Creighton Bluejays

Last updated
Creighton Bluejays
Creighton Bluejays logo.svg
UniversityCreighton University
Conference Big East
NCAA Division I
Athletic directorMarcus Blossom
Location Omaha, Nebraska
Varsity teams14
Basketball arena CHI Health Center Omaha (men's)
D. J. Sokol Arena (women's)
Baseball stadium Charles Schwab Field Omaha
Soccer stadium Morrison Stadium
MascotBilly Bluejay
NicknameBluejays, Jays
Fight songThe White and the Blue
ColorsBlue, white, and navy blue [1]
     
Website gocreighton.com
Creighton athletics wordmark 2013.png

The Creighton Bluejays, or Jays, are the athletic teams that represent Creighton University, a Jesuit/Catholic University in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. They compete in NCAA Division I in the Big East Conference.

Contents

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Cross countryGolf
GolfRowing
Soccer Soccer
TennisSoftball
Tennis
Volleyball

Baseball

Creighton's baseball team played its first Big East season in 2014. They are coached by Ed Servais who is entering his eighth season as head coach of the Bluejays. His record at Creighton is 254–149 (.630 winning percentage).

The team plays its home games at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, also the home of the College World Series. Prior to the opening of TD Ameritrade Park, the program played games at the Creighton Sports Complex and Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in South Omaha, which was also the home of the NCAA College World Series and the Omaha Royals (now known as the Omaha Storm Chasers) of the Pacific Coast League.

1991 College World Series

Creighton appeared in the NCAA College World Series for the only time in 1991. The Jays advanced to the CWS by defeating the Hawaii Rainbows 15–8 in finals of the NCAA West I Regional in Los Angeles. Prior to the victory over Hawaii, the Jays swept the four-game regional by beating Pepperdine, Minnesota and host team USC in a 10-inning 8–7 victory.

The seventh-seeded Bluejays (49–20) opened play against the second seeded Clemson Tigers in front of then record crowd of more than 16,000 at Rosenblatt Stadium. The game ended with an 8–4 Creighton victory, setting up a second round match with MVC rival Wichita State.

The Jays had finished the 1991 regular season with an overall record of 46–18, and a 16–8 record in the Missouri Valley Conference, good enough for second place behind league champion Wichita State. The Shockers had swept the regular season four-game series with the Jays, and had also defeated the Jays twice in the 1991 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament.

In one of the more memorable games in College World Series history, the Shockers defeated the Jays 3–2 in 12 innings. With one out in the bottom of the twelfth inning Wichita State center fielder Jim Audley threw out Creighton's pinch-runner Steve Burns at home plate in a play known to Bluejay and Shocker fans alike as "the throw." The game was recently ranked third in the list of the 25 greatest games in College World Series history by the Omaha World-Herald.

The Jays bounced back to defeat Long Beach State 13–4 in an elimination game, to set up a rematch with Wichita State in the National Semifinals. A trip to the title game for Creighton was not to be, however, as Wichita State advanced to the National Championship game after defeating Creighton for the eighth time that season, 11–3.

LSU defeated Wichita State 6–3 to win the 1991 NCAA Baseball National Championship.

The Bluejays Head Coach during that memorable 1991 season, Jim Hendry, is a former General Manager of the Chicago Cubs. Jim Hendry is also the only former Creighton Bluejay to have his number retired. His name and number (25) hang on the center field fence of Creighton Sports Complex.

Notable former Bluejay Baseball players include Hall of Fame inductee Bob Gibson as well as Dave McKay, Pat Venditte, Dennis Rasmussen, Scott Stahoviak, Scott Servais, Zach Daeges, Chad McConnell and Alan Benes.

Men's basketball

Creighton's men's basketball program has been a member of the Big East Conference since the 2013–14 season. Prior to the 2013–14 season, the Jays were members of the Missouri Valley Conference from 1978–2013. Prior to the 1977–78 season, the Jays participated as an Independent from 1948–1977.

Creighton's current head coach is Greg McDermott. He became head coach on April 27, 2010, following stints as the head coach at Wayne State (Nebraska), Northern Iowa, and Iowa State.

The men's team plays all of their home games at CHI Health Center Omaha (capacity 18,320), which opened in 2003 as Qwest Center Omaha and was known from 2011 to 2018 as CenturyLink Center Omaha. The 2018–19 season will be their 16th at CHI Health Center.

