Big East Basketball: Ranking best homecourt advantages for 2020-21 season
By Max Marmitt
3. Creighton Bluejays Home Court: CHI Health Center Omaha
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the most underrated home court in the country, and I still might be underrating them ranking them at #3 on this list. In Creighton’s first year in the Big East, they averaged 17,986 fans per game, 5th in the nation. That same year, they averaged more fans per game than 16 NBA teams, a crazy accomplishment to say the least. Even in their worst Big East year tied for last in the conference in 2015, Creighton was 6th in the country in attendance with 17,048 fans per game.
Not only has Creighton led the Big East attendance in attendance every year since realignment, but Creighton has also been in the top 10 in the country in attendance each year as well, three times making the top 5 (when the NCAA releases the data for this year, they could realistically make the top 5 again). The number of fans isn’t the only reason this team has such a great advantage at home, the fans are super passionate and create a great atmosphere, like several others in the conference.
Typically playing with a fast-paced style and a ton of offensive firepower, Coach Greg McDermott makes Creighton a fun team to watch. His son, 2014 national college basketball Player of the Year and current Indiana Pacer Doug McDermott smoothly transitioned Creighton into the Big East, ending his career as the 6th all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. The three-time All-American is one of many Creighton stars who have shined in the Big East.
Marcus Foster and Maurice Watson Jr. were a lethal duo together as Foster was an absolute scoring machine fitting well with Watson Jr. who could do-it-all and held the team together. Creighton was ranked 7th in the country when Maurice Watson Jr tore his ACL his senior year, a heartbreaking setback to a Creighton squad that looked like it would go super deep in March that year. Justin Patton was a 1st round NBA draft pick that year as well.
2-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year Khryi Thomas emerged that next year, becoming arguably the best perimeter defender in the country while efficiently scoring 15.1 points per game. Last year’s Ty-Shon Alexander plays similar to Thomas, averaging 17 points per game while also being the conference’s best perimeter defender. He really played like a conference player of the year last year, but it’s not every year you’re contending against national superstars Markus Howard and Myles Powell. Marcus Zegarowski has had an amazing career so far and could be the Big East POY next season and you can’t forget about sharpshooter Mitch Ballock lighting it up.
Creighton is 85-26 in the past seven years at home, including a 16-0 season in 2014 and a 17-1 season last year. Both of those seasons had Final Four aspirations, and when Creighton is at their best this is a team that very few can keep up with on the road.