Championship Day Lookback…
Wow! Here we are…already. NCAA Championship Day – April 7, 2025. Seems as though the season just started a couple of weeks ago. Florida v Houston in the championship game.
Well folks, here’s my review take on the Bluejays Men’s Hoops season.
As usual I picked the Jays to win the Big East, the BET, and another EE run. Oh well, I’m a ‘homer’ and can dream, can’t I. Besides, my annual predictions are pretty much on autoload every August. What can I say?
Creighton had an ambitious non-conference slate. They stumbled a bit with losses at home to Nebraska and in Vegas (L 2 of 3). The followed up with a win over Kansas and another loss at Alabama (no surprise there).
The jays came out the conference gate with a L/W, W/L opening gambit, including a surprising loss to Cooley & Georgetown, then got on stride. Creighton reeled off a 9-game win run, then a surprising loss to UConn at home. They went to Madison Square Garden with a chance to take the league lead – to no avail. St. Johns captured the game and the league regular season title.
In the Big East Tourney, the Jays won their way into the Championship game…only to lose again to the Johnnies! Five BET Championship games. 0 BET Championships. Is a pattern developing here? Always the bridesmaid – never the bride!
Regular season record: 22-9.
BET 2-1 (24-10)
NCAA Tourney record: 1-1 (25-11)
Summation: Another pretty good year, another reasonably successful basketball season. Another season of 20 to 25 wins and double-digit losses! We (Creighton) have become a regular feature in the polls, on tv, in various discussions by the variety of hoops world talking heads. But only 1 regular season championship in 13 years in the ‘Big Leagues’! No BET Titles. Is this ALL THERE IS?
Opinion: Creighton has become the “Fightin’ Illini”, the MSU “Spartans” of the Big East? Oh woe, woe is me… Say it ain’t so! Comparatively, DA accumulated 2 (of 3) RS Championships and 12 MVC Tourney Championships in his 13 (of 16) years as Creighton HC. Yes, I understand the Big East is far more competitive than the Valley. My apples to oranges comparison is neither accurate nor fair…but it is what it is.
Now to be fair, the Jays broke through the NCAA glass ceiling barriers. They’ve attained 4 Sweet Sixteens and 1 Elite Eight in the last 6 years – so there’s that. A remarkable improvement in the overall success rate in the NCAA Tourney portion of the post season. Kudos for that.
Is being the Big East Conference bridesmaid enough? Fair question.
Is 20-25 W’s and a nice NCAA run enough? Another fair question.
Is what we’ve come to expect, what we’ve grown accustomed to, enough?
I for one, say No. Unequivacably no!
Is it unfair to Coach to expect MORE? No. He’s paid to achieve, to improve, to win! It is absolutely within the purview of Creighton fandom/family to expect more: Breaking the 30-Win ceiling. Regular Season & BET Championships. Consistent good NCAA runs and a great FF run or a Butleresque 2-year run periodically. And God forbid, a real shot at the national championship. Creighton has one of the nations’ best, most loyal, and faithful fanbases. We deserve more than a Bill Murray – Groundhog Day, continuous loop of above average.
Championships matter damnit! They absolutely do. No one remembers being 2nd in any conference…no one remembers you were the runners-up in FIVE Big East Tournament finals. The record books and the fans only remember who won – the Champions!
LE April 8, 2025: CASE IN POINT – Houston proved to be the best TEAM over the course of a 4 month season of college basketball, in the 2024-25 season. However, that will be a footnote, a cry in the dark by Cougar fans and hoops purists. The point which will be remembered for the next 20 or more years will be that the University of Florida Gators won the 2025 NCAA Championship. Houston’s remarkable season will dry on the vine. Such is the way of sports history.
We can do better. For the name on the front of the jerseys, for the fanbase, for Omaha, and for posterity! I became a Creighton Bluejay back in 1975. I have bled blue for 50 years, come August. I deserve more, I deserve better! We can and will do better! I don’t want to wait another 20 years before hanging another Big East & a 1st National Championship banner at the CHICO (or where ever the Jays will be playing in 2045). Hell, I may not even HAVE another 20 years left in me, damnit. Geter Done Jays!
James Harvey… A.K.A.: gtmoBlue
Quote: “This is our time. This is our great opportunity… Standing strong – for a great, great future.”
2013 – upon joining the Big East Conference
– Fr Timothy Lannon, SJ; former Creighton President.
Yes…and we’re building excellent citizens; Creighton men and women. Heirs to a proud Creightonian legacy as well.
Bluenotes 