We are profiling each member of the 2011-12 Creighton men’s basketball team. Join us weekdays from now until the men’s exhibition opener against Rockhurst for an introduction to this year’s Bluejays, from freshmen to seniors.
See all of our 2011-12 Creighton men’s basketball profiles
Ethan Wragge looks to recapture his touch from 3-point range (Streur/WBR)
Creighton finished last season second in the Missouri Valley Conference in 3-point shooting percentage (36.9%) and 7.2 3-point makes per game. Imagine what those numbers would be had the team’s best long-rang shooter, Ethan Wragge, played more than 9 games before taking a medical hardship season.
As a freshman in 2009-10, Wragge earned MVC All-Freshman Team honors while ranking second in the Valley in 3-point shooting percentage and fifth in 3-pointers made. He made 68 3-pointers as a true freshman, the most in CU history by a frosh, leading the team with those makes and a 43.3% 3-point shooting percentage.
Nagging injuries to his knee and foot caused Wragge to shut down his sophomore season after less than 10 games, leaving the Bluejays without their most potent deep threat.
“Last year was frustrating, because I really wanted to be out there helping the team,” Wragge said. “But I feel good now. The foot and knee feel great.”
In Wragge’s absence another 6-7 forward stepped up. Doug McDermott’s minutes increased in part because of the lack of Wragge to fill in for him. Now the coaches want to see what the two sophomores can do together on the court.
“They have been playing me a lot in practice with Doug in the post,” Wragge said. “But I think they will use me more on the wing. I think that is where I can help the most.”
With McDermott, Antoine Young, Gregory Echenique, and the majority of last season’s offensive leaders returning in 2011, many feel Wragge will serve as the dedicated sharpshooter on either wing, just waiting to make defenses pay for doubling down on the post or rotating over to stop dribble-drive penetration by Young and the team’s other guards. If Wragge can recapture the stroke he displayed during his first season, he could give those opposing defenses fits — and help him achieve his personal and team goals.
“Personally, I want to shoot like I did freshman year,” Wragge said. “And our team goals are to win the Valley and the MVC Tournament, and make it to the NCAA Tournament.”