 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth embrace after a tough loss in the NCAAT to #1 overall seed Auburn. The two seniors were critical to the Bluejays' success during their respective Creighton careers, and their impacts won't soon be forgotten by the fans |
To say that this is the end of an era might be an understatement. The Creighton Bluejays are saying goodbye to an all-time great in Ryan Kalkbrenner, and their leader at PG the last two seasons in Steven Ashworth. That alone is tough enough, even before you add in losing Jamiya Neal and the high impact he made in his one year with the program.
But Creighton has been here before. In 2014, they had to say goodbye to one of the all-time greats in college basketball history, Doug McDermott. Then again in 2021, the Jays lost their entire starting 5, a crop of players that delivered both the program's first Big East regular season title and its first trip to a Sweet 16. Both times there were serious questions about whether or not the Bluejays could rebound from their losses and continue their ascension in the college basketball world. And both times Creighton and head coach Greg McDermott found a way.
The post-Dougie era was difficult at first as the Jays went 14-19 in year one. But ever since that first season, Creighton has never had less than 20 wins in a season. Only Kansas, Gonzaga, Belmont, Oregon, and Houston can make that same claim. High-impact transfers in Mo Watson Jr. and Marcus Foster bridged the gap to the signings of Mitch Ballock/Ty-Shon Alexander and Marcus Zegarowski/Christian Bishop in back to back years. Then in 2021 when it seemed like the Jays were headed for another huge rebuild, the "Baby Jays" of Ryan Nembhard/Trey Alexander/Arthur Kaluma teamed up with the aforementioned Kalkbrenner and veterans Alex O'Connell/Ryan Hawkins and almost stole a Sweet 16 bid from #1 Kansas.
Creighton now heads into another period of uncertainty. However, this time things feel a little different. In both 2014 and 2021, the Jays lost major pieces just like they are now. However, one thing they did not have at those times was established players who were clear building blocks for the future. That same thing can't be said for this version of the Creighton Bluejays. Below we'll take a look at the current state of the roster, the recruiting class, and the transfer portal to lay out what could be on the horizon in the coming months.
Current Roster
G Pop Isaacs SR (JR?)
Pop was the big get in the portal for the Jays this past off-season. After a huge 27 point showing in an upset of #1 Kansas, he looked like the real deal. However, season-ending hip surgery derailed what could have been a very promising season. I feel pretty confident he'll be back in Omaha next year due to him having a basically guaranteed high-usage role. His shot-making ability will make him a key leader for next year, and possibly for 2 years if he gets granted an extra year of eligibility.
(Update 03/24/25 4:25 est: Hearing rumblings that Pop Isaacs has entered the portal. +/- following Ryan Miller to Murray State. Rapid analysis is that it hurts, but is easily offset with the right portal additions. There may have been long term injury concerns over his hip, which could be a blessing in disguise. Losing him again next season would be a killer blow we likely couldn’t recover from)
The Jays are getting a good one in Hudson Greer. He has great size standing at 6'6" with plenty of athleticism to spare. He is the prototypical Greg McDermott high IQ player with the raw skills to back it up. Greer is effective on the offensive side of the floor both from deep (39% career 3pt shooter) and while attacking the basket. He also makes an impact on the defensive end and on the glass. It is easy to project him having a Jackson McAndrew-type arc in his freshman season. Gradually getting more involved as the year goes on then being a key contributor come March. He oozes potential thanks to the combination of his basketball IQ and his raw skills/athleticism. I think it is fair to project him as a Baylor Scheierman-type player (multi-faceted contributor on both ends of the floor). Whether he can be even near the level of what Baylor was for Creighton will be revealed with time. But if he can even deliver as a Scheierman-lite version, there is a ton to love about this kid.
Currently, the biggest name the Jays are still chasing on the recruiting trail is the 7'0" 215 lb C out of Serbia, Aleksa Dimitrijevic. At the FIBA U18 last summer, Dimitrijevic averaged 10.4 PPG 7.1 RPG 2.7 BPG and 2.1 APG. Creighton needs to find some way to replace Kalkbrenner in the long run, and Dimitrijevic could be that guy. He has a lot of similar traits that Kalkbrenner had coming out of high school: great length and instincts defending the rim combined with a strong ability to finish around the rim and in the post. There is a lot of raw ability to love here, but an emphasis on the word "raw". The coaching staff will have to work hard with him to get the most out of his abilities. He's unlikely to be a heavy contributor in his first season if he comes to Omaha, but a year of development could deliver a very high-end player. The Jays are competing with both Michigan and Illinois at the moment. However, they did recently pick up a crystal ball prediction from Joe Tipton at On3.
