CBB Rank 2025: No. 24, Creighton Basketball

Creighton basketball will start life without Ryan Kalkbrenner, but with former Iowa star Owen Freeman as the new star controlling the low post.

The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Creighton basketball.

Since conference realignment in 2013, few teams have benefited as much as Creighton basketball. The Bluejays have become one of the best teams in the Big East, and with Ryan Kalkbrenner, they reached a new level.

Over the past five seasons, Creighton has reached the NCAA Tournament every year, posting a combined record of 69-30 in Big East play. They’ve won at least one game in March Madness each of those years, reaching the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite 8 once.

But now, without Kalkbrenner, Steven Ashworth, and Jamiya Neal, it feels like a transition period. However, it’s easy to have a smooth transition with built-up success, and that’s what Creighton has this year.

Replacing Kalkbrenner is Owen Freeman, a star big man from Iowa, who may not be as good a shot blocker, but can still be one of the top centers in the Big East. He’s joined by former Hawkeyes teammate Josh Dix, who will share the backcourt with Nik Graves, a talented scoring point guard who played at Charlotte last season.

The starting small forward could go to a few guys – Blake Harper, a transfer from Howard, Jasen Green if Creighton wants to go big, or Fedor Zugic if they want another sharpshooter and extra ball handling. Power forward should be Jackson McAndrew’s job, with the potential for a big year on the horizon.

If Harper starts, a bench of Green, Zugic, and Isaac Traudt makes a lot of sense – three Bluejays who are back for another season and can thrive in their roles. Top-50 recruit Hudson Greer could also be in the mix for minutes, with Miami (Fla) transfer Austin Swartz as a great depth piece.

McDermott has a good 8-9 rotation, with Swartz there to fill in when needed. He’s got three-point shooting, bigs, and will continue to run one of the best offenses in the Big East and in the country. Defense may take a small hit with no Kalkbrenner, but it should be minimal enough to avoid dropping down a tier. They’re still one of the top teams in the conference.

Head coach: Greg McDermott (16th season at Creighton, 25th season overall)

2024-25 record: 25-11 (15-5)

2025 postseason finish: Lost to Auburn (82-70) in second round of NCAA Tournament

Notable departures: 

• Ryan Kalkbrenner (19.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.7 BPG, 65.3 FG%)
• Steven Ashworth (16.4 PPG, 6.8 APG, 4.1 RPG, 37.4 3P%)
• Jamiya Neal (12.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 4.4 APG)

Notable non-conference games: 

• at Gonzaga (Nov. 11)
• vs. Baylor (Nov. 24) – Players Era Festival
• vs. Iowa State (Nov. 25) – Players Era Festival
• Players Era Festival (Nov. 26-27)
• at Nebraska (Dec. 7)
• vs. Kansas State (Dec. 13)

Projected Rotation

PG: Nik Graves (6-2, 190, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 17.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.7 APG (Charlotte)

SG: Josh Dix (6-6, 205, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 14.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 42.2 3P% (Iowa)

SF: Blake Harper (6-7, 220, So.)

2024-25 stats: 19.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 40.4 3P% (Howard)

PF: Jackson McAndrew (6-10, 225, So.)

2024-25 stats: 7.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 35.4 3P%

C: Owen Freeman (6-10, 240, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 16.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.8 BPG, 63.8 FG% (Iowa)

6: Jasen Green (6-8, 235, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 4.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 55.7 FG%

7: Isaac Traudt (6-10, 235, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 4.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.4 APG, 38.4 3P%

8: Fedor Zugic (6-6, 215, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 4.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.8 APG, 40.0 3P%

9: Hudson Greer (6-7, 215, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #47-ranked recruit

10: Austin Swartz (6-4, 205, So.)

2024-25 stats: 5.9 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.9 APG (Miami-Fla)

11: Aleksa Dimitrijevic (7-0, 220, Fr.)

International recruit from Serbia

12: Liam McChesney (6-10, 195, Jr.)

2022-23 stats: 6.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.8 APG (Illinois State)

Did not play in 2023-24 OR 2024-25 due to medical redshirt

13: Ty Davis (6-4, 190, So.)

2024-25 stats: 0.9 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, 7.1 MPG

14: Kerem Konan (6-9, 235, So.)

International recruit from Turkey

Creighton basketball team MVP: Owen Freeman

How great must life be for McDermott to bring in Owen Freeman right after losing Kalkbrenner? He may not be as smooth offensively, but when you can bring in a big man with size and post moves and a reliable 15 PPG type of guy, it’s as good a replacement as you can ask for.

But for Creighton fans, it’ll be important not to compare him to Kalkbrenner. Kalkbrenner played quicker, more limber, and was a better defender. But that isn’t to say Freeman can’t hold his own in the Big East. He may not dominate like his predecessor, but he will give Creighton a better matchup at that position most of the time in conference play.

Creighton basketball make-or-break player: Jackson McAndrew

I really want to see what type of offensive player McAndrew can become, sharing the frontcourt with Freeman.

But that’s the thing – while McAndrew may be listed at the four spot, he’s really just a big wing, a shooting guard in a 6-10 person’s body.

And as last season ended, McAndrew started to reach new heights. He scored at least 11 points in five of Creighton’s final seven games. That included averages of 11.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 7-of-15 from three in their two NCAA Tournament games.

With McAndrew gaining more confidence and probably more shots as a sophomore, he is really the perfect floor spacer for McDermott’s offense, especially with life after Kalkbrenner.

Key analytic: Fouls per game

It may seem strange to pick this as the stat for Creighton, but after leading the nation in fewest fouls committed per game last season, it’d be a disservice not to.

While Creighton was also second in 2P% as a team, it’s more impressive how few they fouled. Of course, Kalkbrenner mastered the art, and a smart, seasoned vet like Ashworth didn’t hurt either.

This year, it could be a different story. Freeman fouled 2.7 times per game last season, 0.5 more than Jamiya Neal, who led Creighton in that department. Graves also fouled 2.2 times per game last year, a bit better than his 2.6 the year before. And Harper fouled 3.1 times per game at Howard.

I’m sure McDermott will have his ways on how to limit them, but Creighton fans – don’t be shocked to see other teams at the line a bit more than you were used to.

Creighton basketball 2025-26 projections

Projected conference finish: 3rd in the Big East

Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 exit