2020-21 Creighton Preliminary Men's Basketball Schedule

Table of Contents

Creighton won its first BIG EAST title last season, finishing the year 24-7 and ranked No. 7 nationally. Table of Contents Publication Credits The 2020-21 men’s basketball media guide is a General Information 2019-20 Season Review Table of Contents 1 2019-20 Season Recap 70-71 production of the award-winning Creighton Sports CHI Health Center Omaha 2-3 2019-20 Statistics 72 Information Office. The Championship Center 4 2019-20 Game-by-Game Leaders/Results 73 Omaha, Neb. 5 2019-20 Miscellaneous Statistics 74 2020-21 Outlook 6 2019-20 Season Highs and Lows 75 Design, writing and editing by Sports Information 2020-21 Roster and Quick Facts 7 2019-20 Plus/Minus and Situational Records 76 Director Rob Anderson. Cover designs by Joey 2020-21 Preseason Notebook 8 2019-20 Game-By-Game Comparisons 77 Gardner. 2020-21 Schedule 9 2019-20 BIG EAST Statistical Leaders 78-79 Media Information 10-11 2019-20 BIG EAST Summary 80 2019-20 Game-By-Game Box Scores 81-87 Editorial assistance provided by Glen Sisk, Basketball Staff 2019-20 Honors 87 Anthony Robinson, Joey Gardner, Kevin Sarver, Greg McDermott 12-14 Alan Huss 15 The Record Book Creighton Basketball and Creighton Marketing Paul Lusk 16 Team Records and Last Time It Happened 88 & Communications. Terrence Rencher 17 Single-Game Records 89 Steve Merfeld 18 Season Records 90 Jeff Vanderloo 19 Career Records 91 On the front cover (counterclockwise from top Len Gordy 20 1,000-Point Scorers 92-97 left): #13 Christian Bishop, #23 Damien Jefferson, Support Staff 21 All-Time Roster 98-100 #11 Marcus Zegarowski, #24 Mitch Ballock and #34 Athletic Training and Athletic Performance 22 Annual Leaders 101-103 Denzel Mahoney. Academic Support 23 Yearly Statistics 104-105 All-Time Coaches 105 The Players Doug McDermott’s Historical Career 106 Photography provided by Rob Anderson, #24 Mitch Ballock 24-25 All-Americans 107 Associated Press, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Tip-Off #23 Damien Jefferson 26-27 Retired Jerseys 108 #34 Denzel Mahoney 28-29 Creighton Classics 109 Club, Tony Bailey, Porter Binks, Steven Branscombe, #5 Alex O’Connell 30-31 Creighton Basketball Glossary 110-113 Scott Bruhn, Mark Burch, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago #13 Christian Bishop 32-33 Draft Pick History 114 Bulls, David Cao, Greg Carroccio, Dave Crawford/ #41 Jacob Epperson 34-35 Bluejays In The NBA 115 #11 Marcus Zegarowski 36-37 CHI Health Center Omaha Records 116-117 Creighton University Archives, Creighton University #10 Jett Canfield 38 CHI Health Center Omaha Records 118-120 Media Services, Wendell Cruz, Mark Davis, Sara Davis, #0 Antwann Jones 39 Wilbur DeLashmet, Doug DeVoe, ESPN Photos, Jim #4 Shereef Mitchell 40 Postseason and Team History #20 Nic Zeil 41 NCAA Tournament History 121 Fackler, FIBA, Gregory Fisher, Eric Francis, Doug #44 Rati Andronikashvili 42 NCAA Tournament Statistics 122-123 French, Joey Gardner, Darren Georgia, Catherine #22 Devin Davis 43 NCAA Tournament Teams 124-140 Grosdidier, Kristen Holmes, Kent Horner/NBAE/ #32 Ryan Kalkbrenner 44 NIT, CBI, CIT and NCIT History 141 #55 Modestas Kancleris 45 NIT Teams 142-150 Getty Images, Dennis Hubbard, Jeff Huehn, Paul #12 Andrew Merfeld 46 CIT Team 151 Kim, Mitchell Layton, Mitchell Leff, LOOK Portrait, #14 Sami Osmani 47 CBI Team 152-153 Los Angeles Athletic Club, Brandon McKenna, Joe Career Game-By-Game Stats 48-55 NCIT Teams 154 Career Stats vs. 2020-21 Opponents 56-57 All-Time Scores 155-164 Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images, Naismith Memorial Overtime History 165 Basketball Hall of Fame, NBA Photos, New Orleans 2020-21 Information Creighton in the AP Poll 166 Pelicans, Chelsea Nicholson, A.J. Olnes, Gabby 2020-21 Opponents 58-62 Creighton Against Ranked Teams 167 Ricciardi, Jimmy Rash, Corey Solotorovsky, Mike Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic 62 100-Point Games 168 Greg McDermott vs. 2020-21 Opponents 63 Spomer, Sports Illustrated, Bob Stevens, Bill Streicher, Series History vs. 2020-21 Opponents 64-66 About Creighton University Adam Streur, Vanderbilt Athletics, Dave Weaver, All-Time Series History 67 BIG EAST Conference 169 Brad Williams and Joe Willman. 2021 BIG EAST Tournament 68 Creighton University 170-171 BIG EAST Conference 69 Head Coaches and Athletic Dept. Staff 172-173 Athletic Director and President 174 Printing by Creighton University Print Center.

