We are profiling each member of the 2012-13 Creighton Bluejays men’s basketball team. Check in weekdays leading up to Creighton’s regular season opener against North Texas (November 9) for an introduction to this season’s Bluejays, from freshmen to seniors.
Austin Chatman (#1 / G / 6-0 / 185 lbs. / So.)
Check out our photo gallery of Austin Chatman (courtesy Adam Streur and Mike Spomer for WBR)
Creighton sophomore Austin Chatman served an apprenticeship last season. Glance quickly at his statistics and they seem freshmanesque; 2.4 points and 1.9 assists in a shade under 12 minutes per game. But Chatman backed up ironman Antoine Young at the point guard position; Young started all 35 games for the 29-6 Bluejays last season, playing 30.6 minutes per game. Chatman felt his way through his first season at CU, gaining valuable experience while learning from Young what it takes to run a team night in and night out.
Chatman is the presumed heir to the point guard position this season. How well he adjusts to most likely doubling his minutes per night is one of the biggest questions surrounding the preseason favorites in the Missouri Valley Conference. True freshmen Andre Yates and Isaiah Zierden could push for playing time this season, and experienced backcourt contributors Grant Gibbs and Jahenns Manigat can run the team in spurts, too. But Chatman’s speed and skills suggest at this point he’s capable of carrying the load at the lead guard spot.
Expectations aren’t exceptionally unrealistic for Chatman’s second season. Getting the ball to Doug McDermott, Gregory Echenique, and Creighton’s stable of outside shooters should be his primary concern offensively. On the defensive end, he has the speed to stay with any of the opposing guards in the Valley. The man he replaced proved time and time again that he could create his own shot when needed; that’s one part of Chatman’s game to watch closely. If the sophomore can slash a bit and keep defenses honest when he’s running the offense, open looks should appear for his teammates.
We caught up with Chatman at Creighton’s Media Day: