Tag: college basketball highlights

16th Annual – gtmo’s Ridiculously Predictable, (not so) Preposterous, Preseason Predictions – 2023/24 Edition

On By @gtmoblueIn Basketball 365, Big East, college basketball, college basketball 365, NCAA Basketball, Pre-season Basketball

Creighton Bluejay & Big East Outlook for the 2023-24 Season.

Big East Logo

ALL-IN!

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

git’s going Carnak on the Jays this season.

Question: What can we look forward to, for the Bluejays, this 2023-24 college basketball season?

Carnak: Much good fortune, health, winning basketball, and a long and prosperous post-season…Instant Karma!

Creighton photo

“I am ALL-IN on the Creighton Bluejays. The 2022-23 Jays stumbled early, but regrouped during the Big East gauntlet. Creighton made the BET championship game – again, but were denied. The team then went on to make their 1st Elite Eight in the modern era. CU finished a heartbeat and questionable call away from our initial final four. Painful, but true.

This coming 2023-24 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. They have a great mix of youth, transfers, and veterans. They know that their system allows them to compete and win against anyone. Creighton also plays good defense. They will meet the majority of their intermediate milestones, achieve their major milestones, and make a big run again in the NCAA Dance in March 2024.

Creighton photo

Team Makeup

Trey Alexander (Tricky Trey) So.

• Named the No. 55 prospect in ESPN’s rankings.
• Named Oklahoma’s Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 23.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
• All-time leading scorer and rebounder in Heritage Hall HS history.
• One of three Bluejays named to the BIG EAST’s All-Freshman Team (2021-22)
• HM All-Big East for 2022-23 Season.
• Averaged 13.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 32 minutes per game.


Baylor Scheierman Sr. (Transfer fm SDSU-2 yrs eligibility)

A 6-foot-6 native of Aurora, Neb., a former 2 sport athlete (Ftbl/Hoops) Summit League player of the year (2021-22). He averaged 16.2 points per game. Led the Summit League in rebounding (7.8 per game) and assists (4.5). Shot 51 percent from the floor, 47 percent from 3-point land and 80 percent at the FT line.

• HM All-Big East for 2022-23 Season.
• Averaged 12.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists in 32 mpg.

Ryan Kalkbrenner (Big Ryan) Jr.

• A former No. 69 recruit per Rivals, he had five triple-doubles as a prep senior and had seven games with 10 or more blocks (with a high of 15).

• 2021-22 Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST choice, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and named to All-BIG EAST Tournament Team. Averaged 13.1 ppg, 7.7 rbg, 0.9apg. Shot 64.6% FG, 25.0 3pt, 73.6% FT

•2022-23 1st Tm All-Big East, 2x DPoY, All-Big East Tournament Team. Avg 15.9 ppg, 6.1 RBG, 1.1 APG in 32 mpg.

BIG EAST ranks: 1st in FG percentage;  1st in offensive rebounds/game; 2nd in blocked shots/game; 6th in rebounds/game; 12th in FT percentage; 19th in points/game.
• NCAA ranks: 4th in field goal percentage, 4th in offensive rebounds per game, 12th in total blocks, 17th in blocked shots per game, 71st in total rebounds.
• His 134 offensive rebounds were the most by a Bluejay in more than 35 years.
• Also ranks among national leaders with CU-best 69 dunks, including six slams at Georgetown (Feb. 12).
• Set CHI Health Center Omaha records for blocked shots (38) and offensive rebounds (58) in a season.
• Had a blocked shot in 26 straight games (Nov. 16, 2021-Feb. 26, 2022), CU’s longest streak since Benoit Benjamin did it in 28 games in a row in 1984-85.
• Notched 100th career block vs. Butler (Feb. 8) in his 53rd career game, CU’s third-fastest to that milestone ever.
• Became first Bluejay with 5 blocks in consecutive games (Nov. 22 & 27) since Benoit Benjamin in 1985, he also had five swats in a win vs. No. 24 BYU (Dec. 11) and vs. No. 9 Villanova (Dec. 17).
• First Bluejay with five straight games of 9+ rebounds since 2011 (Doug McDermott). • Finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds in NCAA Tournament win vs. San Diego State (March 17) before leaving with a knee injury that forced him to miss the Second Round game vs. No. 3 Kansas two days later.

