Saturday night, Creighton opens the season against Texas Southern. This week, they reviewed what happened in last Friday’s exhibition win over Upper Iowa, and prepared for the game with TSU. Here’s a rundown of what’s happened this week, thanks to tweets from WBR’s Matt DeMarinis and others who have been present. And if you’ve missed our four previous practice updates, get caught up in the archives!
Sunday, November 8
After taking Saturday off, the @BluejayMBB team is back on the practice floor today. pic.twitter.com/onaiibHKJI
— Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
The Jays are reviewing offensive sets right now. — Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
Mac just had four different players practice throwing full-court passes.
— Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
Ronnie Harrell is sitting out today’s practice with a sore toe. — Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
James Milliken just hit a 3-pointer from the corner that he knew was good because he immediately ran the other way to play defense.
— Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
Blues working on defending the inbounds pass under the basket. — Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
Blues working on end-of-game situations – with 15 seconds left in the half court and then with 4 seconds left going full court.
— Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
Worked on the full-court pass with 2 secs. left. Zach Hanson inbounded the ball & after several tries blues scored before the horn sounded. — Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
Blues & whites scrimmaging full-court now. Zach Hanson just hit a jumper from the free throw line. He is shooting more jumpers this year.
— Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
Cole Huff and Malik Albert with 2 corner threes for the blue team followed by a 3 from Toby Hegner for the whites. — Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 8, 2015
Monday, November 9
Jays will be without Ronnie Harrell for at least 3 weeks. Broken bone in his foot. Swelled up after exhibition game
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 9, 2015
Coach is presenting and reviewing some sets the team will work on later in today’s practice. pic.twitter.com/Edp8hAd33O — Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 9, 2015
Maurice Watson isn’t shy about pulling a younger teammate aside and offering up advice about something he’s seeing
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 9, 2015
Marlon Stewart @Marthestarr1 is putting up a variety of jumpers. It looks like the knee rehab is coming along well. — Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 9, 2015
Drew Cayce @Uncle_drew23 is back at practice today. He missed several practices and the exhibition game because of concussion symptoms.
— Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 9, 2015
Isaiah Zierden with steals on back to back possessions. — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 9, 2015
Jays working on end of game situational stuff. Not exactly executing to perfection on these
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 9, 2015
Jays having chipotle for dinner. — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 9, 2015
Tuesday, November 10
More knee braces and crutches than they would like, but now the games count. CU back to work for Saturday’s opener. pic.twitter.com/NBbus42coq
— Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 10, 2015
It’s always a good practice session when the Bluejays start with the “Huskie Shooting” drill. — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 10, 2015
Push push push is the watchwords of Jays practice. Offensive tempo has been stressed since first days of drills
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
Still no decision on patton’s status. If u were a betting man I’d put a couple of small coins on red shirting — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
When I asked mac about it he smiled and said getting closer to decision but “we still have a couple of days.”
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
Team drilling ball screen defense. Someone forget to talk as Justin Patton floors Isaiah Zierden. Communication is key. — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 10, 2015
Zach Hanson starting to make strides. He played strong 2nd half in exhibition and he’s probably been best post in prax last couple of days
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
Like his idol Allen Iverson, Maurice Watson Jr. can be streaky with his jump shot — today is one of those days where he can’t miss. — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 10, 2015
…he just buried another 3-pointer as I pressed “send” on that last tweet.
— Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 10, 2015
My Slovenian cousin moving better last couple of days. Don’t think he’s 100 percent but trying to battle through it — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
Marcus Foster continues to work hard rehabbing knee. If he were playing this year think that he’d be back practicing but as mac says …
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
No need to rush anything at this point — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
The Bluejays could field a pretty stout unit of banged up players — Foster, Harrell, Stewart. Add in Krampelj & Hanson who aren’t 100%.
— Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 10, 2015
Justin Patton frustrating the first unit with his ability to step out and shoot — hit back-to-back jumpers from each wing. — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 10, 2015
Nice inside move by Groselle with shot clock winding down freezes the freshman
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
Bluejays defending last second possession. In bounds went to Justin Patton who buried a contested fadeaway at the buzzer from 18 feet. — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 10, 2015
What is making decision on Patton so difficult is when he has a practice like he’s having today. Doing a lot of good things
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
If your life depended on one Jay making a shot who would you pick? I’m putting my fate in zierden’s hands — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
On the one shot if your life depended on it question: Hegner might be a good fallback option
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 10, 2015
Wednesday, November 11
On Wednesday, the Jays took the day off, but the decision on whether or not to redshirt Justin Patton continued to be up in the air.
