OMAHA, Neb. –– The Rattlers are no stranger to playing major basketball programs, and again, they will open up at a top-25 program for the second straight season when they tipoff with the eighth-ranked Creighton Blue Jays.
 
When, Where, How to Watch: 
 
When: Tuesday, November 7, 9 p.m. Eastern
Where: Omaha, Nebraska
Watch: FS1
 
Coaches in the game
Robert McCullum (Birmingham Southern, 1976) 
Career Record: 145-231 (14th season)
Record at FAMU: 61-110 (7th season)
 
Greg McDermott (UNI, 1988) 
Career Record: 580-345 (30th season) 
Record at Creighton: 300-150 (14th season)  
 
Florida A&M Rattlers
The Rattlers come into the game with a new team, having lost four of their five leading scorers from the 2022-23 season, with the leading returner being Dimingus Stevens (8.4 points per game). The Rattlers were busy through the transfer portal, adding seven transfers from a junior college or Division I. The Rattlers also added one from high school in K'Jei Parker. 
 
New Rattlers
1 | Love Bettis
 
Bettis transferred from North Carolina A&T and averaged 4.3 points per game while shooting 40% from three. Bettis scored a career-high 20 points versus Elon.
 
3 | Morrell Schramm
 
Schramm transferred from Chattanooga State College and averaged 11.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 APG on 52.5% in 15 games his sophomore season. Schramm scored 20+ points in two games and 10+ points in eight games sophomore season.
 
5 | Keith Lamar
 
Lamar transferred from South Georiga State after transferring from Stetson. Lamar averaged 8.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 2.4 APG in 34 games.
 
11 | Roderick Coffee III
 
Coffee transferred from Pensacola State and averaged 10.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 3.4 APG in 29 games. Coffee scored a career-high 22 points in a win versus Southwest Mississippi. Coffee scored 20+ points once and 10+ points in 18 games.
 
12 | K'Jei Parker
 
Parker averaged 14.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.8 APG, and 1.2 SPG senior season at Winter Haven High School. Parker was 2023 First-Team All-County and 7-A State Runner-Up. Parker won the 2021 State Championship.
 
13 | Shannon Grant
 
Grant transferred from Mercer and averaged 5.1 PPG and 2.9 RPG, shooting 55.9% in 60 games. Grant Scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed a career-high ten rebounds in a win vs. Samford (1/5/23).
 
24 | Ja'Derryus Eatmon
 
Eatmon Spent one season at Lawson State after transferring from Florida State Jacksonville. Eatmon averaged 10 PPG, 6.8 RPG, shooting 70.2% from the field in 22 games. Eatmon Scored 20+ points in two games, 10+ points in ten games, and grabbed 10+ rebounds in four games during junior season at Lawson State.
 
35 | Alvin Tumblin
 
Tumblin spent the last two seasons at Stetson, averaging 5.1 PPG and 2.7 RPG in 43 games. Tumblin averaged 3.6 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 18 games sophomore season. Tumblin scored a season-high 15 points in the win at Florida State (11/7/22).
 
Key Returners
0 | Dimingus Stevens
 
Dimingus Stevens is the returning leading scorer after averaging 8.4 points per game last season.
 
2 | Jordan Chatman
 
Jordan Chatman started in 12 games and played in 28 games, as he averaged 5.5 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game.
 
4 | Hantz Louis-Juene
 
Hant Louis-Juene started in 15 games and played in 27 games as he averaged 5.6 points per game and three rebounds per game.
 
10 | Chase Barrs
 
Chase Barrs started in 20 games and played in 27 games, averaging 3.9 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game. Barrs also averaged one block per game.
 
Scouting #8 Creighton
Ranked eighth nationally in the preseason AP and Coaches polls, Creighton has lofty expectations after coming one possession shy of the program's first Final Four last March.
 
The nucleus of the team is formed by three returning starters as senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner (15.9 ppg., 6.1 rpg.., 2.1 bpg., 69.5 FG%), senior forward Baylor Scheierman (12.8 ppg., 8.3 rpg., 3.3 apg.) and junior guard Trey Alexander (13.6 ppg., 41.0 3FG%) all put their professional aspirations on hold and came back.
 
Add in senior transfer Steven Ashworth (16.2 ppg., 4.8 apg., 43.4 3FG%), the USBWA District VII Player of the Year last year at Utah State, and it's easy to see why CU is one of three BIG EAST teams picked in the top-10 nationally.
 
Other returners include sophomores Mason Miller (2.3 ppg., 37.0 3FG%) and Fredrick King (3.4 ppg.), as well as senior Francisco Farabello (3.0 ppg.).
 
CU also boasts transfers Johnathan Lawson (Memphis) and Josh Townley-Thomas (North Platte CC), in addition to two redshirt freshmen and four true freshmen who will look to make an impact.
 
Creighton was picked to finish second of 11 teams in a preseason poll of BIG EAST coaches.
 
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