As the lights dim in CHI Health Center, anticipation builds. Flames burst above the baskets, and electric blue floods the arena. It’s time for Creighton basketball. Then, right on cue, a voice cuts through the roar, as the PA announcer’s words ring out—familiar to every Creighton fan:
“A 6’ 0” senior from Alpine, Utah… Steven Ashworth!”
A sea of blue surges to its feet, clapping as Ashworth jogs through the tunnel of high fives from his teammates to make his way onto the court. In just two seasons as Creighton’s point guard, the Utah State transfer’s steady presence and confidence embodied the Creighton culture.
After two standout seasons at Utah State, including First Team All-Mountain West honors and 16.2 points per game on 43.4% shooting from three, Ashworth joined Creighton as a highly anticipated addition to the 2023-24 roster.
But the Creighton faithful were in many ways still mourning the loss of sophomore Ryan Nembhard, who left the Bluejays to play at Gonzaga. Maybe fans were wanting Ashworth to be just like their old point guard. And maybe, early on, Ashworth was hoping to be that too.
“I think early Steven tried to be Ryan,” Head Coach Greg McDermott said. “He and I had a talk early in the middle of the season… I said, ‘Just be Steven Ashworth.’ That’s what I recruited you to do and be. Once he did that, he’s flourished.”
The guard went from averaging 8.2 points per game in the middle of the 2023-24 season to finishing the year averaging 11.1 and receiving the Big East’s Sportsmanship Award.
And by the time the 2024-25 campaign began, Ashworth had fully stepped into his own identity. Playing nearly every minute this season, he guided Creighton to its fifth straight NCAA Tournament, averaging 16.6 points per game.
“Everybody [was] worried about ‘what are we going to do without Ryan Nembhard’ and I think the best compliment I can give Steven is, ‘what are we going to do without Steven Ashworth?’ McDermott said. “His fingerprints are all over the last two years.”
But in the final moments of his journey, Ashworth spoke not of personal success, but of the moments shared off the court as much as on it, and the privilege of wearing Creighton white and blue.
“I think the first word would have to be gratitude for the experience and the opportunity to put on this uniform and represent a brand and a tradition like this and play for Coach Mac,” Ashworth said. “[I] can’t do any of this without my teammates and the incredible brothers that they’ve become and the uncles that they’ve become to my son Tommy, and all the joy… off the court. It’s sad that it’s over but at the same time we can be happy that it happened.”
Next, the crowd hears that familiar voice again.
“A 6’5” senior from Toledo, Ohio… Jamiya Neal!”
The crowd roars as Neal approaches teammate Sami Osmani, completing the handshake that always ends with his arms stretched out to his sides, Osmani mirroring the gesture. A late addition to the Bluejays, Neal arrived in Omaha ready to prove himself for his final year in college—and he wasted no time doing so.
“You don’t see one-year players make the strides that he’s made from when we watched him play in those first few games in November to how he’s played in March. It’s been very rewarding to see that,” McDermott said.
Neal transferred to Creighton from Arizona State, where he started all but one game in his final season, making 39 threes and averaging a career-high 11 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
At Creighton, Neal soon became known for his athletic ability and flashy dunks. It may have caused a few grey hairs for McDermott watching the senior wind up for a fast break windmill dunk to ignite the crowd, but these personality plays became part of who he is as a player.
The senior became an offensive threat too, recording three double-doubles and surpassing his previous career high 11 points twice: once with 24 points at UConn and again with 29 points against Louisville in the NCAA Tournament.
But for Neal, the numbers told only part of the story. His time at Creighton was just as much about the relationships he built as the plays he made.
“I feel like I just got here and now it’s already over… Just meeting Coach Mac, I was like, I didn’t know he was that tall. Now he’s been a father figure to me. Somebody that I’ll always call on, not just on basketball but advice on being a man,” Neal said. “When I become a dad, I will probably call Steven and ask him how he started. Just little things like that. The bonds I’ve built here, they’re going to last forever.”
