Auburn Game Thread

[Venturajay]

Fun team to watch this year as we keep building for the future. I can't say enough nice things about the big three this year, they played hard and handled themselves with class and dignity at the end of the day that is what it is all about.

25 years ago in my neck of the woods, so.cal, nobody knew who Creighton was or where it was located. In 2025, in so.cal, even the marginal fan knows about the Jays. I like are chances to make a deep run next year with a team built around Jackson, Green, and Pop. Go Jays!!!

[cu8493]

SIAP, perusing stats, one jumps out at me. We lost by 12, with 9 of their last 11 points on free throws that likely don’t happen if we aren’t down 6+ at that point. Effectively, it was a 6 to 8 point game. So the stat: We were outscored in 2nd chance points 19-6. Take care of the defensive glass and notwithstanding everything else that happened, we are playing from in front down the stretch.

Great season considering where we were 3 months ago. I hope the fellas understand and appreciate what they have at Creighton more than the siren calls from handlers and agents chasing coin. Channeling my innner Gtmo, add a big banger and a couple other pieces (one potentially already onboard in Greer) to go with the returning regular players plus TD stepping up, I think next year could be the year we look at Mac finally getting his conference crown and having a legit shot at the final four. (Again, IF no defections)

[Chicagojayfan]

SIAP, perusing stats, one jumps out at me. We lost by 12, with 9 of their last 11 points on free throws that likely don’t happen if we aren’t down 6+ at that point. Effectively, it was a 6 to 8 point game. So the stat: We were outscored in 2nd chance points 19-6. Take care of the defensive glass and notwithstanding everything else that happened, we are playing from in front down the stretch.

Great season considering where we were 3 months ago. I hope the fellas understand and appreciate what they have at Creighton more than the siren calls from handlers and agents chasing coin. Channeling my innner Gtmo, add a big banger and a couple other pieces (one potentially already onboard in Greer) to go with the returning regular players plus TD stepping up, I think next year could be the year we look at Mac finally getting his conference crown and having a legit shot at the final four. (Again, IF no defections)

I don't know if I can do a deep dive on this one, but I'm in agreement with you on this game. If we' blocked out and limited turnovers we would have had a really good shot at this game. Just can't do those things against a team like Auburn and hope to win

I'm also pretty optimistic for the future. Pop, Fedor, McAndrews, Traudt, Green, and the portal can put together a really nice team as well

[Jaysker12]

I agree that the preliminary roster next year look good.

Pop
Zugic
Green
McAndrew
Greer
Traudt

That's a solid core if they all return. You need a top tier big and primary scorer/playmaker to complete the roster.

[bluejayfan2054]

I personally am terrified of relying too much on Pop as the primary ball handler given his injury history and given he is more of a scorer. Hoping we get an athletic PG transfer that can help him with that. Fedor seems to be okay with the ball also but we can’t be in a situation again where we only have 1 guy we trust with the ball running the offense

[drbluejay]

NIL and the transfer portal robbed us of 2 more years with a core that took us to the elite 8. That was probably the peak of the program, all downhill from here. Don’t think we have the money to pay 3+ million a year for a team.

I’m not an insider and won’t claim to be, all I will say is this. One of the jaybackers that I do have a close relationship with indicates that number you pointed out is not far off where we will be yearly with NIL and rev share

If we’re competitive on that front, I’m very happy to hear that that’s the case. It just doesn’t feel like it looking at our recruiting classes since.

(3) 4* freshmen, Neal and Pop make up the #22 recruiting class based on composite. This isn't even counting Fedor which would put us #20 or better.

[Woodfox4Three]

I agree that the preliminary roster next year look good.

Pop
Zugic
Green
McAndrew
Greer
Traudt

That's a solid core if they all return. You need a top tier big and primary scorer/playmaker to complete the roster.

You need a primary ball handler. Pop an Fedor are 2s

[bluejayfan2054]

I think we are very competitive. Our top freshman recruit ranking has improved almost every year and I think we have done very well in portal at addressing needs. Obviously we wanted a better back up big man the last few years but it’s hard to get anyone decent when they knew we had Kalk playing 35 minutes a night. Hoping the money from Kalk and Ash go to big time transfers this offseason

[Chicagojayfan]

I agree that the preliminary roster next year look good.

Pop
Zugic
Green
McAndrew
Greer
Traudt

That's a solid core if they all return. You need a top tier big and primary scorer/playmaker to complete the roster.

You need a primary ball handler. Pop an Fedor are 2s

I think they like Davis for the future, but are likely looking for another ballhandler to play the point from the portal for next year

Pop is fine as a secondary combo-guard type. He's not a traditional 2 who can't handle as much - he can facilitate and handle the ball, but likely we don't want him to be a pure PG

[bird_call]

25 years ago in my neck of the woods, so.cal, nobody knew who Creighton was or where it was located. In 2025, in so.cal, even the marginal fan knows about the Jays. I like are chances to make a deep run next year with a team built around Jackson, Green, and Pop. Go Jays!!!

I'll echo the SoCal sentiment - casuals have heard of Creighton now where they wouldn't have any idea 15 years ago pre-McDermott.

With the NIL and transfer situation, college basketball teams are way way more unstable. It is too early to say anything about next season until the transfer window closes.