Record Crowds Push Creighton Basketball Into Top 20 Nationally

Creighton University ranked 20th of 326 teams in average men’s basketball home attendance for the 2005-06 season, according to figures recently released by the NCAA. Creighton has now ranked in the top 30 nationally all three years since making the move to Qwest Center OMAHA in the fall of 2003.
Creighton also was third nationally in average attendance increase (2,692) for the second time in the last three years. The school is the only program in the country that has ranked in the top five in average attendance increase in two of the last seasons, also ranking third for an increase of 3,770 during the 2003-04 campaign.
The Bluejays attracted 236,313 fans in its 17 home games, an average of 13,900 fans per contest. In the process CU established Missouri Valley Conference records for average and total attendance while becoming the first school to surpass the 200,000 milestone in a single season. The previous top average was 13,674 (Louisville, 1974-75), while the previous top total attendance had been 192,258 (Creighton, 2003-04).
Creighton’s average attendance figures in 2005-06 were better than each team that qualified for the 2006 Final Four, as well as major-conference schools around the Midwest such as Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Minnesota.
The Jays boasted the 13 largest home crowds in the MVC last year, accounting for 19.6 percent of the fans during a record-setting season for the league. Not only did The Valley break through on the court with a pair of Sweet 16 teams, but also at the turnstile, ranking eighth among 31 Division I conferences with 7,716 fans per game on average. As a whole, the MVC hosted a record 1,203,771 fans in 156 home dates, second-most among all conferences with 10 teams or less.
Creighton plays its home games at Qwest Center OMAHA, a three-year old facility that has brought in 607,906 fans to see 49 Creighton basketball games. CU’s Feb. 18 game with Fresno State brought in a sellout crowd of 15,700, the largest basketball crowd in state history. This summer the building is adding approximately 1,500 seats that will push capacity over 17,000 for basketball.
Creighton, under the direction of Dana Altman, finished 20-10 last season and advanced to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament. It was the program’s MVC-record eighth consecutive 20-win season and ninth straight postseason appearance. The Bluejays will return four starters, as well as 2004-05 preseason All-American Nate Funk, to the hardwood next season. For ticket information on all CU sports, contact the ticket office at (402) 280-JAYS.

Men's Basketball Ranks 20th Nationally In Attendance

Creighton University ranked 20th of 326 teams in average men’s basketball home attendance for the 2005-06 season, according to figures recently released by the NCAA. Creighton has now ranked in the top 30 nationally all three years since making the move to Qwest Center OMAHA in the fall of 2003.
Creighton also was third nationally in average attendance increase (2,692) for the second time in the last three years. The school is the only program in the country that has ranked in the top five in average attendance increase in two of the last seasons, also ranking third for an increase of 3,770 during the 2003-04 campaign.
The Bluejays attracted 236,313 fans in its 17 home games, an average of 13,900 fans per contest. In the process CU established Missouri Valley Conference records for average and total attendance while becoming the first school to surpass the 200,000 milestone in a single season. The previous top average was 13,674 (Louisville, 1974-75), while the previous top total attendance had been 192,258 (Creighton, 2003-04).
Creighton’s average attendance figures in 2005-06 were better than each team that qualified for the 2006 Final Four, as well as major-conference schools around the Midwest such as Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Minnesota.
The Jays boasted the 13 largest home crowds in the MVC last year, accounting for 19.6 percent of the fans during a record-setting season for the league. Not only did The Valley break through on the court with a pair of Sweet 16 teams, but also at the turnstile, ranking eighth among 31 Division I conferences with 7,716 fans per game on average. As a whole, the MVC hosted a record 1,203,771 fans in 156 home dates, second-most among all conferences with 10 teams or less.
Creighton plays its home games at Qwest Center OMAHA, a three-year old facility that has brought in 607,906 fans to see 49 Creighton basketball games. CU’s Feb. 18 game with Fresno State brought in a sellout crowd of 15,700, the largest basketball crowd in state history. This summer the building is adding approximately 1,500 seats that will push capacity over 17,000 for basketball.

