“Let it fly!” The motto for Creighton basketball rang true last Tuesday night as they routed top-ranked UConn, 85-66, in Omaha, Nebraska. The Bluejays (20-7, 11-5 Big East) knocked down 14-of-28 three-point attempts to give coach Greg McDermott his 600th career win, and it sent the crowd of 18,000 at CHI Health Center storming the court in celebration. It was the first time in school history that Creighton has defeated a top-ranked team and the second time the program knocked off a reigning national champion.
With March Madness right around the corner, this Creighton basketball team has much bigger aspirations as they start to dust off their dancin’ shoes. Here are three reasons why the Jays are a legit contender to win the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Why Creighton Basketball Will Win the 2024 NCAA Tournament
Creighton’s Veteran Corps
This team is battle-tested. Lest we forget Creighton was 1.9 seconds away from going to their first-ever Final Four last season. If not for a controversial foul that sent San Diego State to the free-throw line to seal the game, Creighton could have ended up with a chance at UConn in last year’s NCAA Tournament Championship. Perhaps fueled by this heartbreaking loss, the Bluejays returned the “big three” of Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander after speculation that some, or all, of them would declare for last year’s NBA Draft. The only big loss was guard Ryan Nembhard leaving the program to transfer to Gonzaga.
The leadership and experience of these three are an integral part of why they could cut down the nets, as they combine to average 52 of the Jays’ 81 points per game (PPG). Chemistry matters, and Creighton has it. It also helps to play in arguably the best conference in college basketball. The Big East has hardened Creighton into a more physical team this year. Playing against top-notch competition and taking down the reigning champs and best team in the country goes to show that this team has championship DNA.
They are also a well-coached group that plays with discipline and preaches good defense with minimal fouls. They often set the tempo and force you to play to their style, ultimately allowing teams to beat themselves if they aren’t careful. This team is fully bought in under Coach Mac.
Bluejays Can Score at Will
Some believe this Creighton basketball team lives and dies by the three-point shot, but that isn’t necessarily true. When it’s falling, they look unstoppable. But even if they aren’t shooting a scorching 50% from behind the arc, as they did against UConn, the inside presence of Kalkbrenner and his ability to dominate with his size forces opponents into playing to Creighton’s strengths. This team spaces the floor well, while the attention Kalkbrenner demands opens up shooting opportunities and mismatches on opposing defenses. The big man is a great passer, often thriving in double-team situations and finding his shooters. He can even knock down a three if you need him to, which you’ll hear the home crowd begging for every time he catches the ball on the perimeter. He dominates the paint, getting easy put-backs and creating second-chance point opportunities with offensive boards.
Alexander is a master ball-handler at the point who can create space with dribble-drives and kick to open shooters or pull up for midrange looks of his own. He’s best as an on-ball guard, but he can catch and shoot off the ball as well. Scheierman is the best pure-scorer of the bunch, and he does it in a variety of ways. The 6-7 senior attacks the rim like a forward but shoots like a guard. He is truly a threat from anywhere and leads the team in scoring, with 18.4 PPG.
Aside from these three stars, the x-factor has to be shooting guard Steven Ashworth. The senior transfer out of Utah State started slow, but he has come on strong recently. After averaging only eight points in his first 16 games, Ashworth is scoring 15 per game in his last 11 matchups, while shooting 39% from deep in that span. He’s heating up at the right time, and this current version of Ashworth is what Creighton envisioned when they brought him to Omaha. Last year for the Aggies, Ashworth was sixth in the country in three-point percentage at 43%, finishing ninth in the nation with 111 three-pointers made. That’s exactly the type of clutch shooting that can deliver Creighton basketball their first national championship in program history.
The 6-9 sophomore forward Mason Miller, son of former NBA sharpshooter Mike Miller, rounds out the starting five. The Bluejays are an offensive juggernaut who can put up points in bunches with this group.
History is On the Side of Creighton Basketball
Sure, this Creighton basketball program has never won a national championship, but let’s dive deeper into the metrics. Looking at the 2024 KenPom ratings, every men’s NCAA Tournament champion since 2002 has finished the season ranked inside the top 40 in adjusted offensive efficiency and inside the top 25 in adjusted defensive efficiency. Currently, Creighton sits 12th in adjusted offense and 22nd in adjusted defense. Furthermore, other than UConn’s surprise title run in 2014, led by Shabazz Napier, every tournament winner in the last 20 years has been ranked top 10 overall by KenPom. The Bluejays are on the doorstep, currently ranking 12th overall. Could a strong close to the regular season and a big showing (and potential championship) in the Big East Tournament get them there?
As of now, Creighton projects as a No. 4 seed for the 2024 NCAA Tournament. If you like their chances as much as I do, there is real value in their betting odds. According to BetUS Sportsbook, they are +3000 to win the championship. This means that a $100 bet would return $3,000 in profit. Man, I like that juice. Sign up with our BetUS Sportsbook promo code link today and deposit at least $50 to claim $2,500 in college basketball betting bonuses today!
Depending on how the bracket shakes out, could three Big East teams make the Elite Eight? UConn, Marquette and Creighton are all top-15 teams that could make noise this year, but I’m letting it fly and rolling with a team that’s hungry and motivated from last year’s bitter ending. Led by this veteran corps, it shouldn’t be surprising to see Creighton basketball rise to the occasion and be the last one standing this April in Glendale.
