Creighton Basketball Opens Friday vs. North Carolina A&T

Omaha, Nebraska -- Creighton University opens the 2011-12 regular-season with a game on Friday, Nov. 11 vs. North Carolina A&T to open play in the Dale Howard Classic. Tip-off at CenturyLink Center Omaha (17,260) in Omaha, Neb., is set for 7:05 p.m.

About This Event
The Dale Howard Classic is a five-team event that includes Creighton, North Carolina A&T, Iowa, Chicago State and Campbell.

Creighton and Iowa each play three home games and one neutral site contest against each other in Des Moines Iowa. Tickets for the Iowa-Creighton game on Nov. 20 in Des Moines can be purchased at www.dahlstickets.com or by phone at (866) 553-2457. The other three schools have three road games and one home game in the event.

Radio Broadcast Information
KXSP (“AM 590 - Omaha’s ESPN Radio”) will broadcast all Creighton men’s basketball games during the 2011-12 season, including Friday’s game. T. Scott Marr and former Bluejay Nick Bahe will call the action. The audio is also webcast live at www.AM590espnradio.com.

Video Webcast Available
Creighton University Athletics and Jump TV will present a live, pay-per-view video webcast of approximately 10-15 games this season, including Friday. To sign up for the video webcast, fans can register by going directly to http://www.gocreighton.com. Cost for a monthly pass is $10.95 and a four-month pass is $34.95.
Once registered, fans will only need to log-in with their password on gameday. The video stream includes audio of either the radio or television broadcast as well.

Scouting North Carolina A&T
North Carolina A&T went 15-17 last season and return four starters and nine lettermen from that group. The loss, however, is a big one, as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference performer Thomas Coleman and his 17.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game are gone.

Leading the returners is a pair of double-figure scorers in the backcourt, Nic Simpson (13.3 ppg.) and Marc Hill (10.8 ppg., 3.1 apg.). Both men made 50 or more three-pointers last season as well. Other returning starters include forwards Adrian Powell (8.1 ppg., 4.1 rpg.) and Austin Witter (5.7 ppg., 0.8 bpg.). The Aggies are picked seventh of 13 teams in the preseason MEAC poll.

Scouting Creighton
Creighton returns 10 lettermen and three starters from last year’s 23-16 team that reached the championship series of the College Basketball Invitational. CU beat Rockhurst, 81-42, in their only exhibition last Sunday.

After leading the team in scoring (14.9 ppg.) and rebounding (7.2 rpg.) as a freshman, sophomore forward Doug McDermott enters the 2011-12 season with preseason all-MVC and All-America hype.

The other two returning starters, senior guard Antoine Young (13.1 ppg., 5.0 apg.) and junior center Gregory Echenique (10.5 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 1.8 bpg.), are honorable-mention preseason all-Valley selections as well.
Creighton has eight men on the roster who did not see the floor a season ago, highlighted by junior Gonzaga transfer Grant Gibbs and redshirt freshman Will Artino. Among Creighton’s talented freshman class are Austin Chatman, Avery Dingman, Geoff Groselle and Nevin Johnson.

The Coaches
Greg McDermott (Northern Iowa, 1988) is entering his second season as head coach at Creighton, after leading the Jays to a 23-16 mark last year. McDermott has previously been a head coach at Iowa State (2006-10), Northern Iowa (2001-06), North Dakota State (2000-01) and Wayne State (1994-2000). He owns a career mark of 303-211 in 17 previous seasons and is 172-147 in 10 previous Division I campaigns. McDermott is assisted by Darian DeVries, Steve Lutz and Steve Merfeld.

Jerry Eaves (Louisville, 1986) enters his ninth season at North Carolina A&T, where his 87-160 record also doubles as his career mark. He’s assisted by Phillip Stitt, Scott Bollwage and Walter Booth.

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