NCAA sends out warning

The NCAA is trimming the gray area from eligibility rules for underclassmen entering the NBA draft.
However, player-agent Bill Neff said that's a futile exercise, with many in his profession cutting under-the-table deals with players.
The NCAA recently distributed a four-page memo, reminding schools what underclassmen can and cannot do to test their NBA marketability. The memo warns underclassmen not to accept travel expenses from NBA basketball teams, though that's been common practice in the past.
One of the authors of that memo said its purpose is heading off trouble and, potentially, holding rule-breakers accountable.
"It's fair to say we've had multiple student-athletes facing possible violations of NCAA rules," said Rachel Newman Baker, the NCAA's director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities. "We're trying to avoid (those problems), so we're not dealing with it next semester."
The NCAA now requires underclassmen in the draft to sign forms, stating they know the rules and understand the risk to their eligibility.
"We want it very clear up front," Newman Baker said, "if we do get into investigating a case, the `I-didn't-know' answer will not work."
The NCAA dealt with messy situations the past few years, involving former Connecticut forward Charlie Villanueva and current Kentucky center Randolph Morris. Each turned pro and had contact with an agent, only to pull out of the draft and seek to play college basketball.
In both cases, the NCAA ultimately granted eligibility.
The situation is complex. For instance, the NCAA allows the NBA to cover expenses for an underclassman to attend the pre-draft camp. But an individual NBA team cannot pay to fly in an underclassman for a workout without jeopardizing that player's eligibility.
Charlotte Bobcats coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff didn't know the NCAA draws that distinction. Jon Fagg, assistant athletics director for compliance services at N.C. State, said that rule is frequently disregarded, similar to how people absent-mindedly exceed the speed limit.
"If you drive to work, I guarantee there's a place where you speed a little every day," Fagg said of athletes accepting expenses they shouldn't. "Do you drive to the police station and turn yourself in? No."
That's why Fagg is glad the NCAA distributed this memo, eliminating any gray areas for underclassmen looking to preserve eligibility. N.C. State has already used it to guide sophomore center Cedric Simmons through the process.

Basketball's Funk Cleared To Play In '06-07 - Ncaa

Creighton basketball guard Nate Funk, the 2004-05 runner-up for Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, will return to the floor in 2006-07 with the Bluejays. Earlier this week the MVC office granted Funk a medical hardship waiver for his injury-shortened 2005-06 season. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.A Sioux City, Iowa, native, Funk averaged 17.0 points and 4.7 rebounds while playing in just six games in 2005-06. He earned third-team preseason All-America accolades from Street & Smith's magazine and was also a preseason all-Missouri Valley Conference Championship choice. Funk's campaign was cut short after six games when he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on January 5, 2006. Since his surgery, Funk has continued his rehabilitation from injury and is expected to be fully cleared by doctors next month.In 2004-05, Basketball player Funk was named first-team all-MVC after leading Creighton to a 23-11 record and the NCAA Tournament. He paced the team in scoring (17.8) and rebounding (5.1) and was also named first-team all-District by the USBWA. As a sophomore in 2003-04, he led the team in scoring (11.1) and assists (2.7) per game.Creighton finished last season 20-10 while averaging an MVC-record 13,901 fans per game. The Jays reached the postseason for a ninth consecutive season while extending their league-record mark of 20-win seasons to eight. In addition to Funk, CU will also return starters Anthony Tolliver, Nick Porter, Dane Watts and Josh Dotzler to the floor next college basketball season.

Bluejays report: Strategy and personnel

THE GOOD NEWS
Creighton has a lot of players coming back for the 2006-07 season, including leading scorer Nate Funk and point guard Josh Dotzler, both of whom missed time in 2005-06 because of injury. The Bluejays nearly played well enough to earn an NCAA Championship Tournament berth this year, and they should have as much talent as any team in the league next year.

THE BAD NEWS
Not everyone will be back, with center Anthony Tolliver being the biggest name and only starter to graduate. The Bluejays have to deal with the pressure of being one of the favorites in the league, as well as maybe having too many players for coach Dana Altman to juggle.

Fish sets sights on Broncs’ main job

Brian Fish believes in doing the simple things.
When he was a player at Marshall in the late 1980s, he founded a basketball camp. When he cracked his way into coaching with the Thundering Herd, his focus was on helping the players make the grade. Later during his career, on coaching stops at Texas Christian, Kansas State, San Diego and now at Creighton, Fish’s primary focus has turned to recruiting.
Now after 15 years in the assistant coaching ranks, Fish is ready to become an NCAA Championship Division I head coach for the first time as he is one of three finalists to become the 13th men’s basketball coach at the University of Texas-Pan American. Central Florida associate coach Tom Schuberth and former Mississippi State coach Richard Williams are the other finalists.

Woodard, Tolliver, Valentin Earn NSCA All-American Honor

Three Creighton University student-athletes have been honored with the National Strength and Conditioning Association's (NSCA) annual All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year award. Creighton honorees basketball players Anthony Tolliver, Ivonne Valentin and Kristi Woodard are winners among 242 collegiate athletes honored, which come from 160 different schools.Tolliver, a junior center on the men's college basketball team, was nominated by strength & conditioning coach Satoshi Ochi. The Springfield, Mo., native recently was named second-team all-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, while also being named the captain of the MVC's Most Improved Team. He averaged 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while ranking among the top 10 in the MVC in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots, field goal percentage and offensive rebounding. Tolliver is coached by Dana Altman.