Creighton Bluejay & Big East Outlook for the 2026-27 Basketball Season.

Here we go…

Hey. It’s August 15th again. Inclimate weather be damned! Had a little earthquake down in these parts…not a problem. “We gotta do what we gotta do! (We men ain’t we?)” – MHD on YouTube.

Time for ol’ gtmo to once again put the envelope to his forehead and look into the college basketball future. An old school unicorn in today’s cookie-cutter, Ai driven, more as better online environment. Progress? Hmmm…depends upon which seat you’re sittin’ on, sir.

Question: What can we look forward to, for the Bluejays, this 2026-27 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 again this season!

“I am ALL-IN on the Creighton Bluejays.  The 2025-26 Jays stumbled early and often. losing five of six games vs majors in the non-conference slate, beating Oregon in the Players Era Festival tourney in Las Vegas. They went on a 4 game win run to begin conference play, and 5 of 6, losing to Seton Hall in a close loss in New Jersey.. The Jays proceeded to play .500 ball for the rest of the season, with the exception of two 3-game losing streaks (end of January and end of February) which landed them in 5th place at regular season’s end. Jays finished the RS: 9-11/15-16 Team lost to Seton Hall in the BET. Creighton accepted a bid to the College Crown Tourney (after Seton Hall refused the bid). Jays went 1-1 in the CCT in Las Vegas. CU finished the season 16-18 overall, a very poor year by Bluejay standards. Newcomers had an up and down season, notably so in the pivot as the incoming production was a steep dropoff from the Kalkbrenner Era. Guard production was surprisingly above average as Graves, Dix, and Swartz were very productive.

This coming 2026-27 season, our Jays continue to have the talent, consistency, drive, heart, will-to-win, and determination to potentially 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.

In 2026, they again have a great mix of youth (Frosh: PG Katrelle Harmon, #56 and Ctr/Fwd Trevon Carter-Givens, #116. Transfers: Sr PG BJ Davis, Sr SG Wes Enis, Soph SG Kaylen ‘Bugg’ Edwards, Sr PG Brody Robinson, Jr.Ctr Oswin Erhunmwunse, and Juco Ctr Wes Rosa.. Returnees: Wing Austin Swartz, Jr, Fwd Soph Jackson McAndrew, Srs Fwd Jason Green, Fwd Isaac Troudt, Soph Wing Hudson Greer, and Sr SG Shane Thomas

They know that their system allows them to compete and win against anyone. However, Creighton has gained a great deal of defensive prowess in Erhunmwunse, Rosa, Davis, and Edwards.replacing Freeman & Co. 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 make a big run in the expanded NCAA Dance in March 2027.

Major Media Projections

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

Torvik – T-Rank

• 11- Connecticut
• 17- St Johns
• 26- Villanova
• 29- Marquette
• 45- Creighton

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

Big East Projections (sans Pre-season Coaches Poll)

Current Big East projections have the UConn Huskies as the favorite to win the conference. Kenpom is not out, so Using Torvik’s T-ranking, Resource Nexus’, & Busting Brackets power rankings.

Torvik’s 2026-27 T-Rankings: https://barttorvik.com/trankpre.php

ESPN preseason bracket (Jul 29th, 2026) has 7 Big East teams, in order: UConn E 2-seed, St Johns MW 6-seed, Nova W 7-seed, Cr8n S 10-seed, Providence MW 10-seed, Xavier S 11-seed, and Marquette is MW 12-seed.

CBS preseason bracket (Jun 12th, 2026) has only 5 Big East Teams in the expanded field, in order: Uconn MW 1-seed, St Johns S 4-seed, Nova E 7-seed, Marquette S 10-seed, and Providence W 11-seed.

2025-26 Projected Big East Regular Season Final Standings –

Big East Preseason First-Team ??
Swartz-Crei

Big East Player of the Year/DPOY
PoY: Demary-Uconn DPoY: Erwunhunse-Crei

Big East Preseason Sleeper
Xavier

Big East Freshman of the Year  SG J County-Villanova

Impact Transfers

• Erwunhunse – Creighton
• Magoon Gwath – DePaul
• Malik Mack – Providence
• Donnie Freeman / Yessoufou- St Johns
• Nick Khamenia – UConn
• Devon Royal – Nova
• Mike Nwoko – Xavier

Bluenotes Projections:

• Transfers Erwunhunse, Davis, Enis, & Robinson, all add experience…
• Veteran returnees Green, McAndrew, Greer, Swartz, and Traudt will all contribute..
• Top #60 recruit PG Harmon will contribute.
• Kaylen Edwards will break out in Creighton’s system.

I like this team! Question is…Will they gel and develop sufficient team chemistry to ride through the season? Creighton will go as far as they can take the team. Coach Huss 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 gel while the improved defense carries the early load. A heavy non-con slate will test this team early and often with games versus 4 ranked teams & 7 ‘majors’ before Christmas. This team shows a couple of neutral site 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. Many major teams, including the majority of Big East clubs 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! There is no ‘clear’ favorite this season. Jays win a brutal, muddy, and ugly BE gauntlet @ 15-5 in conference play. Overall 24-7/15-5 BE. Look for DePaul and Xavier to surprise.

This season everyone is healthy. Hmmm? Near miss on a Euro (French) PG and an extremely late (Aug 12th) 5th year exemption player in PG Brody Robinson from Oakland University. BJ Underground rumor says Big Fred is coming home -5th year exemption?.

As for post-season honors:

• Big East PoY: SG Demary-Connecticut . DPoY: Ctr Erwunhunse-Creighton
• All-Conf: SG Swartz -1st Team BE, SF Greer, PFGreen – 2nd Team BE
  Ctr Wesley Rosa – HM BE.
• FoY.: Jr County – Nova

2025-26 in a snapshot:

Last year (2025-2026) the Jays fared poorly. Creighton was in the hunt until 3 straight loses in late January/1st of February. Settled for 5th in the RS,. 9 wins in the BE. The team’s diminished defense and inconsistent ability to snatch victory in (6) close games was the death knell. Defense 1st! Trusting/playing within the system – no ‘hero ball’, playing for each other, and the unquenchable will-to-win will be key for the Jays in the upcoming 2026-27 season..

This year (2026-27): Barring a major developmental surprise this fall, the Jays improved defense will have to carry the team while the developing offensive identity gels. 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: Lose to Iowa (neutral site). Win 2 in Las Vegas Players Era Festival (TCU/Miami, other), lose the 1st game (Mich). Beat both Gonzaga and Nebraska at home. Win the rest – Non-Con slate 9-2  

Big East Reg. Season: Lose 1 at home., lose 4 on the road.  BE RS Champs 15-5. RS Overall: 24-7

Post Season: BET. 3-0. Overall: 27-7.  

NCAA: Elite Eight run as the 3-seed in the Midwest Region. 3-1. Overall: 30-8.

Non-Con 9-2, RS 24-7/BE 15-5, BET 3-0, NCAA 3-1 RS 24-7 Overall 30-8

Final Four: Maybe next year??

Jim Harvey a.k.a. @gtmoBlue

gtmoBlue: “I am ALL-IN on the Bluejays. The Creighton Bluejays are potentially an EE team this season!

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!

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