2022-23
Kalkbrenner has been the strong anchor in the middle for Creighton both offensively and defensively. The 7-1 center is the Bluejays’ top scorer with a 14.9 regular season average. He leads the nation field goal shooting, connecting at 70.6 percent and is first in blocked shots in the BIG EAST with a 2.5 mark.

Mason Miller (Mayo) RS Frosh

• Ranked as the No. 63 prospect by Rivals and No. 73 in the 247Sports composite rankings.
• Averaged 19.1 points per game as a senior to help Houston to its first state title.
• Was named Tennessee’s Class AAA Mr. Basketball. Redshirted last season. Reportedly the Best shooter on the team.

2022-23 Redshirt Frosh scored 2.3 ppg, 1.6 rbg in 9 mpg.

Fredrick King (Fredrick) Soph

Ranked as the No. 67 by On3, #109 On3 Composite, #133 recruit by 247Sports rankings of 2022, 4-star by Rivals (NR). True frosh from the Bahamas. Recruited from the NBA Academy Latin America (Mexico). (former Louisville commit) Mobile big man who is quick off his feet and plays with an exceptionally high intensity level. Possessing intriguing skill, poise and maturity. Converted 77% of his field goal attempts at the Academy Games and 74% of his free throws.

2022-23 Soph scored 3.4 PPG, 2.8 RBG, 0.8 BPG in 8.3 mpg. 60.9% FG.

Francisco Farabello Sr (Transfer fm TCU-2yr eligibility)

The 6-foot-3 guard from Argentina played 73 games over three seasons at Texas Christian. Creative facilitator and ball handler who has a high basketball IQ. Impressive passer. Extensive Int’l (FIBA) experience for national team. Farabello started 18 games at TCU averaging 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Career: 40% FG, 40% 3pt, 81% FT.

Jasen Green (Jasen) Soph

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 2022. PF Jasen Green redshirted in 2022-23.

Frosh/Transfers

SF/SG Sterling Knox, LV, Red Rock Academy/Durango HS

PG Josiah Dotzler, Omaha, Bellevue West HS

Ctr Brock Vice, Germantown, TN HS

PF Isaac Troudt, UVA

SF Johnathan Lawson, UMemphis

PF Steven Ashworth, Utah State U

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

Sami Osmani, (Sami Sosa) Jr. Chicago, Oak Lawn Community HS. PG-6’3”/203

• Scored 0.8 ppg, 0.7 RBG, 0.4 APG in 2.2 mpg, in 2022-23.
• Named MVP of the South Suburban Conference in 2019 as well as MVP of the Annual Thanksgiving Tournament his senior season.
• Three-time all-conference choice.
• Named one of the top-50 players in Chicago prior to his senior year by the Chicago Sun-Times, an honor he shared with current teammate Devin Davis.

Shane Thomas, Fr. Las Vegas, Durango/Red Rock Academy. SG-6’3″/190

  • 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.
  • As a junior – won Nevada State Championship @ Durango HS, with teammate Sterling Knox.

Josh Townley-Thomas, Soph. Omaha, Creighton Prep/No Platte CC (Juco). PF/Ctr-6’10″/220

Scored 4.4 ppg, 5.2 rbg, on 17 mpg at NPCC. Started 24 of 29 games. 52.7 FG%.

Team Depth

Starters: Ashford, Alexander, Scheierman, Miller, Kalkbrenner.

Primary subs: CG Farabello, SF Lawson, Fwd Green, Fwd Traudt, Ctr King.

Other bench: PG Dotzler, SG/SF Knox, Ctr Vick.

Walk-on: CG Osmani, SG Thomas, PF Townley-Thomas.

Major Media Projections

Most media talking heads have CU in their Top 25 preseason polls. Several have the Jays Top 10. A couple say the Jays are title contenders, Most polls have 5 BE teams in their Top 25. UConn, Marquette, Jays, Nova, & St Johns.

Coach McDermott has led Creighton to a 276-137 record through 12 seasons, ranking second in program history in victories.  Creighton is second only to Villanova in total wins in the Big East since the reconfiguration.

The AP and Coaches Polls will undoubtedly have 3-4 BE teams listed, with the UConn & Marquette close together in the Top 10, with the Jays in the mid to high teens, & Nova.

