Creighton lost its top two players - Nate Funk and Anthony Tolliver - and four starters from last season's 22-11 squad.

However, it's tough to ever count the Bluejays out as long as Dana Altman is at the helm.

Creighton has jumped out to a 3-0 start this season with wins over in-state rival Nebraska and DePaul.

"We could have easily gotten off to a slow start," Altman said. "But we'll find out a lot more about our team in the next couple weeks."

Altman knows that his team is tough at home - especially early in the year. In fact, Altman is 25-0 in November home games at Creighton. However, after tomorrow night's home game against Savannah State, the Jays will go on the road and play Drexel and Xavier.

The game against Nebraska wasn't even close. It was 47-20 at the break en route to Creighton's eighth victory against the Huskers in their last nine meetings.

Without Funk, Tolliver, Nick Porter and Isaac Miles, Altman isn't quite sure what to make of this group just yet.

"It's a building year for us," Altman said. "I hope everything comes together a little quicker than what you hope. If the young guys keep coming along, we might have a solid year."

Steady junior point guard Josh Dotzler, who is finally healthy, runs the show and Dane Watts (16.7 ppg, 8 rpg) is the lone full-time returning starter from a year ago. Louisville transfer Chad Millard (8.7 ppg) has been inconsistent thus far and athletic freshman P'Allen Stinnett (13.7 ppg) has given the team a scoring spark off the bench.

Altman said he hasn't coached a player as athletic as Stinnett since Rodney Buford.

"He's got another gear," Altman said.

XAVIER BOUNCES BACK

There was no reason for Xavier coach Sean Miller to go on the road and play Miami (Ohio).

In past years, it may have made sense. But not with a non-conference schedule this year that includes non-conference games against Tennessee, Indiana, Kansas State, Virginia, Cincinnati, Arizona State, Creighton, Kent State and Belmont.

Miller's team lost to Miami (Ohio), but bounced back with a huge win against Indiana on a neutral floor. The key may have been Stanley Burrell's defensive effort against Eric Gordon.

"He deserves a lot of credit," Miller said of his senior guard. "He made it difficult for Gordon every possession. It wasn't like we were rotating four guys, either. Stanley was on him the entire game."

Miller loves the balance on the Musketeers this year. Five players are in double figures and Burrell is close at 9.4 points per game.

"We're going to beat you as a team," Miller said. "We don't have one pro, but we have a number of guys who can play."

"I like that because a different player can beat you each night," he added.
 
NCAA DENIES APPEAL ON IOWA STATE FROSH

The NCAA has denied Iowa State's appeal for freshman Lucca Staiger - and the German guard will have to sit out this season after playing 82 games on a professional team in his home country prior to coming to Iowa State.

Staiger got a raw deal - and you can take a look at this story written a couple weeks ago - http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7446340 - to find out why.