Unranked Creighton storms past No. 1 Kansas in shocking upset

Unranked Creighton Stuns No. 1 Kansas in Omaha Showdown

OMAHA, Neb. — The Creighton Bluejays just sent shockwaves through the college basketball world. On a chilly Wednesday night in Omaha, unranked Creighton pulled off a stunning 76-63 upset over the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks, and the hero of the night was none other than Pop Isaacs. The transfer guard lit up the scoreboard with a season-high 27 points, including a jaw-dropping six 3-pointers, tying his career best. If you didn’t know Isaacs’ name before, you do now.

For Kansas, this was a night to forget. The Jayhawks, who came into the game undefeated at 7-0, hadn’t lost a regular-season game to an unranked nonconference opponent in three years. But Creighton, now 6-3, had other plans. The Bluejays, who had recently fallen out of the Associated Press Top 25 after a rough stretch of three losses in four games, looked like a team on a mission. And boy, did they deliver.

Isaacs Ignites Creighton’s Offense

Let’s talk about Pop Isaacs for a second. The guy was on fire. He shot 10 of 15 from the field, including a blistering 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. Oh, and he didn’t stop there—Isaacs also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists. This was his breakout performance since transferring from Texas Tech in the offseason, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“He was unstoppable,” said one Creighton fan as students stormed the court at the final buzzer. And who could blame them? The energy in the CHI Health Center was electric, with flames shooting out of the goal standards as the Bluejays celebrated their second straight win over a top-ranked opponent. The last time they pulled off such a feat was back in February when they dismantled Connecticut 85-66, also in Omaha. Clearly, there’s something about this city that brings out the best in Creighton.

Kansas Struggles to Find Its Groove

For the Jayhawks, it was a night of frustration. Kansas managed to cut a 13-point deficit down to just one early in the second half, but Isaacs quickly silenced any hopes of a comeback with back-to-back 3-pointers that reignited Creighton’s lead. From there, the Bluejays never looked back.

Kansas shot just 36% from the field, a far cry from their usual offensive efficiency. Dajuan Harris led the way for the Jayhawks with 15 points, while AJ Storr and Zeke Mayo chipped in 12 points apiece. But it wasn’t enough to overcome Creighton’s relentless attack.

Adding insult to injury, this marked Kansas’ 105th game all-time against an unranked opponent as the AP No. 1 team. Only twice before had the Jayhawks lost by double digits in such a scenario. Wednesday night made it three.

The Big Men Battle Falls Flat

Heading into the game, much of the hype centered around the matchup between two of the nation’s premier big men: Creighton’s 7-foot-1 Ryan Kalkbrenner and Kansas’ 7-foot-2 Hunter Dickinson. But the showdown didn’t quite live up to expectations. Kalkbrenner, who had missed Creighton’s previous game due to a lower-body injury, still managed to score 17 points, as did Steven Ashworth, who was playing through an ankle sprain. Dickinson, meanwhile, was largely neutralized, and Kansas struggled to establish any rhythm in the paint.

Key Takeaways from Creighton’s Upset

So, what does this game mean for both teams moving forward? Here are three key takeaways:

1. Pop Isaacs is the real deal: If this performance is any indication, Isaacs could be a game-changer for Creighton this season.
2. Kansas needs to regroup: The Jayhawks have plenty of talent, but this loss exposed some vulnerabilities, particularly on offense.
3. Creighton loves the underdog role: The Bluejays have now beaten two No. 1 teams in less than a year. Don’t sleep on them come March.

As the final buzzer sounded and the court filled with jubilant students, one thing was clear: Creighton isn’t just here to compete—they’re here to win. And if they keep playing like this, the Bluejays might just find themselves back in the AP Top 25 sooner rather than later.

For Kansas, it’s back to the drawing board. The Jayhawks are still one of the best teams in the country, but this loss will undoubtedly sting. The question now is how they’ll respond. One thing’s for sure: the road to March Madness just got a whole lot more interesting.