On Friday, Creighton makes their 17th appearance in the NCAA Tournament when they take on the Alabama Crimson Tide out of the SEC. They’ll present a unique set of challenges to the Jays, as the Tide are historically bad from three-point range, making only 28.5% of their shots from outside the arc. Since the majority of their offense comes in the paint, it’s no surprise they average just 64 points a game and have scored more than 80 points — Creighton’s average output for the season — just once all season (an 82-45 win over Alabama A&M).
They owe their success to a terrific defense, allowing a measly 58.1 points a game, ninth best in D1. The Tide often run a full-court press, depending on the opponent, but also excel at defending in the half-court.
Bottom Line: If they can’t make enough shots from outside to keep defenses honest, they struggle. When they’re able to turn games into half-court slugfests, they excel. The higher the score and the faster the pace, the better Creighton’s chances of victory, while the opposite is true for Alabama.
Team Data
Results
- 21-11 (9-7 SEC)
- Last Five Games: 3-2
- Last Ten Games: 6-4
- Vs Top 50: 3-6
- Vs Top 100: 8-10
- Marquee Wins (RPI 1-50): Wichita State 70-60, Purdue 65-56, VCU 72-64
- Bad Losses (RPI 150+): at South Carolina 56-54
Team Statistics
- Points per game: 64
- Points allowed: 58.1
- Scoring margin: +5.9
- FG percentage (Alabama): .452
- FG percentage (opponents): .388
- 3PT percentage (Alabama): .285
- 3PT percentage (opponents): .283
- 3PT-to-FG attempts: .271
- FT percentage: .715
- FT totals: 437/611
- Rebound margin: +1.2
- Turnover margin: -1.0
- Assist-to-turnover ratio: 0.95:1
- Assist-to-FG ratio: 0.52:1
NCAA Tournament History
- 18-18 (17 appearances)
- Best Finish: Elite Eight (2004)
- Most Recent Appearance: Round of 32 (2006)
Players
Trevor Releford, Starting Point Guard
- 6’1″, 180 lbs., Sophomore
- 11.9 points/game
- 2.71 assists/game
- 2.1 steals/game
- 3.0 rebounds/game
- 26.8% three-point shooter (19-71)
- Led SEC in steals
- Old-school point guard who looks to create for teammates
- Best game: 20 points/3 rebounds/5 assists, 9-10 free throws in win over NCAA qualifier Purdue
Levi Randolph, Starting Off-Guard
- 6’5″, 185 lbs., Freshman
- 6.5 points/game
- 1.7 assists/game
- 3.9 rebounds/game
- 61.8% free-throw shooter
- 26.5% three-point shooter (18-68)
- Started all but one game as a true freshman
- Best game: 18 points/7 rebounds in win over NIT qualifier Mississippi State
Andrew Steele, Starting Forward/Guard
- 6’4″, 230 lbs., Junior
- 6.6 points/game
- 2.7 assists/game
- 3.8 rebounds/game
- 25.0% three-point shooter (8-25)
- Suffered concussion in 2011 SEC Tournament and missed first two months of season with lingering effects
- Best game: 15 points/6 rebounds/3 assists in win over Arkansas
Nick Jacobs, Starting Forward
- 6’8″, 250 lbs., Freshman
- 6.1 points/game
- 3.6 rebounds/game
- 0.1 assists/game (4 total for season)
- Did not attempt a three-point shot all season
- 58.3% free-throw shooter (28-48)
- Started 14 games after season-ending suspension of second-leading scorer Tony Mitchell in early February
- Best game: 14 points/10 rebounds in win over Alabama A&M
JaMychal Green, Starting Center
- 6’8″, 228 lbs., Senior
- Led Alabama in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field-goal percentage during the regular season
- 14.04 points/game
- 1.8 assists/game
- 7.4 rebounds/game
- 1.4 blocks/game
- 54.4% field-goal percentage (130-239)
- 69.0% free-throw shooter (89-129)
- 2-10 from three-point range
- Missed four games earlier this year after suspension for violation of team rules
- Best game: 22 points/12 rebounds in loss to #1 Kentucky
Trevor Lacey, Backup Guard
- 6’3″, 200 lbs., Freshman
- Started 15 games
- 7.0 points/game
- 1.7 assists/game
- 2.9 rebounds/game
- 40.5% field goal percentage (75-145)
- 28.8% three-point shooter (28-98)
- 81.7 free-throw shooter (49-60)
- Second on the team in assists
- Scored in double figures in both SEC Tournament games
- Best game: 18 points/3 rebounds/2 assists/4 steals in win over Tennessee
Rodney Cooper, Backup Guard
- 6’6″, 205 lbs., Freshman
- Played 17.8 minutes/game
- Started 13 games
- 5.2 points/game
- 0.5 assists/game
- 2.4 rebounds/game
- 38.6% field-goal percentage (56-145)
- 29.4% three-point shooter (20-68)
- 83% free-throw shooter (26-31)
- Scored in double figures in three games
- Best game: 28 points/3 rebounds/5 steals in loss to LSU
Charles Hankerson, Jr., Backup Guard
- 6’5″, 210 lbs., Sophomore
- Played 11.9 minutes/game
- 3.6 points/game
- 1.5 rebounds/game
- 36% field goal percentage (35-97)
- 70% free-throw shooter (21-30)
- Best game: 14 points/3 rebounds/2 steals in win over Auburn
Carl Engstrom, Backup Center
- 7’1″, 275 lbs., Sophomore
- Played 8.3 minutes/game
- 1.04 points/game
- 1.7 rebounds/game
- 47.8% field goal percentage (11-23)
- 40% free throw shooter (4-10)
- Best game: 7 points/7 rebounds in win over Tennessee
