Creighton Basketball: Should Bluejays be 2023-24 Big East favorite?

With a strong start to the 2023-24 campaign, should Creighton Basketball be viewed as the team to beat in the Big East Conference?

Three weeks into the season we are getting a glimpse of how Creighton Basketball’s identity is changing compared to last season.  They are looking a lot more like the Doug McDermott Blue Jays 10 years ago.  Coming into the season the Blue Jays held their reputation being ranked #8 on the top 25 rankings.  Some thought that was far too high after the Jays lost Ryan Nembhard to Gonzaga, and Arthur Kaluma to Kansas State.

On the bright side, they received transfer point guard, Steven Ashworth (Utah State), and forward Isaac Traudt (Virginia).  After Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner tested the NBA waters, they decided to run it back for one more year with the Jays.  Hometown hero Baylor Scheierman also decided to return and finish what they started.

Chemistry is off the charts with the kids, and they are looking like the Doug McDermott Blue Jays that everyone loved to watch.  They are hitting their three points, rebounding, and the ball movement is phenomenal.  All-American Center Ryan Kalkbrenner has almost taken a back seat to start the season which is a good thing.  Last year the entire Creighton offense ran through Kalkbrenner and couldn’t do much when he was locked up.  With the Jays being able to score without Kalkbrenner doing every it opens a lot so that when Kalk is needed to step, it makes them that much more dynamic.  They can beat you with the 3’s, the pick-and-rolls, and under the basket.

Trey Alexander is already a candidate for Big East Player of the Year with a stat line of 21 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 6.5 APG.  Trey has been the X factor for the Jays with his ability to cross you up, hit his threes, and dunk on anyone with his explosiveness.  The absence of Ryan Nembhard appears to have opened Trey’s superstar ability.  If he keeps this up, he will be a favorite to win Big East Player of the Year.

Steven Ashworth had a good first game with 17 points but since then he hasn’t scored much which is okay considering the Blue Jays are dominating teams.  He and Kalkbrenner have the best connection thus far into the season with a nice pick-and-roll option.  Kalkbrenner’s bread and butter is the pick and roll so Ashworth being able to facilitate that improves the dynamic play for the Jays. Ashworth is not going to have trouble scoring every game so when he does get his points, it’ll make the Jays that much better.

The only thing different about Baylor Scheierman this season is his new haircut.  He is still that rebounding sharpshooter the fans all know and love.  He is the most tenacious person on the team and a great team player.  He is strictly there to have fun and win, not caring about his stat line which is what everyone needs on their team to make a deep run in the tournament.

The bench has been a surprising benefit this season, which the Blue Jays lacked last year.  Transfer Isaac Traudt has been a fantastic 6th man, and it might be only a matter of time before he takes Mason Miller’s starting spot.  Traudt moves incredibly well on the perimeter for someone who is 6’10 and has a great three-point shot.  Center Frederick King will always be behind Ryan Kalkbrenner if he is there but King has made every minute count when he gets his minutes averaging 6.9 PPG and 6.5 RPG in 14 minutes per game.

The Big East is already stacked as is, but the return of the veterans and the arrival of the transfers are helping the Blue Jays feel confident about being in the Big East championship.  The Big East is looking like the new ACC in college basketball, and I am here for it.  If I was a betting man, I would be placing a future on a Big East team to win the big show.  It will be intriguing to see how the rest of the season goes.