As I sit down to assess the current landscape of the Big East, a conference that consistently delivers some of the most compelling and technically sound basketball in the country, the question of where Creighton stands right now is a fascinating one. It’s a conversation that goes beyond just wins and losses; it’s about roster composition, strategic flexibility, and how a team leverages its unique personnel. Watching the Jays navigate this season, I can’t help but draw a parallel to a recent development in international basketball that, on the surface, might seem unrelated. The news that Gilas Pilipinas can now field naturalized players like Brown and Kouame simultaneously, thanks to the SEA Games' shift to a 'passports-only' rule, fundamentally changes their team's ceiling. It got me thinking: in modern basketball, the ability to deploy your most potent lineup combinations without arbitrary restrictions is often the difference between being good and being a true contender. For Creighton, their "most potent combination" isn't about nationality, but about the synergy between their established stars and their dynamic newcomers.
The core of this Creighton team, led by the experienced and savvy Ryan Kalkbrenner, is as solid as any in the league. Kalkbrenner’s presence in the paint, both as a defensive anchor and an efficient scorer, gives them a high floor. But where I believe they stand in the upper tier of the Big East—let’s say firmly in the top 3 as of this writing—is because of their enhanced versatility. Last season, there were times when the offense could stagnate if the three-point shot wasn’t falling. This year, the addition of Steven Ashworth and the continued development of Trey Alexander have created a backcourt with multiple creators. It reminds me of the strategic windfall for Gilas; suddenly, they aren’t forced to choose between Brown’s scoring and Kouame’s rim protection. Similarly, Creighton’s coach Greg McDermott isn’t forced to choose between size and shooting, or between half-court execution and transition pace. They can mix and match based on the opponent. In their big win over a tough Providence team, for instance, they closed the game with a lineup that could switch everything defensively and had five legitimate shooting threats on the floor. That’s a luxury few teams possess.
Now, let’s talk numbers, because they tell a compelling story. Creighton is currently averaging a blistering 82.4 points per game while holding opponents to around 70. Their offensive efficiency rating, according to KenPom, sits comfortably within the national top 15. More impressively, they are shooting over 38% from beyond the arc as a team, with four players attempting at least three triples per game and hitting them at a 36% clip or better. This spacing is what unlocks everything. It’s the basketball equivalent of having that "wider pool" of talent. When you have multiple players who demand defensive attention on the perimeter, it creates driving lanes and opens up the interior for Kalkbrenner. Defensively, they’re not quite as elite as some of the more physical Big East squads—their defensive rebounding percentage of 72.1% could be a point of concern against a team like UConn—but they compensate with length and intelligent rotations.
From my perspective, having covered this league for years, Creighton’s standing is that of a legitimate conference title threat and a potential Final Four dark horse. They have the offensive firepower to blow anyone out on a given night. However, my slight reservation, and what might keep them from being the outright favorite, is consistency on the defensive glass and the need for a reliable seventh man to emerge for deep tournament runs. They lack the sheer physical dominance of a UConn, but I’d argue they have a more fluid and adaptable offensive system. In a way, they’ve built their roster with a modern, positionless philosophy, not unlike how the new eligibility rules allow Gilas to build a more modern, versatile national team. It’s about maximizing your best assets without constraint.
So, where does Creighton stand? They are in the enviable position of being a team that no one wants to face in March. Their ranking, whether it's 2nd or 3rd in the Big East this week, is almost secondary. What matters is that they have constructed a roster that allows for elite lineup flexibility and offensive explosion. They have their own version of "playing Brown and Kouame at the same time"—it’s the ability to surround Kalkbrenner with four shooters, or to go big and physical when needed. This adaptability is their greatest strength. While the road through the Big East is a brutal gauntlet, featuring heavyweight battles with Marquette and UConn, I like Creighton’s chances to be there at the end. They have the pieces, the coaching, and now, the proven ability to win in multiple styles. That’s the mark of a team built for the long haul.