2018–19 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team

The 2018–19 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays were led by ninth-year head coach Greg McDermott and played their home games at the newly-named CHI Health Center Omaha, as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 20–15, 9–9 in Big East play to finish in a four-way tie for third place. As the No. 5 seed in the Big East tournament, they lost to Xavier in the quarterfinals. They received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the TCU bracket where they defeated Loyola and Memphis before losing to TCU in the quarterfinals.

2018–19 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball
NIT, Quarterfinals
ConferenceBig East Conference
Record20–15 (9–9 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Preston Murphy (4th season)
  • Alan Huss (2nd season)
  • Paul Lusk (1st season)
Home arenaCHI Health Center Omaha
Seasons
2018–19 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 23 Villanova 13 5   .722 26 10   .722
Marquette 12 6   .667 24 10   .706
Seton Hall 9 9   .500 20 14   .588
Xavier 9 9   .500 19 16   .543
Creighton 9 9   .500 20 15   .571
Georgetown 9 9   .500 19 14   .576
St. John's 8 10   .444 21 13   .618
Providence 7 11   .389 18 16   .529
Butler 7 11   .389 16 17   .485
DePaul 7 11   .389 19 17   .528
2019 Big East tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

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The Bluejays finished the 2017–18 season 21–12, 10–8 in Big East play to finish in a three-way tie for third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament to Providence. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 8 seed in the South Region. There the Bluejays lost in the first round to Kansas State.

Offseason

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Departures

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Marcus Foster 0 G 6'3" 215 Senior (redshirt) Wichita Falls, TX Graduated
Khyri Thomas 2 G 6'3" 210 Junior Omaha, NE Declared for the 2018 NBA draft; selected 38th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Ronnie Harrell 5 G 6'7" 195 Junior (redshirt) Denver, CO Graduate transferred to Denver
Tyler Clement 11 G 6'2" 185 Senior Overland Park, KS Graduated
Toby Hegner 32 F 6'10" 235 Senior (redshirt) Berlin, WI Graduated
Manny Suarez 44 C 6'10" 250 Senior (redshirt) Cliffside Park, NJ Graduated

In addition to the departing players, top assistant Darian DeVries left to take the head coaching vacancy at Drake. He had been with Creighton since 1998, first as an equipment manager and then from 2001 as an assistant coach.[1]

Incoming transfers

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Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Connor Cashaw 2 G 6'5" 205 Graduate Student Lincolnshire, IL Transferred from Rice. Will be eligible to play immediately since Cashaw graduated from Rice.
Denzel Mahoney 34 G 6'4" 213 Junior Oviedo, FL Transferred from Southeast Missouri State. Under NCAA transfer rules, Mahoney will have to sit out for the 2018–19 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.

2018 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Marcus Zegarowski
PG
Hamilton, MA Tilton School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 164 lb (74 kg) Sep 4, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Christian Bishop
SF
Lee's Summit, MO Lee's Summit West High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jun 22, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A
Sam Froling
PF
Canberra, ACT Australian Institute of Sport 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jan 15, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPNN/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 29, 2018.

2019 recruiting class

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US college sports recruiting information for 2019 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Shereef Mitchell
PG
Omaha, NE Burke High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Jul 12, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247Sports:     ESPNN/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Roster

