Well, the prelims are done…On with the Show, this is it!
Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley celebrates with the trophy after their win against San Diego State in the men’s national championship college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Ahhh yes. The preliminaries are done, “No more rehearsing and nursing the part… We know every part by heart.”
Time to git to gettin’ the conference slate has arrived. It’s real from here on out!
Expected: Top half teams that are where they are expected to be. Huskies, Jays, Warrior/GEs. DePaul is being more DePaul than usual at 2-8. Typically, the Blue Demons have done well in the non-con and waited until the conference slate to fold. Not this season.
Big Surprise #2 – The Wildcats of Radnor! The Cats have struggled in the non-conf slate. Four (4) losses, including 1 at home, 3 of which were against Big 5 opponents. The St Joe’s loss was at the Finn (Finneran Pavilion) no less – where the Cats are unbeatable! They have beaten Maryland, Memphis, Tex Tech, UCLA, and #14 UNC Cheat. The Radnorites currently sit in a tie for 7th place, with Georgetown, after being picked 4th by the coaches preseason poll.
Big surprise #3 – Da Friars. 9-2 Providence was picked 7th in the pre-season. Team is excelling under Coach English to start the season. Currently in a 4-way tie for 2nd (5th alphabetically).
Mild surprises: The Hoyas of Georgetown are playing surprisingly well and are 7-4, in a tie for 7th with Villanova. Easy Ed…making a turnaround?
The Redmen are holding serve. Currently 6-3 and alone in the 6th position. Da Johnnies were picked 5th in the BE coaches pre-season poll.
The Muskies of Xavier are currently 6-5, sitting alone in the 10th position. Injuries to both starting Bigs prior to the season have derailed the Muskies. I am surprised they are playing as well as they are. Good coaching.
Git’s Expectations (1st Ten Games):
Jays go 9-1 Only loss to Xavier in the first ten BE games.
Butler 8-2 Losses @ Marquette, @ Xavier in the 1st ten games.
Johnnies hold at 5-5 over the first 10 games. Losses @ UConn, Butler, @ Nova, @ Cr8n, @ Xavier.
Promises to be another excellent gauntlet run in the Big East…as usual. With 4 (or more) losses in the 1st ten games, UConn, Nova, and St Johns are out of contention for the BE RS title. The first half of the conference slate should definitely not lack for excitement.
Should not only be a war, but potentially a surprising run to the champeenship by the Dawgs or the Friars.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
NEW: After a wild college basketball offseason, let’s start to look ahead at 2024 national championship contenders! I picked 12 teams, breaking them into 4 categories, and made a case for why each could cut down the nets next April. My latest for Fox: https://t.co/gaT4LB915B
On Twitter – John Fanta is presenting 2023-24 preview capsules of each BE team.
“Creighton is reloaded, and the Jays aren’t going anywhere in the 2023-24 season. They’ll stay right near the top of the country, and have a chance to play very deep into March once again.” @John_Fanta breaks down the state of @BluejayMBB, which is coming off an Elite Eight! pic.twitter.com/OYMpNcBt7o
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.
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 11-0Big 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
Bluenotes 