Wed. Jan 16, 2019 (2) Big East Games...

[cu blujs]

What you aren't noticing is that recruiting has actually been pretty hit and miss the last couple of years. We didn't carry our full scholarships last year, and that included taking a late flyer on a grad transfer, Manny Swarez, a big 7'0" transfer from a DIII school you may have never noticed. A guy who couldn't hardly catch or dribble and was very slow footed, let alone play defense or make a shot, and might have played 20 minutes of garbage time the entire season (except the game at DePaul last year, which he almost single-handidly won and then almost single-handidly lost), and also with giving a scholarship to a walk-on.

This year, we might have 11 scholarship guys, I think, and that includes another flyer on a late grad transfer, Cashaw, a volume shooter with low shooting percentages for one of the worst teams in basketball last year and who is producing a whopping 1.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1 assist per game to go with his high TO and foul rates for the 10 minutes a game he is playing. Zegarowski and Krampelj were great gets, Epperson, if he can stay healthy, appears to be a good get, and of course McDermott pulled in Patton and Thomas out of Omaha. But he has had some big misses, and he recruited Mintz at PG, and as all can see 3 years into the experiment, Mintz is not a good PG, never was - in fact didn't play PG in highschool after like freshman year. Ballock was a ballyhooed get out from under Kansas's nose supposedly. But the jury is still out on whether he is anything other than a streaker spot-up three point shooter. He sure as heck isn't a BE caliber defender. We have had other scholarships go to guys who never saw any meaningful playing time and then transferred out.

Yes, McDermott has brought in some talent, but recruiting has been largely incomplete, with open scholarships and that's with the late additions with guys who aren't BE caliber players and scholarships to walkons who never see the floor. That's why we have zero depth when one guy goes down, and why we can't put more than one guy on the floor taller than 6'5" at any time. And even with short scholarshipped, we only have one signee coming next year -- you got it, another 6'1" guard -- and we have no other commitments as of yet for the late signing period. We have a transfer coming eligible next year and he is . . . drum roll... a 6'5" wing. That is why you see people in Omaha starting to grumble. Because all appearances are that the momentum has stalled out. Time will tell if he can get some momentum back or if we have slid comfortably into DePaul's slot at the bottom of the league.

[GoodNight&GoJays]

20+ wins and an NCAA appearance (conference tournament) every couple years pretty much became an expectation under altman in the valley. No one expected to be hanging BE banners every year but celebrating NCAA tourney appearances isn't happening in Omaha, nor should it IMO. There is some young talent on the team but every team in the conference has that. He's not a bad coach, but it amazes me how highly thought of he is outside of Ames and a small portion of Omaha.

[Omaha1]

The Marquette loss really changed everything for Creighton. A game they shouldn’t have lost, they really didn’t lose, and the outlook for the rest of the season would be much better with that win under their belt

We all agree on this and unfortunately there is no argument that the loss should be entirely pinned on Mac.

[scoscox]

I don't think as highly of him as Ohio State, but I think he's very solid. I can understand Creighton fans having higher expectations. You're right about everyone having young talent, although you guys are the youngest team in the conference I think. The Big East next year and in the foreseeable future should be an absolute monster.

[adoraz]

Creighton was never a consistent Tournament team (like a Gonzaga or Xavier).

NCAA Tournament appearances
1941, 1962, 1964, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1989, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018

NCAA Tournament Round of 32
1991, 1999, 2002, 2012, 2013, 2014

NCAA appearances:
1940s: 1
1950s: 0
1960s: 2
1970s: 3
1980s: 2
1990s: 2
2000s: 6
2010s: 5 (potentially 6)

As a member of the Big East they've made the Tournament 3/5 times (60%). That is the same as Creighton's best decade (2000s).

[GoodNight&GoJays]

I guess I don't see how that goes against what I said? The run Altman went on in the early 2000s started without the benefit of new facilities and came in the MVC. The team plays in front of 17k a night and games against COE COLLEGE are on national tv. I don't see any reason to be satisfied with getting blown out in the first weekend of the tournament.

[gtmoBlue]

What you aren't noticing is that recruiting has actually been pretty hit and miss the last couple of years.

Yes, McDermott has brought in some talent, but recruiting has been largely incomplete, with open scholarships and that's with the late additions with guys who aren't BE caliber players and scholarships to walkons who never see the floor. That's why we have zero depth when one guy goes down, and why we can't put more than one guy on the floor taller than 6'5" at any time.