Current Big East projections have the Bluejays as the 3rd place team in the conference. The three (3) returning starters plus PG Steven Ashford give the Jays a formidable lineup. Ryan Kalkbrenner is the reigning 2X DPoY, Sr Scheierman & Jr Trey Alexander were HM All-Big East.

2023-24 NCAA College Basketball Rankings
Jays 3rd…nationally.

Big East Previews:

On Twitter – John Fanta is presenting 2023-24 preview capsules of each BE team.

Big East 2023-24 Final Standings:

The Rich Keefe Show – WEEI Radio???

The next “Way Too Early” Big East poll for 2023-24: 1) Marquette 2) UConn 3) Creighton 4) Providence 5) Villanova 6) Xavier 7) St. John’s 8) Seton Hall 9) Butler 10) DePaul 11) Georgetown.

https://embed.radio.com/?slug=weei&type=station

Jon Rothstein: https://collegehoops.today/rothstein-files/big-east-offseason-breakdown-4/

Marquette, UConn, Jays, Nova, StJ, Xavier…

Jays 5 Year Trends….

Top Newcomers… Recruit & Transfer

Around The County In 2 Minutes, Next Up: Sterling Knox Of Red Rock Academy

As for post-season honors:

Gonna go with Big Ryan K. as the Big East PoY, 3X DPoY.

Big Ryan, Trey,-1st Team BE. Scheierman HM BE, again. No mas.

2023-24 in a snapshot:

Last year I had the Jays 1st – they finished 3rd. With the stats listed above that is a surprise. The difference makers were solid Defense, the will-to-win (no quit in this group), and the knack for snatching victory from the grips of defeat (winning close games). Jays were upended in tough non-conf slate: AZ in Maui, @Texas, Nebraska, in Las Vegas.

This year the Jays fare much better. Creighton wins (1st) the BE. That good-to-great defense and ability to snatch victory in close games will serve this team well – as the Jays will continue to get everybody’s ” best game” this season. 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.

Non-Con: Win KCMO HOF Classic. Win @OKST, @NEB, @LasVegas, win the rest – Non-Con slate 11-0 Big East Reg. Season: Win at home., lose 4 on the road: L @ Radnor, L @ Cintas, and two others late in the season (Pick – @Marq, @Prov, @MSG). BE RS Champs 16-4. RS Overall: 27-4

Post Season: Win the BET. 3-0. Overall: 30-4.  Final Four run as the 2-seed in the South Region. 4-0. Overall: 34-4. FF?

Final Four: Instant Karma?? I, for one, believe in Good Karma.

gtmoBlue: “I am ALL-IN on the Bluejays. The Creighton Bluejays are a Final Four lock.” Once there, who knows what can happen. With a bit of “Instant Karma”, Creighton has good odds to win the NCAA Championship this 2023-24 season.

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

#RollDamnJays!

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Going Beyond the Limits.

On By @gtmoblueIn college basketball 365

There are no Limits.

Courtesy Creighton Athletics

In 1936 Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in the Summer Olympics. It was a previously unheard of, impossible feat of athletics.  No one had ever won 4 gold medals in a single Olympics.  The politics of that day/year aside, this tome is not about athletics or political history, but the notion of history itself and of exceeding the ceilings imposed by constricted, skewed, and incorrect knowledge.

In the 20th Century the limits fell.  In most aspects of human life – one barrier, one obstacle, one limitation after another succumbed to the persistence of human will, to determination, to changes in the social morays of the day, to scientific investigation, to the dominance of the imagination, and other modes of change. We as individuals and societies, are the culmination of what we were taught and our experiences.  Much of what we were taught was passed on over the generations via family, schools, social environment, etc.  Much of what we were taught has been modified by each prevailing social/political model within the country (ies) we lived in.  Much of what we were taught is outdated, mundane, outmoded, edited multiple times, and flat out incorrect.  It is the equivalent of the “Matrix” of the movies.

However, thankfully the limits, barriers, and obstacles have been falling like autumn leaves during the 20th Century. The world as we know it has changed several times over the last 65 years (last 50 years of the 20th C. and 1st 15 years of the 21st C.).

