2015–16 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team

2015–16 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball
NIT, Quarterfinals
Conference Big East Conference
2015–16 record 20–15 (9–9 Big East)
Head coach Greg McDermott (6th year)
Assistant coach Darian DeVries (18th year)
Assistant coach Steve Lutz (6th year)
Assistant coach Steve Merfeld (6th year)
Assistant coach Preston Murphy (1st year)
Home arena CenturyLink Center Omaha
2015–16 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
#6 Villanova162 .889  355  .875
#9 Xavier144 .778  285  .848
#20 Seton Hall126 .667  259  .735
Providence108 .556  2411  .686
Butler108 .556  2211  .667
Creighton99 .500  2015  .571
Marquette810 .444  2013  .606
Georgetown711 .389  1518  .455
DePaul315 .167  922  .290
St. John's117 .056  824  .250
2016 Big East Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015–16 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by sixth-year head coach Greg McDermott, played their home games at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, and were members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 20–15, 9–9 in Big East play to finish in sixth place. They lost to Seton Hall in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where, as a #4 seed, they defeated Alabama and Wagner to advance to the quarterfinals where they lost to BYU.

Previous season

The Bluejays finished the 2014–15 season 14–19, 4–14 in Big East play to finish last in the conference. They defeated DePaul in the first round of the Big East Tournament and lost to Georgetown in the quarterfinals. The Bluejays finished with a losing record for the first time in 18 years, dating back to the 1995–96 season.

Off season

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Will Artino31C6'11"230SeniorWaukee, IAGraduated
Devin Brooks5G6'2"175SeniorHarlem, NYGraduated
Austin Chatman1G6'0"175SeniorThe Colony, TXGraduated
Gabriel Connealy2F6'4"205JuniorMullen, NEGraduated
Avery Dingman22G6'6"215SeniorBranson, MOGraduated
Leon Gilmore III0F6'7"210FreshmanManvel, TXTransferred to Stephen F. Austin
Ricky Kreklow15G6'7"195RS SeniorColumbia, MOGraduated
Mogboluwaga Ogini50F6'8"225JuniorSt. Louis, MOGraduated

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Malik Albert12G6'2"165JuniorDetroit, MITransferred from Mott CC. Albert will be eligible to play immediately.
Marcus Foster22G6'3"210JuniorWichita Falls, TXTransferred from Kansas State. Under NCAA transfer rules, Foster will have to redshirt for the 2015–16 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.

Incoming recruits

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Justin Patton
C
Omaha, NE Omaha North High School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jun 17, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Marlon Stewart
PG
Rock Island, IA North Scott High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sep 25, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Khyri Thomas
SG
Omaha, NE Fork Union Military Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Feb 15, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: POST
Martin Krampelj
PF
Grosuplje, Slovenia[1] Impact Basketball Academy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Nov 12, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: POST
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2015-06-18.

    Roster

    2015–16 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    C 0 Justin Patton  6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrOmaha North HS Omaha, NE
    G 1 Marlon Stewart 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrNorth Scott HS Eldridge, IA
    F 2 Khyri Thomas 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrFork Union Omaha, NE
    F 4 Ronnie Harrell, Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS FrEast HS Denver, CO
    G 5 Drew Cayce (W)  6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) FrLa Lumiere Libertyville, IL
    G 10 Maurice Watson 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg) JrBoys' Latin
    Boston University
    Philadelphia, PA
    G 11 Tyler Clement (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) SoSt. Thomas Aquinas Overland Park, KS
    G 12 Malik Albert 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)165 lb (75 kg) JrMartin Luther King HS
    Mott CC
    Detroit, MI
    F 13 Cole Huff 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrCampbell Hall HS
    Nevada
    Altadena, CA
    F 15 Martin Krampelj  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrImpact Grosuplje, Slovenia
    F 20 Alex O'Neill (W)  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg) FrPeoria Christian Peoria, IL
    G 21 Isaiah Zierden 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS JrBenilde-St. Margaret's St. Louis Park, MN
    G 22 Marcus Foster  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrHirschi HS
    Kansas St
    Wichita Falls, TX
    G 23 James Milliken 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS SrJordan–Matthews
    Cowley County CC
    Siler City, NC
    F 32 Toby Hegner 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS SoBerlin Berlin, WI
    F 40 Zach Hanson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg) JrT. F. Riggs Pierre, SD
    C 41 Geoffrey Groselle (W) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)240 lb (109 kg) SrPlano West Plano, TX
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Depth chart

    Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
    C Geoffrey Groselle Zach Hanson
    PF Cole Huff Toby Hegner
    SF Khyri Thomas Ronnie Harrell Jr
    SG James Milliken Isaiah Zierden
    PG Maurice Watson Jr Malik Albert Tyler Clement Marlon Stewart

