Creighton Scouting Report

Creighton Bluejays Basketball Scouting Report 2015-2016:

Current Record: 2-0

Record last season: 14-19 (Conference: 4-14)

Conference: Big East

Nickname: BlueJays

Head Coach: Greg McDermott (527-289 (.646)

Series History: Creighton leads, 2-1; Last Meeting: Indiana 71, Creighton 53 on Dec. 20, 1974 in Bloomington, Ind.

Roster: *Starters highlighted and bold

0
Justin Patton
C
6-11
215
Fr.
Omaha, Neb. / North
1
Marlon Stewart
G
6-1
210
Fr.
Eldridge, Iowa / North Scott
2
Khyri Thomas
G
6-3
200
Fr.
Omaha, Neb. / Benson HS
4
Ronnie Harrell Jr.
G
6-7
190
Fr.
Denver, Colo. / East
5
Drew Cayce
G
6-1
165
Fr.
La Porte, Ind. / La Lumiere School
10
Maurice Watson Jr.
G
5-10
170
Jr.
Philadelphia, Pa. / Boys' Latin
11
Tyler Clement
G
6-1
185
So.
Shawnee, Kan. / St. Thomas Aquinas
12
Malik Albert
G
6-2
170
Jr.
Detroit, Mich. / King HS
13
Cole Huff
F
6-8
215
Jr.
Altadena, Calif. / Campbell Hall
15
Martin Krampelj
F
6-9
205
Fr.
Grosuplje, Slovenia / Impact Academy [Fla.]
20
Alex O'Neill
F
6-8
240
Fr.
Peoria, Ill. / Christian
21
Isaiah Zierden
G
6-3
185
Jr.
Minneapolis, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret's
22
Marcus Foster
G
6-3
210
Jr.
Wichita Falls, Texas / Hirschi HS
23
James Milliken
G
6-3
185
Sr.
Siler City, N.C. / Jordan Matthews
32
Toby Hegner
F
6-10
225
So.
Berlin, Wis. / Berlin
40
Zach Hanson
F
6-9
250
Jr.
Pierre, S.D. / T.F. Riggs
41
Geoffrey Groselle
C
7-0
240
Sr.
Plano, Texas / West

Strengths:

1. 
   Tempo: Creighton scored on 43 of its 75 possessions vs. Texas Southern, producing an average of 1.24 points per possession. Creighton played a fast-paced game, using just 14 seconds per trip. Creighton’s 38 made field goals were its most in any game since 2011. On Tuesday vs. UTSA, Creighton averaged 1.226 points while scoring on 41-of-84 possessions, with an average possession time of 12 seconds per trip. With having already played six games total (including Italy and the exhibition), Creighton has scored on 296 of its 504 possessions, which is 58.7 percent.
2. 
   Shooting: Creighton hit 15 three-pointers in Tuesday’s win over UTSA, which is the most three-pointers in any game by Creighton since setting a BIG EAST record with 21 in 2014 at No. 4 Villanova. Tuesday marked the fifth time in six seasons under Coach McDermott that Creighton has made 15 or more three-pointers in a game, the three-point shot has been a staple of Coach McDermott’s teams during his 6 years at Creighton. Coach McDermott’s Creighton teams have had 61 games since 2010 of shooting 50% or better from the field and 40% or better from three-point range, which leads the NCAA Div. 1 during this time frame.
   

Weaknesses:

1. 
   Experience: Creighton returns just one regular starter, Toby Hegner from last year’s team. Creighton’s roster contains players who made 64 starts a year ago (28 by Hegner, 12 by James Milliken, 9 by Geoffrey Groselle, 8 by Zach Hanson and 7 by Isaiah Zierden), and a combined 64 career starts as Bluejays. Three of the most experienced Bluejays, Maurice Watson Jr. (63 starts at Boston), Cole Huff (46 starts at Nevada) and Marcus Foster (57 starts at Kansas State) have experience outside of playing for Creighton.
2. 
   History playing ranked teams: Creighton is 21-126 all-time against ranked teams, including an 0-6 mark against teams ranked exactly 14th. Coach McDermott is 3-11 all-time at Creighton against ranked teams, with wins over No. 4 Villanova (1/20/14), No. 6 Villanova (2/16/14) and No. 18 Oklahoma (11/19/14).
   

Season Outlook:

Creighton returns nine lettermen and one starter from last year’s team that finished 14-19 and tied for ninth in the BIG EAST with a 4-14 record. Led by guards James Milliken (9.6 ppg. last year; 10.0

ppg. this year) and Isaiah Zierden (9.5 ppg. last year, 19.5 ppg., this year), while Toby Hegner (6.7 ppg. last year, 9.0 ppg. this year) is the lone returning starter from last year’s team.

A talented group of newcomers, led by transfers Maurice Watson Jr. (13.3 ppg., 7.1 apg., in 2013-14

at Boston University; 10.0 ppg., 6.0 apg. this year) and Cole Huff (12.4 ppg., 5.4 rpg., in 2013-14 at University of Nevada; 14.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg. this year), will be heavily relied upon to provide experience and scoring power.

Creighton got some much needed early playing experience through the summer with 10 practices in Omaha in July 3 games in Italy in August.