Creighton gave their first look to the fans on Friday night in a public exhibition against preseason ranked Iowa State. Without two starters, the Bluejays played an amazing first half only turning the ball over once and going into halftime doubling up the Cyclones 46-23. Creighton turned the ball over a little more in the second half and went cold from the three point line allowing Iowa St. to mount a comeback. But the Bluejays made the plays down the stretch and walked away with the win. While the exhibition doesn’t mean a whole lot, at least they got to play against some different competition and the fans got to see the new Jays up and close with their potential for this season.
WBR’s Matt DeMarinis and Hurrdat Sports Jacob Padilla are back for another season of breaking things down from the games and giving their insight to the Bluejays. They got together after the the game on Friday night to share their insight.
Here’s the bullet-point summary of the podcast with timestamps for each point — what we’re calling a “one-sheeter” to use a marketing term. For those who might not have time to listen to the entire episode, we hope it provides a high-level summary and an easy way to skip to portions that interest you!
Team Performance and Player Roles
Creighton showed promising offensive flow and depth, despite missing key players, revealing a complex rotation puzzle to solve going forward (03:08).
- Fourteen players saw meaningful minutes, with no one dominating scoring except Nik Graves, who emerged as a clear lead guard (04:28).
- The absence of Jackson McAndrew and Owen Freeman left the main rotation unclear, especially regarding who best complements Nik and balances ball handling versus off-ball roles (05:52).
- Blake and Jasen’s positional fit remains uncertain, with Blake’s unique offensive skill set making him a potential key piece if used correctly (07:23).
- Creighton’s flexibility is notable, with players like Blake Harper and Hudson Greer able to defend multiple positions, creating multiple lineup options (19:22).
- The team’s style prioritizes ball movement and flow, explaining the first half’s crisp offense and the second half’s struggles when flow broke down (35:35).
Nik Graves solidified himself as the team’s point guard, showing steadiness and clutch playmaking that answers longstanding questions about the position (38:03).
- Graves played 17 minutes, hitting 3-for-4 from three with 5 assists and only 1 turnover against Iowa State’s intense pressure, proving his ability to run the offense at this level (38:03).
- His late-game presence swung momentum, scoring and assisting on key possessions to seal the win, showing maturity and clutch instincts (42:56).
- Graves’ adjustment from his prior play style at Charlotte demonstrates growth, especially in creating shots and managing turnovers, easing concerns about his fit (40:32).
- Coach Greg McDermott expressed confidence by limiting Nik’s minutes after the first half, signaling trust in his impact without risking injury (45:30).
Supporting players like Josh Dix, Austin Swartz and Fedor Zugic showed strong roles off the bench, providing scoring bursts and defensive effort that will be valuable throughout the season (55:00).
- Fedor Zugic and Austin Swartz combined for 17 points on 11 shots, hitting 5 of 9 threes, and were instrumental in the key 23-0 run that defined the first half (56:12).
- JTT’s hustle and defensive presence stood out, especially with his ability to protect the rim and make impactful plays despite limited scoring (01:02:23).
- Hudson’s physicality and athleticism also contributed, with 4 rebounds, a block, and a dunk in 11 minutes, hinting at his potential as a role player (01:00:03).
Defensive Performance and Challenges
Creighton’s defense showed moments of strong rim protection and hustle, but fouling and defensive lapses remain areas needing improvement (01:18:17).
- Despite allowing 58 points, several players made key defensive stops, including JTT’s ability to stonewall Iowa State’s top post player Joshua Jefferson (01:03:35).
- Team committed more fouls (more than Iowa State’s 12 free throw attempts), which is a concern given the need to maintain discipline against better competition (01:19:22).
- Iowa State, known for their aggressive defense and turnover generation, was held to 7 turnovers in 40 minutes, a sign Creighton handled pressure well in the first half but struggled more later (22:10).
- Defensive coordination remains a work in progress as players adjust to team concepts, especially in limiting fouls and preventing easy finishes at the rim (01:19:22).
Offensive Strategy and Flow
Creighton’s offense thrived in the first half through ball movement, spacing, and shooting, but the second half exposed the need for better execution under pressure (00:01).
- The team scored 46 points in the first half, shooting 8 of 18 from three during a dominant 23-0 run, showcasing their high-paced, assist-driven style of play (21:00).
- The offense generated 10 assists on 7 baskets during that run, involving five different scorers and four different assist providers, highlighting strong team chemistry (21:00).
- Isaac and JTT, despite shooting a combined 0-for-7 from deep, contributed positively by facilitating and defending tough assignments (52:32).
- Offensive rhythm faltered in the second half as Iowa State increased physicality and Creighton’s flow broke down, causing turnovers and scoring droughts (23:28).
- Nik Graves’ late re-entry helped stabilize the offense, enabling key plays and a confident finish (42:56).
Player Development and Depth Insight
Several players have shown significant growth during preseason, adding depth and competition that strengthens the team’s future outlook (12:12).
- Nik Graves and Blake Harper have been the most improved players since summer, with Blake’s offensive skill set becoming more consistent and impactful (12:12).
- Fedor Zugic and Austin Swartz provide valuable scoring off the bench with their shooting and playmaking, ready to heat up when given opportunities (55:00).
- JTT’s work ethic and defensive growth have made him a key role player, with coaches praising his effort and leadership on and off the court (01:06:09).
- The team’s flexibility with multiple players able to defend several positions and adapt to various lineups offers a strategic advantage (19:22).
- Newcomers like Kerem Konan are still developing, currently behind more seasoned players but showing flashes of potential in limited minutes (01:17:08).
Upcoming Focus and Strategic Outlook
Creighton coaches plan to use the exhibition data to refine identity and execution, focusing on defensive discipline and offensive consistency facing tougher competition (01:21:36).
- The team will emphasize cleaning up fouls and defensive communication, building on the positives seen against a physically aggressive Iowa State defense (01:19:22).
- Coaches value the exhibition as a learning tool to identify areas for improvement before the second exhibition against Colorado State on October 25th at 6 PM (01:38:22).
- The flexibility and multi-positional abilities of key players will be tested as the team integrates missing starters and experiments with lineup combinations (07:23).
- Establishing the primary rotation around the proven core of Nik Graves, Jackson McAndrew, Owen Freeman, and Josh Dix is a priority to create offensive and defensive balance (10:51).
- Continued player competition for minutes, driven by the newcomers’ push, is expected to raise the team’s overall performance and depth (26:03).