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Wednesday's Big East Media Day served as another reminder that the season is less than two weeks away. Media Day also signifies the release of the preseason league coaches' poll, and All-League selections.
Creighton was picked second by the coaches of the Big East, just behind Connecticut. It marks the fourth time in the past five years that Creighton has been picked top-two in the league's preseason poll. UConn received a perfect 100 points, with ten coaches picking the Huskies to win the league. Huskies HC Dan Hurley gave Marquette the nod with his first-place ballot.
Ryan Kalkbrenner was selected as the Big East Preseason Player of the Year. He became just the third Bluejay to receive the honor, following Marcus Zegarowski ('20-21) and Doug McDermott ('13-14). Kalkbrenner has been a First-Team Preseason selection in each of the past three seasons. Steven Ashworth got recognized on the All-Big East Third Team.
Greg McDermott was joined by the aforementioned Kalkbrenner and Ashworth at media day. I was fortunate enough to speak with all three of them. Here are some of the key exchanges that I wanted to hear more about, just a couple of days away from the Bluejays' scrimmage against Purdue.
First, my conversation with Greg McDermott:
Coach, you've had some success with guys out of the Minneapolis metro, [Isaiah] Zierden and [Ethan] Wragge. How has Jackson McAndrew looked in his first couple months on campus?
McDermott: Jackson, his improvement from when he first arrived on campus in June until now has been incredible. And you know, the sky's the limit for him. His upside is off the charts. He does something in practice every day that he didn't do the day before. As long as he keeps stacking days like that, he's going to have a great career as a Bluejay.
In the transfer portal, what'd you like most about Jamiya Neal?
McDermott: Yeah, Jamiya is athletic. He can create a shot at the end of the shot clock, and we felt we needed that without Baylor and Trey, and Jamiya can do that with his length and athletic ability. We need him to get after it on the defensive side. For a one-year transfer it's a steep learning curve, but he's really embracing it.
As far as Jasen Green goes, health-wise is he in good shape?
McDermott: Yeah, we held him out the Iowa State scrimmage as a precaution, but he practiced yesterday, and he's going to play a much larger role this year.
McDermott also discussed that Fedor Zugic's eligibility process is an ongoing thing. So, I wouldn't be expecting the European to be ready to go anytime in the very-near future.
Next, I talked to Senior G Steven Ashworth:
As far as replacing Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander from a leadership standpoint, what's that like jumping into that role more this year?
Ashworth: Yeah, you know, I was in a leadership role at Utah State before transferring [to Creighton], and last season I was trying to find my role in that, whether it was vocal or leading by example. Baylor and Trey, as well as Kalk[brenner] were really great at that leadership role last year. So to have him coming back, it's been a fun collaborative process for him and I in determining what we want the team to be and what we want the culture to be this year. He's been really great at taking charge and setting expectations for us the entire summer.
What's it like having Pop Isaacs alongside you in the backcourt, another good facilitator, how does that change things for you?
Ashworth: Yeah, it's a huge asset. To be able to have multiple ball handlers and multiple players who can play in the pick-and-roll and be efficient within that is going to be something that's really exciting to watch. He's been a lot of fun to play with and he's been a great teammate this offseason, I've really enjoyed being around him.
Fedor comes in, what sort of energy has he brought to the program and how is he adjusting to the American game?
Ashworth: Yeah, it's definitely a different style, for sure. And he's talked to me about it, and has mentioned the differences, whether it's the different ways we practice, we play, we communicate, all those things are different. But he's adjusting incredibly fast and it's amazing having someone who is already so decorated overseas on the team.
Finally, a bit of my conversation with Big East Preseason Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner:
Fred King enters the portal and decides to come back. What's it like having him for another year behind you?
Kalkbrenner: Yeah, it was awesome when he decided to come back. I mean, I understood why he decided to go to the portal. You got to understand and respect that. But he is one of my best friends. So having him come back — it was awesome. It's going to be really amazing to see him grow this year. Without a doubt he had his best summer with us this year.
Jasen Green, Mason Miller, Isaac Traudt, and then you and Fred. A lot of frontcourt depth, does that ease some of the pressure?
Kalkbrenner: Yeah, it eases some of the pressure off. It's kind of interesting, this is one of the first years we've had a real position battle for some minutes, so that's always fun. You've got those guys pushing each other to be better every single day, so this is going to make us a better team.
Finally, here's a video of McDermott's interview streamed on Peacock during media day:
For more fantastic Big East coverage, check out the latest episode of the Road to the Garden Podcast below!
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