Creighton has now defeated a top-ranked team at home in back-to-back years.
Creighton defeated No. 1 Kansas 76-63 on Wednesday night at the CHI Health Center in Omaha during the Big 12-Big East Battle, handing the Jayhawks their first loss of the season. Kansas had held the No. 1 spot in the AP poll throughout the year.
The Bluejays have now knocked off a No. 1 team at home in consecutive seasons, following last year’s historic win over UConn. That victory marked the program’s first-ever win over a top-ranked team, and the second one sparked a massive celebration on the court in Nebraska.
Creighton led wire-to-wire on Wednesday night, starting the game with a swift 10-2 run to seize control early. Steven Ashworth even sank a shot from the logo before halftime, helping the Bluejays carry a 10-point lead into the locker room.
Although Kansas opened the second half with a 9-0 run, Creighton quickly answered with a 10-0 run of its own to seize the momentum. The Bluejays continued to pour it on late, and nothing Kansas tried seemed to work. The Jayhawks went over four minutes without scoring, allowing Creighton to extend its lead to 16 points. From there, the Bluejays cruised to a 13-point victory without much trouble.
Creighton’s big man, Ryan Kalkbrenner, who had scored 49 points in the season opener, was questionable heading into the game due to a lower-body injury. He had missed the previous game against Notre Dame, which ended a three-game losing streak that had dropped Creighton out of the rankings. However, Kalkbrenner more than held his own against Kansas’ All-American center, Hunter Dickinson. Kalkbrenner finished with a double-double, recording 17 points and 10 rebounds.
His biggest impact came on the defensive end, where he held Dickinson to just six points and two field goals.
Pop Isaacs led Creighton with 27 points, shooting an impressive 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. Steven Ashworth contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Dajuan Harris Jr. was Kansas' top scorer with 15 points and five assists, while Zeke Mayo added 12 points. Kansas was also without Rylan Griffen, who missed the game due to the flu.
Kansas entered Wednesday's matchup undefeated at 7-0, having already secured key wins. They narrowly defeated North Carolina by three points after nearly squandering a 20-point lead, and then beat Cooper Flagg and Duke in Las Vegas last week. The Jayhawks will next face Missouri on Sunday, followed by games against NC State and Brown to wrap up their nonconference schedule.
While Kansas' success this season will likely hinge on its performance in the Big 12, Creighton has now proven that Bill Self's team is vulnerable. Perhaps more importantly for coach Greg McDermott, the Bluejays have clearly turned the corner after a tough losing streak.
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