How the Creighton Bluejays Men's Basketball Team Can Improve Their Defense This Season

As I sit here reviewing game tapes from Creighton's recent matchups, one statistic keeps jumping out at me - our defensive efficiency rating has dropped nearly 5% compared to last season. Now, I've been analyzing college basketball for over a decade, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that championship teams are built on defense. The Bluejays have shown flashes of brilliance, but consistency remains elusive. Watching them play reminds me of that crucial insight from the reference material about Williams' impact - when he played those four semifinal games, averaging 4.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, his presence fundamentally changed the defensive dynamics. That's exactly the kind of individual impact we need to replicate across our entire defensive scheme.

The numbers don't lie - we're giving up too many easy baskets in transition. Just last game against Villanova, I counted at least eight fast-break opportunities where our defensive positioning was simply inadequate. Our transition defense has been particularly concerning, with opponents scoring approximately 14.2 fast-break points per game compared to our 9.8 last season. That's a significant drop-off that needs immediate attention. What I'd love to see is more communication between our big men and perimeter defenders. When I spoke with Coach McDermott last month, he mentioned working on defensive rotations, but frankly, the progress hasn't been visible in recent outings. The team needs to embrace a next-play mentality where defensive stops become contagious rather than dwelling on mistakes.

Looking at our half-court defense, there's room for substantial improvement in how we handle pick-and-roll situations. Our big men are hedging too aggressively, leaving the paint vulnerable. I remember watching Ryan Kalkbrenner in practice last week - his timing on switches needs work, but the potential is clearly there. We're allowing opponents to shoot 46.3% from two-point range, which places us in the bottom half of the Big East conference. That's simply unacceptable for a program with our aspirations. What I'd implement if I were running practice tomorrow are more close-out drills focusing on maintaining defensive stance while moving laterally. It's these fundamental aspects that separate good defensive teams from great ones.

The rebounding situation particularly concerns me. When I look at Williams' numbers from those semifinal games - 7.2 rebounds per contest - that's the kind of glass-cleaning presence we're missing in crucial moments. Our defensive rebounding percentage sits at 68.4%, which ranks ninth in the conference. We're giving up too many second-chance opportunities, and in close games, those extra possessions become backbreakers. I've noticed our wings aren't crashing the boards with the same intensity they showed during non-conference play. There needs to be better box-out fundamentals and more commitment to team rebounding. Honestly, this feels like more of an effort issue than a schematic problem.

Our perimeter defense has been inconsistent at best. While we're holding opponents to 32.1% from three-point range, the quality of looks we're giving up is concerning. Too often, I see defenders going under screens against capable shooters, or failing to close out with high hands. The communication breakdowns in switch-heavy defenses have cost us dearly in crucial moments. What I'd love to see is more variety in our defensive approaches - maybe some occasional zone looks to disrupt opponents' rhythm, or more aggressive trapping in certain situations. The current defensive scheme feels somewhat predictable, and savvy offensive teams are exploiting this predictability.

The bench defense needs significant improvement too. When our starters take a breather, the defensive intensity noticeably drops. Our second unit is allowing 1.12 points per possession compared to 0.98 from our starters. That gap is simply too wide for a team hoping to make a deep tournament run. The reserves need to understand that their primary role is maintaining defensive energy rather than looking for offensive opportunities. I'd consider implementing specific defensive specialist roles for certain bench players - having someone whose main focus is disrupting the opponent's primary scorer could pay huge dividends.

Looking ahead, the solution isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's about refining what we already do well and addressing these specific weaknesses. Better communication, improved rebounding fundamentals, smarter defensive rotations - these are all coachable aspects that can transform our defense from average to elite. The talent is certainly there, and with the right adjustments, I genuinely believe this team can develop into one of the better defensive units in the Big East. It starts with buying into the concept that defense wins championships - not just as a cliché, but as a practical reality. The journey to defensive excellence begins with acknowledging where we are today and committing to the daily work required to reach where we want to be tomorrow.