapped on Dec. 2, 2015 when Arizona State scored three points in the final 15 seconds to sneak away with a 79-77 victory.

Last Season Recap
Creighton went 20-15 last season and reached the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament before being eliminated at BYU. Maurice Watson Jr. (14.1 ppg., 6.5 apg.) led the Bluejays in both scoring and assists, while senior Geoffrey Groselle (6.1 rpg.) led the team in rebounding and set a Creighton record by shooting 70.2 percent from the field.
   Creighton's best victories last season included a 70-56 win over No. 5 Xavier, and a pair of wins to claim the title at the Men Who Speak Up Main Event in Las Vegas.

Shuttle Service Provided Again
Chief Bus will provide complimentary shuttle service from the Creighton University campus to CenturyLink Center Omaha for all men's basketball home games this season. The service is available to all fans, not just Creighton students.
   The shuttle will start 75 minutes before tip-off and shuttles will continue to operate the route during the game. The three designated stops for pick-up around the CU campus are: 24th & California (nearside/southbound); 20th & Cass (nearside/eastbound) and at Harper Dining Center (outside the Mike & Josie Harper Center in the turnaround which is on the east side of the building).
   The shuttle will then go eastbound on Capitol Avenue and then go north up 10th Street for drop-off at the CenturyLink Center Omaha convention center entrance. The route is designed for each shuttle driver to make a roundtrip every 15 minutes.
   Following the game's conclusion, the shuttle will start at the CenturyLink Center Omaha convention center entrance on 10th Street and loop the original route with the first of three stops at 24th & California Streets.

Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for the 2016-17 season went on sale on October 24th.
   Fans can purchase single-game tickets at CenturyLink Center Omaha Box Office, Ryan Athletic Center, all Ticketmaster locations (Baker's, Younkers), Ticketmaster online at http://www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster and charging by phone at (800) 745-3000. Only upper bowl seats will be available for any game.
   For more information, call the Creighton Ticket Office at (402) 280-JAYS.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Foster

Geoffrey Groselle

Zach Hanson

Ronnie Harrell Jr.

Toby Hegner

Cole Huff

Martin Krampelj

Davion Mintz

Kobe Paras

Justin Patton

Khyri Thomas

Maurice Watson Jr.

Isaiah Zierden