MC McGrory (#3 / G / 5-8 / So.)
Creighton’s MC McGrory (WBR/Adam Steur) $ CLICK TO BUY $
Following in the footsteps of fellow Minnesotan Marissa Janning, who was the first Creighton player to earn All-MVC First Team as a freshman, MC McGrory had a lot of people excited about what Creighton’s new recruiting pipeline could continue to offer. That excitement was derailed when McGrory suffered a concussion that forced her to miss the first nine games of the season and more than a month of practices. No matter how talented one is, missing that much time makes it hard for an athlete to catch up and find a way to produce.
She played a total of 16 minutes and took just one shot in her first six games after returning to action. Though she had her moments here and there in limited play throughout the season, it almost looked like a lost season for the freshman out of Edina High School. That was until the Big East Tournament got underway. In Creighton’s first game McGrory broke out, scoring 10 points in the second half to help the Jays defeat a Butler team that had spoiled Creighton’s senior day just five days prior. She followed that up with seven points and five rebounds in a career-high 26 minutes in a semifinal loss to St. John’s.
Now after creating some momentum towards the end of her freshman season, McGrory has built off of it leading up to her sophomore campaign. One of the preseason standouts for Jim Flanery’s Bluejays, McGrory has earned her spot as the team’s starting point guard. The Bluejays will need McGrory to step up and help replace the 12 points per game they lost with the graduation of guard McKenzie Fujan. Thus far she appears up to the task.
Head Coach Jim Flanery on McGrory
“She has improved tremendously. I think the success she had at the end of last year kind of jumped up her confidence and I think she had a great off-season. She’s become a very good scorer. She’s a competitive kid and I think she can really have a sort of breakout year for us.”
Q&A with MC McGrory
Q: How has practice and preseason preparation gone for you so far?
A: “Good. It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a lot of hard work, but I feel like we’re getting better.”
Q: How does it feel to be healthy this time around and be able to contribute on a daily basis?
A: “It’s a lot better than just sitting there and watching. Preseason is obviously a good time for ironing out all the kinks from the summer, so it’s nice to be able to participate in that. I feel more comfortable compared to last year when everything was moving 100 miles per hour and you’re just trying to get through each day. Now I feel more in control of what I’m trying to do.”
Q: What was the most difficult adjustment going from high school to now?
A: “For me it’s just the speed of the game. You see it a little bit on offense where maybe you can’t beat a person off the dribble right away, but definitely defensively there is a lot more movement and you have to be on your toes and paying attention a little bit more.”
Q: What are some of the main things you focused from your freshman to your sophomore year?
A: “Shooting and ball-handling. In our postseason meetings Flan told me to be prepared to run the point, so that was a big thing for me being able to handle the ball.”
Q: What were your initial thoughts on being picked fourth in the Big East preseason poll?
A: “I think that’s great for us. I know we’re capable of doing well in the Big East, but it’s good to see other people think we’re going to contend, too.”
Q: What do you think this team is capable of achieving this year?
A: “Definitely getting to the NCAA Tournament. That’s our goal. And winning the Big East.”