Photo courtesy of @harry_fosters
Creighton’s non-conference slate features some pretty good teams. It also features some pretty atrocious teams. It mostly features mediocre teams. It features teams you’ve never heard of. It features matchups you used to dream about nightly.
Returning this year is the ‘Coffee Mug Score’ in which I assign a cup of coffee emoticon to each game. Five cups of coffee means you’re in for a helluva tilt, requiring your full attention, requiring every neuron to be at its maximum speed, forcing you to lay your peepers upon a brightly lit hardwood court for roughly two hours. Less than one cup of coffee means you can write a recap about the game and publish it right now.
Within the descriptions of these games you’ll find star power standouts, last season’s records, tidbits of info about coaches, conspiracy theories, game dates and times, mind-numbing and gag-inducing controversies that the opposing university slogged through at one point in their history, and mascot names.
Welcome to the madness. Enjoy.
2017-18 CREIGHTON NON-CONFERENCE ANALYSIS
*All game times designated for the Central Timezone. Dates & times are subject to change.
Saturday, October 27th, 2018
WINONA STATE WARRIORS
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 7:00pm
1620 on your AM dial
*Exhibition
Conference
Division II / Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
2017-18 Record
19-10 overall, 14-8 in conference
Notable Notes
– This is the first meeting between the two schools.
– Winona State is coached by former Bluejay forward Todd Eisner (‘86-91) who played with Bob Harstad and Porter Moser. Eisner scored 502 points over his four year career and was part of two NCAA Tournament berths & Valley championships (1989 & 1991).
– Eisner coached at Bellevue University from 2000-2008 and Midland University from 2011-2015.
– Todd Eisner got the head job at Winona after former head coach Mike Leaf resigned after getting drunk and trying to sexually assault one of his players in 2014. The story is harrowing and nauseating, so just be aware before you click.
– The Warriors return their top scorer in Caleb Wagner, a 6’2 guard who averaged 12.2 PPG and their #4 scorer in Mason Domask, a 6’3 200lb guard that averaged 9 PPG.
– Winona State also features an Omahan in redshirt freshman Carter Larson, a graduate of Millard North high school.
– The Warriors don’t feature a player over 6’8. They also lost to Bemidji State 62-59 last year, a team Creighton beat 94-46.
– Michele Bachmann is an alum, but I sincerely doubt Winona State wants to admit that.
Coffee Mug Score: 1⁄2 ☕
Tuesday, November 6th, 2018
WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY LEATHERNECKS
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 7:30pm
FSN / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Summit League
2017-18 Record
12-16 overall, 3-11 in conference
Notable Notes
– Creighton has had Western Illinois at their mercy in each of the four games they’ve met, with the average margin of victory standing at around 30 points per game.
– The Leathernecks return top scorer Kobe Webster, a sophomore guard from Indianapolis. He put up 15.9 PPG and 3.5 assists per game over 28 contests.
– They also return Brandon Gilbeck, a 7’ senior who averaged 7.1 rebounds per game.
– The Leatherneck’s head coach is Billy Wright, who spent multiple years as an associate head coach under the tutelage of Jim Molinari, eventually becoming his successor when Molinari took an assistant job with… Nebraska. Molinari is still in that role with the Huskers after spending six years as the head man in Macomb.
– This is clearly an opportunity for Coach Wright to steal gameplan information from the Jays to ship it to his old idol Molinari, who will hand it over to Coach Miles, in order to attempt to regain the support of the state. It’s diabolical, but I bet Billy Wright didn’t think he’d get caught, and now he’s got egg all over his face.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕
Sunday, November 11th, 2018
***CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC***
EAST TENNESSEE STATE BUCCANEERS
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 7:30pm
FS1 / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Southern Conference
2017-18 Record
25-9 overall, 14-4 in conference
Notable Notes
– This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
– The Buccaneers return just one of their top scorers from last year, Bo Hodges, a 6’4 guard from Nashville, who started just four games, averaged 9PPG, and dished out 29 assists but turned it over 32 times.
– ETSU’s head football coach Randy Sanders was hired in December of 2017. He was then reprimanded and suspended for a week just four months later, in April of 2018, after he slapped a player in the helmet. He also promised to walk back to campus nude if his team upset Tennessee, a feat that (luckily) wasn’t achieved.
– Kenny Chesney is an ETSU alum.
– Former ‘Oldest Person Alive’ Besse Cooper, who died at the age of 116, graduated from ETSU.
