Latest News/ Center Jacob Epperson is out with a broken right leg (yesterday). No timeline given yet on his return. No idea if the staff has any options, any candidates for a mid year pickup that could help this season. There are a few unclaimed 2019 transfer big guys, but whether they are capable of upper D1 play is the issue. Jays down to Kelvin Jones, Chris Bishop, and walkon Nic Zeil up front. The season has not yet started and we have a critical injury on the team. Wow!
New Dynamic Duo: Courtesy Creighton Athletics
Davion Mintz is still out with his ankle sprain and has not practiced the last week. No other notable injuries reported.
Smallball will probably be our main menu item. Hopeful that KJ, Bishop, and Zeil can manup the frontcourt.
Preseason Picks: Picks for Creighton have been all over the place. A few as high as 3rd (NBC) place to the BE Coaches poll with the Jays in 7th. My pick had been for 3rd, barring injuries. Now we have injuries. Jays in the ARV section of the AP (4) & Coaches Polls (13).
Hoops Visits: Recent visits by 2020 SG Kerwin Walton and 2021 SG Tamar Bates are in the books. These were the 2nd visits by both recruits. Jays in the hunt for both. A few bluebloods have entered the mix on Walton. Jays in the lead for Bates.
Big East Media Day kicked off today. All the usual stuff in John Fanta, Coaches Poll, All-Big East lists, etc.
Much love being shown to Seton Hall this year as they are the pick to win the conference. Villanova and surprising Xavier are picked 2nd and 3rd. I would have guessed Marquette (4th) or Creighton (7th). Providence also a surprise at 5th, ahead of Georgetown and Creighton. Butler, the Johnnies, and DePaul finish the list.
Standouts from five programs make up the #BIGEASThoops Preseason All-Conference First Team.
Well! This is gonna spur a lot of debate, as though that wasn’t the case already. Powell over Howard as PoY. IMO could have gone either way. However, the spoils generally go to the player on the best/better team. So with The Hall predicted to win the conference, Powell gets the nod.
No Villanova player on the First Team All-Big East? The Wildcats are picked Second in the league, but muster only two Second Team picks at 5th (Gillespie) and ? 6th (Samuels). I didn’t know there were 6 second team picks also. This seems to be a hit/slight towards the defending champions. I would have placed one of the three; 3rd place Xavier, 5th place Providence, or 7th place Creighton 1st team picks on the 2nd team. No need to guess which one, probably Diallo. Butler’s Baldwin is a good pick.
Villanova freshman center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl picks up the FoY.
Courtesy: Creighton Athletics
Creighton:
The Jays are picked low again. The Coaches seem to habitually pick Creighton in the bottom tier. They have done so 4 time in 7 years. Last year 9th, now 7th this season. Fortunately the team and staff don’t generally listen to the noise and chatter. CU has finished 3rd (ties) the last 3 years running. In my August predictions I have the Jays 3rd again…hedging only due to the questions regarding pivot players. With a healthy team Creighton can win the conference.
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