Creighton’s undefeated in Big East play. I can’t say I ever thought I would type words like those until about a year ago. When rumors surfaced last December that the Hilltop was positioned to potentially become the western most outpost of the venerable Big East Conference, I was giddy but guarded. But the past year has been arguably the most eventful in the long history of sports on Creighton’s campus, with the craziness culminating on the last day of 2013.
The Bluejays trounced Marquette 67-49, despite a relatively mundane offensive performance compared to CU’s standards. Only once this season have the Bluejays shot a worse percentage from the floor than they did against the Golden Eagles (40.3%), in a loss to George Washington (the team, not the guy) in Anaheim (33.9%). The Jays shot a season-low four free throws.
Jahenns Manigat scored 16 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished 6 assists against Marquette (WBR/Mike Spomer) CLICK TO BUY
None of this matters when you make 13 three-pointers, though, right? Especially when you reduce an already offensively challenged opponent like Marquette to 35.8% field goal shooting and a miserable 2-12 mark from behind the arc (16.7%). Buzz Williams’ team entered the conference opener making 45.6% of their shots; Creighton’s defense helped keep the Golden Eagles far below that percentage in Omaha on New Year’s Eve. Unable to score consistently near the bucket and unequipped to score much from behind the arc (MU entered the game 309th nationally in three-point makes per game at 4.6), Williams watched as Creighton quickly outpaced his team with a combination of solid sharing, cold-blooded shooting, and continually improving defensive effort.
For the sixth time in seven games, Creighton held its opponent to sub-40% shooting from the field. That includes four of CU’s last five games, all of which were played at CenturyLink Center Omaha. The Jays didn’t trail once during the five-game homestand, a remarkable feat considering only two of the games came against relative cupcake opponents.
Austin Chatman and the Bluejays turned in a solid defensive effort against Marquette (WBR/Mike Spomer) CLICK TO BUY
Greg McDermott has his seasoned rotation well coached on both ends of the floor. His five starters have played in more than 500 games combined at Creighton, with most of them coming alongside each other. The defensive improvements are noticeable in more ways than just glances at the box scores night in and night out. Communication is clear. Rotations are solid. Sure, they’re not perfect, but no team is. What counts is that Creighton, feared for its offensive efficiency the past few seasons, continues to get better on defense. Entering the weekend, the Jays are 5th in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted offensive efficiency (AdjO), or “An estimate of the offensive efficiency (points scored per 100 possessions) a team would have against the average D-I defense,” and 44th in adjusted defensive efficiency (AdjD), “An estimate of the defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions) a team would have against the average D-I offense.” CU finished 80th in the country in AdjD last season, 190th the year before, and 184th in Greg McDermott’s first season at CU.
Still, for all the improvements on defense, Creighton’s offense remains the box office draw that has the CLink sold out for all but one remaining game this season. The Bluejays are 5th in the aforementioned AdjO according to Pomeroy. The teams around them in the top ten? Louisville, Syracuse, Duke, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Toledo, Kansas, Wichita State, and Wisconsin. All told, the teams are 118-14.
Again, in addition to exceptional skill, credit familiarity and cohesion among Creighton’s lineup for the collective offensive firepower. All-American Doug McDermott is second in the nation in points per game and eighth in the country in field goals made. Ethan Wragge is one of the best outside shooters in the country; he’s among the nation’s leaders in three-point makes (50; 5th), attempts (100; 19th), and percentage (50%; 11th). Manigat’s shooting the ball well from the perimeter, too, making 43.6% of his shots from behind the arc.
Against Marquette, the Bluejays embraced their abilities from three-point range. Creighton attempted 35 three-pointers, tied for the program’s single-game record. The Jays made 13 threes, with Manigat (4-9), Wragge (4-9), McDermott (3-6), Austin Chatman (1-4), and Devin Brooks (1-3) hurting the Golden Eagles from deep.
Doug McDermott and Ethan Wragge contributed to another nice night for the Bluejays behind the arc (WBR/Mike Spomer) CLICK TO BUY
Just two days before, The Bluejays made a season-high 16 three-pointers on just 25 attempts in a 90-58 win over Chicago State. Led by four quick treys by McDermott, the Jays made their first six shots from behind the arc. CU made 10 of 15 threes in the first half and 6 of 10 in the second half. McDermott wouldn’t make another triple the rest of the night, but that didn’t keep him from scoring 24 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and adding 4 assists in another All American-type effort.
Fellow seniors Manigat (15 points; 5-7 from deep) and Wragge (15 points; 5-6 from three) took what Chicago State was allowing, and then some. Due to their exceptional outside shooting, the Bluejays set season highs for field goal shooting (56.3%) and three-point shooting (64%) in their third largest win of the relatively short season.
Just how reliant are the Bluejays on exceptional three-point shooting? Only two teams in the country count on made threes for a higher percentage of their point total, as 42.1% of CU’s scoring comes from beyond the arc. But that’s OK. Watching Marquette’s post players try to rotate and defend McDermott and Wragge on the perimeter, it is easy to imagine a scenario in which Greg McDermott’s team will proverbially live and die by the long ball the rest of the season.
Between the #Wraggebombs, Jahenns’ “dunk,” and Sweet Caroline, the atmosphere on New Year’s Eve was exceptional. Everyone knew the hours leading up to and following Creighton’s Big East opener were going to be fun. Cautious fans like myself worried about the two hours spent inside the arena, though. Nothing says buzzkill like losing an extremely hyped up game. But the Bluejays took control early, building a lead that would swell to 20 points and giving Jays fans a chance to fully revel in the intoxicating atmosphere. Now comes a trip two-game road swing to Seton Hall and DePaul. While the entirety of New Year’s Eve probably felt like a fantasy to long-time Bluejays backers, the reality of life in the 10-team Big East is that long road trips include games against teams that have the athletes and savvy coaches able to knock of any team, any night.
If you’d given CU fans that proposition a year ago, most would quickly jump at the opportunity to trade games in Normal and Cedar Falls for ones in Newark and Chicago. That the Bluejays find themselves in this position continues to baffle me, but in a good way. The future of hoops on the Hilltop is bright. And the present isn’t too shabby, either.