The last time Creighton and Missouri State met, it was in the semifinals of the CollegeInsider Postseason Tournament. The Bears beat the Bluejays, and MSU went on to win the tournament. Cuonzo Martin’s team built on the positive momentum during the offseason, and the Bears breezed through non-conference play and the first two games of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule in 2010-2011.
Missouri State kicked of the conference campaign with a win in Cedar Falls against defending champion Northern Iowa, with Kyle Weems knocking down the game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds. They turned around on Saturday and beat the same Illinois State team that the Bluejays beat earlier in the week, thanks to a career high performance by Jermaine Mallett. Will Creekmore started off the season with Creighton’s Doug McDermott in being the only two players in the league scoring in double figures through the first 10 games of the season. Different players have stepped up and different times for Missouri State.
Unless you have followed Missouri State through the non-conference season, you may not be aware of the things going on in Springfield. We caught up with Lyndal Scranton from the Springfield News-Leader to give us some insight into the Bears before Tuesday night’s game at the Qwest Center.
White & Blue Review: Missouri State, in some people’s minds, has sort of risen pretty quickly in the MVC ranks the past couple of seasons under Cuonzo Martin. What has been the biggest change in the program since he has arrived?
Lyndal Scranton: Martin is a no-excuses type of coach. He wants things done his way and that’s the way it’s going to be. He’s not a screamer or yeller in that regard, but has a strong presence in a low-key way. Obviously, he’s brought in good talent, but one of his favorite sayings is “stay the course.” That means, win or lose, don’t get too high or too low. His approach to basketball, on and off the court, is consistent.
WBR: The Bears scheduled pretty tough this season including games against Oklahoma State and Tennessee. Has this prepared them for conference play even though they left with losses in those high profile games?
LS: I would think playing at Tennessee and Oklahoma State would prepare them for the Valley, though surprisingly to me the atmospheres at UT and OSU were not as intimidating as what Valley teams often see in places like Wichita or Omaha. But I think facing that type of road competition helped them in the victory at Northern Iowa.
WBR: Kyle Weems and Adam Leonard came into the season as the big one-two punch for Missouri State. But it appears Jermaine Mallett and Will Creekmore have also helped solidify some other spots on the floor. What has helped Mallett and Creekmore be even more effective on the court?
LS: Mallett has been up and down, though has played extremely well in his first two Valley games. Creekmore is Mr. Consistency and, in my opinion, is one of the most improved players in the Valley. He will not impress many folks upon first sight. He’s not a tremendous athlete, but has developed an array of post moves. He’s an old-school type of center who pump fakes, uses jump hooks, etc.
WBR: Who else could come in and surprise the Bluejays on Tuesday night?
LS: Freshman Nathan Scheer, a 6-4 wing, has played the most among the newcomers. He’s usually the first player off the bench, a kid who has a lot of basketball savvy and isn’t afraid to shoot the ball.
WBR: Missouri State has struggled in conference road games the past couple of seasons. What has been the reason for their road struggles?
LS: Failing to make one or two crucial plays at crunch time, either getting in too big a hurry offensively or having a critical defensive breakdown. Two years ago the talent level wasn’t good enough to win on the road. Last season the players didn’t yet know how to win on the road. This season, that experience from a year ago ought to pay off with a few road wins.
WBR: Creighton has historically had pretty good success against Missouri State, but have lost the last two games against the Bears. What were the keys to the past two wins?
LS: As I recall, the Bluejays just didn’t appear to be cohesive last season. It was obvious that Dana Altman was frustrated with his team and the players didn’t appear to be on the same page with him. The Bears seemed a lot more interested in succeeding last season and were gaining confidence when they won those 2 games late in the season.
WBR: What kinds of weaknesses do the Bears have that Creighton could exploit on Tuesday night?
LS: Depth. The Bears’ bench remains unproven. Foul trouble could really hurt MSU.
WBR: What places in Omaha do you enjoy going to when you are here?
LS: I usually drive in, cover the game, and drive home afterward. The life of a Valley beatwriter is not always glamorous. I look forward to the Valley baseball tourney this spring when I will have some time to spend in Omaha.
WBR: What are your final predictions? What do they need to do to get their first win at the Qwest Center since 2005?
LS: MSU’s first three Valley road games (UNI, CU, and Wichita State) are a killer stretch. The Bears already have one victory. If they split the remaining two of those road games, that would be a spectacular start. My guess is Creighton wins a close one, being at home, but I won’t be surprised if MSU steals one if it stays out of foul trouble.