2020-21 Guide (1-11).indd 1 11/14/2020 9:52:55 PM CHI Health Center Omaha

Built for $291 million and finished in the fall of 2003, CHI Health Attached to the facility via a skywalk is the eight-story, 600-room Center Omaha is a key element in the continued renovation and Hilton Omaha hotel. That $71-million building opened in April 2004. development of Omaha’s riverfront. Funding for CHI Health Center Omaha came from private The facility formerly known as Qwest Center Omaha (2003-11) donations, taxes and projected revenue from the facility. and CenturyLink Center Omaha (2011-18) is located on a 421-acre The facility has hosted some of America’s top sporting events, site of the former Union Pacific Railroad yards, just a few blocks from including the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships (2008, 2012, Creighton’s campus, the historic Old Market and three miles from 2015 and 2018), NCAA Volleyball Championships (2006, 2008 and Eppley Airfield. 2015), U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming (2008, 2012 and 2016), In 2018, CHI Health agreed to pay $23.6 million over 20 years for NCAA Wrestling Finals (2010), the U.S. Figure Skating Championships the naming rights to the arena. (2013) as well as four fights for boxing champion Terence Crawford. Among the amenities at CHI Health Center Omaha are seven The facility has also hosted concerts by artists such as The Eagles, locker rooms, five dressing rooms and a media interview room. The Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, ZZ Top, Prince, Creighton locker room contains secure, wood-paneled lockers and is Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, located just a short walk off the court. Paul McCartney, Aerosmith, Travis Scott, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, A $6 million Daktronics, Inc., scoreboard hangs from the Alan Jackson, U2, KISS, Jimmy Buffett and Garth Brooks. arena center. The scoreboard is more than 26 feet in height and More than 1,700 new seats were added to the upper deck on the approximately 32 feet in diameter. The scoreboard was upgraded in north side of the building during the summer of 2006, moving capacity the summer of 2013 and is one of the nation’s finest, as CHI Health to 17,352 for basketball. Center Omaha is one of the nation’s only arenas to have 4 mm and Located one block northwest of CHI Health Center Omaha is 6 mm pixel configurations to give fans significantly better resolution. TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, which opened in 2011 as the home of Twelve permanent concession stands and 20 free-standing kiosks Creighton baseball and the NCAA Men’s College World Series. help feed and quench thirst for crowds of up to 17,352 for basketball and 18,300 for concerts. CHI Health Center Omaha provides more than 194,000 square feet of exhibition space, and the Exhibit Hall can hold dinners for up to 15,000 people at once. Downtown Omaha’s 40-story First National Bank Tower could be laid down inside the length of the exhibit space.

CHI Health Center Omaha Facts Cost ...... $291 million Seating Capacity ...... 18,300 (Concerts), 17,352 (Basketball) Architect ...... DLR Group Square Footage ...... 1,100,000 square feet Arena Height ...... 90 feet Adjoining Hotel ...... Hilton Omaha (600 rooms) Construction Timeline ...... March 2001-September 2003 Luxury Suites ...... 32 Parking ...... 4,978 parking spaces on the premises First Private Event ...... Grand Funk Railroad (Concert) First Public Event ...... River City Roundup (Rodeo) First Basketball Game . . . . . Minnesota vs. Atlanta (NBA Exhibition) First Regular-Season CU Game ...... Creighton 79, San Diego 44 2

2020-21 Guide (1-11).indd 2 11/14/2020 9:52:58 PM CHI Health Center Omaha What Others Have Said About CHI Health Center Omaha

ATTENDANCE “As you look through the top 10 in attendance in the country and Creighton jumps out at No. 5, we’re the school that doesn’t look like we fit. But once you come to our arena and see how passionate our fans are, and what an understanding they have of the game of basketball, it’s really a special place.” - Greg McDermott, Creighton coach

“Creighton basketball is one of the true gemstones of this sport. The university is committed to excellence, the city of Omaha is fully engaged, and the fan base is as passionate and dedicated as any in the nation.” - Seth Davis, CBS Sports/The Athletic

THE ARENA “I’ve seen a lot of basketball games, and I would call this a pro-quality game presentation. It’s exceptional. The fans here are terrific, but I knew coming in that you had something special because of the turnout for our men’s basketball tournament.” - Val Ackerman, BIG EAST Commissioner

“This is a great arena with a great fan base.” - Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg

“It’s definitely one of the loudest places in the country and their style of play kind of plays to it. When they get out running and hitting threes and throwing their lob dunks, that place gets wild. You’ve got to make sure you can keep it as quiet as you possibly can. It’s always a great challenge.” - Villanova coach Jay Wright

THE ATMOSPHERE “Just being at home, knowing that we’re in front of all our fans -- obviously we feed off them. They’re loud when we make special plays and we feed off that. It brings us to the next level.” - Creighton forward Damien Jefferson

“This environment is crazy, it’s hectic. When they get on a run, you hear it. We’d be talking on the court and we can barely even hear what we’re saying. One time coach called a play and I had no idea what he was calling. I couldn’t even tell what we were in. Kris (Jenkins) was trying to tell me. Kris was like five feet away. I’m like, ‘what are you saying?’ This environment is crazy. It’s one of the crazier ones I’ve been in, and you’ve got to love that.” - Former Villanova All-American Josh Hart

“It was big-time for us. Coming into an environment like this with a good crowd, a well-coached opponent and knowing they would play really hard we knew it was going to be a battle.” - Former Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell Jr.

