Officially, Creighton has retired three numbers in men\u2019s basketball: Bob Portman\u2019s #33, Paul Silas\u2019 #35, and Bob Gibson\u2019s #45. In recent years, there has been a grass-roots effort to add Bob Harstad\u2019s #30 to that list, and Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen has indicated that might be a possibility in the future. But among longtime Jaybackers, other names also frequently surface in discussions about who else might be deserving of such an honor. As usual, this got me to thinking\u2026who are the best players in Creighton history to wear each number? Has anyone ever compiled such a list?<\/p>\n
Using a cornucopia of sources, including old media guides, game programs, Google, Statsheet.org, and Travis Sing\u2019s fantastic book \u201cCreighton University Athletics: A History in Photographs\u201d, I first compiled a massive spreadsheet of virtually every player of note in CU history post-WWII. What qualifies as a \u201cplayer of note\u201d? Three things: the player must have used up his eligibility, played a minimum of two seasons, and compiled a minimum of 500 points scored in their career and\/or 200 rebounds. Seems simple enough, right?<\/p>\n
Well, it was \u2014 until it came time to decide the \u201cbest\u201d for each jersey number. Duan Cole or Booker Woodfox? Both wore #14. Kyle Korver or Chad Gallagher? Both wore #25. How about #30? Both Bob Harstad or Kevin McKenna are all-time greats who wore those digits. What about #44? Rick Apke or Anthony Tolliver shared that number. Those are all tough calls to make.<\/p>\n
So I solicited outside opinion to help: I sent the list to several longtime fans and asked them to vote for who, in their opinion, was the best player that wore each number. The results of those votes helped determine which players will be honored. Starting tomorrow, we will spotlight one jersey number a day, every weekday until the start of practice on October 15. That\u2019s 37 days, with 37 numbers. We\u2019ll lay out both the case for the player we think was the best, as well as that of the other players who wore that number, and if you disagree with our assessment, the comments section is always open.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow we begin with #00, Benoit Benjamin. Stop back Friday when we take a look at #1, and try to decide between Justin Carter and Jeff Day, among others. And then every day next week \u2014 and every week for the next five weeks after that \u2014 we\u2019ll look at a new number, and a new group of players.<\/p>\n
00 |\u00a0Benoit Benjamin<\/a><\/p>\n 01 |\u00a0Justin Carter<\/a><\/p>\n 03 |\u00a0NickPorter<\/a><\/p>\n 04 |\u00a0Ben Walker<\/a><\/p>\n 05 |\u00a0Ryan Sears<\/a><\/p>\n 10 |\u00a0Nate Funk<\/a><\/p>\n 11 |\u00a0Johnny Mathies<\/a><\/p>\n 12 |\u00a0Josh Dotzler<\/a><\/p>\n 14 |\u00a0Duan Cole<\/a><\/p>\n 15 |\u00a0Kellen Miliner<\/a><\/p>\n 20 |\u00a0Larry House<\/a><\/p>\n 21 |\u00a0Gary Swain<\/a><\/p>\n 22 |\u00a0Vernon Moore<\/a><\/p>\n 23 |\u00a0Terrell Taylor<\/a><\/p>\n 24 |\u00a0Chuck Officer<\/a><\/p>\n 25 |\u00a0Chad Gallagher and Kyle Korver<\/a><\/p>\n 30 |\u00a0Bob Harstad<\/a><\/p>\n 31 |\u00a0Troy Bell<\/a><\/p>\n 32 |\u00a0Rodney Buford<\/a><\/p>\n 33 |\u00a0Bob Portman<\/a><\/p>\n 34 |\u00a0Mike Grimes<\/a><\/p>\n 35 |\u00a0Paul Silas<\/a><\/p>\n 40 |\u00a0Daryl Stovall<\/a><\/p>\n 41 |\u00a0Doug Brookins<\/a><\/p>\n 42 | Coming Soon<\/p>\n 43 | Coming Soon<\/p>\n 44 |\u00a0Rick Apke<\/a><\/p>\n 45 |\u00a0Bob Gibson<\/a><\/p>\n 48 | Coming Soon<\/p>\n 50 |\u00a0Dane Watts<\/a><\/p>\n 51 | Coming Soon<\/p>\n 52 |\u00a0Ralph Bobik<\/a><\/p>\n 53 | Coming Soon<\/p>\n 54 |\u00a0Eddie Cole<\/a><\/p>\n 55 |\u00a0Nerijus Karlikanovas<\/a><\/p>\n 98 |\u00a0Ray Yost<\/a><\/p>\n