The Creighton Bluejays have been one of the most impressive offensive teams in the country this year and will look to continue their strong play as they host the Longwood Lancers in regional play for the Las Vegas Invitational.
Creighton is ranked 14th in the nation and is looking to improve on a 29-6 record last season that saw the Bluejays reach the third round of the NCAA tournament.
The team is led by preseason All-American Greg McDermott, who scored 22.9 points per game last season. The Bluejays are 3-0 and enter the game off an impressive 87-58 blow out of Presbyterian on Sunday.
McDermott, who is also the head coach's son scored 24 points in the game, while reserve Ethan Wragge scored 18 points on 6-of-8 shots from 3-point range. The team shot the ball extremely well, making over 60 percent of its shots.
"It felt good when I got that first one to go in and I got a little rhythm," Wragge said of his performance Sunday to the Associated Press.. "They were really spread out and concerned with Doug and Greg (Echenique) down low. If teams are going to take away the inside like that, we as shooters have to make sure they pay for it."
Wragge has been one of the most impressive players for Creighton this season, including in the win on Wednesday against UAB that featured a down game from McDermott, who scored only five points. Wragge scored 12 points and made four 3-pointers as the Bluejays won 77-60.
McDermott is averaging nearly 17 points and eight assists this season, but is being supported by a strong team that includes senior Grant Gibbs, sophomore guard Austin Chapman and senior guard Josh Jones.
"They've got a complete team," Presbyterian coach Gregg Nibert said.
Last season Creighton won its first game in the NCAA tournament in a decade with their first round victory over Alabama. The team made it to the third round largely behind the play of McDermott, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
"I'm having the best time," McDermott said to ESPN the Magazine. "I've always flown under the radar, but I don't feel like we're flying under the radar anymore."
The Bluejays have been very efficient while shooting the ball this season, ranking 10th in the nation in field goal percentage, something that has been aided by the ability of center Gregory Echenique to attract double-teams.
"If they're going to keep two guys in front of our post guys, we've got guys with the green light to let it fly," head coach Greg McDermott said. "When you have 4s like Doug and Ethan who are capable of stretching the defense, it puts a lot of pressure on them."
Creighton has already improved defensively after an awful effort last season when the team was ranked 222nd in the nation in field goal percentage. This year the Bluejays are allowing just 56 points per game and held a talented North Texas team to just 51 points in their opening game of the season.
The Bluejays have moved the ball well on offense this season, ranking 33rd in assists with 17 per game and have also been strong rebounding the ball, grabbing nearly 40 per game.
Longwood has been one of the worst teams in the Big South to start the season and is ranked 308th in Division I in points per game.
The team has lost its first three games of the season, including a blowout 112-63 loss to Arkansas on Sunday. The Lancers had trouble protecting the ball against the Razorbacks, giving up 28 turnovers while shooting just 39 percent from the field.
Freshman Michael Kessens has been the most impressive player on the team, averaging a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. In Longwood's closest game of the season, Kessens shot 70 percent while scoring 17 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in the 78-66 defeat.
The Lancers are ranked near the bottom of Division I in nearly every category, including assists, rebounds and field goal percentage.
Junior Tristan Carey has been solid this season for the team, ranking second on the team in points. He scored 13 points against Norfolk State, but only eight points while missing all six 3-point attempts in the opening loss against Marshall.
According to the Associated Press, the "Bluejays will try for a 41st straight home victory over an unranked non-conference foe when they face Longwood (0-3) for the first time."
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