Our beliefs inform our opinions and viewpoints of the world in which we live.  They give rise to our ideas of what is real and to our peculiar-particular point of view.  They inform our views of what is and is not possible.  Limitations to general progress are real – to those who choose to view them as such.  Limitations are based in belief systems, also the lack of or gaps within well rounded and current knowledge, and a restricted viewpoint of “what is” and “what can be”.  Habits can also contribute: “We have always done it this way” or “That’s impossible”.

Belief systems which are past oriented/past-based look at the “now” of today filtered through past and history based ideas, philosophies, and knowledge.  Today becomes colored, filtered, and controlled by outdated notions which attempt to inform and explain today’s environment…but fail miserably.  The “now” of today is severely shortchanged by such systems.  The future is rarely if ever apprehended nor anticipated as the past-based proponents cannot ponder and look ahead whilst adhering to their rear-view beliefs.

Our beliefs inform our views of the world…our ideas of what is real…of what is and is not possible…and influences our perception of potential futures (if any):

     In the 14th and 15th centuries beating diseases (Plague, Cholera, Typhoid, Smallpox) was not possible.  Millions of folk died from various disease epidemics.  It was not until doctors, scientists, and others later understood the roles of bacteria, viruses, disease causation (Pasteur and others), and sanitation, that progress began to be made in this fight.  Other scientists began to devise health systems (Sanitation and hygiene, water filtration, immunizations, and other public health systems) and over time we began to whip the diseases which had previously dominated life and life spans. Today we benefit from vastly improved overall health and nearly double the lifespan of folks back then.

     Prior to the 20th Century man could only dream of flying.  Flight was not possible until the late 19th C. balloonists and wannabe aviators understood the principles of aerodynamics, lighter-than-air craft, lift, propulsion, and other flight dynamics.  Today air travel and flight is as commonplace as sliced bread.  Mankind has entered the space age and vehicles fly to other planets for exploration. We even have the beginnings of a space tourism sector.

Discovery/Invention are pretty words for…figuring out how to do a given thing. Sanitation, water filtration, aviation…computers, television, satellite communications, Coca Cola, rotary engines, electricity, solar power, McDonald’s, chess, basketball, and everything else that currently exists – owes its’ birth to discovery and invention.

 

All it takes is effort, experimentation (trial and error), and time!

 Now…if a person believes in limits – there are.  With limits-everything takes longer to do if he ever gets to his goal(s).  He may not make it at all with his particular set of perceived limits.

If a person believes their aren’t any limits – there aren’t any.  Without limits-he speeds by or around obstacles and speeds up his experimentation, reaching his goals faster. He/she will be free to make the necessary changes to figure out the “how to” to reach the goals quicker, more efficiently.  He has much less baggage since he no longer has built-in limitations.  His/her ideas and goals are now reachable and he has the needed tools and skills.

Okay gtmo…what’s the point?

Guys and gals.  Do yourselves a favor – drop your baggage. Examine your life’s lessons learned, whether from society, education, family, religion, or other aspects. Let go of the outdated notions, beliefs, and “knowledge”.  Leave them there on the ground where you just dropped them.  Pick up one new notion to guide you forward: There are no limits! You can achieve most (if not all) of your goals – in every area of your life…

     Maximum effort – Persistence (experimentation) – Time 

 Having left most of your old baggage behind the time component will be shortened.
And for my Bluejays: You have enough talent and you have enough good coaching. The missing ingredients are Desire, Hustle, Heart, Execution, and the Will-to-Win.  I believe in this Creighton team.  I believe you are more than “good enough”.  I believe you are Champions this season.  Every year I pen you Jays in as National Champs…because I believe in you guys.  This year is no exception.  There are no limits!

You are immortal, as you are in the record books.  You will live forever via video and text that will be viewed by future fans. You are now legend.  Don’t allow others to define you – make your own mark in the record books guys.  Write your own Creighton History.

You are already winners and you can achieve more than any of us think you can.  You have exceeded our expectations many times over the last 20 years, why should this season be any different?  You can do a February “Creighton Run“…check out the record books…it’s a Jays tradition. You can win the Big East. You can make a great NCAA Run. There are no limits to what you can achieve!  You can do this.  Do it now, Bluejays.  Do it Now!

“You can…if you think you can”.  – Norman Vincent Peale  

Luv ya Blue,

gtmo