Creighton Blue Jays
Overall Rank: #33
Conference Rank: #3 Big East
Creighton returned to the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign. The Blue Jays won a share of the Big East Conference Championship and lost in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament to Oregon State out in Corvallis. A nice mix of experience and offensive firepower returns for head coach Jim Flanery and Creighton is looking to build off last year’s 24-win season and contend for another Big East title.
2016-17 Record: 24-8, 16-2
2016-17 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Jim Flanery
Coach Record: 293-191 at Creighton, 293-191 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Marissa Janning, Guard, 11.6 points per game
Brianna Rollerson, Forward, 9.8 points per game
Lauren Works, Guard, 7.3 points per game
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Aubrey Faber, Junior, Forward, 12.8 points per game
Sydney Lamberty, Senior, Guard, 9.4 points per game
Jaylyn Agnew, Sophomore, Forward, 7.1 points per game
Ali Greene, Redshirt Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 points per game
Bailey Norby, Senior, Forward, 2.3 points per game
Myah Mellman, Senior, Guard, 1.6 points per game
Jade Owens, Redshirt Junior, did not play last season
Olivia Elger, Redshirt Sophomore, did not play last season
Aimee Rischard, Senior, Guard, 0.4 points per game
Kylie Brown. Senior, Forward, 1.1 points per game
Key New Players
Temi Carda, Freshman, Guard
Tatum Rembao, Freshman, Guard
Gracey Griglione, Freshman, Forward
Brooke Kissinger, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Illinois
Projection:
Aubrey Faber is the leading returning scorer from last season at 12.8 points per game. Faber can beat you in many ways. She can step up out and nail three-point shots when needed and go down low to get her points. Rebounding is another strength of Faber as she averaged nearly five rebounds per game last season. Sydney Lamberty will be the floor general in the backcourt after dishing out 138 assists and committing just 53 turnovers last season. The bench should have plenty of depth led by Jaylyn Agnew and will get help from transfer Brooke Kissinger and the return of players like Jade Owens and Olivia Elger. Look for the Blue Jays to have some growing pains early when they play Washington, UCLA, and Florida State, but by March they should be a 20 plus win team and get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 65.8 (145th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 57.8 (37, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.3 (113, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.2 (89, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (39, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.3 (63, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 74.3 (49, 2)
Rebound Margin: 2.8 (99, 3)
Assists Per Game: 15.9 (33 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.7 (8, 2)