2020-21 Guide (1-11).indd 3 11/14/2020 9:53:06 PM The Championship Center

The Championship Center

In the summer of 2014, Creighton opened The Championship Center, a facility that benefits all student-athletes. Located adjacent to D.J. Sokol Arena and the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center, The Championship Center is highlighted by the Athletic Performance Center, Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Training Center, the Parker Family Academic Resource Center and the Kyle Korver Courts inside D.J. Sokol Gymnasium, among many other features.

The Kyle Korver Courts features two full courts, 12 hoops and four scoreboards.

“I wish we could take it back to Denver. I was talking to the coaching staff here, Coach McDermott and his staff, obviously their hospitality and allowing us to be here. We’re thrilled. One of the coaches said, ‘Is there anything we can get you guys?’ I looked around this gym. But this is state of the art, beautiful. Very, very excited to be here in Omaha. ... This is a nice, nice place and this allows us to have a great training camp because everything here is just perfect and what we’re looking for. With 20 guys you need two courts. So it’s perfect, really like it a lot.”

Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone on The Championship Center - September 27, 2016 The film room inside The Championship Center.

The Championship Center opened in June of 2014 as one of the finest facilities Inside the Doug McDermott Players Lounge. in the nation. 4

2020-21 Guide (1-11).indd 4 11/14/2020 9:53:17 PM Omaha, Neb.

Think of Omaha as center court: a dynamic and unique destination in the center of the country, full of action. Omaha has this special spirit that fills the city like an arena full of fans whose team just won with a buzzer beater. Excitement abounds for what it has built, what it has accomplished and what’s still ahead. It’s a spirit born on the banks of the Missouri River, a city founded in 1854 by land speculators convinced they were at the heart of something new. Soon after, the transcontinental railroad was built and Omaha emerged as a hotbed of activity and new technologies. There is a great story about Omaha’s growth in the early days that really speaks to the pioneering spirit of the city. As Omaha prepared to lay underground cables for telephones, workers were trying to figure out the easiest way to string the lines. Being an inventive bunch, Omahans solved the prob- More than 900,000 people live in metro Omaha, and about 1.2 million people live within a 50-mile lem by getting ferrets to help carry the lines radius. through the tunnels. Sounds extraordinary, but It’s not just the business community that Art Museum, hop on board Harry S. Truman’s it worked. Today, Omaha is at the center of the embodies that spirit; you can also listen to press train at the Durham Museum, or “pilot” telecommunications industry. Call for a hotel it, touch it, taste it and feel it when you visit a fighter jet at the Strategic Air and Space reservation from anywhere in the U.S. and you are Omaha. Museum, home to some of the most prized and probably calling Omaha. The city is home to the Home to the world’s largest indoor rarely displayed military aircraft. Discover Hyatt, Marriott, Radisson, and Omni reservation rainforest, next to the world’s how nature can seem brand new as you walk centers. That infrastructure is also key to the largest indoor desert under the world’s through over 100 acres of lush and rare flora at nation’s defense. Offutt Air Force Base, home largest geodesic dome, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s botanical center. to STRATCOM, is based here. STRATCOM is the Zoo is a can’t miss when you’re in town. Experience Omaha is a mecca to music pioneers, as the nation’s eyes, ears and muscle when it comes to what it’s like to go underground and see rare city is known by many as the nation’s premier protecting the country. creatures that only come out at night, or hot spot for the indie rock scene. It’s home to That spirit is also seen in Omaha’s surround yourself with sharks as you walk famed Saddle Creek Records and nationally modern day pioneers. Warren Buffett, one through an 850,000-gallon underwater renowned bands such as Bright Eyes, The Faint of the wealthiest men in the world, is a tunnel. Talk about innovative: The zoo has and Cursive. plainspoken Omaha-born and bred spent $6 million on a research facility Omaha is a city that never for- financial pioneer. When Warren speaks, people allowing it to respond to national and gets its past. The Old Market is the true listen, learn and make money. In fact, as you international conservation needs. merging of old and new. The historic look at the four Fortune 500 companies that call There are three Smithsonian-affiliated warehouse district was preserved and Omaha home, they are all innovators: Berkshire museums in Omaha that feature diverse transformed into an art, shopping Hathaway, Union Pacific, Mutual of Omaha and offerings. Gaze at a 15,000-pound glass and dining district. Unique shops and Peter Kiewit Sons’. sculpture suspended in the air at the Joslyn restaurants lining cobblestone streets, it’s a place to remember where you’ve been and where you’re going. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge S-curves its way across the Missouri River. This one-of-a-kind structure is the longest pedestrian bridge to link two states. It’s just one more example of how Omaha stays fresh and innovative, all thanks to that indelible pioneering spirit.

