“Steven Ashworth Steers Creighton to Victory at Iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse”


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INDIANAPOLIS — Tommy Jay Ashworth is likely sleeping, eating, or crying back in Omaha, as infants predominantly engage in those activities. Meanwhile, in Hinkle Fieldhouse, his dad is striving for a triple-double for Creighton.

At the core of the sometimes meandering journey of Creighton Bluejays basketball this season is Steven Ashworth, a 24-year-old senior guard, the country’s top free throw shooter, a scorer averaging 17 points per game, the spouse of a woman named after a legendary quarterback, and a new parent to a seven-month-old.

That’s a hefty load for someone who has attempted 63 free throws this season and only missed two. Who, in light of his injured associate at guard, must handle the majority of the primary ball distribution for Creighton. And who fell short of a triple-double by one assist in the Bluejays’ 80-76 win against Butler on Saturday.

Good game, good victory. Then it was time to return home and assist with the infant, who isn’t particularly aware of the demands of a Big East season. It didn’t concern Tommy that his father missed a free throw on Saturday that ended a streak of 38 consecutive makes. Diapers still need changing.

“He is completely indifferent whether it’s game day or an off day,” Ashworth remarks afterward. “Even this week. We initiated sleep training with the baby, and there hasn’t been much sleep for anyone.” There are simply some challenges on a weekly basis that typical college athletes don’t have to face.

“There are only 24 hours in a day, right? I really need to ensure I’m using my time efficiently on and off the court.”

Ashworth shares all of this while mingling in the hall at Hinkle Fieldhouse. He has hands to shake and old acquaintances to meet. He might hail from Utah and play in Nebraska, but Indianapolis is where he carried out a Mormon mission in 2019 and ’20, working from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, discussing his beliefs and engaging in service projects. Many people want to greet him after the game on this chilly Saturday. “Coming over here and witnessing the snow,” he says, “this would have been a day that my missionary companion and I would have been shoveling the sidewalks.”

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One day back then, he wanted to view the iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse he observed in the film Hoosiers, but the doors were locked, so he strolled outside to at least catch a glimpse. On Saturday, he was inside and scored 22 points with 12 rebounds and nine assists. 

This season has been somewhat of a winding path for Creighton. They began 4-0 and reached as high as No. 14 in the Associated Press rankings. Recall Ryan Kalkbrenner’s 49 points in the opening game? Then the Bluejays lost three straight to Nebraska, San Diego State, and Texas A&M. Then they defeated top-ranked Kansas 76-63, fueled by a significant 27-point contribution from guard Pop Isaacs. Then Isaacs required hip surgery and was ruled out for the season. The Bluejays achieved solid victories at home against Villanova and St. John’s but endured heavy losses on the road, including defeats to Alabama and Marquette, and by 24 points at Georgetown.

Putting that all together, they arrived at Butler on Saturday with a 9-6 record after a challenging schedule and no genuine road victories. Until Saturday, and this was not simple, featuring 15 lead changes, with Creighton depending not only on Ashworth’s contributions but also 26 points from Kalkbrenner.

“I believe today represented a significant progression for us,” Ashworth states.

“We’re certainly not a complete product. We’re rotating numerous players in and out as we try to discover a combination that functions,” coach Greg McDermott notes. “Players have had to adapt and perhaps take on roles they weren’t anticipating playing, and that takes a bit of time. But we’re improving, and that’s the key thing. We’re in a league where winning is tough; I don’t care who you face. Just turn on the TV and you’ll see many close games. We realize he’s (Isaacs) not returning, so we move ahead.”

Ashworth is required to guide that progression. “We can’t take the pressure off him for long,” McDermott remarks. “He endures a lot and continues to persevere. He’s been an incredible leader for this team, as has Kalkbrenner. They are the reason we’re still competitive.”

The near-triple-double was even tougher than it appeared for Ashworth. Here’s his pre-game routine on Saturday:

“We had smoothies before the game. Next thing I knew, I was vomiting in the trash can about a minute before the game kicked off. And then I went out and played 40 (minutes), so apparently, this might become a new tradition. I hope not, as it didn’t feel good at the time.”

McDermott suspects it might be stomach flu. Regardless, Ashworth had a standout day and claims he didn’t realize how close he was to a triple-double until he was notified afterward, which would have marked only the second points-rebounds-assists triple in school history. But he was aware of the 12 rebounds, including his first four offensive boards of the entire season. That’s something a 6-foot guard would recognize.

“Becoming a new father has been a tremendous blessing to my perspective,” Ashworth shares. “I believe it’s allowed me to play even more freely on the basketball court because it has put so much of life in perspective, which perhaps many don’t ponder while competing.”
 
His partner in this journey is his wife, Peyton. Yes, just like the quarterback. They are big Manning fans in that household. “I’m not even sure if they found out whether Peyton was going to be a boy or a girl before she was born,” Ashworth remarks. “They liked Peyton, and they were kind of leaning toward it regardless.” Anyway, Peyton, the wife, not the quarterback, assists Ashworth in getting the rest he needs for games. Not many college basketball players have to contend with 2 a.m. wakefulness. “She feels like she sleeps more soundly if she knows I’m getting a good night’s rest,” he says. “Some nights, if he’s unwell or not sleeping well, she’ll take him into another room and stay with him. I owe that to Peyton.”

New fathers are often in for surprises. So…..?

“There are some things that I simply never comprehended until I became one,” Ashworth reflects. “Especially, are you genuinely willing to set everything aside for what he needs? Anything you desire in life rapidly becomes secondary to what he requires. You are truly on-call, and it helps you think less about yourself throughout the day, which I think is always a wonderful aspect of life, to focus more on others. I hadn’t necessarily anticipated that becoming a parent.”
       
But he must also be mindful of Providence approaching and upcoming journeys to challenging venues like Connecticut and Villanova. Creighton, currently No. 54 in the latest NET rankings, will need to push for a fifth consecutive NCAA tournament invitation. The stress of the bubble could be looming ahead, and the Bluejays will need a robust conclusion from their veterans, including Ashworth, who, spanning his time at Utah State and Creighton, has participated in 148 college contests. But only 16 of those have been as a father.


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