    Schedule

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    Nov 6*
    7:05 pm
    Upper Iowa W 113–77 
    CenturyLink Center (15,015)
    Omaha, NE
    Non-Conference Regular Season
    Nov 14*
    8:30 pm, FS2
    Texas Southern
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    W 93–70  1–0
    CenturyLink Center (16,538)
    Omaha, NE
    Nov 17*
    7:00 pm, FS2
    UTSA
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    W 103–78  2–0
    CenturyLink Center (16,580)
    Omaha, NE
    Nov 19*
    6:00 pm, BTN
    at No. 14 Indiana
    Gavitt Tipoff Games
    L 65–86  2–1
    Assembly Hall (17,472)
    Bloomington, IN
    Nov 23*
    11:00 pm, YouTube
    vs. Rutgers
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    Heavyweight semifinals
    W 85–75  3–1
    MGM Grand Garden Arena (1,000)
    Paradise, NV
    Nov 25*
    8:30 pm, ESPN2
    vs. UMass
    Men Who Speak Up Main Event
    Heavyweight Championship
    W 97–76  4–1
    MGM Grand Garden Arena (1,623)
    Paradise, NV
    Nov 28*
    7:00 pm, FS2
    Western Illinois W 97–67  5–1
    CenturyLink Center (16,118)
    Omaha, NE
    Dec 2*
    8:00 pm, CBSSN
    Arizona State L 77–79  5–2
    CenturyLink Center (16,282)
    Omaha, NE
    Dec 5*
    1:00 pm, ESPN3
    at Loyola–Chicago L 65–68  5–3
    Joseph J. Gentile Arena (4,963)
    Chicago, IL
    Dec 9*
    7:00 pm, CBSSN
    Nebraska W 83–67  6–3
    CenturyLink Center (17,776)
    Omaha, NE
    Dec 12*
    4:00 pm, FS1
    IUPUI W 90–65  7–3
    CenturyLink Center (16,785)
    Omaha, NE
    Dec 19*
    1:00 pm, ESPNU
    at No. 3 Oklahoma L 74–87  7–4
    Lloyd Noble Center (9,528)
    Norman, OK
    Dec 21*
    8:00 pm, FS1
    North Texas W 105–82  8–4
    CenturyLink Center (17,518)
    Omaha, NE
    Dec 28*
    8:00 pm, FS1
    Coppin State W 102–77  9–4
    CenturyLink Center (17,137)
    Omaha, NE
    Big East Conference Play
    Dec 31
    1:00 pm, FS1
    at St. John's W 80–70  10–4
    (1–0)
    Carnesecca Arena (4,633)
    Queens, NY
    Jan 2
    9:00 pm, FS1
    No. 16 Villanova
    Big East New Year's Marathon
    L 71–85  10–5
    (1–1)
    CenturyLink Center (17,375)
    Omaha, NE
    Jan 5
    8:15 pm, FS1
    Georgetown W 79–66  11–5
    (2–1)
    CenturyLink Center (16,425)
    Omaha, NE
    Jan 9
    1:00 pm, FS1
    at Seton Hall W 82–67  12–5
    (3–1)
    Prudential Center (8,010)
    Newark, NJ
    Jan 12
    7:30 pm, FS1
    No. 12 Providence L 48–50  12–6
    (3–2)
    CenturyLink Center (17,073)
    Omaha, NE
    Jan 17
    12:00 pm, FS1
    at DePaul W 91–80  13–6
    (4–2)
    Allstate Arena (5,534)
    Rosemont, IL
    Jan 23
    6:30 pm, FS1
    No. 18 Butler W 72–64  14–6
    (5–2)
    CenturyLink Center (17,677)
    Omaha, NE
    Jan 26
    5:30 pm, FS1
    at Georgetown L 73–74  14–7
    (5–3)
    Verizon Center (6,897)
    Washington, D.C.
    Jan 30
    7:00 pm, FSN
    Seton Hall L 65–75  14–8
    (5–4)
    CenturyLink Center (17,924)
    Omaha, NE
    Feb 3
    7:00 pm, CBSSN
    at No. 3 Villanova L 58–83  14–9
    (5–5)
    The Pavilion (6,500)
    Villanova, PA
    Feb 6
    1:00 pm, FSN
    DePaul W 88–66  15–9
    (6–5)
    CenturyLink Center (17,139)
    Omaha, NE
    Feb 9
    7:00 pm, CBSSN
    No. 5 Xavier W 70–56  16–9
    (7–5)
    CenturyLink Center (17,011)
    Omaha, NE
    Feb 13
    8:00 pm, FSN
    Marquette W 65–62  17–9
    (8–5)
    BMO Harris Bradley Center (15,844)
    Milwaukee, WI
    Feb 16
    6:00 pm, FS1
    at Butler L 75–88  17–10
    (8–6)
    Hinkle Fieldhouse (7,330)
    Indianapolis, IN
    Feb 24
    7:00 pm, FS1
    Marquette L 61–66  17–11
    (8–7)
    CenturyLink Center (17,412)
    Omaha, NE
    Feb 28
    1:30 pm, FS1
    St. John's W 100–59  18–11
    (9–7)
    CenturyLink Center (17,351)
    Omaha, NE
    Mar 2
    8:00 pm, CBSSN
    at Providence L 66–70  18–12
    (9–8)
    Dunkin' Donuts Center (9,252)
    Providence, RI
    Mar 5
    1:30 pm, FOX
    at No. 5 Xavier L 93–98  18–13
    (9–9)
    Cintas Center (10,633)
    Cincinnati, OH
    Big East Tournament
    Mar 10
    8:30 pm, FS1
    (6) vs. (3) Seton Hall
    Quarterfinals
    L 73–81  18–14
    Madison Square Garden (13,813)
    New York City, NY
    National Invitation Tournament
    Mar 15*
    8:00 pm, ESPN
    (4) (5) Alabama
    First round – St. Bonaventure Bracket
    W 72–54  19–14
    CenturyLink Center (6,305)
    Omaha, NE
    Mar 19*
    11:01 am, ESPN
    (4) (8) Wagner
    Second round – St. Bonaventure Bracket
    W 87–54  20–14
    CenturyLink Center (6,471)
    Omaha, NE
    Mar 22*
    8:00 pm, ESPN
    (4) at (2) BYU
    Quarterfinals – St. Bonaventure Bracket
    L 82–88  20–15
    Marriott Center (15,525)
    Provo, UT
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Central Time.

    References

    1. Pivovar, Steven. "Jays receive added bonus on signing day". Bluejays Today. Omaha World Hearld. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
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