Creighton Bluejay & Big East Outlook for the 2025-26 Basketball Season.

Here we go…

Hey. It’s August 15th again. Time for ol’ gtmo to once again put the envelope to his forehead and look into the college basketball future.

Question: What can we look forward to, for the Bluejays, this 2025-26 college basketball season?

Carnak: Much good fortune, health, Championship basketball, and a long and prosperous post-season…Instant Karma! However, recent history and precedences are set – sooo, Ol’ Karnak is gonna go with the averages this season!

“I am ALL-IN on the Creighton Bluejays. The 2024-25 Jays stumbled early, losing at Nebraska, and 2 of 3 (SDSU & #20 TAMU) in the Players Era Festival tourney in Las Vegas. They went on to beat #1 Kansas at home before significant losses to #7 Alabama, and 2 surprising losses in Big East play (Gtwn & #8 Marquette), falling to 2-2 in conference play. The Jays rallied to reel off 9 consecutive wins to be in the hunt for the Big East RS crown. The Bluejays fell to both UConn (at the CHICO) and #9 St Johns (on the road) in mid-February, to fall out of championship contention. Creighton wound up 2nd in the Big East at 15-5/22-9 overall. Creighton was bested by #6 St Johns in the BET Championship game. The team then went on to make their 5th consecutive NCAA Rd of 32 appearance, beating #10 Louisville before losing to #4 Auburn, 70-82. CU finished the season 25-11 overall, a good year.

In 2025, they have a great mix of youth (Frosh: SG Hudson Greer, #40 and Ctr Alexja Demitrijevic, transfers (Sr Wing josh Dix, Soph Wing Austin Swartz, Jr Ctr Owen Freeman, Sr PG Nik Graves, Soph PG/Fwd Blake Harper, & Jr Fwd Ian McChesney), and veterans Fwd Soph Jackson McAndrew, Jrs Fwd Jason Green/Fwd Isaac Troudt, Euro Wing Soph Fedor Zugic, and Jr PG Ty Davis . Two walkons remain: Guard Soph Thomas, & Jr Fwd Townley-Thomas.

They know that their system allows them to compete and win against anyone. However, Creighton has lost a great deal of defensive prowess. Replacing Kalkbrenner with Freeman, they may initially have to ‘outgun’ opponents with offense until some semblance of defense kicks in as the year progresses. They have the talent & tools to meet the majority of their intermediate milestones, but will need to mesh and develop greater team chemistry to achieve their major milestones, and again, make a big run in the NCAA Dance in March 2026.

This coming 2025-26 season, our Jays continue to have the talent, consistency, drive, heart, will-to-win, and determination to again contend for the NCAA Championship. The Jays have sufficient depth to weather unforeseen injuries. However, there has been a major overhaul in talent and Creighton relied on the transfer portal for 6 new bluejays as well as 2 HS recruits.

Team Makeup

Jasen Green (Jasen) Junior

2022 Ranked 4-star (112) by ON3, 4-star (#17 PF) by ESPN, 3-star by Rivals and 247. Jasen Green is a 6-7, 220-pound Power Forward from Omaha, NE. He’s the second-highest-ranked player in Nebraska this year. PF Jasen Green redshirted 2022-23. Owned 1,333 points and 733 rebounds at Millard North High School in Omaha and named honorary captain of the Omaha World-Herald All-State Team as a senior when he led the Mustangs to a second consecutive state title.

• Missed CU’s first four games with a broken hand before making his debut on Nov. 22 vs. Loyola Chicago with three rebounds, two points and an assist in four minutes of play.
• Had four points and three rebounds in 10 minutes vs. Central Michigan (Dec. 9).
• Scored first two career BIG EAST baskets in first half at Providence (Feb. 7).
• Creighton’s first sub off the bench in road win at Xavier (Feb. 10).
• Scored seven points in 15 minutes in victory over Georgetown (Feb. 13).
• Had career-highs in points (8) and minutes (16) in win vs. No. 1 Connecticut (Feb. 20), including his first two career three-pointers.
• Scored a pair of baskets in win over No. 5 Marquette (March 2).
• Had three rebounds in just five minutes at Villanova (March 9).
• Tripled previous high with nine rebounds to clinch trip to Sweet 16 in win vs. Oregon, including his first career dunk in double-overtime (March 23).
• Those nine rebounds are the second-most by a Creighton freshman in program history for an NCAA Tournament game.
• Had four points and six rebounds in season-high 19 minutes of Sweet 16 game vs. No. 6 Tennessee (March 29).