– ETSU nearly upset Xavier last season, but Trevon Bluiett hit a game winning shot to keep the Musketeers from getting upset.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕1⁄2
Thursday, November 15th, 2018
***GAVITT TIPOFF GAMES***
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BUCKEYES
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 6pm
FS1 / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Big Ten Conference
2017-18 Record
26-9 overall, 13-4 in conference
Notable Notes
– The Jays and Buckeyes have met eight times in their history, yet the Jays have captured the last two tilts, the latest being a Guardians Classic matchup in Kansas City in 2004 where the Jays outlasted the Buckeyes 65-63 in overtime.
– Former Butler head coach Chris Holtmann is the head man in Columbus, meaning the Jays will see an old foe that they managed to post a record of 5-3 against since joining the BIG EAST.
– Ohio State lost three of their top five scorers from last season, returning number two scorer and superb point guard CJ Jackson, a 6’1 175lb senior who averaged 12.6 PPG and 3.8 APG. They also return Kaleb Wesson, a 6’9 270lb forward who averaged 10.2 PPG and 4.9 RPG as a freshman.
– Coach McDermott was a potential candidate for the Buckeye vacancy last summer, but it all turned out to be a ruse to get Bluejay fans emotional and fraught with uncertainty.
– Ohio State employs Urban Meyer.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕☕☕☕
Monday, November 19th, 2018
***CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC***
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY BRONCOS
John Gray Gymnasium – George Town, Grand Cayman – 6pm
Stadium Sports (streamed live on Facebook) / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Mountain West Conference
2017-18 Record
23-9 overall, 13-5 in conference
Notable Notes
– The Broncos and Bluejays have met just one time, in Omaha, on November 28th, 2012. Boise State managed to steal a 13 point win, 83-70.
– Boise State returns two of their their top five scorers in Justinian Jessup, a 6’6 202lb wing that put up 11.7 PPG last season, and Alex Hobbs, a 6’4 190lb wing who put up 8.8 PPG last season.
– Three years ago, Boise State got jobbed by some referees who were unable to conceptualize time. The refs, who overturned a buzzer-beater shot by the Broncos, utilized a stopwatch created by JPMorgan to measure the time elapsed on the quick catch and shoot. Not enough time for two dribbles and a ham sandwich, huh?
– At 23-7, Boise State got left out of the NCAA Tournament last season, even though they throttled eventual Cinderella Loyola-Chicago 87-53 early on in the season.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕☕☕
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018
***CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC***
SAINT BONAVENTURE BONNIES / GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS
John Gray Gymnasium – George Town, Grand Cayman – TBD
Stadium Sports (streamed live on Facebook) / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Atlantic 10 Conference / Sun Belt Conference
2017-18 Record
26-8 overall, 14-4 in conference / 24-11 overall, 12-6 in conference
Notable Notes
St. Bonaventure
– Creighton and St. Bonaventure have played seven times in their history, with four of those matchups coming in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Creighton won the last tilt, on November 26th, 2003, 83-63, yet the Bonnies remain ahead in the series 5-2.
– The Bonnies return just two of their top five scorers from last season. They return Courtney Stockard, a 6’5 205lb senior wing from St. Louis who averaged 13.3 PPG, led the team in fouls, and went absolutely bonkers in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, pouring in 26 points against UCLA. They also return 6’6 forward LaDarien Griffin, who averaged 8.8 PPG and was nominated as an A-10 ‘Most Improved Player.’
– In 2003, the Bonnies fired their entire basketball staff after utilizing the basketball talent of Jamil Terrell, a man who received a welding certificate from a community college in Georgia. However, that was sort of the tip of the iceberg during that season. Six wins were vacated, twelve players were suspended before playing Villanova for “making unauthorized telephone calls,” two games were forfeited due to players refusing to play, and allegations of academic fraud and recruiting sins led to their eventual withdrawal from the NCAA tournament.
– Adrian Wojnarowski is an alum. #WBRBomb
Georgia State
– Creighton and Georgia State have played each other twice, once in Atlanta in 1999, and a return trip to Omaha in 2000. Creighton won both affairs.
– Georgia State returns four of their top five starters from last year. They return D’Marcus Simonds, a 6’3 junior guard who dumped in 21.2 PPG on average, while dishing out 4.3 APG and nabbing 5.6 RPG. Devin Mitchell, a 6’4 senior wing, also returns after a junior campaign that saw him post 12 PPG and leading the team in three point buckets. Jeff Thomas, a 6’5 190lb wing from Norwalk, Ohio, returns as well after splashing 10.7 PPG. Finally, Malik Benlevi, a 6’6 225lb forward from Savannah, scored 9.6 PPG and averaged a team high 6.5 RPG.
– Remember the year 2015 when Georgia State, as a #14 seed, upset #3 seed Baylor in the NCAA Tournament? Did you know that this makes Georgia State the hero in a damsel-in-distress scenario with Creighton?