Creighton’s baseball team shares the same home as the College World Series, TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.

2020-21 Guide (1-11).indd 5 11/14/2020 9:53:22 PM 2020-21 Outlook Preseason expectations are as high as ever for a Creighton Basketball program that returns five of its top six scorers from its first regular-season BIG EAST title team. Rather than dwell on what it missed after their breakthrough campaign was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic last March, the Bluejays will channel that motivation in hopes of making even more history. One category that Creighton will not lack is experience. Fifth-year seniors Denzel Mahoney and Damien Jefferson both flirted with the NBA Draft before returning to school. Junior forward Mitch Ballock, Denzel Mahoney, Marcus Zegarowski Christian Bishop and senior guard Mitch Ballock is known as one of the top Olympian Gregory Echenique played for Ballock each started all 31 games a year shooters in the country and already the Bluejays nearly a decade ago. ago, while guard Marcus Zegarowski ranks fifth in CU history with 232 career Add in sophomore forward Nic Zeil, made 30 starts and enters his junior three-pointers to his credit. Last year the and the Bluejays will have several styles of year as a Preseason All-American and Kansas native led the BIG EAST in minutes play to choose from on a nightly basis. Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year. per game and assist/turnover ratio and Two true freshmen, guard Rati Zegarowski was tabbed an he’ll once again be a key cog. Andronikashvili and forward Modestas All-American by three outlets last season, He’ll be joined on the wing by Jefferson Kancleris, will miss the season after each when he ranked in the top-five of the and Mahoney. Jefferson led CU with man tore the ACL in their left knees four BIG EAST by averaging 16.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and also days apart in early November. 5.0 assists while shooting 42.4 percent contributed 9.4 points per contest. Defending its BIG EAST title will not be from three-point range. Mahoney won the BIG EAST Sixth Man easy, with Villanova a likely top-five team He’ll be complemented at the point Award as he averaged 12.0 points in the preseason and the return of UConn guard spot by sophomores Shereef per game after becoming eligible in to the BIG EAST. Mitchell and Jett Canfield. Mitchell made mid-December. CU will face an exciting non-conference noticeable strides with his jump shot in One additional wing expected to schedule with games planned against the off-season and Canfield attempts to battle for minutes is Antwann Jones. The Kansas, Nebraska-Omaha and Nebraska, build upon his breakout game at the BIG Memphis transfer sat out last season but in addition to three games to start the EAST Tournament. boasts all-around skills that could make season at the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover him a match-up nightmare. Classic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Freshmen Andrew Merfeld, Sami Osmani and Devin Davis will also add depth in the backcourt. Bishop paced CU in blocked shots (35) and dunks (38) last year as an undersized pivot. He also turned heads last season as a distributor on occasion in BIG EAST play. Head coach Greg McDermott will have multiple options to choose from on the front line in addition to Bishop. Jacob Epperson returns after missing all of last year with a broken leg but has shown flashes of talent when healthy during his first three years on campus. True freshman Ryan Kalkbrenner has the size and potential to eventually give Creighton its best shot blocker since Christian Bishop Damien Jefferson 6