And even with short scholarshipped, we only have one signee coming next year -- you got it, another 6'1" guard -- and we have no other commitments as of yet for the late signing period. We have a transfer coming eligible next year and he is . . . drum roll... a 6'5" wing. That is (one reason) why you see people in Omaha starting to grumble. Because all appearances are that the momentum has stalled out. Time will tell if he can get some momentum back or if we have slid comfortably into DePaul's slot at the bottom of the league.

Recruiting had begun stalling 3 years ago...we picked up Alexander, Ballock, and Epperson last year, Zegarowski, Bishop...(and Froling late) this year, but only the Omaha kid - Shereef Mitchell - out of 20+ offers for 2019. Some credit the mentions in the FBI - Bowen scandal, but we have had significant misses before the scandal and each of these 3 years including Bowen last year, Steere (commit, then NCST, now at StJ), Finke, Torrance Watson, AJ Lawson, Kisunas, others this year (2018), and Harvey, Carton, Nnaji, Rob-Earl, Guerrier, Beverly, and others for 2019. The Jays have continued backfilling with transfers so the misses have not been demonstrable. But it is a continuing problem. One has to hope for 2019 spring pickups and a good 2020 class.

The fact of moving up in class, to the big leagues, carrys with it the notion of also competing and winning along with merely "belonging to the club". Becoming DePaul back in the day (80s-90s) would have been a real blessing as the old man had them as a force in college basketball...today - no thanks. Many Creightonians evidently signed on to become a member of the club and in being a mid pack team. There are diehards amongst us who didn't sign up for mid-tier major. We expect Creighton to compete annually and to win a banner every 2-3 years and make a NCAA run on occasion. A 10-8 conf record and a 8-10 NCAA seed doesn't cut the mustard. Never has to some of us.

The bigger issue is the plateauing of coaching. Mac's a good man and a good coach. He has job security and a great boss. Evidently the administration is also satisfied? Altman had a great run 1999-2007 (and should have had a bid in 2009-but I digress). Mac started well, but the move to the BE has fizzled. Many are happy, we win 20 most years and have made the dance 3 of 5 years. However,is that enough? Hell no. The man is in his 9th season...time enough to get a good read on where we are and where we're headed. The road ahead looks like more 10-8 conf records and 8-10 NCAA seeds, if we're lucky. I and a few others think we need new leadership, but Mac still has another year + however long his extension was. The AD is near 70, so my hope is that he retires and the new AD makes the change shortly after installation. If Bruce doesn't retire soon, we will have Mac until 2012? 2014? We could be permanent bottom tier by then.

Yeah, yeah...be careful what you wish for....ya, ya, ya. That's why a national search is performed to get the best candidates and offer real money for a proven coach.

[NJRedman]

I am curious - do Jays fans feel that McDermott is on the hot seat? I think he has done a really good job at Creighton, but fans sound like they are getting restless. I can't seem to find his contract details anywhere online.

At many schools he would be on the hot seat for underachieving year after year in March, but not at Creighton. For those who would like the administration to apply some pressure on him, they know that Mac is more or less best friends with the director so who do you go to?

I believe when he arrived from Iowa State, he was given a 10 year contract. Most believe that after the Ohio state interest, he was given more money and an extension. He’s gotten pretty comfortable and that has a lot of people worried. Mix in the negative press CU got from the Brian Bowen mess and his seat should probably be at least a little warm right now.

How great would it be if they Fire Mac and hire Marshall from Wichita? haha the Shucker fans would lose their minds!

[NJRedman]

Wrong thread!

[MullinMayhem]

As an outsider, I feel like my first impulse is to consider Creighton a good solid program with several good seasons recently. I think McDermott deserves another year or two before seriously considering dumping him. Getting a new coach is a very long and drawn out process. We were winning 20 games a year on the reg under Lavin because though pretty successful, he never maximized our talent which was Sweet 16 level several years and never won tourney games. We took a hit after the Mullin hire and spent a few years in the basement. In year 4 we are seriously competing again. Takes lots of patience. All I'm saying is be careful what you wish for...if he can't take you guys to a tourney within the next year or two though, he should be gone.

Just did some research: this is McDermott's 9th year at Creighton. In 6 of the 9 years he has gotten Creighton ranked in the top 25 at some point. 5/9 seasons he has led the team to the NCAA tourney. Almost 100 games over .500 with a winning % of .659...pretty damn impressive. Chris Mack had a .689 winning % with Xavier. Holtmann was .693 at Butler. He's a pretty good coach. If he were our coach, he would've been our best since Carnesecca by far.