Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
Creighton (Projected: 3rd in Big East)
Greg McDermott has established himself as one of the more consistently successful coaches in college basketball over the last decade and a half. In McDermott’s 14 season at Creighton, the Bluejays have won 20+ games 13 times and the postseason success has started to roll in over the last four NCAA Tournaments. This year’s team has a great chance to reach the Bluejays fourth second-weekend in five years, combining experienced returners with impact newcomers.
One returner stands out above the rest for the Bluejays, both figuratively and literally. 7-1 senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner (17 ppg, 8 rpg) has started 103 games for the Bluejays over the last three seasons and is now exercising his extra year of eligibility. Kalkbrenner is an efficient scorer, excellent rebounder, and one of the best rim protectors in college basketball. He could be getting realistic shouts for national player of the year awards, depending on how successful Creighton is on the national stage.
Starters Steven Ashworth (11 ppg, 4 apg) and Mason Miller (6 ppg) continue the list of returners for the Bluejays. Transferring up from Utah State last offseason, Ashworth’s shooting percentages took a heavy hit in his first year in the Big East. Now in his second year at Creighton, I think Ashworth’s comfortability will show not only in his playmaking but in his shooting numbers as well, which should rise closer to what they were at USU. Miller started all 33 games he played in as a sophomore for the Bluejays, establishing himself as a perfect fit at the four for Greg McDermott, spacing the floor and hitting 45.4% of his three-point attempts. Rounding out the returners are depth pieces Fredrick King (3 ppg), Isaac Traudt (3 ppg), Jasen Green (2 ppg), and Sterling Knox (Redshirt), all of whom should see similarly small roles this season.
Five players departed from Creighton this offseason, including the dynamic wing duo of Baylor Scheierman (19 ppg, 9 rpg, 4 apg) and Trey Alexander (18 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg). With both Scheierman and Alexander out the door, the Bluejays have plenty of scoring to replace heading into this season. Guards Francisco Farabello (4 ppg), Josiah Dotzler (1 ppg), and Jonathan Lawson (1 ppg) complete the list of departures.
With lots of scoring needing to be replaced, McDermott landed one of the highest scoring high major transfers in the portal this year. Pop Isaacs (16 ppg, 4 apg at Texas Tech) wasn’t the most efficient scorer (34.9% FG, 32.7% 3P) during last season with the Red Raiders, but in a system that will allow him to get more open looks, I feel he can raise his efficiencies and be a solid off-ball scorer for the Bluejays. The biggest concern I have with the addition of Isaacs is the lack of defense in the backcourt, and I’m not sure an Ashworth/Isaacs dynamic is the answer offensively either.
Jamiya Neal (11 ppg, 5 rpg at Arizona State) could be the answer to a possible defensive problem for the Bluejays, an experienced power conference player who as a 6-6 wing can guard one through four. Neal isn’t a great offensive fit for the Bluejays as a struggling three-point shooter, but I believe his defensive balance will be necessary for Creighton to compete at the top of the Big East. Another important addition for the Bluejays will be Montenegrin wing Fedor Zugic. Zugic was one of the latest additions in college basketball this offseason, officially joining Creighton in late August. Zugic is another non-factor on the defensive end, but his elite shooting and offensive abilities lead me to believe he will be an important part of the Bluejay rotation.
Three freshmen fill out the roster for Greg McDermott in 2024-25 and could carve out roles off the Creighton bench. Jackson McAndrew (4*, NAT 35) may even have a chance to start as a freshman, but I believe he’ll be a backup option to start the year. McAndrew is a great fit at the four for Creighton, another floor-spacing big man who is full of talent on the offensive end. Larry Johnson (4*, NAT 95) could be important for the Bluejays’ backcourt with the defensive questions I mentioned earlier. Even as just a freshman, Johnson will be the best athlete in the guard department for Creighton, and alongside Neal should be one of the best defenders. Guard Ty Davis (3*, NAT 134) is the third high school recruit for the Bluejays, but I think he’ll have to wait a year to find a spot in the rotation.
As mentioned earlier, Greg McDermott has been one of the most consistent head coaches over the course of his tenure at Creighton. With recent postseason success, the pressure will be on the Bluejays and McDermott to continue that this season. McDermott will have a lot on his plate to replace Scheierman and Alexander, but the talent is there to be a top 25 team once again.
All eyes will on Ryan Kalkbrenner this season for Creighton, one of the most talented bigs in the country, and a likely All-American for the Jays. We all know what he can provide, but as I’ve stressed throughout this preview, there are questions for Creighton in the backcourt. My X-factor for this team is Steven Ashworth, who I think needs to be much-improved in his second year with the Bluejays. He’s now the senior leader of the backcourt and he must show that throughout the course of the year on both ends of the floor.
There’s a clear top five in the Big East in my eyes heading into the season, and I think the Bluejays fall right in the middle of that group. They have a talented roster, albeit one with some question marks, and should be a top six seed for the fourth time in five seasons in the NCAA Tournament. For the moment, I’ve got the Bluejays picked 3rd in the Big East, just ahead of Marquette and St. John’s.