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2018–19 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 1 Davion Mintz 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr North Mecklenburg HS Charlotte, NC
G 2 Connor Cashaw 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) GS Stevenson HS
Rice
Lincolnshire, IL
G 5 Ty-Shon Alexander 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Oak Hill Academy (VA) Charlotte, NC
G 10 Jett Canfield (W) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 155 lb (70 kg) Fr Hayden HS Topeka, KS
G 11 Marcus Zegarowski 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Tilton School Hamilton, MA
G 12 Jordan Scurry (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jr St. Mark's Chestnut Hill, MA
F 13 Christian Bishop 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr West Lee's Summit, MO
G 14 Kaleb Joseph 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS Sr Cushing Academy
Syracuse
Nashua, NH
F 15 Martin Krampelj 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) RS Jr Impact Academy Grosuplje, Slovenia
G/F 23 Damien Jefferson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS So Central HS
New Mexico
East Chicago, IN
G 24 Mitch Ballock 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Eudora HS Eudora, KS
C 31 Sam Froling 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr Australian Institute of Sport Townsville, Australia
G 34 Denzel Mahoney   6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr Hagerty
Southeast Missouri State
Oviedo, FL
C 41 Jacob Epperson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr La Lumiere (IN) Melbourne, Australia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 27, 2018*
7:00 pm
Winona State W 101–57[2] 
 17  Alexander   7  Epperson   4  Tied  CHI Health Center Omaha (15,804)
Omaha, NE
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2018*
7:30 pm, FSN
Western Illinois W 78–67[3]  1–0
 13  Tied   12  Jefferson   5  Ballock  CHI Health Center Omaha (16,449)
Omaha, NE
November 11, 2018*
12:30 pm, FS1
East Tennessee State
Cayman Islands Classic on-campus site
W 75–69  2–0
 20  Alexander   3  Froling   3   Tied  CHI Health Center Omaha (16,506)
Omaha, NE
November 15, 2018*
6:00 pm, FS1
Ohio State
Gavitt Tipoff Games
L 60–69  2–1
 16  Alexander   7  Krampelj   3  Tied  CHI Health Center Omaha (17,146)
Omaha, NE
November 19, 2018*
6:30 pm, Stadium
vs. Boise State
Cayman Islands Classic quarterfinals
W 94–82  3–1
 18  Alexander   6  Tied   4  Tied  John Gray High School (1,512)
George Town, Cayman Islands
November 20, 2018*
6:30 pm, Stadium
vs. Georgia State
Cayman Islands Classic semifinals
W 93–68  4–1
 23  Ballock   7  Ballock   6  Ballock  John Gray High School (1,558)
George Town, Cayman Islands
November 21, 2018*
6:30pm, Stadium
vs. No. 16 Clemson
Cayman Islands Classic championship
W 87–82  5–1
 36  Alexander   5  Zegarowski   3   Tied  John Gray High School (1,709)
George Town, Cayman Islands
November 28, 2018*
7:30 pm, FS1
Montana W 98–72  6–1
 18  Jefferson   6  Krampelj   6  Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (16,457)
Omaha, NE
December 1, 2018*
1:00 pm, FOX
No. 1 Gonzaga L 92–103  6–2
 27  Alexander   9  Jefferson   5  Alexander  CHI Health Center Omaha (18,759)
Omaha, NE
December 8, 2018*
5:00 pm, BTN
at No. 24 Nebraska
Rivalry
L 75–94  6–3
 23  Ballock   5  Tied   3  Alexander  Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,950)
Lincoln, NE
December 14, 2018*
8:00 pm, FS1
Green Bay W 86–65  7–3
 19  Ballock   9  Jefferson   6  Alexander  CHI Health Center Omaha (17,147)
Omaha, NE
December 18, 2018*
8:00 pm, ESPNU
at Oklahoma W 83–70  7–4
 19  Krampelj   10  Krampelj   2  Tied  Lloyd Noble Center (4.480)
Norman, OK
December 20, 2018*
7:00 pm, FS1
Coe W 110–60  8–4
 20  Zegarowski   7  Cashaw   7  Tied  CHI Health Center Omaha (16,328)
Omaha, NE
December 27, 2018*
7:00 pm, FS1
UMKC W 89–53  9–4
 19  Alexander   8  Krampelj   6  Mintz  CHI Health Center Omaha (17,608)