The last name worth mentioning for now is a wing out of California in Kelvin Odih. Odih originally committed to West Virginia, but recently asked to be granted a release following the news that Darian DeVries left for Indiana. Since he has re-opened his commitment, he has heard from multiple programs, including Creighton. It is worth noting that the Jays did make it all the way into Odih's top 6 during his initial recruitment, so there's good reason for optimism here. His calling card will likely be his defense where he is able to heavily pressure ball handlers. His athleticism allows him to recover even if he gets beat and to guard multiple positions. Offensively his profile reminds me of Arthur Kaluma. Very bully ball-esque with some up and down shooting from deep. But with his defensive ability, he could be a very nice asset alongside some of the other offensive-heavy recruits Creighton tends to land. The Jays haven't had a true lockdown defender since Ty-Shon Alexander. It sure would be great to have another one.
F Jackson McAndrew SO
Stats: 7.8 PPG 4.4 RPG 1.9 3PM .397/.354/.656
The Jays highest-rated recruit ever did not disappoint in his freshman season. As his defense improved, he became more established in the rotation and was a key part of Creighton's success this year. He hit a total of 7 threes in the NCAAT while shooting at a 47% clip from deep. Next year I expect him to take a big leap and become more than just a shooter. He flashed ability to put the ball on the deck and score out of the post as well. He should be a focal point for a likely high-octane offense next season. If his defense continues to improve as well, he has the ability to be one of the best players in the Big East.
F Jasen Green JR
Stats: 4.9 PPG 3.2 RPG 1.0 APG .557/.267/.659
The ultimate "Glue Guy", Jasen basically does whatever is asked of him on both ends of the floor. Late in the year, he started to show his offensive chops, averaging 7.6 PPG on 61% shooting over his final 10 games, including a 19 point outburst against UConn in the Big East semifinal. As a local kid with a growing role, I don't see Green going anywhere. Lock him in at the starting 3 for next year and expect much of the same lunch pale attitude. He could even carve out a bigger offensive role, especially if he improves his 3pt shot.
F Isaac Traudt JR
Stats: 4.6 PPG 2.2 RPG 1.1 3PM .433/.384/.941
In his second year in Omaha, Traudt settled into a nice role for himself as a stretch big shooting 38% from deep. However, his role diminished a bit down the stretch as Jasen Green's expanded. I think the Nebraska native is back again next year in a similar role. If he can improve his interior defense to where he can be consistently trusted to play the 5, he increases his PT opportunities while providing McDermott added flexibility with his lineups. There's sneaky upside here for Traudt to be a sizeable contributor off the bench.
G/F Fedor Zugic SO
Stats: 4.5 PPG 11.8 MPG .484/.400/.727
It took a while for us to get to see what the 6'6" Montenegran could do, but once Zugic got fully acquainted with Creighton's system, you could see why Jays fans were so excited. He has the ability to be the Jays best 3-level scorer since Marcus Foster. I believe in his court vision and passing instincts as well which could lead him to be a good creator for others as well. At the very least, he will be a high-impact 6th man next season. At his peak, him and Pop could form a lethal duo at the guard spots reminiscent of Ty-Shon and Zegarowski.
C Fredrick King Jr. SR
Stats: 18.2 Pts/40 8.6 Reb/40 2.8 Blk/40 .667 FG%
Fred King's biggest flaw? He is not Ryan Kalkbrenner. It's hard to blame the kid for not living up to an all-time Creighton legend, but many fans had higher expectations for King and he hasn't delivered consistently enough. Now that he's finally out from behind Kalkbrenner, there's question whether he'll remain with the program. I believe that King will probably hit the portal as a change of scenery could be good for him. But if he is back, there's still flashes we've seen that make you believe in him. Maybe getting out of Kalkbrenner's shadow will be what lets him finally break out.
F Mason Miller SR
Stats: 1.1 PPG 1.6 RPG 11.8 MPG .217/.171/.667
I don't think I've ever witnessed a basketball player have the "yips" before, but I'm pretty sure we just watched Mason Miller go through a whole season of them. Your heart had to break for the kid who has suffered multiple injuries and worked so hard, just to watch him completely fall off from being the top shooter in the Big East to only making 17% from deep. I think Miller is a lock to follow his uncle, Ryan, to Murray State. A fresh opportunity and a larger role could unlock his untapped potential.
