2020–21 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 14
APNo. 19
Record22–9 (14–6 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaCHI Health Center Omaha
2020–21 Big East men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 18 Villanova11–4 .73318–7  .720
No. 19 Creighton14–6 .70022–9  .710
UConn11–6 .64715–8  .652
St. John's10–9 .52616–11  .593
Seton Hall10–9 .52614–13  .519
Providence9–10 .47413–13  .500
Xavier6–7 .46213–8  .619
Georgetown †7–9 .43813–13  .500
Marquette8–11 .42113–14  .481
Butler8–12 .40010–15  .400
DePaul2–13 .1335–14  .263
† 2021 Big East tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2020–21 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2020-21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays were led by 11th-year head coach Greg McDermott and played their home games at the CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 22–9, 14–6 to finish second in Big East play. They defeated Butler and UConn in the Big East tournament before losing to Georgetown in the championship game. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 5 seed in the West region. They defeated UC Santa Barbara[1] and Ohio to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.[2] This marked the first time Creighton had won consecutive games in the same tournament and the first time they had advanced to the Sweet Sixteen since 1974 when the tournament had 25 teams.[3] There they lost to eventual National Runner-Up Gonzaga.[4][5]

On March 4, 2021, head coach McDermott was suspended for using racially insensitive language to his team.[6] On March 8, the school reinstated McDermott after only missing one game and allowing him to coach in the Big East and NCAA Tournaments.[7]

Previous season

The Bluejays finished the 2019–20 season 24–7, 13–5 in Big East play to finish tied for first place. As the No. 1 seed in the Big East tournament, they were slated to play St. John's in the quarterfinals, but the tournament was cancelled at halftime of the game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the rest of the NCAA postseason.[8]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Davion Mintz 1 G 6'3" 185 Senior Charlotte, NC Graduate transferred to Kentucky[9]
Ty-Shon Alexander 5 G 6'4" 195 Junior Charlotte, NC Declared for the 2020 NBA draft[10]
Jordan Scurry 12 G 6'2" 200 Senior Chestnut Hill, MA Graduated
Jalen Windham 21 G 6'5" 180 Freshman Indianapolis, IN Transferred to Ball State[9]
Kelvin Jones 43 C 6'11" 230 Senior Chihuahua, Mexico Graduated

2020 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Rati Andronikashvili
SG		 Tbilisi, Georgia 35 Sajaro Skoka 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 7, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN: N/A
Ryan Kalkbrenner
C		 Saint Louis, MO Trinity Catholic High School 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 23, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Modestas Kancleris
PF		 Kaunas, Lithuania Varpas Gimnazija 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) May 11, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
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:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 27, 2020.

2021 Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2021 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Arthur Kaluma
PF		 Boston, MA Dream City Christian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) May 16, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Ryan Nembhard
PG		 Aurora, ON Montverde Academy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jun 6, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Mason Miller
PF		 Germantown, TN Houston 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 23, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
John Christofilis
SG		 Seattle, WA O'Dea 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Sep 25, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars
Trey Alexander
SG		 Oklahoma City, OK Heritage Hall 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jun 2, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 12
  • 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:

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Alex O'Connell5G6'6"186JuniorRoswell, GATransferred from Duke. Under NCAA transfer rules, O'Connell will play this season and will gain an additional extra eligibility.

