The only thing Doug McDermott didn’t do Monday was rappel from the CenturyLink Center rafters at halftime. The Creighton Athletic Department had ROTC folks do that, as part of a Military Warriors Support Foundation presentation of a mortgage-free home to local Purple Heart recipient Kyle Foster. But McDermott pretty much took care of everything else, scoring 37 points in 31 minutes using a mix of deft finishes around the rim and 50% shooting from behind the arc (5-10).
Creighton’s All American scored the team’s first 9 points and 14 of the team’s first 18 points. His CU teammates were feeding the school’s all-time leading scorer, facilitating the type of night that could have knocked Bob Portman out of possession of the single-game scoring record (51 points in December 1967).
McDermott finished the first half with 25 points after playing nearly the entire first stanza. He was needed on the floor because despite his scoring outburst the Bluejays allowed a 12-3 run that turned an 18-11 CU lead into a 23-21 deficit with 7:35 left in the first half.
Doug McDermott did it again, scoring 37 points against the Kangaroos (WBR/Mike Spomer) CLICK PHOTO TO BUY
No worries. McDermott went to work again, tying the game with a layup and then grabbing a defensive rebound during the Kangaroos’ next possession. He hit a triple on Creighton’s subsequent trip down the court to give the Jays a lead they would never relinquish.
All told, McDermott captained a 32-8 run, one that he capped with a layup and a three-pointer within the first minute of the second half. Just like that, the Bluejays were up by 22 points and could play the rest of the evening out testing various personnel combinations.
Please, Creighton fans. Never take Doug McDermott for granted.
Still, the folks who determine the “player of the game” at the CLink honored Austin Chatman, and not McDermott, with that recognition versus UMKC. John Bishop and Nick Bahe weren’t as swayed, pronouncing McDermott the night’s star during the postgame radio wrap-up on 1620 AM. But Chatman had a stat-stuffer type night, despite missing 6 of his 10 field goal attempts.
Austin Chatman flirted with a triple double against Kansas City (WBR/Mike Spomer) CLICK PHOTO TO BUY
The junior point guard scored 12 points (second to McDermott on Creighton’s side of the court), dished a game-high 9 assists (two off his career high), and pulled down a career-high 7 rebounds. Dude messed around and (nearly) got a triple-double.
Oh, and Chatman didn’t commit a turnover. The Bluejays were a bit more careless with the ball against the ‘Roos than they were a few days earlier versus Alcorn State. UMKC posted 10 steals to just 3 for the Jays. But the lead guards Chatman (9 dimes, no turnovers), Grant Gibbs (7 assists, 3 turnovers), and Devin Brooks (5 assists, 3 turnovers) posted a 3.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Things get substantially tougher this weekend in “Big East Country.” The Bluejays will travel to Philadelphia twice during the 2013-2014 season; once to play new conference mate Villanova, but also this Saturday to face Saint Joseph’s. Throw last season’s NCAA Tournament trip to Wells Fargo Center in Philly and you might figure the current Creighton roster has a good feel for things in the City of Brotherly Love.
But things have been anything less than always sunny during the Bluejays’ trips to Philadelphia. Two seasons ago, after starting the season 7-0 including a crazy comeback win at San Diego State, No. 19 Creighton got killed on the glass and gave up 80 points in a 9-point loss to Saint Joseph’s (video here: warning, it will frustrate you).
Sure, the Bluejays enacted some sort of revenge against the Hawks last season (video), drubbing Phil Martelli’s team 80-51. But Langston Galloway is back for Saint Joe’s and looking to improve on his poor shooting outing in Omaha last season (10 points on 4-11 shooting, including 1-7 from three-point range). Galloway averaged 13.8 points per game last season for SJU and led the Hawks with 44 steals. He scored 21 points in Saint Joe’s season opener, a 10-point win over Vermont, and will pose a challenge on the perimeter for the CU backcourt.
Jays fans will also recognize Ronald Roberts Jr. (21 points and 9 rebounds against Vermont) and Halil Kanacevic (7 rebounds vs. Vermont). The pair of front court performers played poorly in Omaha last year — they combined for 8 turnovers and Roberts Jr. even got a technical foul. But two years ago, both Kanacevic (6 points, game-high 12 rebounds) and Roberts Jr. (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks) gave Creighton’s McDermott and Gregory Echenique all they could handle. McDermott, Will Artino, and Ethan Wragge will certainly be tested in the front court at Hagan Arena Saturday evening.