Antoine Young, Creighton's projected starter at point guard, has joined the list of the Bluejays' walking wounded.

The sophomore from Bellevue West injured his right knee at practice Wednesday and did not participate in Thursday's workout. After receiving treatment on the knee after practice, Young said he expects to play in Saturday's season opener at Dayton.

“I should be ready to go,'' he said. “I was concerned when it happened — it was a scary moment, and I thought I did something to it. But I got blessed and nothing really happened. It's just a little sore today.''

Young sustained the noncontact injury while playing defense on Wednesday.

“I went to make a cut and I just remember jumping up and grabbing my knee,'' he said. “It just happened out of nowhere, and it reminded me of what happened to J.C.''

Creighton senior forward Justin Carter is out two to four weeks after sustaining a slight tear to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Sunday's exhibition game against UNO. Carter's injury also involved no contact: He went to make a move to the basket and his knee buckled.

Creighton will be without Carter, senior forward Chad Millard and junior forward Casey Harriman for Saturday's game against No. 21 and 22 Dayton. Millard aggravated the foot injury he suffered in early October last week in practice and remains sidelined indefinitely.

Harriman has been ill for the past eight days with what was first thought to be the H1N1 flu. Additional complications have landed Harriman in the hospital, where he is expected to stay for a few days.

“I talked to him last night, and he seemed to be feeling better,'' said Kaleb Korver, who along with Millard rooms with Harriman. “For the last week, Chad and I have been rubbing soap on our hands, not touching any handles, wearing masks and gloves trying not to get sick.”

The injuries and illness have added to the challenge facing Creighton as it prepares to play a nationally ranked opponent in a hostile environment. The Flyers have won their last 20 games at home, the longest streak since they moved to Dayton Arena in 1969. The homecourt winning streak ranks third longest nationally.

When Creighton coach Dana Altman agreed to open the season at Dayton, he was anticipating having eight experienced players on his roster. That number has been reduced to five, and could drop to four if Young turns out to be overly optimistic about his knee.

“When we first scheduled the game, I thought our experience would allow us to bring our young guys along,'' Altman said. “That's changed a little bit, and Dayton is a team that is very experienced, very talented and very good at home.''

Altman said he also anticipates Young will be ready to play. If Young isn't, Creighton would start senior Cavel Witter at the point, with true freshman Andrew Bock the top substitute.

Creighton also will have to rely on a trio of inexperienced players up front as junior-college transfers Wayne Runnels and Darryl Ashford and true freshman Ethan Wragge will have to fill in for Carter, Harriman and Millard.

“You're always waiting for injuries, because that's just part of it,'' Altman said. “I don't know if we've ever had them this quickly, but our team has to understand that it has to find a way to compete. We'll just have to play some different ways.''

• NOTE: Keithrick Denson, a 6-foot-8 forward from Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas, said Thursday night that he has signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Creighton. Denson joins 6-11 Will Artino of Waukee, Iowa, as early signees.

Contact the writer:

679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com