– Georgia State ranked 32nd in 3P% last season, splashing 39% of their trey balls.
– Kat Cole, the chief operating officer of Cinnabon – the same fast food pastry shop that fictitious character Jimmy ‘Saul Goodman’ McGill is seen working at in Omaha in the opening scene of season one of Better Call Saul – is a Georgia State alum.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕☕☕
Wednesday, November 21st, 2018
***CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC***
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON ZIPS / CLEMSON UNIVERSITY TIGERS / UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BULLDOGS / ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY REDBIRDS
John Gray Gymnasium – George Town, Grand Cayman – TBD
Stadium Sports (streamed live on Facebook) / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Mid-American Conference / Atlantic Coast Conference / Southeastern Conference / Missouri Valley Conference
2017-18 Record
14-18 overall, 6-12 in conference / 25-10 overall, 11-7 in conference / 18-15 overall, 7-11 in conference / 18-15 overall, 10-8 in conference
Notable Notes
Akron
– The Jays lead the current series 3-1 over the Zips with their last matchup coming just two seasons ago, resulting in an 82-70 win.
– The Zips only return two of their top five scorers from last year. They return Daniel Utomi, the 6’6 wing from Cleveland that averaged 16.7PPG while snagging 5.3 RPG. Jimond Ivey, a 6’5 guard, also returns with his 13.1PPG scoring average and his team-leading 113 assists. Both players shot north of 40% from the field, offering a pretty good mix of offensive prowess.
– The Zips also feature Lucas Smith, an Omaha native that attended Bellevue East. A senior, Smith transferred in from Iowa Lakes Community College and offers some depth at wing.
– Former University of Akron president Scott Scarborough once spent $950,000 on renovations to the school’s ‘president’s house’ and fired a slew of professors while trying to rebrand the school as a polytechnic college. He also purchased a $550 olive jar with the college’s money. His time at the school was relatively short-lived, as he lasted barely two years after his luxurious spending.
Clemson
– The lone matchup between these two schools came on December 15th, 1962 in Omaha. The Jays came away with an 87-67 victory.
– Clemson returns three of their top five scorers from last season, including top scorer Marcquise Reed, a 6’3 guard who averaged 15.8PPG and launched up 189 threes, canning just 35% of them. They also return Shelton Mitchell, a 6’4 wing who averaged 12.2PPG and 3RPG, and Elijah Thomas, their 6’9 big man in the middle that put up 10.7PPG and shot a steady 56% from the field.
– Reed and Mitchell have been touted as potentially being the best backcourt in the ACC.
– Former Clemson player Jaron Blossomgame, much like Justin Patton, got mixed up with the now infamous ASM Sports agency. He received $1,100 in improper bennies when he was with the Tigers.
– The Tigers made the Sweet 16 last season before being upended by Kansas in Omaha.
– Clemson features 6’8 senior David Skara. Skara is from Croatia. Thus, he would be Martin Krampelj’s arch nemesis on the court.
Georgia
– This would be the first meeting between these two schools.
– TOM CREAN
– The Bulldogs bring back three of their top five scoring threats. William Jackson II, a 6’4 point guard hometown kid from Athens, returns his 8.4PPG average and team leading 115 assists. Derek Ogbeide, a 6’9 big man from Lagos, Nigeria, returns his 6.2 RPG average as well as his 6.9PPG. Finally, Rayshaun Hammonds, a 6’8 forward, touts his 6.7PPG average coupled with his 42% shooting from the field.
– TOM CREAN
– Jim Harrick, a former head coach back in 2003, was show-caused for 7 years for failing to report a $1,500 phone bill due to long distance calls made by six of his players. The hotel in which the calls were made never charged the university because the charges were erroneous, but Harrick never reported these charges to the NCAA, rightly believing that it was probably unnecessary. His son, an assistant coach, doled out passing grades to two players for a basketball strategy class they never attended and also covered $300 in expenses for one of their players. They were placed on four years of probation and had to vacate wins from the 2002-03 season because of this. Seriously.
– TOM CREAN
Illinois State
– This could be the 72nd meeting between the Redbirds and Bluejays and the first since Creighton escaped the Missouri Valley Conference following the 2012-13 season. Illinois State currently holds a 41-30 advantage in the overall series, but Creighton owns a 5-2 record in tournament settings.
– The Redbirds return four of their top five scoring threats from last season. Standout 6’6 senior Milik Yarbrough, who scored 16.6PPG and dished out a team leading 152 assists, returns to the starting lineup. He’s accompanied by second leading scorer Phil Fayne, a 6’9 220lb forward who put up 15.6PPG and snagged 7.4RPG. Keyshawn Evans, a 6′ guard, returns his 15.2PPG and 107 assists, with William Tinsley, a 6’6 wing, bringing back his 6PPG average. All four are seniors.