2020-21 Guide (1-11).indd 6 11/14/2020 9:53:24 PM 2020-21 Roster and Quick Facts

Creighton Quick Facts 2020-21 Creighton Basketball Numerical Roster General Information No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School / Last School) Location ...... Omaha, Neb. 0 Antwann Jones So. G 6-6 220 Orlando, Fla. (Oak Ridge HS / Univ. of Memphis) Nickname ...... Bluejays 4 Shereef Mitchell So. G 6-0 170 Omaha, Neb. (Sunrise Christian [Kan.] Academy) Founded ...... 1878 5 Alex O’Connell Sr. G 6-6 186 Roswell, Ga. (Milton HS / Duke Univ) Enrollment ...... 8,770 10 Jett Canfield So. G 5-10 165 Topeka, Kan. (Hayden Catholic) President Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, S.J., Ph.D. 11 Marcus Zegarowski Jr. G 6-2 180 Hamilton, Mass. (Tilton School) Director of Athletics . . . . Bruce Rasmussen 12 Andrew Merfeld Fr. G 5-11 185 Omaha, Neb. (Skutt Catholic) Colors ...... Blue and White 13 Christian Bishop Jr. F 6-7 220 Lee’s Summit, Mo. (West) Affiliation ...... NCAA Division I Conference ...... BIG EAST 14 Sami Osmani Fr. G 6-4 205 Oak Lawn, Ill. (Oak Lawn Community) 20 Nic Zeil So. F 6-8 210 Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill) Bluejay Basketball Information 22 Devin Davis Fr. G 6-0 175 Chicago, Ill. (Westinghouse College Prep) Head Coach ...... Greg McDermott 23 Damien Jefferson Sr. F 6-5 220 East Chicago, Ind. (Central HS / Univ. of New Mexico) Alma Mater ...... Northern Iowa, 1988 24 Mitch Ballock Sr. G 6-5 205 Eudora, Kan. (Eudora) Record at Creighton ...... 231-116 (10) 32 Ryan Kalkbrenner Fr. C 7-0 235 St. Louis, Mo. (Trinity Catholic) Career Record...... 511-311 (26) 34 Denzel Mahoney Sr. G/F 6-5 220 Oviedo, Fla. (Hagerty HS / Southeast Missouri State Univ.) Assistant Coaches 41 Jacob Epperson Jr. C 6-11 235 Melbourne, Australia (La Lumiere) ...... Alan Huss (Creighton, 2002) 44 Rati Andronikashvili Fr. G 6-4 185 Tbilisi, Georgia (35 Sajaro Skoka) ...... Paul Lusk (Southern Illinois, 1995) 55 Modestas Kancleris Fr. F 6-9 195 Kaunas, Lithuania (Varpas Gimnazija) ...... Terrence Rencher (Texas, 2007) Asst. to the Head Coach . . . . Steve Merfeld Head Coach: Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) Dir. of Basketball Operations . Jeff Vanderloo Video Coordinator ...... Casey Matthews Entering 11th season at Creighton: 231-116 (.666) Administrative Specialist . . . . John McKew Entering 27th season as a head coach: 511-311 (.622) Diversity and Inclusion Officer . . Len Gordy Assistant Coaches: Alan Huss, Paul Lusk, Terrence Rencher Graduate Manager ...... Ty Nurse Assistant to the Head Coach: Steve Merfeld MBB Secretary ...... Patty Galas Director of Basketball Operations: Jeff Vanderloo Office Phone ...... 402-280-1795 Video Coordinator: Casey Matthews Home Court . . . . .CHI Health Center Omaha Administrative Assistant: John McKew Capacity ...... 17,352 Diversity and Inclusion Officer: Len Gordy 2019-20 Overall Record ...... 24-7 Graduate Manager: Ty Nurse 2019-20 BIG EAST Record (Place) . 13-5 (T-1st) Lettermen Returning / Lost ...... 10 / 5 Starters Returning / Lost ...... 4 / 1 NCAA Tournament Appearances . . . . . 21 Class Breakdown Alphabetical Roster 1941, 1962, 1964, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1989, Seniors (4) #44 . .Rati Andronikashvili 1991, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, Mitch Ballock, Damien Jefferson, Denzel Mahoney, #24 . .Mitch Ballock 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 Alex O’Connell #13 . .Christian Bishop #10 . .Jett Canfield Creighton Sports Information Juniors (3) #22 . .Devin Davis Sports Information Director . .Rob Anderson Christian Bishop, Jacob Epperson, Marcus Zegarowski #41 . .Jacob Epperson #23 . .Damien Jefferson Office Phone ...... 402-280-5544 Sophomores (4) #0 . . Antwann Jones Cell Phone ...... 402-660-5854 Jett Canfield, Antwann Jones, Shereef Mitchell, #32 . .Ryan Kalkbrenner Anderson’s e-mail . . [email protected] Nic Zeil #55 . .Modestas Kancleris Associate SID ...... Glen Sisk #34 . .Denzel Mahoney Office Phone ...... 402-280-2433 Freshmen (6) #12 . .Andrew Merfeld Assistant SID ...... Anthony Robinson Rati Andronikashvili, Devin Davis, Ryan Kalkbrenner, #4 . . Shereef Mitchell Office Phone ...... 402-280-5801 Modestas Kancleris, Andrew Merfeld, Sami Osmani #5 . . Alex O’Connell Website ...... GoCreighton.com #14 . .Sami Osmani Facebook ...... FB.com/GoCreighton Pronunciation Guide #11 . .Marcus Zegarowski MBB Facebook ...... FB.com/BluejayMBB Rati Andronikashvili . .RAH-tee • #20 . .Nic Zeil Twitter ...... @GoCreighton ...... Ahn-dro-NEEK-ish-vee-lee MBB Twitter ...... @BluejayMBB Mitch Ballock . . . . . BAL (like pal)-lock Instagram ...... @GoCreighton Antwann Jones . . . . AN-twon MBB Instagram ...... @BluejayMBB Ryan Kalkbrenner . . .CAULK-bren-ner Sports Information FAX . . . . 402-280-2495 Modestas Kancleris . . Mo-DEST-iss • Con-SLARE-iss Press Row ...... 402-599-6640 Paul Lusk ...... LUSK (rhymes with tusk) Mailing Address Shereef Mitchell . . . .SHUR-reef Creighton University Sports Information Sami Osmani ...... Sammy • Oh’s-MONN-ee 2500 California Plaza Nic Zeil ...... ZY-ul Omaha, NE 68178 Marcus Zegarowski . . ZEG-a-roww-skee

