Absent a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Creighton Bluejays 2018-19 season went according to script. They won 20 games (nine in conference play) while coming in a three-way tie for third place. The Creighton basketball program hovered around the bubble all season.<\/p>\n
The non-conference portion of the schedule saw the Bluejays beat every team they were\u00a0supposed to beat and lose to every team it was\u00a0supposed to lose to.<\/p>\n
From there, the Bluejays would remain a consistent force in the Big East. They went .500 in conference play. However, a lack of quality wins\u2014Creighton only beat one team that made the tournament (Marquette)\u2014relegated the Bluejays to the NIT.<\/p>\n
Creighton would make the most of its NIT appearance, as the Bluejays advanced to the quarterfinals before ending their season against TCU.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt (last season\u2019s results) told us we were close,\u201d Creighton basketball head coach Greg McDermott\u00a0said at Big East media day. \u201cWe had a lot of near misses and some really\u00a0competitive close games that we came out on the short end of, which was probably a game or two short (of playing in the) NCAA Tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think our guys have a better understanding of what one possession (and its significance) means in the game of basketball and how important it is to prepare yourself for that position.\u201d<\/p>\n
From a personnel standpoint, sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander<\/a><\/strong> (15.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game) and junior forward Martin Krampelj<\/a><\/strong> (13.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game) both were named to the conference\u2019s honorable mention list. Freshman guard Marcus Zegarowski<\/a><\/strong> was named to the conference\u2019s all-freshmen team after averaging 10.4 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 42.6 percent from three-point range.<\/p>\n McDermott is bringing back four of his starters. He would have had all of his starters back if Krampelj did not turn pro.<\/p>\n Regardless, there is enough firepower here for the Bluejays to return to the NCAA Tournament. Back are starters Alexander, Zegarowski, guard Davion Mintz<\/a><\/strong> and wing Mitchell Ballock<\/strong>. This is an experienced core that has waged many battles in the Big East and knows what it takes to win.<\/p>\nWhose Back<\/strong><\/h3>\n