Where Does Creighton Basketball Stand in the Latest Big East Rankings and National Picture?

As I sit down to assess the current landscape of college basketball, one question that keeps popping up in conversations with fellow analysts and fans alike is this: where does Creighton basketball stand in the latest Big East rankings and the broader national picture? It’s a fascinating moment for the program, perched in that challenging space between conference contender and national hopeful. Let’s be honest, the Big East this season is a beast. It’s not just about Villanova and UConn anymore; the league’s depth is brutal, and every night is a grind. Creighton, with its potent offensive system and experienced core, has shown flashes of brilliance capable of beating anyone, but also moments of vulnerability that leave you scratching your head. In my view, within the Big East, they’re firmly in that second tier, jostling with the likes of Providence and Xavier, a notch below the absolute elite but fully capable of rising up on any given night. Their ranking, I’d slot them around 3rd or 4th in the conference as of today, but with a couple of key wins, that could change in a heartbeat.

Thinking about their national standing requires a wider lens. They’re consistently hovering around the back end of the AP Top 25, a team that respected analysts mention as a "tough out" but perhaps not yet a Final Four favorite. Their NET ranking and KenPom metrics, which the selection committee scrutinizes, tell a story of a very good, efficient team—likely somewhere in the 15-25 range nationally. To make the leap into the top 10 conversation, they need more than just a signature win; they need sustained dominance against the middle of the pack and to avoid the kind of bad loss that can stain a resume. I’ve watched them for years, and this team has the pieces. Ryan Kalkbrenner is a defensive anchor, and the guard play is savvy. But the margin for error is slim. They remind me of a squad that could be a nightmare 4 or 5-seed in the NCAA tournament, the kind no top seed wants to see in the second round.

This discussion about roster construction and competitive positioning oddly brings to mind a parallel in international basketball, specifically the recent developments with Gilas Pilipinas. The reference knowledge mentions how Gilas can now play naturalized players like Brown and Kouame simultaneously and has a wider talent pool due to a ‘passports-only’ rule. It’s a stark example of how eligibility rules directly dictate a team’s ceiling and strategic flexibility. For Creighton, while they aren’t dealing with naturalization rules, their ceiling is similarly defined by roster composition—the development of their core, the health of key players, and the integration of any transfer portal additions. The Gilas situation highlights a universal truth in competitive team sports: the rules of engagement, whether set by a conference or an international body, fundamentally shape a team’s potential. Creighton operates under the constraints of NCAA eligibility and scholarship limits, making their consistent high-level performance under Coach McDermott all the more impressive. They build through development, not just recruitment of one-and-done stars.

So, what’s the final verdict? In the Big East, Creighton is a formidable opponent that should finish in the top four and secure a solid NCAA tournament seed. They have the coaching and the system to win the conference tournament, though I’d still peg UConn as the favorite. Nationally, they are a respected program, but not yet a perennial powerhouse. To bridge that gap, they need to find a way to win those 50-50 games against ranked opponents on the road. I’ve always been a fan of their offensive spacing and unselfish play, and I genuinely believe they have the potential for a deep March run this year, perhaps to the second weekend and beyond. Their success hinges on consistency, particularly on the defensive end, and getting hot from three at the right time. In the grand scheme, Creighton isn’t just a participant in the national conversation; they are an essential part of it, representing a model of program stability and offensive excellence. Keep an eye on them. When they’re clicking, they’re as fun and dangerous as any team in the country.