The official start of college basketball season is less than a couple of weeks away. This year’s men’s and women’s Creighton Bluejay squads have received a lot of buzz in the offseason. CU fans will get their first look at the two teams when they kick off the first practice of the season in fashion at the third annual Bluejay Madness at Sokol Arena at 8 p.m. on Friday, October 12.
The event is general admission and free to the public. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m., and seating is first come, first served. Last season the place was almost packed, enhanced by a contest held earlier in the evening by the Creighton volleyball team.
This year, with all the fall sports teams out of town, the basketball teams will have the venue all to themselves as they compete in a three-point shooting contest, team scrimmages, and the always exciting dunk contest.
Chatman won the dunk contest last year at Bluejay Madness (Marshall/WBR)
Last year, Austin Chatman stole the show with a dunk over 7-footer Geoffrey Groselle in the men’s slam dunk competition. With most of the same players in the mix this season will he be able to repeat? What will he do to top last season?
The Creighton men’s team returns All-American Doug McDermott along with almost the rest of the Bluejay team from last season (Antoine Young is playing pro ball in Europe).
The women’s team, led by junior Carli Tritz and senior Ally Jensen, returns all but one player from last season’s NCAA Tournament team. Highly touted guard Marissa Janning joins Tritz and the rest of the Jays for what coach Jim Flanery can only hope is another trip to the Big Dance.
WBR will be at Bluejay Madness again this year with some giveaways in tow for fans as they enter Sokol Arena. If you want a reminder of the excitement from last year, enjoy our photo gallery from the 2011 Bluejay Madness. (Note: If you have trouble seeing the photos below, click on the link to the photo gallery.)
Look for more information on Bluejay Madness from WBR leading up to the event on October 12.