– These same seniors were upended by eventual Cinderella Loyola Chicago in the Valley championship game last season, giving them plenty to work for this year.
– I would be remiss if I didn’t include the 2012 MVC championship game against the Redbirds.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕☕☕☕☕
Wednesday, November 28th, 2018
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA GRIZZLIES
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 7:30pm
FS1 / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Big Sky Conference
2017-18 Record
26-8 overall, 16-2 in conference
Notable Notes
– The Grizzlies and Bluejays have squared off six times in their history, with the last meeting coming on December 19th, 1993 in Missoula. It would account for the Grizzlies only win in the series, as the Jays had won the previous five.
– Montana returns four of their top five scorers from last season. Ahmaad Rorie, a 6’1 redshirt senior guard from Tacoma, scored 17.2PPG and led the team in assists (3.7 per game) and three pointers made (59). Michael Oguine, a 6’2 senior guard from L.A., dumped in 15.8PPG and led the team in steals (48). Jamar Akoh, the big man in the middle, listed at 6’8 253lbs, scored 12.8PPG and averaged 6.6 rebounds per game. Finally, Sayeed Pridgett, a 6’5 195lb wing from Oakland, scored 8.4PPG while going 3-16 from beyond the arc.
– Montana’s football program has a bizarre history with sexual assault, specifically under the watch of Bobby Hauck. There’s a book about it that details how the program helped a player flee the country before he was caught by police. There’s a quote from the author of said book saying, “Dysfunction is the rule, not the exception,” in regards to the handling of sexual assault. There’s a court case about a guy who doxxed and harassed a woman who tried to circulate a petition to bar Hauck from returning as head coach after a short stint at UNLV.
– Hunters have killed 12,000+ grizzly bears in British Columbia since 1975. It’s estimated that three people die every year from grizzly bear attacks.
– Jeff Ament, the founding member of Pearl Jam, dropped out of Montana during his sophomore year after finding out they no longer carried a graphic design program.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕☕☕
Saturday, December 1st, 2018
GONZAGA UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 1pm
FOX / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
West Coast Conference
2017-18 Record
32-5 overall, 17-1 in conference
Notable Notes
– Creighton leads the overall series against Gonzaga 6-3. The last matchup, coming just a season ago, ended in a blowout 91-74 loss out in Spokane.
– The Bulldogs return pretty much everyone but Johnathan Williams. They also gained the talents of Geno Crandall from North Dakota, who scored three whole points against Khyri Thomas in a 111-68 loss to the Jays.
– Gonzaga hit #3 in the AP preseason 25 poll, thanks in part to the return of production from Zach Norvell Jr. (12.7PPG), Killian Tillie (12.9PPG), Josh Perkins (12.3PPG), Rui Hachimura (11.6PPG), and Corey Kispert (6.7PPG).
– There have been ridiculous rumors that Gonzaga could join the BIG EAST someday. Just google search “Gonzaga BIG EAST” and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
– Bing Crosby was a Gonzaga alum.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕☕☕☕☕
Saturday, December 8th, 2018
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN CORNHUSKERS
Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NE – 5pm
BTN / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Big Ten Conference
2017-18 Record
22-11 overall, 13-5 in conference
Notable Notes
– 26-25, baby. Jays got the overall series lead with a 75-65 dub last season.
– This might be the first time since 2010 where the result will not be in favor of the Bluejays, potentially ruining a 7-game winning streak against the in-state rival.
– The Huskers return four of their top five scorers. James Palmer Jr., headlines the players returning as he averaged 17.2PPG and nabbed 4.4 rebounds per game last year. Isaac Copeland returns as well, bringing a 12.9 scoring average with him, as well as his 6.1RPG. Glynn Watson Jr., also returns, bandying about a 10.5PPG average and his team-leading 106 assists over last season. Last but not least, Isaiah Roby returns for his junior campaign, boasting a 8.7PPG average with a knack for snagging boards as he averaged 6.3RPG.
– Creighton has a 26-25 lead in the overall series.
– Nebraska didn’t make the NCAA tournament last year.
– The Jays lead the series 26-25 overall.
– Nebraska hasn’t won an NCAA tournament game… ever.
– The private Jesuit school in Omaha with the Bluejay as a mascot has a 26-25 series lead over the Bugeaters.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕☕☕☕
Friday, December 14th, 2018
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY PHOENIX
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 8pm
FS1 / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Horizon League
2017-18 Record
13-20 overall, 7-11 in conference
Notable Notes
– This will be the first ever meeting between Green Bay and Creighton.