Omaha, NE
Big East regular season
December 31, 2018
3:00 pm, FS1
at Providence W 79–68  10–4
(1–0)
 18  Alexander   9  Krampelj   6  Ballock  Dunkin' Donuts Center (11,343)
Providence, RI
January 5, 2019
11:00 am, FS1
at Butler L 69–84  10–5
(1–1)
 16  Krampelj   8  Krampelj   5  Zegarowski  Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,148)
Indianapolis, IN
January 9, 2019
6:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 21 Marquette L 104–106 OT 10–6
(1–2)
 23  Alexander   8  Krampelj   4  Ballock  CHI Health Center Omaha (17,085)
Omaha, NE
January 13, 2019
11:00 am, FOX
Villanova L 78–90  10–7
(1–3)
 22  Alexander   10  Krampelj   7  Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (17,379)
Omaha, NE
January 16, 2019
5:30 pm, FS1
at St. John's L 66–81  10–8
(1–4)
 17  Zegarowsi   9  Krampelj   4  Tied  Carnesecca Arena (5,602)
Queens, NY
January 21, 2019
7:45 pm, FS1
at Georgetown W 91–87  11–8
(2–4)
 26  Alexander   8  Krampelj   4  Tie  Capital One Arena (5,230)
Washington, D.C.
January 25, 2019
7:00 pm, FS1
Butler W 75–61  12–8
(3–4)
 19  Alexander   8  Krampelj   6  Mintz  CHI Health Center Omaha (18,089)
Omaha, NE
January 30, 2019
7:30 pm, FS1
St. John's L 67–83  12–9
(3–5)
 15  Alexander   5  Bzllock   7  Mintz  CHI Health Center Omaha (16,832)
Omaha, NE
February 3, 2019
12:00 pm, FSN
Xavier W 76–54  13–9
(4–5)
 23  Krampelj   6  Krampelj   3  Tied  CHI Health Center Omaha (16,678)
Omaha, NE
February 6, 2019
7:00 pm, CBSSN
at No. 14 Villanova L 59–66  13–10
(4–6)
 19  Mintz   10  Krampelj   4  Mintz  Finneran Pavilion (6,501)
Villanova, PA
February 9, 2019
7:00 pm, CBSSN
at Seton Hall L 58–63  13–11
(4–7)
 25  Krampelj   11  Krampelj   5  Mintz  Prudential Center (9,681)
Newark, NJ
February 13, 2019
7:30 pm, CBSSN
at Xavier L 61–64  13–12
(4–8)
 18  Krampelj   10  Alexander   5  Alexander  Cintas Center (9,949)
Cincinnati, OH
February 17, 2019
2:00 pm, FS1
Seton Hall L 75–81  13–13
(4–9)
 20  Alexander   8  Ballock   5  Mintz  CHI Health Center Omaha (17,036)
Omaha, NE
February 20, 2019
8:00 pm, FSN
at DePaul W 79–67  14–13
(5–9)
 16  Alexander   7  Krampelj   6  Alexander  Wintrust Arena (4,238)
Chicago, IL
February 23, 2019
1:40 pm, FOX
Georgetown W 82–69  15–13
(6–9)
 22  Krampelj   9  Krampelj   6  Ballock  CHI Health Center Omaha (17,358)
Omaha, NE
March 3, 2019
2:00 pm, FS1
at No. 10 Marquette W 66–60  16–13
(7–9)
 19  Krampelj   7  Alexander   5  Zegarowski  Fiserv Forum (17,512)
Milwaukee, WI
March 6, 2019
7:00 pm, CBSSN
Providence W 76–70 OT 17–13
(8–9)
 17  Alexander   10  Krampelj   3  Krampelj  CHI Health Center Omaha (16,903)
Omaha, NE
March 9, 2019
7:00 pm, FS1
DePaul W 91–78  18–13
(9–9)
 39  Ballock   10  Krampelj   10  Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (17,083)
Omaha, NE
Big East Tournament
March 14, 2019
1:30 pm, FS1
(5) vs. (4) Xavier
Quarterfinals
L 61–63  18–14
 21  Alexander   9  Krampelj   3  Tie  Madison Square Garden (19,534)
New York, NY
NIT
March 19, 2019*
8:00 pm, ESPNU
(2) (7) Loyola–Chicago
First Round – TCU Bracket
W 70–61  19–14
 17  Krampelj   8  Krampelj   7  Alexander  CHI Health Center Omaha (5,755)
Omaha, NE
March 22, 2019*
7:30 pm, ESPNU
(2) (3) Memphis
Second Round – TCU Bracket
W 79–67  20–14
 14  Ballock/Zegarowski   10  Bishop   8  Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (7,031)
Omaha, NE
March 26, 2019*
8:00 pm, ESPN
(2) at (1) TCU
Quarterfinals – TCU Bracket
L 58–71  20–15
 14  Ballock   6  Bishop   2  Tied  Schollmaier Arena (3,314)
Fort Worth, Texas
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References

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  1. ^ Bain, Matthew (March 29, 2018). "Drake hires Creighton assistant Darian DeVries as head men's basketball coach". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  2. ^ "Winona St. vs Creighton". Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  3. ^ "Men's Basketball". Retrieved November 7, 2018.