2020-21 Guide (1-11).indd 7 11/14/2020 9:53:24 PM 2020-21 Preseason Notebook

Full House 20 Wins, Again Creighton averaged 17,314 fans per home game in Creighton has won 20 or more games in 20 of the 2019-20, which ranked fifth nationally. last 22 seasons, a feat that puts the Jays among an It marked the 15th straight season that CU has exclusive group, nationally. been among the nation’s top 25 in average home Just three schools nationally have had 20 or attendance, and the ninth straight season in the more wins each of the last 22 years: Duke (22), top-10. Gonzaga (22) and Kansas (22). Kentucky has done 2019-20 Average Home Attendance Leaders it 21 times. Creighton and Florida have done it 20 Rk. School Average times each. 1. Syracuse 21,704 Most 20-Win Seasons, Last 22 Years 2. Kentucky 20,160 Team 20-Win Seasons 2019-20 W-L 3. North Carolina 20,103 Gonzaga 22 31-2 4. Tennessee 18,990 Kansas 22 28-3 5. Creighton 17,314 Duke 22 25-6 6. Wisconsin 16,912 Kentucky 21 25-6 7. Louisville 16,658 Creighton 20 24-7 8. Kansas 16,388 Florida 20 19-12 9. Memphis 16,312 10. Indiana 16,300 Best Off The Bench Creighton’s Most Home Fans, Season Denzel Mahoney earned the BIG EAST Sixth Man Rk. Year G Attendance Average Award in 2019-20, a recognition voted on by 1. 2019-20 18 311,651 17,314 league coaches. Greg McDermott 2. 2017-18 18 306,000 17,000 3. 2018-19 19 303,629 15,980 Mahoney is the 12th different recipient of the 4. 2015-16 19 302,887 15,941 award, which was first handed out in 2007-08. Past 5. 2008-09 19 302,676 15,930 winners include current NBA players Dion Waiters, McDermott guided a Creighton team that was Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST to a No. 7 Top 25 Success Ethan Wragge was Creighton’s last player to spot in the final Associated Press poll and a No. 11 Creighton collected six wins over top-25 teams in earn Sixth Man Award acclaim, as he was honored slotting in the year-end NET. Creighton’s success 2019-20, breaking a school-record set in 2016-17 by the Missouri Valley Conference in 2013. came despite the loss of key returnees Davion and 2017-18. It was CU’s ninth team with multiple Mintz and Jacob Epperson for the season due to top-25 wins in a season, and fifth consecutive. Among The Nation’s Best injury. The Bluejays tied for third nationally with six Most Top-25 Wins, Season Below is where Creighton ranks nationally top-25 victories, and McDermott became the 27th Wins Season Top-25 Victims since Greg McDermott was hired in 2010, per active Division I coach to reach 500 career wins on 6 2019-20 #8 Villanova, #8 Seton Hall, Jan. 11 at Xavier. #10 Seton Hall, #12 Texas Tech, Basketball-Reference.com. #19 Marquette, #21 Butler 2010-11 through 2019-20 McDermott was named BIG EAST Coach of the 4 2016-17 #9 Wisconsin, #12 Butler, Category Stat NCAA Rank Year, becoming CU’s first Conference Coach of the #16 Butler, #22 Xavier 3FG Made 3,096 2nd Year recipient since Dana Altman in 2001-02 when 3FG Percentage .385 2nd 4 2017-18 #3 Villanova, #19 Seton Hall, CU was in the Missouri Valley Conference. The #20 Northwestern, #23 UCLA Assists 5,629 3rd FG Percentage .480 5th recognition marked the second time McDermott FG Made 9,466 9th has been lauded as Conference Coach of the Year, Hang Another Banner Wins 231 30th as he had previously been named Northern Sun Creighton has won 22 regular-season conference Winning Percentage .666 33rd Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year in titles in program history, including the 2019-20 BIG 1999-2000 while the head coach at Wayne State. EAST crown that it shared with Villanova and Seton McDermott Named Coach Of The Year Greg and his son Doug McDermott are the BIG Hall. Before last season, Creighton’s most recent After leading Creighton to a share of the BIG EAST EAST’s first men’s basketball father/son tandem in regular-season title had come in 2012-13 in the title, Greg McDermott picked up multiple Coach of history to have won both a Coach of the Year and Missouri Valley Conference. the Year awards in 2019-20. Player of the Year award. McDermott was also honored as District VI Coach of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, District 5 Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Midlands District Coach of the Year by Basketball Times.

