Basketball in Omaha just feels different this January. Honestly, if you walked into the CHI Health Center right now, you’d see a Creighton team that looks a lot different than the one that pushed deep into March last year. The jerseys are the same, sure, and Greg McDermott is still the calmest guy in the building, but the era of the "Big Three" is officially over. Ryan Kalkbrenner is in Charlotte now after being drafted 34th overall by the Hornets this past June. Baylor Scheierman is gone. Trey Alexander? Gone too. What’s left is a roster trying to find its soul in the middle of a brutal Big East gauntlet.
It’s been a weird month. One night, they’re looking like world-beaters, and the next, they’re getting their "tail kicked"—McDermott’s words, not mine—by Rick Pitino and St. John’s. If you’re looking for the latest Creighton University basketball news, you have to start with the paradox of this team: they are simultaneously the second-winningest program in the Big East since 2013, yet they currently feel like they're treading water at 11-7 overall.
The Austin Swartz Explosion and the Injury Bug
Let’s talk about Austin Swartz. Seriously. The Miami transfer was basically a ghost for the first month of the season, scoring a grand total of eight points across seven games. Then, something clicked. Maybe it was the Cincinnati air or just a sophomore finally realizing he’s the guy, but he dropped 27 at Xavier and hasn't looked back. Over the last seven contests, he's averaging nearly 17 points a game. He’s the spark this offense desperately needed because, man, the injuries have been relentless.
Jackson McAndrew was supposed to be the foundational piece this year. Instead, a foot injury in late November ended his season before it even really started. That’s a massive blow. When you lose a 6'10" forward who can stretch the floor, everything gets harder. Throw in the fact that key subs like Hudson Greer and Josh Townley-Thomas have been in and out of the trainer’s room, and you start to see why the Bluejays have struggled with consistency. They’re running a short rotation, and in this league, that’s like trying to run a marathon with one shoe.
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Why Greg McDermott Isn’t Panicking
You’ve gotta love McDermott. After that 90-73 thumping by St. John’s on January 10th, he didn’t hide behind coach-speak. He acknowledged that Pitino’s squad simply outplayed them. But here’s the thing: Creighton has this weird knack for the comeback. This month alone, they’ve already secured multiple wins after trailing by double digits. They did it against Georgetown just a few days ago, clawing back to win 86-83 in overtime thanks to a 33-point "avalanche" from—you guessed it—Austin Swartz.
The identity of this team is shifting. They aren't the defensive juggernaut they were with Kalkbrenner patrolling the paint. They’re currently middle-of-the-pack in the Big East defensively, giving up about 72 points per game. But they lead the league in three-pointers made, averaging over 10 per contest. They’re living and dying by the arc. It’s high-variance basketball, and while it's stressful to watch, it’s the only way they can compete with the giants like UConn right now.
A Tough Transition for the Women’s Program
The Creighton University basketball news isn't just about the men, though the women’s side is facing an even steeper uphill climb this winter. They’re sitting at 7-10, which is jarring for a program that’s used to being at the top of the standings. Losing Kiani Lockett to a knee injury earlier this month was the "knockout punch" for their veteran leadership.
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They recently hosted No. 1 UConn in their annual Pink Game, and it was... well, it was a bloodbath. 95-54. Geno Auriemma’s Huskies are a different species, but the silver lining was freshman Ava Zediker. She dropped 23 points, with 14 of those coming in a late-game flurry. Between Zediker and Neleigh Gessert, the "Baby Birds" are getting a trial by fire. It’s painful now, but you can see the foundation for 2027 being poured in real-time.
The Future: Katrelle Harmon and the 2026 Class
If you're a Bluejay fan looking for a reason to smile, look at the recruiting trail. Greg McDermott already secured a massive verbal commitment from Katrelle Harmon, a four-star point guard from Wasatch Academy. He’s a top-70 prospect who chose Omaha over some massive Power Five offers. Harmon is a pass-first floor general—the kind of player who makes everyone around him 10% better. Pairing him with Jaidyn Coon in the 2026 class means the talent gap left by the 2025 departures won't stay open for long.
Where the Bluejays Go From Here
The road doesn't get easier. They’re heading to Providence tonight to face a Friars team that scores points like they're going out of style. The Big East standings are a mess behind UConn, with Creighton currently sitting in a four-way tie for fourth place at 5-2 in conference play.
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To stay in the hunt for an NCAA tournament bid, they have to fix the turnovers. They gave it up 22 times against St. John's. You can't do that. Not in this league. They also need Fedor Žugić and Isaac Traudt to find their rhythm. Traudt is averaging about 8.5 points, but they need him to be a 15-point-per-night guy while McAndrew is sidelined.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season:
- Watch the Perimeter Defense: If Creighton can't stop the dribble penetration that haunted them against St. John's, they'll struggle against Providence and Villanova.
- The Swartz Factor: Monitor Austin Swartz's usage. If he stays over 15 shots a game, Creighton has a puncher's chance against anyone.
- Bench Depth: Look for Shane Thomas or Ty Davis to step up. With the starters playing heavy minutes, the "legs" of this team will be tested in February.
- The Bubble Watch: Currently, Creighton is a "First Four Out" or "Last Four In" candidate in most projections. Every home game at CHI Health Center is now a must-win to build that resume.
The 2025-26 season isn't about dominance; it's about survival. It's about seeing if McDermott can weave a group of transfers and freshmen into a team that nobody wants to see in the first round of the Big East Tournament. It’s going to be a bumpy ride, but in Omaha, it’s never boring.