Gun to head right now I don’t think Justin Patton will redshirt. I think the rate at which he continues to improve will earn him minutes. — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 11, 2015
. @cucoachmac says his coaching staff is “split” on whether or not to redshirt Justin Patton. Has not made final decision yet. #Creighton
— 1620 the Jays (@1620theJays) November 11, 2015
Thursday, November 12
Two more days until game day. Coach Mac and the Jays getting ready for practice at the CenturyLink Center. pic.twitter.com/dNJFFNsWIv — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 12, 2015
The @BluejayMBB team is starting off today’s practice by reviewing some offensive sets.
— Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 12, 2015
Physical start to this afternoon’s practice — 3-on-3 rebounding drill to start. Now working on ball screen defense. — Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 12, 2015
Maurice Watson Jr. on his A game for this session; diced up the defense for a layup, then dropped off a perfect bounce pass while airborne.
— Matt DeMarinis (@mjdemarinis) November 12, 2015
Marcus Foster, Ronnie Harrell and Marlon Stewart getting some shots up. pic.twitter.com/bOwkQvbsG8 — Ralph Bistline (@RalphBistline) November 12, 2015
Khyri thomas continues to impress with his pick your spots offense. Knew early on he would help on defense but he’s a guy that will score
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 12, 2015
Maurice Watson has that special court vision that good point guards. Can pass up an obvious pass to open man to find an even wider open one — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 12, 2015
Thomas just punctuated a baseline drive and dunk with a “YES SIR!”
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 12, 2015
Jays have a lot of guys willing to share the basketball. Notable difference from a year ago. This is a better passing team — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 12, 2015
You can sense opener is a couple days away. Coaches are being ultra critical in picking apart play. Little things matter
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 12, 2015
Mac just ran down the court shouting the play he wanted run. Even head coaches get excited on game week — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 12, 2015
Mac is anticipating my questions. Before I could ask him whether a decision had been made on playing or redshirting Patton, Mac said no …
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 12, 2015
Said he might wait a week to see more practices before a decision is made. — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 12, 2015
My take on the Patton redshirt question: Mac won’t require Justin to make a final decision for a week. That will give CU 3 games to …
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 13, 2015
get a read on how older post players are playing. If they’re performing, think Patton redshirts. If not, then he might play this season — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 13, 2015
Despite those comments after practice, late Thursday night Coach Greg McDermott announced that Patton had decided to redshirt. Here’s the announcement, and some comments from Twitter afterward:
After a long talk with @JustinPatton17 tonight, we mutually agreed that a redshirt is in his best interest. He has a bright future ahead!
— Coach McDermott (@cucoachmac) November 13, 2015
This is gonna be fun grinding with this AMAZING coaching staff and team. #RollJays — BigMuddy (@JustinPatton17) November 13, 2015
Time to go to work Big Muddy!! https://t.co/RTYOHGDvpm
— Coach McDermott (@cucoachmac) November 13, 2015
@JustinPatton17 stay in the lab bro! be ready to takeover next year! — Maurice Watson Jr. (@mauricewatsonjr) November 13, 2015
Great decision for @JustinPatton17 to make this a redshirt yr. As hard as he’s working, can’t wait to see what’s in store 365 days from now.
— Omaha North Hoops (@OPS_VikingHoops) November 13, 2015
Mac said Justin Patton is excited to continue working on his game as a redshirt. “That was a huge factor in the decision.” — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 13, 2015
An early-season injury to one of Creighton’s other post players might alter decision to redshirt Patton. If not, Mac excited for next year
— Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 13, 2015
Said Mac: “He’s going to be special. He gets it. I’m glad he’s with us.” — Steve Pivovar (@PivOWH) November 13, 2015
RE Justin Patton redshirting: it’s nearly impossible to add weight during a normal season. RSing will allow him to work on his body and…
— Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) November 13, 2015
add the strength he needs to give him the best possible chance of making a big impact next year. I think Mac made the right call.
— Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) November 13, 2015
JP probably could have contributed, but w/ the # of guys at the 4 & 5, working on his body/game for next year should have the bigger payoff. — Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) November 13, 2015
The Big East isn’t going to know what hit them when @JustinPatton17 and @Swaggy2_ step onto the floor next year.
— Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) November 13, 2015