The
Creighton Bluejays Basketball Team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2007. The Bluejays are currently coached by Dana Altman.
The Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team plays their home games at Qwest Center Omaha (17,560), currently the largest arena in the Missouri Valley Conference and the state of Nebraska. Since moving from the Omaha Civic Auditorium to Qwest Center Omaha for the 2003-2004 season, Creighton's average home game attendance has been in the top 30 nationally. Last season, Creighton's average home game attendance was 15,909, 13th in NCAA Division I.
Creighton's men's basketball program has been a member of the Missouri Valley Conference since the 1977-78 season. Prior to the 1977-78 season, the Jays participated as an Independent from 1948-1977.
Creighton's current head coach is Dana Altman. He became head coach at the beginning of the 1994-1995 season, following stints as the head coach at Kansas State University and Marshall University. Through the 2007-2008 season, Altman owns a record of 282-152 (.650 winning percentage) at Creighton.
The men's team plays all of their home games at the Qwest Center Omaha (17,560). The 2007-2008 season was their fifth at Qwest Center Omaha; Creighton owns a 68-13 (.839 winning percentage) record in their five years at Qwest Center Omaha. Creighton's average home game attendance during the 2006-2007 season was 15,333, good enough for 15th nationally.
Prior to the Qwest Center, Creighton played their home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium (9,100). The Omaha Civic Auditorium is the current home of the Creighton women's basketball and volleyball teams.
Famous individuals associated with Creighton basketball include former players: Bob Gibson, Paul Silas, Bob Portman, Gene Harmon, Benoit Benjamin, Bob Harstad, Chad Gallagher, Rodney Buford, Kyle Korver, Ryan Sears, Ben Walker, Nate Funk, and Anthony Tolliver. Famous former coaches include "Red" McManus, Eddie Sutton, Willis Reed, Eddie Hickey, Tony Barone, and Arthur A. Schabinger.
The all-time leading scorer in Creighton men's basketball history is Rodney Buford. Buford finished his four-year career at Creighton with 2,116 points.
Creighton University, in combination with the Missouri Valley Conference, was the host institution for the First and Second Rounds site at Qwest Center Omaha during the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
Team Website: http://www.gocreighton.com
School Website: http://www.creighton.edu
