The 2023-24 Creighton Bluejays season ended in heartbreaking fashion to Tennessee. After the loss, the program had a lot of questions left in the air. With Trey Alexander and Baylor Schiermann, who averaged almost half of the team’s average game points last season, leaving for the NBA draft, the question is, will the No. 14 Jays reload and quench their thirst for a Final Four appearance this season?
The Bluejays looked questionable at times in their season debut against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 6. They relied heavily on 2024-25 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner, who took advantage of smaller defenders near the basket. Their perimeter defense was mediocre at best giving up 14 made three-pointers. They looked promising on the offensive end, Kalkbrenner ended with 49 points and guard Steven Ashworth with 25.
In their second act against Farleigh Dickinson, they cleaned up their act performance holding them to under 40% on field goals and out-rebounding the Knights 51-30. Following his outstanding performance in their first game, Kalkbrenner did much of the damage, finishing with 24 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Transfer Jamiya Neal took a big leap in his second game, looking like a much more comfortable facilitator and flying out into transition. Transfer Pop Isaacs made an appearance, but was not fully healthy still dealing with a hip strain.
The addition of guards Issacs and Neal has quickly patched offensive holes early in the season. Issacs is a lightning-quick two-guard who often finishes tough midrange shots. Along with his ability to create, he is also a career 33% three-point shooter, providing spacing for an already highly potent offense. Neal on the other hand looks to improve his three-point shooting as he averages 27%. Neal is a physical guard at six feet six inches with a skill set more often seen in a forward being able to defend and rebound at a high level.
The recruiting in Greg McDermott’s tenure has been nothing short of spectacular, with this year’s class being the highest-rated ever at 22 according to 247sports.com. Bringing in a balanced two-way threat like Jackson McAndrew, the explosiveness of Larry Johnson and a spot-up threat like Ty Davis, has reloaded this roster to be more successful than years prior. Another under-the-radar addition that adds great depth to the Bluejays bench is Fedor Žugić out of Montenegro. Žugić is a score-first-two guard with five years of professional experience overseas. However, the NCAA is still clearing his eligibility which will likely remain uncertain until early December.
Along with the offseason gains the Bluejays still have a returning cast of Ashworth, Kalkbrenner and the sophomore-junior tandem Jasen Green and Mason Miller. This team has bench depth that has yet to be seen since early in the McDermott era. The projected starting five for the group goes as follows: guard Steven Ashworth, guard Pop Issacs, guard Jamiya Neal, forward Jasen Green and center Ryan Kalkbrenner.
The Bluejays will need to take up the gauntlet that is their schedule, with the team playing three of the AP’s top 25 preseason teams: No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Alabama and No. 23 Texas A&M. Conference play isn’t any easier facing off against No. 3 UConn twice, and the rest of the Big East will leave them with the most challenging season to date.
The returning stars the Jays have to face are grueling with three of the top 10 returning players according to ESPN No. 3 Mark Sears, No. 4 Hunter Dickinson and No. 10 Alex Karaban. Sears and Karaban will be challenging matchups as the Bluejays’ perimeter defense is questionable at times, while Dickinson and Kalkbrenner will be a battle of two titans in the post. The Bluejays have the opportunity to prove themselves as a top-tier defense if they can defend one of, if not the best guard in Sears effectively. On the other hand, the Jays will need to play good team defense against Karaban and the Huskies as they play at a much slower pace with good continuity.
The Jays play their next game against Houston Christian, tomorrow. at 8 p.m. on FS1.