OMAHA, Neb. — In the history of their basketball program, Creighton has faced off against eight teams ranked No. 1, and until recently, that match-up spelled trouble for them. The initial six encounters all resulted in defeats, with no real competition in sight. However, that trend took a turn in their latest two attempts, both of which turned into decisive victories on their home turf at the CHI Health Center.
On Wednesday evening, the unranked Bluejays showcased their prowess by defeating top-ranked Kansas with a score of 76-63. Remarkably, Creighton led the game from start to finish, establishing a commanding lead of 17 points at one point. This impressive win follows an earlier triumph over No. 1 Connecticut, where they overwhelmed the Huskies 85-66. That match was significant as it marked UConn’s last defeat before embarking on a 13-game winning streak that led to their second consecutive national championship.
Among the Creighton players who took to the court against Kansas, five were also participants in the earlier match against Connecticut, including 7-foot-1 center Ryan Kalkbrenner. As the preseason Big East player of the year, Kalkbrenner made a brilliant return from injury, contributing 17 points and outshining Kansas center Hunter Dickinson. Notably, he scored 15 points in the prior game against UConn last February.
“Both feel great, obviously,” Kalkbrenner remarked. “Both those teams, UConn and Kansas, are elite, high-level programs. We executed our game plan in both games and played at a high level. You feel good about those wins.”
The energy in the arena was palpable from the opening moments of the match against Kansas. Each time Pop Isaacs hit one of his six 3-pointers or Kalkbrenner completed a dunk, the crowd’s enthusiasm surged. By the end of the game, jubilant students flooded the court, adding to the exhilarating atmosphere as flames erupted from the goal stands.
“I haven’t quite had a moment like that in college,” Isaacs shared. “I haven’t faced the No. 1 team before; I’ve only played against No. 2 and No. 3. The environment was electric, and the students really showed up. This wasn’t my first court storming, but it was definitely the biggest.”
Having previously played at Texas Tech, Isaacs was already familiar with Kansas’s defensive strategies, which he credited as an asset during the game. He achieved a season-high with 27 points. “I saw the ball go through the basket,” he explained. “The first shot felt good coming off my hands. With the right looks tonight, as Coach says, I’m a solid shooter, and I mostly took the right shots.”
Both Isaacs and point guard Steven Ashworth missed some practice due to illness leading up to the game, while Ashworth was also coping with soreness following an ankle injury sustained two weeks prior. Kalkbrenner had sat out the previous win against Notre Dame because of a lower-body injury.
When asked about his team’s readiness to face the mighty Jayhawks, head coach Greg McDermott recounted a phone call he made to his 90-year-old father before the game, looking for encouragement. “He said pack your bags and go home,” McDermott noted, reflecting on his father’s lack of confidence after observing the teams play.
McDermott revealed that this victory over Kansas held special significance for him, even more so than their win against UConn. Growing up in Iowa, he had long admired the Jayhawks and faced them repeatedly while coaching at Iowa State without success, tallying an 0-10 record against them prior to this game.
“I’ve been a fan of Kansas basketball for a long time,” he emphasized. “Whether it was coach Williams or coach Self, they are among the best. There were so many near misses during my time at Iowa State where we couldn’t clinch a win against them. To finally achieve this victory against a top-ranked team like Kansas is wonderful for our players and our fans.”