Isaac Traudt Soph

2023-24: Redshirt Freshman at Creighton
• Creighton’s first freshman since Ryan Sears in 1997-98 to make multiple three-pointers in each of the first three games of his rookie campaign.
• Made a 3-pointer in each of his first seven games.
• Made first career start on Nov. 22 vs. Loyola Chicago.
• Had 12 points and six rebounds vs. Florida A&M (Nov. 7) in collegiate debut.
• Had first two collegiate dunks at Nebraska (Dec. 3).
• Scored season-high 18 points in just 12 minutes vs. Central Michigan (Dec. 9), shooting 6-for-7 from the floor and 5-for-6 from 3-point range.
• Had six points and a pair of offensive rebounds at DePaul (Jan. 9).
• Scored 11 points in less than seven minutes vs. Seton Hall (Feb. 28), making 3-of-3 three-pointers as well as both free throw tries.
• Made his NCAA Tournament debut and had a blocked shot vs. Akron (March 21).
• Averaged 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in three games in the Bahamas.
• Made 2-of-3 three-pointers and scored seven points in exhibition game win vs. Wayne State (Nov. 3).
• Redshirted last season at ACC champion Virginia.
• Nebraska’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021-22 as a senior in high school, when he was named All-State after averaging 23.1 points and 8.3 rebounds.

Summer 2023: Bahamas Tour
• Averaged 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in three games, including one start.
• Had five points, six rebounds and three assists vs. Raw Talent Elite.
• Scored seven points in start vs. BC Kaunas Zalgiris.
• Closed tour with four points and four rebounds vs. Club Obras.

2021-22: Redshirted at Virginia
• Redshirted the 2022-23 season, but was allowed to practice for the Atlantic Coast Conference champion Cavaliers, who were 25-8 overall and finished 15-5 in conference action.
• Named to Atlantic Coast Conference Honor Roll.

Grand Island High School
• Four-year letterwinner at Grand Island High School from 2019-22.
• Tallied 23.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a senior in 2021-22.
• Named Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022.
• Earned Lincoln Journal Star All-State and Omaha World-Herald All-State First Team honors in 2021-22.
• Averaged 25.3 points and 9.4 rebounds during his junior season in 2020-21.
• Named First Team All-State by the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star his junior campaign.

Awards & Honors
2022-23    Atlantic Coast Conference Honor Roll

Fedor Zugic FR *

European Wing Signee (Montenegro). As of August 19, 2024*, Fedor is reportedly on campus and in the dorm. In July 2023, he signed with BG Göttingen of the Basketball Bundeslig (BBL). 2023-24 BG Gottingen (Germany), 33 games, 21 mpg: 10.3 ppg, 1.9 rbg, 1.2 ast, FG% 42.7, 3PT% 35.3 In July 2022, Euro was a member of the Montenegro under-20 team that won a bronze medal at the FIBA U20 European Championship in Podgorica, Montenegro. Over seven tournament games, he averaged 18 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.^[6] He won a spot on the all-tournament team.^[7]

Recruits 2025

Walkons: All players below are 3-star rated from championship programs.

Shane Thomas, Soph, Las Vegas, Durango/Red Rock Academy

• Las Vegas Sun’s Super Seven Team Honoree Shane Thomas, 2021. Basketball family in Nevada. Shane led Red Rock Academies’ post-grad program with 18 pts 8 rebs and shot 38% from 3. Durango High School
• Attended Durango High School in Las Vegas for two years prior to Red Rock Academy.
• Named Team’s Defensive Player of the Year.
• Selected to the Las Vegas Sun Super Seven.
• Earned Academic All-State acclaim.

Centennial High School
• Also attended Centennial High School for two years.
• Famous alums from Centennial High School include NFL running back Rhamondre Stevenson, MLB outfielder Tommy Pham and NBA forward Troy Brown Jr.
• Part of the 2000 movie Pay It Forward was filmed at Centennial High School.