Famous individuals associated with Creighton basketball include former players Bob Gibson, Paul Silas, Doug McDermott, Bob Portman, Gene Harmon, Benoit Benjamin, Bob Harstad, Chad Gallagher, Rodney Buford, Kyle Korver, Gary Swain, Ryan Sears, Nate Funk, and Anthony Tolliver. Famous former coaches include "Red" McManus, Eddie Sutton, Willis Reed, Eddie Hickey, Tony Barone, Arthur A. Schabinger, and Dana Altman.

The all-time leading scorer in Creighton men's basketball history is Doug McDermott, who surpassed former leader Rodney Buford during the 2012–13 season. McDermott ended his college career in 2014 with 3,150 total points, placing him fifth on the all-time Division I men's scoring list. He was named the first consensus first-team All-American in Creighton basketball history following the 2011–12 season, his sophomore year, and repeated as a consensus first-team All-American in 2013 and 2014. This made him the first Division I men's player to be a three-time consensus first-team All-American since Patrick Ewing and Wayman Tisdale from 1983 to 1985. McDermott was also named the consensus national player of the year in 2014.

Creighton University was the host institution for the First and Second Rounds site at the venue now known as CHI Health Center Omaha during the 2008 and 2024 NCAA tournaments, the Second and Third Round during the 2012 NCAA tournament, and the Second and Third Round during the 2015 NCAA tournament.

Women's basketball

The women's basketball team is coached by Jim Flanery, and were the 2004 WNIT Champions. They play their home games on campus at D. J. Sokol Arena.

Men's soccer

Creighton's current men's soccer coach is Elmar Bolowich. He was named head coach of the Creighton Bluejays on February 9, 2011 following 22 seasons as the head coach at North Carolina.

Creighton plays their home matches on campus at Morrison Stadium, which is named after former university President Fr. Michael Morrison, S.J. The last time Creighton hosted the Missouri Valley Conference men's soccer Tournament was 2011.

The men's soccer team has gone to the NCAA tournament in 18 of the previous 19 seasons with three appearances in the College Cup and one appearance in the National Championship Match.

Women's soccer

The women's soccer team has won four Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championships, earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in each of those years. The team also plays its home games on campus at Morrison Stadium.

Softball

The softball team has appeared in five Women's College World Series, in 1969 (the first WCWS), 1980, 1981, [2] 1982 (first NCAA WCWS) and 1986.

Discontinued sports

Football

Football, as well as basketball, were discontinued during World War II for the duration of the war after the conclusion of the basketball season because of travel restrictions and the uncertainty of draft status for 18 and 19-year-old students; basketball returned after the war, but the university never subsequently fielded a football team.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg McDermott</span> American basketball player-coach

Greg McDermott is an American basketball coach who has been the head coach of the Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team since 2010. Previously, McDermott served as the head coach at Wayne State College, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, and Iowa State. He is the father of NBA player Doug McDermott.

The Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represents Creighton University of the NCAA Division I college basketball. It competes in the Big East Conference, which it joined following the Big East conference realignment in 2013. The Bluejays play their home games at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Creighton finished sixth nationally in home attendance, averaging 17,048 fans per home game in 2014–15.

The Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team is the NCAA Division I college basketball program representing Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.

The 2008–09 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team represented Wichita State University in the 2008-09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team, which played in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), was led by second-year head coach Gregg Marshall. The Shockers opened the season with a win over Florida A&M on November 10, 2008, and ended the season with a loss to Stanford in the College Basketball Invitational. Their final record for 2008–09 was 17–17, an improvement from their 2007–08 record of 11–20.

The Creighton Bluejays baseball team represents the Creighton University in NCAA Division I college baseball, and competes as a member of the Big East Conference. Home games are played off campus at nearby Charles Schwab Field Omaha, which annually hosts the College World Series in June. The Bluejays played their first Big East baseball season in 2014, and are led by longtime head coach Ed Servais.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010–11 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2010–11 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by first year head coach Greg McDermott, played their home games at the Qwest Center Omaha as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the season 23–16, 10–8 in MVC play and lost in the semifinals of the 2011 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament to Missouri State. They were invited to the 2011 College Basketball Invitational where they advanced to the best-of-three finals against Oregon and former head coach Dana Altman, losing the series in three games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011–12 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2011–12 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by second year head coach Greg McDermott, played their home games at the CenturyLink Center Omaha and are members of the Missouri Valley Conference. The conference season ended with 14–4 record, finishing in 2nd place, behind Wichita State. They finished the season 29–6, 14–4 in MVC play to finish in second place. They were champions of the Missouri Valley Basketball tournament to earn the conference's automatic bid into the 2012 NCAA tournament where they defeated Alabama in the first round before falling in the second round to North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012–13 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2012–13 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University during the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by third year head coach Greg McDermott, played their home games at the CenturyLink Center Omaha and were in their final season as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the season 28–8, 13–5 in MVC play to be Missouri Valley regular season champions. They were also champions of the Missouri Valley tournament, defeating Wichita State in the championship game, to earn an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA tournament. In the tournament, they defeated Cincinnati in the second round before losing in the third round to Duke.

