Iowa State’s preseason opener brings Creighton into Hilton Coliseum, and the matchup gives the Cyclones a first look at a Big East program trying to get back on track after a rough year.
Creighton’s recent track record still carries weight. The Bluejays had rattled off at least 20 wins in 10 straight seasons before that streak ended last season, when they finished 16-18.
It was their first missed NCAA Tournament since 2019-20 and their first time finishing under .500 since 2014-15. Now the goal is simple: get back to the big dance.
Greg McDermott remains the man in charge, and his 16 seasons in Omaha have produced the most successful stretch in program history. But last season showed the Bluejays’ issues clearly, especially when it came to finding a reliable go-to scorer. Josh Dix led the team at 13.2 points per game, yet that wasn’t enough to lift Creighton past the finish line.
That said, the Bluejays weren’t empty-calorie bad. They grabbed two eye-catching road wins, knocking off UConn, the national runner-up, and Villanova, another NCAA Tournament team.
This year’s Creighton attack is built around a guard duo in B.J. Davis and Wes Enis.
Davis arrives from San Diego State after averaging 10.8 points per game last season. At 6-foot-1, he brings toughness, defensive bite, and a gritty edge that also helped him pull down 3.2 rebounds a night.
Enis, also 6-foot-1, comes over from South Florida after putting up 16.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He helped the Bulls earn a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Louisville, and he had a tough night there with a 2-for-15 shooting line.
Creighton’s projected starting five includes two players listed at 6-foot-1, one at 6-foot-8, and two at 6-foot-10. That gives the Bluejays size, especially on the perimeter, but Iowa State still has a real chance to win the athletic battle with its wings and forwards.
On paper, Creighton looks like a solid opponent rather than one that should keep Iowa State up at night. The Bluejays have a couple of good guards, but not much else that jumps off the page. With the game in Hilton Coliseum, the Cyclones have the kind of setup that should let them start preseason with a win.
In Other News...
Iowa State Just Made A High-Pressure Decision For Its Athletic Future
Iowa State has turned a major page in its athletic department, naming Jared Benko as its new director of athletics to replace longtime leader Jamie Pollard. Benko arrives from Auburn, where he served as executive deputy athletic director, and he is set to begin his role on October 30. His rsum also includes administrative stops at several SEC schools, along with a previous run as athletic director at Georgia Southern.
For Iowa State, the hire lands at an important moment as it looks to chart its next phase after Pollards lengthy tenure. Benko brings experience from power-conference administration and a background running his own department, a combination that gives the Cyclones a fresh set of hands on the wheel as the transition gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Just Handed Its Athletic Future To A Different Kind Of Leader
Iowa State is turning to a seasoned athletics administrator to guide its next chapter, with university president David Cook selecting Jared Benko as the schools next director of athletics. Benko, who spent time as executive deputy athletic director at Auburn and brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in athletics, is slated to begin on Oct. 30 pending approval by the Iowa Board of Regents.
For a department that oversees 18 intercollegiate sports, the hire puts a broad mandate on Benko from the outset, since he will also serve as an advisor to the university president. The move signals that Iowa State wants an athletics leader with both operational experience and a voice at the highest levels of campus decision-making, with the formal approval process still the last hurdle before the transition becomes official. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Enters A New Era With One Huge Challenge Ahead
Iowa State is moving into a new phase at the top of its athletic department, with longtime athletic director Jamie Pollard set to retire after 21 years guiding the Cyclones. The school has already lined up his successor in Jared Benko, who arrives from Auburn with more than two decades in college athletics and experience that includes stops at Georgia Southern and other SEC programs.
The timing gives Benko an immediate test as he takes over amid coaching transitions and continued program growth across the department. For Iowa State, this is more than a routine leadership change, since the next AD will be expected to steady the daily business while also helping shape what comes next for a department that has spent years building momentum. [Read more 🡒]