Jays open tourney against Nevada

OMAHA (AP) - Every year Creighton expects to make the NCAA tournament.

This year the Bluejays expect to stay longer than one game.

“Making it to the tournament isn't good enough anymore around here,” senior Anthony Tolliver said. “Just making it is an accomplishment, but we need to do something else. We need to make some noise and differentiate ourselves from the past teams.”

The Bluejays (22-10) are seeded No. 10 in the South Region and play No. 7 Nevada (28-4) in the first round Friday in New Orleans.

Creighton is in the tournament for the seventh time since 1999. The Bluejays are 2-6 in their past six appearances, with first-round wins against Louisville in 1999 and Florida in 2002.

The Bluejays enter the tournament on a roll after earning the Missouri Valley Conference's automatic bid a week ago. They strung together three impressive wins in St. Louis, beating Indiana State 59-38, Missouri State 75-58 and then-No. 11 Southern Illinois 67-61.

Creighton's resurgence in the Valley tournament eased some late-season anxiety. Losses in three of the last four regular-season games put Creighton's NCAA hopes in jeopardy. The Bluejays hope their postseason surge continues in the Big Easy.

“We need to come out like we did in St. Louis, focused and determined and willing to do whatever it takes to win,” senior Nick Porter said. “We come out with that will to win, we can play with anybody in the country.”

Tolliver, Porter and fellow senior Nate Funk dominated the Valley tourney, and each made the all-tournament team. Coach Dana Altman said the NCAA tournament can't be a three-man show for the Bluejays.

“Defenses will shift, so other guys are going to have to do some more,” Altman said. “They'll all play their role fine. We went to our strengths, and right now are experience and our strength are those seniors.”

A key will be whether sophomore point guard Josh Dotzler is able to play more than his average of 19 minutes a game. Dotzler got off to a late start after having offseason knee surgery, and he was set back by two finger injuries at midseason.

Funk, who averaged 22 points in the MVC tournament and a conference-leading 17.6 for the season, has had to move to the point when Dotzler is out.

“Josh, in extended minutes, takes pressure off Nate,” Altman said.

Dotzler said if the offense doesn't run through Funk, the Bluejays will have difficulty winning.

“If he's not successful,” Dotzler said, “we're not successful.”