Roster

2020–21 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Antwann Jones 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS SoOak Ridge
Memphis		 Orlando, FL
G 4 Shereef Mitchell 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)170 lb (77 kg) SoSunrise Christian Academy Omaha, NE
G 5 Alex O'Connell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)186 lb (84 kg) SrMilton HS
Duke		 Roswell, GA
G 10 Jett Canfield 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)165 lb (75 kg) RS SoHayden HS Topeka, KS
G 11 Marcus Zegarowski 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) JrTilton School Hamilton, MA
G 12 Andrew Merfeld (W) 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrV. J. and Angela Skutt Catholic HS Omaha, NE
F 13 Christian Bishop 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrWest Lee's Summit, MO
G 14 Sami Osmani (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrOak Lawn Community HS Oak Lawn, IL
F 20 Nic Zeil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) SoPark Hill HS Kansas City, MO
G 22 Devin Davis (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg) FrGeorge Westinghouse College Prep Chicago, IL
F 23 Damien Jefferson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS SrCentral HS
New Mexico		 East Chicago, IN
G 24 Mitch Ballock 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) SrEudora HS Eudora, KS
C 32 Ryan Kalkbrenner 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)235 lb (107 kg) FrTrinity Catholic HS St. Louis, MO
G/F 34 Denzel Mahoney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) SrHagerty
Southeast Missouri State		 Oviedo, FL
C 41 Jacob Epperson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)235 lb (107 kg) JrLa Lumiere (IN) Melbourne, Australia
G 44 Rati Andronikashvili Current redshirt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg) Fr35 Sajaro Skoka Tbilisi, Georgia
F 55 Modestas Kancleris Current redshirt 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrVarpas Gimnazija Kaunas, Lithuania
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
November 29, 2020*
3:30 p.m., FS1		 No. 11 North Dakota State W 69–58  1–0
  16 – Bishop  7 – Ballock  6 – Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (252)
Omaha, NE
December 1, 2020*
4:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 9 Omaha W 94–67  2–0
  18 – Bishop  8 – Bishop  11 – Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (251)
Omaha, NE
December 4, 2020*
4:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 9 Kennesaw State W 93–58  3–0
  14 – Tied  7 – Jones  4 – Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (201)
Omaha, NE
December 8, 2020*
4:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 8 at No. 5 Kansas
Big East/Big 12 Battle		 L 72–73  3–1
  19 – Mahoney  9 – Bishop  5 – Ballock  Allen Fieldhouse (2,500)
Lawrence, KS
December 11, 2020*
6:00 p.m., BTN		 No. 8 Nebraska
Rivalry		 W 98–74  4–1
  22 – Zegarowski  8 – Kalkbrenner  5 – Tied  CHI Health Center Omaha (254)
Omaha, NE
December 14, 2020
8:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 9 Marquette L 84–89  4–2
(0–1)
  26 – Ballock  6 – Tied  5 – Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (255)
Omaha, NE
December 17, 2020
4:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 9 at St. John's W 94–76  5–2
(1–1)
  20 – Zegarowski  10 – Tied  8 – Jefferson  Carnesecca Arena 
Queens, NY
December 20, 2020
11:00 a.m., FS1		 No. 9 at UConn W 76–74 OT 6–2
(2–1)
  19 – Bishop  13 – Mahoney  4 – Jefferson  Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 
Storrs, CT
December 23, 2020
7:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 13 No. 22 Xavier W 66–61  7–2
(3–1)
  13 – Tied  7 – Bishop  2 – 4 Tied  CHI Health Center Omaha (1,673)
Omaha, NE
January 2, 2021
11:00 a.m., FOX		 No. 11 at Providence W 67–65  8–2
(4–1)		  20 – Zegarowski  8 – Jefferson  4 – Zegarowski  Alumni Hall 
Providence, RI
January 6, 2021
9:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 7 Seton Hall W 89–53  9–2
(5–1)		  19 – Jefferson  7 – Kalkbrenner  4 – Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (1,689)
Omaha, NE
January 9, 2021
12:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 7 St. John's W 97–79  10–2
(6–1)		  24 – Mahoney  6 – Tied  5 – Jefferson  CHI Health Center Omaha (1,777)
Omaha, NE
January 16, 2021
1:00 p.m., FOX		 No. 8 at Butler L 66–70 OT 10–3
(6–2)		  29 – Mahoney  7 – Tied  4 – Mitchell  Hinkle Fieldhouse (1,693)
Indianapolis, IN
January 20, 2021
8:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 11 Providence L 70–74  10–4
(6–3)		  26 – Jefferson  5 – Kalkbrenner  3 – Tied  CHI Health Center Omaha (1,731)
Omaha, NE
