Where Does Creighton Basketball Stand in the Latest Conference Rankings?

As I sit down to analyze the latest conference standings, a question keeps popping into my head: where does Creighton basketball truly stand right now? It’s more than just looking at a win-loss column or a simple ranking number. The landscape of college basketball, much like international competitions, is defined by rules, roster construction, and the ability to maximize your available talent under a specific set of constraints. Watching the Big East unfold this season, I can’t help but draw a parallel to a fascinating development overseas that reshaped team dynamics entirely. You see, the recent Southeast Asian Games adopted a ‘passports-only’ eligibility rule for basketball, which fundamentally changed the game for teams like Gilas Pilipinas. Suddenly, they could field their naturalized players, Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame, simultaneously, and had a significantly wider pool of Fil-foreign players to select from. This rule shift didn’t just tweak the lineup; it transformed their strategic ceiling. For me, this underscores a critical point about our Bluejays: their standing isn't just about current results, but about how well they are positioned to utilize their entire roster within the framework of the Big East’s unique challenges.

Let’s talk about the concrete numbers first, because they tell a compelling, if incomplete, story. As of this writing, Creighton is hovering around that 3rd to 4th spot in the Big East, with a conference record I’d peg at roughly 10-6, give or take a game. They’ve secured some marquee wins, the kind that look fantastic on a tournament resume, but have also dropped a couple of frustratingly close games on the road. The offense, when it’s humming, is a thing of beauty—one of the most efficient in the country, often clocking in with an adjusted offensive efficiency north of 120 points per 100 possessions. Ryan Kalkbrenner is a defensive anchor, and Baylor Scheierman’s versatility is a nightmare for matchups. But here’s where my analyst hat goes on, and my fan heart feels a slight tremor. The depth, or at least the consistent application of it, sometimes feels like the limiting factor. We’ve seen stretches where the heavy minutes logged by the starters seem to take a toll, especially against physically imposing teams like UConn or Marquette. It reminds me of the pre-rule-change Gilas, having to choose between Brownlee or Kouame, never both, potentially leaving a key advantage untapped.

This is where the international analogy becomes so personally resonant. The ‘passports-only’ rule was a game-changer because it removed an artificial constraint. For Creighton, the “constraint” isn’t an eligibility rule, but perhaps rotations, matchups, and the confidence to go deeper on the bench in high-leverage moments. Coach McDermott has a system, and it’s a brilliant one, but I’ve found myself wondering in tight second halves if we might see a bit more of a surprise element. Could a different defensive look, fueled by a fresh bench player, provide a two-possession swing that changes a game? The expanded pool for Gilas meant new combinations and unexpected strengths were discovered. For Creighton, unlocking that next level might involve a similar philosophy—exploring every possible combination within their roster to find an edge they haven’t needed until now. The talent beyond the top six or seven is there; it’s about finding the right moment to integrate it seamlessly, turning a perceived depth question into a definitive strength.

Looking at the road ahead, Creighton’s standing is promising but precarious. They are almost certainly a lock for the NCAA Tournament, likely landing a 4 or 5 seed if the season ended today. Their net ranking is solid, typically sitting in the 10-15 range nationally, which the committee loves. However, to solidify a top-3 finish in the Big East and play for a possible double-bye in the conference tournament, they need to solve the consistency puzzle. They can’t afford the “bad loss.” Every game against the lower half of the conference becomes a must-win to offset the battles against the league’s giants. From my perspective, the key isn’t a major overhaul. It’s about embracing a bit of that Gilas-after-the-rule-change mindset: act as if your strategic options are wider than you’ve previously used. Maybe it means giving Francisco Farabello a longer leash to hunt for steals, or trusting Jasen Green’s physicality for a specific defensive assignment. It’s about making the roster, top to bottom, feel limitless.

In conclusion, where does Creighton basketball stand? They stand on the doorstep of something special, but the final push requires a subtle shift. The latest conference rankings show a very good team. To become a great one—a team that can not just compete for a Big East title but make a deep March run—they might need to internalize the lesson from that Southeast Asian rule change. It’s about maximizing your assets without self-imposed limits. Their offensive system is their “passport,” granting eligibility to beautiful basketball. Now, they must prove they can play all their best “players”—all their strategic schemes and roster pieces—at the same time, especially when the pressure is highest. If they can do that, their standing will shift from being a respected contender to a genuine threat to anyone, anywhere. And as a longtime observer, that’s a prospect that has me genuinely excited for the final stretch of the season.