Ballock Reaches 200 Treys Mitch Ballock led Creighton with 93 three-point baskets last season, which gives him 232 in his Bluejay career. That puts him in fifth place in program history in that category. Only Kyle Korver (242) and Ethan Wragge (234) ended their junior years with more trifectas. Ballock ranked 19th nationally with 93 three-pointers made and 11th in three-point percentage (.435) last season. Ty-Shon Alexander, Mitch Ballock and Marcus Zegarowski

2020-21 Guide (1-11).indd 8 11/14/2020 9:53:29 PM 2020-21 Schedule 2020-21 Creighton Preliminary Men’s Basketball Schedule Due to the COVID-19, adjustments and additions to the schedule below are likely. For the latest schedule, visit https://GoCreighton.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

Day Date Opponent Site Time (CST) Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic Wed. Nov. 25 vs. South Dakota State # (ESPN2) Sioux Falls, S.D. 6:00 pm Thu. Nov. 26 vs. Utah State or Wichita State # Sioux Falls, S.D. 1:30 pm or 8:00 pm Fri. Nov. 27 vs. Memphis, Saint Mary’s, West Virginia or Texas A&M # Sioux Falls, S.D. TBD

Tue. Dec. 1 NEBRASKA-OMAHA (FS1) Omaha, Neb. 4:00 p.m. Fri. Dec. 4 KENNESAW STATE (FS1) Omaha, Neb. 4:00 p.m. Tue. Dec. 8 at Kansas ! Lawrence, Kan. TBD Mon. Dec. 14 MARQUETTE * (FS1) Omaha, Neb. 8:00 p.m. Thu. Dec. 17 at St. John’s * (FS1) Queens, N.Y. 4:00 p.m. Sun. Dec. 20 at Connecticut * (FS1) Storrs, Conn. 11:00 a.m. Wed. Dec. 23 XAVIER * (FS1) Omaha, Neb. 2:00 p.m.

BIG EAST Conference Tournament Wed. March 10 First Round (FS1) New York City, N.Y. 3:30 pm / 6 pm / 8:30 pm Thu. March 11 Quarterfinals (FS1) New York City, N.Y. 11 am / 1:30 pm / 6 pm / 8:30 pm Fri. March 12 Semifinals (FS1) New York City, N.Y. 5:30 pm / 8 pm Sat. March 13 Championship (FOX) New York City, N.Y. 5:30 pm

# Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic ! Big 12 - BIG EAST Battle * BIG EAST Conference games Home games in BOLD CAPS Ticket Info: (402) 280-JAYS Last updated: November 14, 2020

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The Creighton Sports Information Office is always Creighton Sports Information Office interested in helping the local and national media CHI Health Center Omaha with its coverage of the Bluejays. Listed on this Directions and Info page are guidelines and services that the Sports Omaha, Nebraska is located just west of the Information Office provides to aid you as you do convergence of Interstates 29 and 80 on the west your job. bank of the Missouri River. Please feel free to contact Sports Information Director Rob Anderson, Associate SID Glen Sisk or From I-80 West (Des Moines) and I-29 North Assistant SID Anthony Robinson for help. (Kansas City) Due to COVID-19 policies that were still being I-29 North and I-80 West will merge in Rob Anderson Glen Sisk Anthony Robinson Council Bluffs, Iowa. Travel on I-80 West and determined on both a local and national level as 402-280-5544 402-280-2433 402-280-5801 of early November, many of these details are still take exit 1A and follow I-29 North. Exit off of I-29 onto I-480 West to Omaha. Just across the being finalized and subject to change. Missouri River Bridge, exit off of I-480 at Exit 4 – Radio / Telephone Lines A total of four radio phone lines (two for Dodge Street. Follow Dodge Street to 10th Street Credentials and turn right on 10th Street. CHI Health Center Creighton and two for the opponent) will be Members of the media requesting credentials to a Omaha is on your right. Creighton home men’s basketball game must ask available for each game with radio permitted. for those at least 48 hours in advance. For non-conference opponents, the same two From I-80 East (Lincoln) Due to space and social distancing restrictions, lines will be afforded to the team’s official radio From I-80/I-480/Hwy. 75 interchange, follow the seating in the press box area will be limited to station at no charge only if the same courtesy is signs to I-480/Hwy. 75 North - Downtown. Exit working media only and cannot be guaranteed. reciprocated the next time the Bluejays play the off of I-480 at Exit 3A – 14th Street. Travel south same team on the road. on 14th Street one half block to Capitol Avenue. Interviews Opponent stations not designated as the team’s Turn left onto Capitol Avenue and travel East on Phone and Zoom interviews on non-gamedays official station wishing to broadcast a game must Capitol Avenue to 10th Street. Turn left on 10th with Greg McDermott or student-athletes should order their own phone lines. If a media outlet wishes Street and travel north on 10th Street. CHI Health be requested through Rob Anderson. Please notify to have a phone installed, arrangements should be Center Omaha is on your right. Anderson several days in advance to allow time to made well in advance by calling Jeff Fishback at CHI Health Center Omaha (402-341-1500). From I-29 South (Sioux City) make arrangements. Traveling south on I-29, exit off of I-29 at Exit 53B Gameday player interviews prior to games are to I-480 West. Exit off of I-480 at Exit 4 – Dodge BIG EAST Teleconferences not permitted. Creighton’s locker room is closed Street. Follow Dodge Street to 10th Street and following all regular-season games. The BIG EAST will host periodic teleconferences turn right on 10th Street. CHI Health Center featuring each of the league’s 11 head Omaha is on your right. Photo / Video Policy coaches. Contact John Paquette with the BIG EAST Only accredited photographers/videographers on Conference for details. From Eppley Airfield (3.3 miles away) assignment will even be considered to be Turn left out of the airport terminal drive onto approved for credentials. No flashes or strobes are On the Web / Social Media Abbott Drive heading south. Travel south on permitted without advance notice. For all the latest information on Creighton men’s Abbott to 10th Street. Turn left on 10th Street. Photographers/videographers can contact basketball, or any of the other varsity sports, check CHI Health Center Omaha surface lots are located Anderson regarding possible locations to shoot out Creighton’s official athletics website: on both sides of 10th Street. from, as the baseline is unlikely to be available in GoCreighton.com From Council Bluffs (West Broadway) 2020-21 to non-Tier I individuals. The men’s basketball pages include current and archived rosters, statistics and results, coach and Travel west on West Broadway, which becomes player bios, team notes, game recaps, live statistics I-480 as it crosses the Missouri River Bridge. Exit off of I-480 at Exit 4 – Dodge Street and turn right and photo galleries. on 10th Street. CHI Health Center Omaha is on Info can be found on Twitter (@BluejayMBB), your right. as well as on Facebook.com/BluejayMBB and Instagram.com/BluejayMBB. From I-680 (Eastbound or Westbound) Exit 30th Street. Travel south on 30th Street for 2.9 miles. Just past Fort Street, veer left towards the North Freeway. There you have two options: Option 1 Veer right, following the signs onto Hwy. 75 (to I-480). Veer left at the I-480 split, following I-480 East. Exit I-480 at exit 3A – 14th Street. Travel south on 14th St. one half block to Capitol Avenue. Turn left onto Capitol and travel east on Capitol Avenue to 10th Street. Turn left on 10th Street and travel North on 10th Street. CHI Health Center Omaha is on your right. Option 2 Turn left onto Storz Expressway towards Eppley Airfield. The Storz Expressway becomes Abbott Drive. Travel south on Abbott Drive to 10th Street. Turn left onto 10th Street.