G Ty Davis SO
Stats: 28 games 7.1 MPG .368 FG%
Davis is a true wildcard this off-season. On one hand, I could see him hanging around and getting a shot at the starting PG spot. On the other, Mac could bring in a veteran PG through the portal and Davis could hit the portal himself. It's easy to see the potential Ty has. He has good size at 6'4" and great length that makes me believe he could be a pesky defender. He also averaged 4.4 Ast/40 so the playmaking ability is there as well. Mac has a great history of developing PGs, and I think Davis checks a lot of the key boxes.
G Shane Thomas SO
Stats: 24 games 4.2 MPG
Shane Thomas was a great story this season as he earned a surprise scholarship as a Christmas present. He is a physical defender that I believe has some quality traits that could make him a fine contributor on a mid-major team somewhere. I think he probably hits the portal looking for an opportunity for regular playing time while moving down a level of competition.
Incoming Recruits
G/F Hudson Greer 4* Florida
C Aleksa Dimitrijevic UR Serbia
G/F Kelvin Odih 4* California
Transfer Portal
G/F Josh Dix Iowa SR 6'6" 210
Stats: 32.3 MPG 14.4 PPG 3.2 RPG 2.8 APG 2.0 3PM .507/.422/.766
Dix to Creighton is a no-brainer connection. The rising senior out of Council Bluffs could move even closer to home and play just across the state line in Omaha. He’s a clear scheme fit for McDermott’s wide open offense that favors shooters who know how to get to their spots. His size and his ability to put the ball on the deck make him a great all-around scorer. Adding him to what is already in place on this roster would certainly give the Jays one of the more potent offensive attacks in college basketball.
C Owen Freeman Iowa JR 6'10" 245
Stats: 26.4 MPG 16.7 PPG 6.7 RPG 1.8 BPG .638/.313/.600
I fully expect McDermott and co. to raid the Hawkeyes for at least one of their top transfers following Frank McCaffrey’s departure. Freeman was Iowa’s leading scorer this season, and he did it on incredible efficiency shooting nearly 64% from the floor. He is an absolute load to guard in the paint at 245 lbs and is touted as one of the best post scorers in the Big 10. He’s also developing as a shooter, making 5 of 16 (31.3%) from deep this season. Though lesser know for his defense, he did accumulate 1.8 BPG each of the past two seasons. He’s unlikely to fill the entire void left by Kalkbrenner, but he could fill a large chunk for the next two seasons.
F Nick Davidson Nevada SR 6'10" 238
Stats: 33.1 MPG 15.8 PPG 6.5 RPG 2.8 APG 1.2 BPG 1.4 3PM .500/.371/.699
Davidson is another big that Creighton has been linked to that should be intriguing to fans. He is a “new school” big man who scores in the paint and from beyond the arc. He’s also adept at getting his teammates involved, averaging nearly 3 assists per game this past season for the Wolfpack. His ability to get to run an offense through him could be a nice dynamic for McDermott to add to his bag. My main concern with him, however, is that he is not a high-level defender. The Jays won’t be able to fully replace Kalkbrenner on that end of the floor. But the hope would be to find someone who can provide enough rim protection so that Creighton can continue defending at a high level. I question Davidson’s ability to provide that, and hence my reservations about him despite what I love about his offensive game.
G Wes Enis Lincoln Memorial (DII) JR 6'2" 200
Stats: 35.8 MPG 20.3 PPG 4.6 RPG 2.9 APG 3.2 3PM .449/.413/.847
The last name I’m going to throw on this list is an interesting one. Enis is a DII transfer out of Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee. He’s extremely popular, already being contacted by 75+ teams, and it’s not hard to see why. He can score in bunches and is a high-level shot maker from all over the floor. Though he only averaged about 3 assists per game, I think he has the ability to put up some good assist numbers, especially in a McDermott offense. On top of all of that, he’s also an outstanding defender who brought home the South Atlantic Conference DPOY award this past season. I think he is a dream get for the Jays, but he will be extremely difficult to land. However, with Creighton having a PG-friendly system and a clear need at the position, I think they have quite a bit to offer to give themselves a shot.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I like what the Jays have in place already to start this off-season. The floor is in a good spot, but the ceiling could be raised significantly over the next few months. You also always have to keep and eye on McDermott and his staff making moves all throughout the summer months. They are notorious for pulling names out of nowhere that people didn’t expect like Jamiya Neal, or pouncing on recruits at the very last minute like Trey Alexander and Fedor Zugic.
So sit back and enjoy the off-season Jays fans. November will be here before you know it, and we could be looking at the start of another great era for Creighton basketball.
Roll Damn Jays!
No comments:
Post a Comment