The Creighton Bluejays men's soccer team represents Creighton University in NCAA men's Division I soccer competitions. They compete in the Big East Conference and have risen to prominence in collegiate men's soccer in the last few decades having gone to the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament in 22 of the previous 23 seasons, going back to 1992, with five appearances in the College Cup semifinals and one appearance in the National Championship Match. In conference play, the Bluejays have won 13 conference regular season championships and 13 conference tournament championships; the most recent being the 2014 Big East Conference Regular Season Championship. Creighton is the only soccer program in the nation to have at least one athlete taken in every Major League Soccer (MLS) draft from 1996 to 2014. They are currently coached by Johnny Torres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1963–64 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1963–64 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University during the 1963–64 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by fifth year head coach John J. 'Red' McManus and All-American Paul Silas, played their home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The Bluejays set six new team records, plus home attendance marks. The Jays played before 86,856 fans in 13 home games at Omaha's Civic Auditorium including a standing room only crowd of 10,556 for the Oklahoma City game. They finished the season 22–7. The 22 wins were the most ever for a Creighton team, as were the 2,441 points and 84.2 scoring average with 1,024 field goals. Single game marks for most points and field goals were established in the Bluejay's 124–94 win over Miami University of Florida when Creighton tallied a record 54 field goals. The Jays worst loss came at the hands of the Oklahoma City Chiefs in their first meeting 85–101.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001–02 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2001–02 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University during the 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by head coach Dana Altman, played their home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The Jays finished with a 23-9 record, and tied for the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship with Southern Illinois. Creighton won the conference tournament to earn a bid to the 2002 NCAA tournament. The team featured Missouri Valley Player of the Year Kyle Korver.

The 2013–14 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team represented Wichita State University in the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played their home games at Charles Koch Arena, which had a capacity of 10,506. They were in their 69th season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. They were led by seventh-year head coach Gregg Marshall. They were the last team to finish the regular season and enter the NCAA tournament unbeaten until Kentucky did it the next year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2013–14 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by fourth-year head coach Greg McDermott, played their home games at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, and were in their first season as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 27–8, 14–4 in Big East play to finish in second place. They advanced to the championship game of the Big East tournament where they lost to Providence. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Louisiana–Lafayette in the first round before losing in the second round to Baylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by sixth-year head coach Greg McDermott, played their home games at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, and were members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 20–15, 9–9 in Big East play to finish in sixth place. They lost to Seton Hall in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament. They received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where, as a #4 seed, they defeated Alabama and Wagner to advance to the quarterfinals where they lost to BYU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009–10 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2009–10 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Dana Altman in his 16th and subsequently final season as he would take the job at Oregon following the season. Creighton would then hire Greg McDermott as his successor. In 2009–10, the Bluejays would end the regular season with a record of 16–15 and despite losing in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, they would qualify for the CIT and make their way to the semifinal round before losing to eventual champion Missouri State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2016–17 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by seventh-year head coach Greg McDermott, played their home games at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 25–10, 10–8 in Big East play to finish in a four-way tie for third place. In the Big East tournament, they defeated Providence and Xavier before losing to Villanova in the championship game. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a No. 6 seed in the Midwest region. There they lost in the first round to No. 11-seeded Rhode Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2017–18 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays were led by eighth-year head coach Greg McDermott and played their home games at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 21–12, 10–8 in Big East play to finish in a three-way tie for third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament to Providence. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 8 seed in the South Region. There the Bluejays lost in the first round to Kansas State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2019–20 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays were led by 10th-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 24–7, 13–5 in Big East play to earn share of the Big East regular season championship, and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. The Big East tournament and all other postseason tournaments including the NCAA tournament were canceled shortly after the regular season ended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellations effectively ended the Bluejays' season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

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 and Ohio to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. 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. There they lost to eventual National Runner-Up Gonzaga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2021–22 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays were coached by 12th-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 23–12, 12–7 in Big East play to finish in fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the Big East tournament, they defeated Marquette and Providence, before losing to Villanova in the Championship. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 9 seed in the Midwest Region, where they defeated San Diego State in the first round before losing to Kansas in the second round.

References

  1. "Colors" (PDF). Creighton University Athletics Bluejay Logo Usage Guidelines. June 9, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  2. Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN   978-0-9893007-0-4.