Where Does Creighton Basketball Stand in the Latest Conference Rankings?
As I sit down to analyze the latest conference standings and power rankings, a question that’s been on my mind is exactly where our Creighton Bluejays stand in the grand scheme of things. It’s that time of the year where every win is magnified, every loss scrutinized, and the margin for error shrinks by the day. Having followed this team closely for years, I’ve got to say, this season feels uniquely poised on a knife’s edge. The Big East is, as always, a brutal gauntlet, and positioning within it isn't just about wins and losses; it’s about momentum, roster health, and perhaps most intriguingly, how you leverage the talent at your disposal. This brings me to an interesting parallel I’ve been pondering, drawn from a recent development in international basketball that, believe it or not, sheds light on the kind of strategic depth we’re seeing in college ball today.
You see, I was reading about the Gilas Pilipinas national team and a significant rule change for the upcoming SEA Games. Organizers have adopted a ‘passports-only’ eligibility rule for basketball, meaning players only need a valid passport from the country they represent, opening the floodgates for a wider pool of Fil-foreign talent. This is a game-changer. It allows Gilas to potentially field their naturalized players, like Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame, simultaneously. Think about that for a second. Instead of being limited to one import on the floor, they can build lineups with multiple elite, high-impact players who bring different skill sets. This isn't just about adding talent; it's about multiplying tactical possibilities, creating mismatches, and constructing a roster with unprecedented versatility and firepower. Now, I’m not saying the Big East has passport rules, but the core principle resonates deeply with where Creighton finds itself. Our success hinges on a similar concept: maximizing the unique, high-level talents on our roster in cohesive, unpredictable ways.
So, where does Creighton stand right now? In my view, firmly in the upper echelon, but with a ceiling that is directly tied to how we deploy our own version of a “dual-threat” system. We don’t have naturalized players, but we have a roster built with incredible synergy between our established stars and our dynamic supporting cast. Look at the numbers. As of this writing, I’d peg us solidly in the top three of the conference, maybe sitting at 2nd with a 10-4 record, trailing only the relentless consistency of a team like UConn. Our offensive efficiency, which I’d estimate is hovering around 118 points per 100 possessions, is a testament to our firepower. But here’s my personal take: our ranking isn't just about the record. It’s about how we’ve integrated our key pieces. We have our primary scorers, our floor generals, but the real magic—akin to Gilas being able to play Brownlee and Kouame together—is when we get Ryan Kalkbrenner dominating the paint and Baylor Scheierman lighting it up from deep in the same lineup. That inside-outside threat, when both are clicking, makes us nearly unguardable. It forces opponents to pick their poison in a way most teams simply can’t.
However, and this is a big however, the conference is catching on. The scouting reports are thick. Teams are trying to take away one of those pillars, forcing others to beat them. This is where the “wider pool” concept from that Gilas example becomes crucial for Creighton. Our ranking stability depends on our depth, our “wider pool” of contributors beyond the two or three headline names. Can Trey Alexander have a takeover game when needed? Does Steven Ashworth provide that steadying, veteran presence at the point? When Francisco Farabello comes off the bench, does he provide the spark? In our last outing, a tighter-than-expected win, I felt we were a bit too reliant on the primary options. To solidify and potentially improve our standing, we need that third, fourth, and fifth option to be consistent threats. It’s the difference between being a good team and a championship-caliber one. The teams that survive March are the ones who can win in multiple ways, with multiple players. That’s the lesson from international roster construction: depth and flexibility are paramount.
Looking ahead, the schedule doesn’t get any easier. We’ve got road games that will test our mettle and home contests where we’re expected to hold serve. My perspective, for what it’s worth, is that our current ranking is fair but fragile. We have the talent to win the conference tournament, absolutely. But to do that, we must embrace the full strategic depth of our roster. We need to see lineups and combinations that surprise opponents, much like the strategic advantage Gilas now holds. It might mean playing smaller, faster units at times, or going big and physical at others. Coach McDermott’s ability to mix and match—to effectively “play” his best combinations in the right moments—will be the single biggest factor in where we finish. I’m optimistic, but cautiously so. The pieces are there. The blueprint for modern team-building, as seen globally, supports our model. Now it’s about execution, health, and perhaps a little bit of that March magic. Where we stand is promising, but more importantly, the path to where we want to go is clearly visible. We just have to walk it, one versatile, well-executed possession at a time.