Summer League Micro-Site
The rain is starting to get old in Omaha. Luckily, basketball is played inside. Miss Creighton Hoops? Starting Thursday, June 18, you can start watching the majority of next year’s Bluejays roster play competitive pick-up games in person.
The Metro Summer Basketball League returns to action 6/18 for another summer of hoops at the Omaha Sports Academy.
WBR is proud to be the official host of all things MBL for the sixth consecutive year.
Check out our summer league mini-site for all the information you need including schedules, team rosters, results, location information, and sponsors.
This summer, 16 teams comprise the MBL. To meet everyone’s demanding schedules, the dates of games shift back and forth during a few of the weeks.
If you are not familiar with the format, here is a little background:
Who plays in the league?
The MBL rosters are comprised of current and incoming players for Creighton, Nebraska-Omaha, Bellevue University, Midland University and other local colleges that will take part. Recent graduates and professionals are placed on teams in the league as well. Rosters will change periodically so you will want to check the rosters periodically to see who is playing where.
All of the current and incoming Creighton basketball players will be part of the league this summer at various times.
Per NCAA rules, only two current returning players can be on the same team. The drawback to that rule is that when watching games, there is likely a Bluejay playing in every game.
Due to NCAA D-1 rules, only two current players from one school can play on the same team, but they can be surrounded by unlimited newcomers and graduates.
Here’s how the Creighton roster breaks down with the teams in summer league (grads and legends in parenthesis):
- Cole Huff & Marcus Foster (Nick Bahe and Matt Dorwart will join them)
- Mo Watson & Geoffrey Groselle
- Toby Hegner & James Milliken
- Tyler Clement & Martin Krampelj (Austin Chatman & Justin Carter will join them)
- Zach Hanson & Ronnie Harrell
- Alex O’Neill & Isaiah Zierden (it is doubtful he plays)
- Justin Patton & Marlon Stewart
- Khyri Thomas & Drew Cayce
The buzz around the Bluejay community is the impact newcomers like Mo Watson and Cole Huff could provide this season after sitting out the past season due to transfer rules. There is a large interest in how freshman Ronnie Harrell looks coming off his redshirt season. Will the incoming class, including Justin Patton, make an impact right away? How good is Marcus Foster and how hard will it be to wait to watch him in a game that counts for another year? Those questions may not be answered by watching summer league basketball, but it at least shows you what the potential could be.
When are the games?
Dates of play
- Thursday, June 18 — 7:45 p.m. / 8:45 p.m.
- Thursday, June 25 — 7:45 p.m. / 8:45 p.m.
- Monday, July 6 — 7:45 p.m. / 8:45 p.m.
- Thursday, July 9 — 7:45 p.m. / 8:45 p.m.
- Monday, July 13 — 7:45 p.m. / 8:45 p.m.
- Thursday, July 16 — Tournament- TBD
- Monday, July 20 — Tournament – TBD
The MBL schedule begins on Thursday, June 18, with the first of five nights of pool play. A tournament with all 16 teams will take place over a two-night period starting July 16th, with the league completing play on July 20th.
With the diverse availability of the Omaha Sports Academy, there are a wide range of nights that games are held. The games are on Mondays and Thursdays, with 4 games on 4 courts at 7:45 and 8:45. For the full schedule, visit the schedule page for more information and what teams are playing where.
Admission is free, but programs will be available for purchase to match up jersey numbers and players and to help defray the costs of the league.
Can’t make it to games? WBR has you covered. We’ll write as many previews and game recaps as we can. There could be a few other surprises during the summer as well. Starting this week you get more Creighton hoops. What could be better?