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Bluejay Basketball On The Radio Bluejay Basketball Media Directory The 2020-21 radio schedule for Creighton had not been finalized by mid-November, but the Local Newspapers Local Television Omaha World-Herald KETV (ABC, Channel 7) Bluejays have had all their games aired on 1620 14th & Dodge Streets 1001 S. 10th St. The Zone (KOZN) since the 2013-14 season. Omaha, NE 68102 Omaha, NE 68108 The radio calls of those games has also aired P/F: 402-444-1000 / 344-3343 P/F: 402-978-8957 / 978-8931 on-line at www.1620thezone.com. Beat Writer: Jon Nyatawa Sports Director: Andy Kendeigh John Bishop has handled the play-by-play on Creightonian KMTV (CBS, Channel 3) the radio broadcasts each of the previous seven 2500 California Plaza 10714 Mockingbird Dr. seasons along with a variety of analysts. Omaha, NE 68178 Omaha, NE 68127 P/F: 402-280-4058 / 280-4730 P/F: 402-593-2706 / 592-4714 Sports Director: Adam Krueger John Bishop Wire Service Associated Press (Omaha) KPTM (Fox, Channel 42) 1700 Farnam St. 4625 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68102 Omaha, NE 68132 P/F: 402-932-4733 / 391-1412 P/F: 402-554-4286 / 554-4279 Bluejay Basketball On Television Sports Writer: Eric Olson Sports Director: Paul Gutierrez Creighton’s television schedule for the 2020-21 season had not been finalized by mid-November, but the Bluejays typically play most of Local Radio Nebraska Educational Television their games on the FOX, FS1, FS2 and CBS Sports Network. Entering KOZN (FOX Sports Radio, 1620 AM) PO Box 83111 5011 Capitol Ave. Lincoln, NE 68111 the 2020-21 campaign, 128 of Creighton’s last 131 games have been Omaha, NE 68132 P/F: 402-472-9333 / 472-5347 televised. P/F: 402-342-2000 / 342-7041 Producer: Brock Lohr The season-opening Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic will air on General Manager: Mark Shecterle the ESPN family of networks. WOWT (NBC, Channel 6) KOIL (1290 AM) & KZOT (1180 AM) 3501 Farnam St. Below is where many of these outlets can be viewed. 5011 Capitol Ave. Omaha, NE 68131 Network Cox Omaha (HD) DIRECTV DISH Network Omaha, NE 68132 P/F: 402-233-7940 / 233-7888 FOX 10 (1010) 42 42 P/F: 402-342-2000 / 827-5293 Sports Director: Joe Nugent FS1 78 (1078) 219 150 General Manager: Mark Shecterle Online FS2 216 (1216) 618 398 KXSP (AM 590 ESPN Radio) White & Blue Review FSN Midwest 47 (1047) 671 418 5030 N. 72nd St. WhiteAndBlueReview.com CBS Sports Network 234 (1234) 221 152 Omaha, NE 68135 Beat Writer: Matt DeMarinis BTN 80 (1080) 610 439 P/F: 402-573-0590 / 331-1348 Station Contact: Nick Handley ESPN 31 (1031) 206 140 ESPN2 30 (1030) 209 143 ESPNU 220 (1220) 208 141

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