IT ALL STARTS TONIGHT, BABY...
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Creighton returns nine lettermen and four starters from last season’s team that finished 20-10. The Bluejays will also get back star guard Nate Funk after the senior missed most of last season with a shoulder injury.
Much of the preseason discussion has centered on the health of the CU backcourt, most notably Funk and sophomore Josh Dotzler. Funk appears healed, while Dotzler continues to rehab from off-season knee surgery. Look for him to be eased into the line-up as his health progresses.
Nick Porter, Dane Watts and Anthony Tolliver also return to the starting five. Porter was MVC Newcomer of the Year in 2006, while Tolliver was tabbed captain of the MVC’s Most Improved Team. Watts owns 53 straight starts at power forward.
A highly-ballyhooed recruiting class of seven newcomers will also look to make a difference. Kansas transfer Nick Bahe will fight with true freshmen D’Angalo Jackson and Isacc Miles for time in the backcourt. Redlands CC transfer Ty Morrison will see time on the wing and post. Freshmen Aaron Brandt and Casey Harriman both play the wing but are redshirt candidates. Sophomore Chad Millard will sit out the season after transferring in from Louisville.
Creighton is ranked 19th in the preseason Associated Press poll and 23rd in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. The Bluejays also were picked to win the MVC in a preseason poll of league coaches, SID’s and media.
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