2023-24: Redshirted at Creighton

Josh Townley-Thomas, Jr

2023-24: Redshirted at Crieghton
• Utilized his redshirt option.
• A transfer from North Platte (Neb.) Community College, Townley-Thomas averaged 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in two games in the Bahamas.
• Had five points, four rebounds and blocked a shot in seven minutes of exhibition game win vs. Wayne State (Nov. 3).
• Averaged 4.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season for the Knights.
• Omaha native played high school ball at Creighton Prep.

Summer 2023: Bahamas Tour
• Averaged 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in two games.
• Grabbed four rebounds and scored one basket vs. Club Obras.

2022-23: Freshman at North Platte CC
• Played in 29 games at North Platte Community College in North Platte, Neb.
• Averaged 4.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game.
• Shot 52.7 percent from the field and 56.4 percent at the free throw line.
• Of his 150 rebounds, 56 of them came on the offensive end.
• Also swatted 25 shots and pilfered eight steals.
• Blocked three shots on Jan. 9 vs. Hastings College JV.
• Scored in double-figures five times, topped by his season-high 12 points in a 97-79 win over Western Nebraska CC on Feb. 21st.
• Hauled in double-digit rebounds in three straight games from Dec. 9-Jan. 9, bookending that stretch with 12-rebound contests.
• Lone double-double came against Central Wyoming College, when he had 11 points and 12 rebounds in just 20 minutes of action (Dec. 9).
• Team averaged 80.9 points per game and finished 13-16 overall.

Creighton Prep
• Helped the Junior Jays to the state semifinals as a senior in 2022.
• Played for coach Josh Luedtke.

2025 Team Depth

Major Media Projections

A few media talking heads have CU in their Top 25 preseason polls with Marquette & Providence in the others receiving votes category.

The AP and Coaches Polls will undoubtedly have 2-4 BE teams listed, with St Johns & UConn top 10, the Jays in the 20’s & Marquette in the 30s. Providence & Georgetown may also see a bit of rankings love.

Big East Projections (sans Pre-season Coaches Poll)

Current Big East projections have the St Johns Red Storm (Johnnies) as the favorite to win the conference. Kenpom is not out, so Using Torvik’s T-ranking, CBS’s, & Busting Brackets power rankings.

Torvik’s 2025-26 T-Rankings: https://barttorvik.com/trankpre.php

ESPN preseason bracket (Jul 29th, 2025) has 3 Big East teams, in order: UConn 2-seed, St Johns 2-seed, Cr8n 9-seed. Marquettte is in the 1st 4 Out, Gtwn in the Next 4 Out.

CBS preseason bracket (Jul 15th, 2025) has 5 Big East Teams, in order: St Johns 1-seed, Uconn 2-seed, Cr8n 6-seed, Marquette 8-seed, and Georgetown 11-seed.

2025-26 Projected Big East Regular Season Final Standings –

Big East Preseason First-Team ??
Dix-Crei, Hopkins-St Johns, Ejiofor-St Johns, Karaban-Conn, Ross-Marq, Traore-Butler

Big East Player of the Year/DPOY
PoY: SG Josh Dix-Creighton DPoY: PF Zuby Ejiofor-St Johns

Big East Preseason Sleeper
Butler

Big East Freshman of the Year  Dimitrijevic-Crei

Impact Transfers

• Traore – Butler
• Dix/Graves – Creighton
• Banks – DePaul
• Edwards – Providence
• Sellers/Sanon – St Johns
• Demary – UConn

Bluenotes Projections:

Iowa transfers Freeman & Dix plus Charlotte PG Graves, all add experience…Veteran returnees Davis, Green, McAndrew, Zugic, and Traudt too. Transfers Harper, Swartz, & McChesney add depth. Top #40 recruit Greer & Euro Ctr Dimitrijevic will contribute. I like this team! Question is…can Freeman stay healthy? Will they gel and develop sufficient team chemistry to ride through the season? Creighton will go as far as they can take the team. Mac will ride them hard, but can Coach & the team “adapt and overcome”. The current common ‘wisdom’ on the boards is: Can the Jays potentially potent offense carry the team while developing some semblance of D? Wildcards: Demitrijevic as emergency starter and savior? Harper shows out in the ‘big leagues’! This team shows a couple of hiccups early, but steadily & consistently improves as the season progresses. A highly dangerous team come NCAA Tourney time.

