Creighton Basketball: Biggest takeaways from Cayman Islands Classic championship run

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 20: Ty-Shon Alexander #5 of the Creighton Bluejays reacts after scoring during the National Collegiate Basketball Hall Of Fame Classic game against the UCLA Bruins at the Sprint Center on November 20, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 16: Ty-Shon Alexander #5 of the Creighton Bluejays passes the ball against Kansas State Wildcats during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

2. Two words… Ty-Shon Alexander

After losing nearly 75% of their offensive production from last season, one of the biggest questions for Creighton was who would step up and make the big time shots? Well, I think it’s clear to this point that sophomore Ty-Shon Alexander is the answer.

Just a year ago, Alexander was just an 18-year-old who was trying to learn the Creighton campus so he could make it to his classes. The former four-star guard and Oak Hill Academy product found himself playing a small role on an experienced Creighton squad last season.

After Creighton lost so much depth in the offseason, coach McDermott was hoping Alexander could perform in a bigger role this season. Not only has Alexander impressed his coach, but he scored a career-high 36 points against Clemson, the most by a Bluejays player since coach McDermott’s son, Doug McDermott, scored 45 on senior night on March 8, 2014. The 36 points that Alexander scored on Wednesday night was just on 16 shots (9-16)… not to mention he was 7-of-12 from behind the three-point line and a perfect 11-11 from the foul line.

In six games this season, Alexander has finished in double figures each time and he’s led the team in scoring in half of them. He is shooting a ridiculous 51% from the field, 48% from behind the arc, and he’s averaging 19.2 points per game (PPG). Not only is he producing with his own shot making, but he’s creating opportunities for his teammates as he’s second on the team in assists per game (APG).

What Ty-Shon Alexander has brought to the Bluejays lineup early into this season is exactly what coach McDermott was looking for. McDermott has said that the sophomore deserves credit for the hard work and extra time he put into the offseason, and that hard work has shown, as Alexander has simply improved in every facet of the game.

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