– Much like the professional football team in Green Bay, taxpayers own a slice of UW-GB because it’s a public university.
– The Phoenix return three of their top five scorers in Sandy Cohen III, a 6’6 wing that averaged 16.1PPG and nabbed 5.7RPG, Kameron Hankerson, a 6’5 200lb wing that averaged 10.7PPG and averaged 39% from three, and PJ Pipes, a 6’2 195lb guard that scored 7.2PPG and committed 69 fouls over the season.
– Tony Shalhoub dropped out of UW-Green Bay.
– UW-Green Bay has an interdisciplinary requirement of their students, forcing loser English majors to either double major or minor in cool guy business administration or yassss queen computer science in order to make their educational experience a living hell.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕
Tuesday, December 18th, 2018
OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY SOONERS
LLOYD NOBLE CENTER – Norman, OK – 8pm
ESPNU / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Big Twelve Conference
2017-18 Record
18-14 overall, 8-10 in conference
Notable Notes
– Oklahoma leads the overall series against the Bluejays 3-2. The last meeting between these two came on December 19th, 2015, where the Sooners dispatched the Jays 87-74 in Norman.
– The Sooners return three of their top five scorers in 6’4 shooting guard Christian James (11.9PPG), 6’9 210lb forward Brady Manek (10.2PPG, 5.2RPG), and 6’6 wing Rashard Odomes (7.2PPG).
– Freshman guard Jamal Bieniemy is the nephew of Husker Killer and current Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
– Trae Young isn’t there anymore, which is probably a good thing because Khyri Thomas is also in the NBA.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕☕☕☕
Thursday, December 20th, 2018
COE COLLEGE KOHAWKS
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 7pm
FS1 / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Division III / American Rivers Conference
2017-18 Record
18-14 overall, 8-10 in conference
Notable Notes
– Surprisingly, this isn’t the first meeting between Coe and Creighton. The two schools met on January 31st, 1928 in Cedar Rapids and again on December 18th of the same calendar year. Creighton won both games, the first 40-36, and the second, 35-18. This rivalry has had too much time and will now culminate in a knock-down, drag out affair that will feature at least eight player ejections.
– Coe features 26 players on their roster which seems like a violation. Only five players can be on the court at a time.
– Coe also features a player named Adam McDermott. At this time it is unclear whether he’s of direct relation to Greg McDermott but let’s assume he is.
– In 1926, prominent female poet Aline Kilmer was invited by the Women’s Literary Society to give a lecture at the school. When Kilmer showed up, she was reportedly seen smoking cigs with other female students and invited some boys to come smoke with them. This lit the local newspapers ablaze and forced the dean of the women’s college to assure reporters that the moral compass of the women at Coe wasn’t affected by these brazen actions and that the women were “shocked by the incident.” Later, a story was published stating that 75% of the female students smoked cigarettes. The scandal rocked the school and the students were reportedly impressed that the story was picked up by a national publication The American Mercury.
– Cedar Rapids is a really cool city and I’d recommend visiting it. A really cool person I love was born there.
– Bryan Martin, the head coach of Coe, helped transition the University of North Dakota to D1 as their associate head coach. He spent four years there before taking the head job at Coe, explaining his ties to Greg McDermott.
Coffee Mug Score: 1⁄8 ☕
Thursday, December 27th, 2018
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY KANGAROOS
CHICO – Omaha, NE – 7pm
FS1 / 1620 on your AM dial
Conference
Western Athletic Conference
2017-18 Record
10-22 overall, 5-9 in conference
Notable Notes
– Creighton leads the overall series against UMKC 9-3. The last meeting ended with an 89-82 win for the Jays on November 11th, 2016. Creighton hasn’t lost to UMKC since December 28th, 1995, where the Kangaroos managed to take the Jays into overtime in Kansas City, ultimately winning 72-70.
– The ‘Roos return three of their top five scorers from last season. They return Xavier Bishop, a 5’8 point guard who scored 11.6PPG and doled out 3.3APG. They also return 6’7 forward Jordan Giles who scored 10.2PPG and 6’3 guard Brandon McKissic who scored 7.9PPG.
– UMKC’s business school was ranked #1 in 2011, ahead of Harvard and Stanford. It was all bullshit.; a scam.
– UMKC had a 4-20 lead over Grand Canyon in the first round of the WAC Tournament last season. They ended up losing that game by three points.
Coffee Mug Score: ☕
Thank you for taking this journey through the non-conference portion of Creighton’s basketball schedule. Always carry a towel.