All the talking heads are enamored with Hurley & Papa Pitino. Both have brought on a boatload of newbies (recruits & portal). Too many name players – not enough balls or chemistry. UConn/StJ players playing for potential NBA Draft positioning, not the name on the front of their jerseys. Can you say… Overrated!! Jays win a muddy, brutal, and ugly BE gauntlet @ 15-5 in conference play. Overall 23-8/15-5 BE. Look for Butler and Traore to surprise.

This season everyone but Freeman is healthy. He will supposedly be ready to play come October. Dimitrijevic (cleared) and Traudt will see time in the pivot. Supposedly, Coach Huss recently (late Jul-early Aug) returned to Europe-browsing? Hmmm? Walk-ons Shane Thomas and forward Townley-Thomas are also healthy.

As for post-season honors:

Big East PoY: SG Josh Dix-Crei. DPoY: Zuby Ojiofor-St Johns

All-Conf: SG Josh Dix -1st Team BE, Wing Bryce Harper/PG Nik Graves – 2nd Team BE
Ctr Alexsa Dimitrijevic – HM BE.

FoY. Ctr Alexsa Dimitrijevic – Crei

2024-25 in a snapshot:

Last year (2024-2025) the Jays fared about the same as 2023-24. Creighton was in the hunt until back to back loses in mid February. Settled for 2nd in the RS. 15 wins in the BE. That good-to-great defense and ability to snatch victory in close games served this team well – as the Jays got everybody’s ” best game” this season (2024-25). Defense 1st! Trusting/playing within the system- no ‘hero’ ball, playing for each other, and the unquenchable will-to-win were key for the Jays.

This year (2025): Barring a major developmental surprise this fall, the Jays offense will have to carry the team while developing a defensive identity. The seemingly good team chemistry will help in that regard and the experienced collegiate players will need to step up and play D, as well as lead! I foresee consistent and steady team improvement as season progresses.

Non-Con: Win 2 in Las Vegas Players Era Festival (Baylor, Iowa St.), lose the 3rd game. Losses on the road @ Gonzaga, @ Nebraska. Win the rest – Non-Con slate 8-3  

Big East Reg. Season: Lose 1 at home., lose 4 on the road.  BE RS Champs 15-5. RS Overall: 23-8

Post Season: BET. 1-1. Overall: 24-9.  

NCAA: Sweet 16 run as the 3-seed in the Midwest Region. 2-1. Overall: 26-10.

Non-Con 8-3, RS 23-8/BE 15-5, BET 1-1, NCAA 2-1 RS 23-8 Overall 26-10

Final Four: Maybe next year??

Jim Harvey a.k.a. @gtmoBlue

gtmoBlue: “I am ALL-IN on the Bluejays. The Creighton Bluejays are potentially 1-2 years away from another EE Run.

Who’d a thunk it, back in 1975, 1991, or 2006? Lil’ Creighton competing and winning in da Big Leagues! Dreams can come true, baby! Where’s my Natty? Roll Damn Jays!

CBS Articles: Michael Stamps

https://247sports.com/article/creighton-basketball-practice-notebook-wednesday-july-16-2025-251813316/

https://247sports.com/article/predicting-creightons-depth-chart-for-the-2025-26-season-251112605/

https://247sports.com/article/3-important-questions-surrounding-creightons-2025-offseason-250805291/

Busting Brackets Articles: Joey Loose & Joseph Shaw

https://bustingbrackets.com/why-josh-dix-is-creighton-s-most-important-team-transfer-for-2025-26

https://bustingbrackets.com/big-east-basketball-analysis-and-grades-for-each-teams-2025-offseason-moves

“This is our time. This is our great opportunity… Standing strong – for a great, great future.” 2013 – FR. TIMOTHY LANNON, SJ – 24TH CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

#RollDamnJays!

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