And now, the loudspeaker booms: “At center, a 7’1” senior from Florissant, Missouri, Ryan Kalkbrenner!”
The roar inside CHI Health Center reaches a fever pitch as Kalkbrenner’s name echoes throughout the arena. The center jogs toward the referees for a quick fist bump before joining his teammates in a tight huddle. Since stepping on campus five years ago, Kalkbrenner’s loyalty to the program has made him the cornerstone of Creighton basketball.
2025 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Defensive Player of the Year. Big East Defensive Player of the Year winner four years in a row. Seventy-five dunks in the 2023-24 season, the most by any Creighton player under McDermott. Winner of more games and NCAA Tournament games than anybody else who has worn a Creighton uniform.
These accomplishments are just a snapshot of the dominance that made Kalkbrenner a national standout.
But for the Missouri native, the decision to return for his final season wasn’t just about basketball.
“When I made the decision to come back all the way in the summer, you think you’re making the right decision when you make it, but you don’t know for sure,” Kalkbrenner said. “Sitting up here today, obviously the season ended a little bit sooner than we wanted it to, but it was definitely the right decision. Mainly for all the things that happened off the court with this team and how we bonded together… [it’s] family for life with them.”
While his accolades put him on the national stage, Kalkbrenner’s legacy at Creighton goes far beyond the stat sheet. It was his leadership in the locker room, his humility in the spotlight and his unwavering commitment to the program that truly defined his time as a Bluejay.
“We live in an era of self-promotion, and that dude has no agenda for himself—zero,” McDermott said. “You hear guys talk about building their brand. The only brand he cares about is that name on the front of his jersey. That’s all he’s ever cared about… His jersey will hang in the rafters someday, and he cares nothing about that—zero. That’s what makes him so special.”
The conclusion of Ryan Kalkbrenner’s career marks the end of a significant chapter for Creighton basketball, one whose influence will be felt well into the future. His dedication and performance have solidified his place as a cornerstone of the program, and his legacy will inspire future generations of Bluejays.
Then, in the final moments of the game, when the Bluejays have nearly secured victory, the announcer comes over the loudspeaker for one final introduction.
“A 6’4” senior from Oak Lawn, Illinois, Sami Osmani!”
The moment he subs into the game, the bench and crowd erupt. His teammates rise, the crowd buzzes with anticipation and all eyes turn to him—willing the ball into his hands, waiting for the shot they all hope will drop.
Since entering Creighton as a freshman five years ago, Osmani knew that his journey with the Bluejays might look a little bit different than his teammates’.
As a walk-on to the Creighton basketball program in the 2020-21 season, the Illinois native made his collegiate debut against North Dakota State in the final minute of the contest and claimed his first two career points came versus Seton Hall on Jan. 6, 2021. Over his career, Osmani recorded 18 points, 18 rebounds and six assists.
But Osmani’s crucial contributions came more from behind the scenes, whether that was showing up to practice with a positive attitude, working hard to get his teammates ready for their next matchup or aiding the scout team.
And while his work scouting and on the practice floor may go unnoticed for spectators, McDermott said his final time on the court at CHI against Butler proved the perfect curtain call for all the sacrifices that the now-graduating senior has made for the program and its success.
Osmani’s five years with the Bluejays weren’t defined by stats, but by the relationships he built and the dedication he brought to the program every day. For him, it was about more than just the minutes—it was about the moments.
“Five years have been extremely special,” Osmani said. “Being around these dudes, especially this year, I think this team has been the most special team I’ve been a part of. It’s been a joy to be around these guys every single day in practice.”
At the game’s conclusion, the crowd erupts in cheers, sending a thrill through every single one of the 18,000 fans crowding the stands of CHI Health Center. The cheers, the moments, the unforgettable plays—each one solidifies their place in Creighton basketball history. Each name is a legacy written in the heartbeat of the Omaha community, a memory sealed into the rafters of this place. These names, these moments, will live on long after the final buzzer.