January 23, 2021
1:30 p.m., FOX		 No. 11 No. 23 UConn W 74–66  11–4
(7–3)		  20 – Mahoney  5 – Jefferson  3 – Ballock  CHI Health Center Omaha (1,839)
Omaha, NE
January 27, 2021
6:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 17 at Seton Hall W 85–81  12–4
(8–3)		  29 – Ballock  7 – Mahoney  4 – Ballock  Prudential Center 
Newark, NJ
January 30, 2021
7:00 p.m., CBSSN		 No. 17 at DePaul W 69–62  13–4
(9–3)		  19 – Zegarowski  6 – Tied  5 – Zegarowski  Wintrust Arena 
Chicago, IL
February 3, 2021
9:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 15 Georgetown L 79–86  13–5
(9–4)		  22 – Mahoney  10 – Bishop  6 – Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (1,845)
Omaha, NE
February 6, 2021
5:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 15 at Marquette W 71–68  14–5
(10–4)		  14 – Bishop  8 – Tied  6 – Jefferson  Fiserv Forum 
Milwaukee, WI
February 9, 2021
9:00 p.m., CBSSN		 No. 19 at Georgetown W 63-48  15–5
(11–4)		  17 – Bishop  9 – Bishop  4 – Tied  McDonough Gymnasium 
Washington, DC
February 13, 2021
5:00 p.m., FOX		 No. 19 No. 5 Villanova W 86–70  16–5
(12–4)		  25 – Zegarowski  10 – Tied  5 – Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (2,544)
Omaha, NE
February 24, 2021
8:00 p.m., CBSSN		 No. 13 DePaul W 77–53  17–5
(13–4)		  13 – 3 Tied  7 – Kalkbrenner  4 – Zegarowski  CHI Health Center Omaha (1,936)
Omaha, NE
February 27, 2021
4:00 p.m., FOX		 No. 13 at Xavier L 69–77  17–6
(13–5)		  19 – Jefferson  9 – Jefferson  10 – Zegarowski  Cintas Center 
Cincinnati, OH
March 3, 2021
7:30 p.m., FS1		 No. 14 at No. 10 Villanova L 60–72  17–7
(13–6)		  14 – Ballock  8 – Jefferson  4 – Tied  Finneran Pavilion 
Villanova, PA
March 6, 2021
4:00 p.m., FOX		 No. 14 Butler W 93–73  18–7
(14–6)		  32 – Zegarowski  10 – Bishop  6 – Ballock  CHI Health Center Omaha (2,419)
Omaha, NE
Big East tournament
March 11, 2021
5:00 p.m., FS1		 (2) No. 17 vs. (10) Butler
Quarterfinals		 W 87–56  19–7
  18 – Zegarowski  4 – 3 Tied  5 – Zegarowski  Madison Square Garden 
Manhattan, NY
March 12, 2021
9:00 p.m., FS1		 (2) No. 17 vs. (3) UConn
Semifinals		 W 59–56  20–7
  14 – Jefferson  12 – Jefferson  3 – Tied  Madison Square Garden (824)
Manhattan, NY
March 13, 2021
6:30 p.m., FOX		 (2) No. 17 vs. (8) Georgetown
Championship		 L 48–73  20–8
  17 – Zegarowski  5 – Ballock  4 – Zegarowski  Madison Square Garden (824)
Manhattan, NY
NCAA tournament
March 20, 2021
2:30 p.m., truTV		 (5 W) No. 19 vs. (12 W) UC Santa Barbara
First Round		 W 63–62  21–8
  17 – Zegarowski  11 – Bishop  7 – Zegarowski  Lucas Oil Stadium 
Indianapolis, IN
March 22, 2021
5:10 p.m., TNT		 (5 W) No. 19 vs. (13 W) Ohio
Second Round		 W 72–58  22–8
  20 – Zegarowski  15 – Bishop  5 – Ballock  Hinkle Fieldhouse 
Indianapolis, IN
March 28, 2021
1:10 p.m., CBS		 (5 W) No. 19 vs. (1 W) No. 1 Gonzaga
Sweet Sixteen		 L 65–83  22–9
  19 – Zegarowski  5 – Tied  3 – Tied  Hinkle Fieldhouse 
Indianapolis, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=West.
All times are in Central Time.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP11989131178111715191413141719Not released
Coaches1111^7913105611141218121112171914

^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

References

  1. ↑ "UC Santa Barbara vs. Creighton - Game Recap - March 20, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Ohio vs. Creighton - Game Recap - March 22, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Rob. "How Sweet It Is! Men's Basketball To Sweet 16 After Win vs. Ohio". Creighton University. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Creighton vs. Gonzaga - Box Score - March 28, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ Press |, The Associated (March 28, 2021). "Unbeaten Gonzaga keep rolling with Sweet 16 rout of Creighton". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  6. ↑ Reineking, Jim. "Creighton suspends men's basketball coach Greg McDermott over racially insensitive remarks". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  7. ↑ Rapp, Timothy. "Greg McDermott Reinstated by Creighton After Suspension for 'Plantation' Remark". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  8. ↑ Litman, Laken (March 12, 2020). "Inside the Chaotic Decision to Cancel the Big East tournament". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Nyatawa, Jon (April 10, 2020). "Former Creighton guard Davion Mintz transfers to Kentucky; Jalen Windham to Ball State". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  10. ↑ Dauster, Rob (April 10, 2020). "Creighton's Ty-Shon Alexander declares for NBA draft". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
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