It wasn’t pretty, but the Bluejays dispatched Tulsa thanks to heady play by Austin Chatman. Sure, Doug McDermott (33 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists) became the first CU player since Bob Harstad to go for more than 30 points and grab 15 or more rebounds. But McDermott ran into countless double- and triple-teams against a Tulsa team focused on stopping him. It didn’t work, and the strategy led to a career night for CU guard Chatman.
With the defense sagging off, Creighton’s starting point guard connected on 4 of 5 three-point attempts en route to a career-high 19 points. He also dished 9 assists, falling one short of a double-double for the second time this season (he went for 12 and 9 against UMKC).
It’s only been 4 games, but Chatman’s points per game, shooting percentages, assists per game, and rebounds per game are all up compared to last year’s numbers. He’s got familiar faces Grant Gibbs and Jahenns Manigat in the backcourt beside him, along with electric newcomer Devin Brooks. And he has excellent shooters like McDermott and Ethan Wragge to turn his passes into assists. Most nights Chatman won’t need to score 20, but it’s reassuring that Jays fans can count on him to knock down open looks. He entered the season a career 41.4% shooter from behind the arc; after Saturday’s performance he’s hitting 58.3% of his three-point attempts as a junior.
Austin Chatman scored a career-high 19 points against Tulsa (WBR/Mike Spomer) CLICK TO BUY PHOTO
Chatman’s offensive outburst was just part of a standard Creighton showing. The Bluejays scored 82 points, making them one of nine teams that entered this week having scored 82 or more in every game this season (the others, according to Creighton SID Rob Anderson: Evansville, Gonzaga, Iowa, Duke, North Dakota, Oklahoma State, Boise State, and North Carolina).
Still, Tulsa wouldn’t go away. The Golden Hurricane got double-digit output from Rashad Lewis (21 points), Pat Swilling (18 points), and James Woodard (11 points) and trailed by as few as 5 points with 4 minutes to play. Tulsa matched the mighty CU offense shot for shot in the first half and trailed by a point; the Hurricane would have headed to the break up a bucket had Chatman not connected on a three-pointer with only a few seconds left before halftime.
An 18-8 stretch during the first 5 minutes of the second half set the Jays on their way. As CU fans were settling back into their seats, the Bluejays got going quickly out of the break. Buckets by Will Artino and McDermott got things started, Chatman knocked down a triple, McDermott hit consecutive three-pointers, and Manigat capped the burst with a three of his own to force Tulsa coach Danny Manning to burn a timeout.
The break stemmed the tide for Tulsa; they remained in the game and battling against a Jays team that just couldn’t pull away. And, as mentioned, the Hurricane had the CU lead down to 5 with about 4 minutes to play. It set up McDermott to make another memory at the CenturyLink Center. After the teams exchanged misses, McDermott took a pass from Chatman and knocked down a three-pointer with 2:10 to play, giving CU an 8-point lead. Tulsa turned the ball over during its next possession, but Wragge couldn’t connect on a three of his own and the Hurricane got a bucket to cut the CU lead to 6 with 1:21 to go.
McDermott again went to work, drilling a jumper with less than a minute to play to give CU an 8-point lead they’d extend to a 10-point winning margin. He’d cap his scoring with some free throws down the stretch. Speaking of which…
Make. Your. Free throws. Creighton enters the Wooden Legacy event in California tied for 5th in the nation in true shooting percentage, according to Statsheet.com. But the Bluejays are shooting just 64.5% from the charity stripe, putting them No. 279 in the country. It is a disturbing percentage, given the emphasis officials are placing on allowing offensive players to move almost unchecked by defenders.
The Bluejays have drawn 24.5 fouls a game so far. That puts them No. 27 out of 347 teams listed on Statsheet.com. Conversely, Creighton players have fouled opponents an average of 15.5 times per game, the thirteenth fewest fouls per game on average nationwide. The Jays are sixth nationally in opponents’ free throw attempts (58). But in order to capitalize on the lopsided number of trips to the free throw line, the Bluejays need to start hitting shots at a better rate.
Comparatively, Creighton’s shooting about 10 percentage points lower than last season’s 75.9% clip from the free throw line. Saturday against Tulsa, the Jays earned 10 more attempts at the line than the Golden Hurricane, but made just 15 of 28 free throws. In a close game, those misses are inexcusable.
Now the Bluejays head west, where familiar foe Arizona State awaits. Last year, in Las Vegas, the Bluejays opened a big lead over the Sun Devils and then held on to win the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational.
This Thanksgiving, at the Wooden Legacy event, the Jays will meet the Sun Devils in the first of three guaranteed games in Anaheim. Based on records alone, the tournament pits the top two teams in the field against each other in the last game of the event’s first day. An interesting situation, to be sure, but an opportunity for the Jays similar to what they had last year when they drew annual NCAA Tournament participant Wisconsin in the first of two games in Vegas.
Last year, freshman star Jahii Carson scorched Creighton for 30 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals. This year, the sophomore Carson continues to be a revelation, one of the nation’s best point guards on a team that’s unbeaten heading to California. With the new emphasis on hand checking, I’m still not sure how Creighton’s defenders will keep Carson from scoring more than 30 Thursday night.
ASU knocked off CU’s Big East brethren Marquette Monday night in Tempe in a close game decided in the final seconds; they enter the Wooden Legacy will as much momentum as the Jays, if not more.
Creighton will enter the 10:00 p.m. CT Thanksgiving night tip nationally ranked; ASU should be, too, but they’re not. The matchup offers both teams a prime opportunity for a win that will shine bright on a resume come March.