Creighton Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bluejays
By Brian Rauf
Creighton Basketball has consistently become one of the Big East’s best teams, and the Bluejays are looking to make another NCAA Tournament appearance.
Last year, the Creighton Bluejays were one of the most fun teams to watch in the country largely due to the play of star guards Khyri Thomas and Marcus Foster. However, both players left for the NBA – Thomas is a Detroit Piston while Foster went undrafted – leaving head coach Greg McDermott’s squad with major holes to fill in terms of both production and identity.
Creighton’s turnover is something of the norm this year in the Big East. Villanova, Seton Hall, and Xavier – the three best teams in the conference a season ago – all also have to replace key pieces, creating a major opening at the top of the standings. And head coach Doug McDermott feels like he has the pieces to capitalize.
The Bluejays do return two starters in guard Davion Mintz and forward Mitch Ballock, both of whom will be responsible for handling bigger roles in their junior and sophomore years, respectively.
Rising sophomores Ty-Shon Alexander and Jacob Epperson should also see increased roles after both showed promise during their freshmen campaigns. Creighton is also welcoming in three top 150 recruits who McDermott is hoping will provide some pop off the bench.
The Bluejays are coming off a 21-12 record that saw them make the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. Will they be able to extend that streak without last year’s stars? Here’s a full preview for Creighton’s upcoming season, including a full breakdown of the projected starters, key reserves, and non-conference schedule, along with where they stand nationally and in the conference.