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College basketball takeaways: Alabama has to play a little undermanned

By Joseph Nardone

EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Avery Johnson of the Alabama Crimson Tide signals to his bench during the first half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena on December 11, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Avery Johnson of the Alabama Crimson Tide signals to his bench during the first half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena on December 11, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 21: Khyri Thomas
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 21: Khyri Thomas /

Khyri Thomas Is Awesome

With six games under his belt this season, Khyri Thomas has arrived. He went from defensive marvel who was Creighton’s fourth offensive option to a potential first-round NBA Draft talent.

16.8 points per game on 55 percent shooting from the floor and 39 percent from distance, Thomas has clearly evolved as a player.

We already knew about his defensive capabilities last season. With incredible wingspan and lateral quickness, the 6-foot-3 now junior can easily defend both guard positions, making any opponent have struggles just to get in simplistic offensive sets.

That’s Thomas at his core. A stellar defensive player, one of the best in the nation, who should carve out a niche for himself in the pros as a ball-stopping talent.

His improvement on offense, while some saw it coming, is what is making him a sincerely special player.

Last season, Thomas benefited from playing alongside a bunch of gifted offensive players. Due to that, he was usually left open for threes and easy layups when cutting to the basket. At the time, people were unsure what his ceiling was with the rock in his hands.

While the sample-size is minimal, it is clear he’s able to create space for himself now. Furthermore, at least at the collegiate level, he’s able to create his own shot.

The entire “create your own shot” dilly is always a funny discussion to be had. Few guys have the ability in earnest. A few years ago, Syracuse’s Malachi Richardson was dubbed as a guy who could create his own shot, but he really wasn’t. Instead, the guard currently riding on the Sacramento Kings bench was just making tough shots over defenders. There was no creation of space or good looks. Just tough buckets being made.

Thomas has all the creation in his arsenal like he’s a WWE video game created player. As importantly, he has done this against three teams that were ranked at the time Creighton played them.

The question is no longer about if Thomas will be a good offensive weapon or not. It is about how much better he will become between now and the end of the season. Linear progression isn’t usually real, but if Thomas comes close to it, Creighton is going to end up being one of the best teams in the country.