The blood was real, even if the game didn’t count.
Will Artino tending to an injury against Sioux Falls (WBR/Mike Spomer)
His Creighton Bluejays up 22 points midway through the second half of their only exhibition of the season, Will Artino was back in the game trying to get some work against Sioux Falls. One unfortunate collision later, Creighton’s starting “5” was gushing blood from his nose, the victim of an errant but violent accident that sent him to the locker room for the night.
The Bluejays’ 91-72 win over their D-II visitors from South Dakota won’t matter as far as season stats go. But there was plenty to take away from the exhibition victory: the good (more threes!), the bad (another guard goes off for a career high in points!), and the ugly (Artino’s aforementioned busted grill).
Last year, against Northern State, Doug McDermott and the Bluejays struggled to pull away during their lone tune-up before a historic season. Friday night, against an equally overmatched opponent but in front of the largest crowd to see a CU exhibition, the Jays claimed a double-digit lead in less than 7 minutes and didn’t look back.
Austin Chatman scores against Sioux Falls (WBR/Brad Williams) $ CLICK TO BUY $
Guards Austin Chatman and Devin Brooks led the Bluejays from the opening tip, combining for 20 points (12 and 8, respectively), 7 assists (3 and 4, respectively), and just 1 turnover in the first half. They engineered an offense whose production was eerily familiar to fans who watched as Creighton has morphed into #ShooterU. Nine of the first 11 points of the night came by way of three-pointers, with forward Toby Hegner hitting two of his first three attempts and Chatman knocking down a triple as well. The Jays made 8 of their first 11 attempts from deep, one from Chatman, two each from Brooks and James Milliken, and three from Hegner, the 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman “4” who certainly looked comfortable after sitting out last season.
Greg McDermott played 11 Bluejays during the first half, a 50-30 drubbing that saw CU hit 57% from the floor and 55% from three (11-20) while assisting on 13 of 16 made baskets. Most of guys who played in the first half flashed something that stuck out. Hegner’s soft touch from deep. Milliken’s quick release. Zach Hanson’s ability to finish quickly in the paint. The aforementioned heady play by Chatman and Brooks.
But considering the competition level, nothing happened Friday night that coaxed me into unrealistic expectations for this season’s version of the Bluejays. Creighton couldn’t stop the Cougars’ Charles Ward in the second half (22 points, including 6-7 from distances, en route to game-high 30 points). The Bluejays’ threes stopped falling in the second half (3-11 from distance, including their last 5 attempts). They got outrebounded during the last 20 minutes, too (22-19). Couple those with Artino’s bloodied nose, and the game didn’t exactly seem like it was going to end on a high note.
Creighton’s Gabriel Connealy (WBR/Mike Spomer) $ CLICK TO BUY $
But then the walk-ons hit the court, and Gabriel Connealy hit a jumper. The team manager-turned-teammate gave everyone in the building something to buzz about when he scored Creighton’s final bucket of the night.
It was one of those kinds of nights at the CenturyLink Center, far different than the stressful showcases against Providence and Villanova and Georgetown and Wichita State in recent seasons. The slow ascension up the roller coaster, a calm trajectory that will soon change to the twists and turns and highs and lows that every season brings.
The stress begins soon enough. Friday, it was just enjoyable to see Leon Gilmore III bank in a three, and Isaiah Zierden back from an injury and connecting on a four-point play. It was exciting to see Hegner yelling back on defense after hitting a few threes on the other end of the court, and Brooks doing the same after watching his teammates convert some second-chance points after being unselfish in the offense.
But things get real in a hurry for McDermott’s Bluejays. Artino left injured, blood dripping to the CLink court. Avery Dingman’s banged up, an ankle problem preventing him from playing Friday and likely in the season-opener. The Jays will even be short their scout team point guard, Mo Watson Jr., who broke a bone in his foot a few days ago. But improvements are needed, especially on the defensive end, before Central Arkansas and Chicago State come to Omaha next weekend. The tape from the win over Sioux Falls might not be kind to all the guys, but it could be worse – just ask Artino.