The Creighton Bluejays continued the exhibition portion of their schedule over the weekend, posting wins over Central Arkansas and Chicago State. Technically, those games counted, but let’s be honest: they were merely warm-ups for the more consolidated part of Creighton’s schedule that will actually pose a challenge to the Bluejays.
All due credit to Tracy Dildy and Russ Pennell, but Greg McDermott’s greatest benefit from the weekend was being able to test different combinations and pairings on the court knowing that the outcomes would never really be in doubt.
The games against Central Arkansas and Chicago State as well as the ‘real’ exhibition against Sioux Falls give overzealous fans (you know who you are) plenty to chew on, though. I’d warn you not to make too many rash conclusions after the three games, but 1) that’s hypocritical, since I jump to conclusions all the time and 2) you’re a big kid, you can do whatever you want.
So, here’s some fuel for the fire! I lumped the Sioux Falls stats in with the numbers from wins against UCA and CSU. Those are listed for each player, along with some far-from-expert analysis.
Devin Brooks (12 ppg, 5 apg, 1.6 tpg, 8.0 rpg, 85 minutes)
Devin Brooks (WBR/Adam Streur)
The senior guard from New York has logged the most minutes through the three games. Brooks worked this summer on improving his long-range jump shot, and the rewards of that labor were evident as he knocked a few triples down against Sioux Falls. But Brooks is shooting just 25% from distance through the three games, thanks to an 0-fer weekend from three.
Still, Brooks has been the most productive guy on the floor for McDermott’s Bluejays. He’s leading the Jays in assists and is one off the lead in rebounds. He’s been active, energetic, and clearing communicating with teammates when on the floor.
Austin Chatman (11 ppg, 4 apg, 1.6 tpg, 3 rpg, 72 minutes)
Alongside Brooks, Chatman has been a steadying presence in the Creighton backcourt. He knows when to push the pace, when to pull back the reins, and when to take the open jumper. Chatman will need to have an exceptional performance if the Bluejays are to spoil Oklahoma’s visit to Omaha Wednesday.
Toby Hegner (10 ppg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 tpg, 3.3 rpg, 70 minutes)
The redshirt freshman got the starting nod against Sioux Falls and connected on a few triples, showing the range and reworked shooting touch that’s garnered a lot of attention in preseason practices. He certainly isn’t afraid to #letitfly, but has also shown an interest in putting the ball on the deck and helping move the offense off one point to the next.
Hegner didn’t exactly display a tenacious rebounding streak against the opponents CU overmatched so far this season. So it will be an interesting test when he has to scrap from outside in against the Sooners. Mac needs him to stretch defenses with his shooting but also get his nose dirty at 6-foot-10.
Isaiah Zierden (15 ppg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 tpg, 1.0 rpg, 69 minutes)
Isaiah Zierden (WBR/Brad Williams)
Easily my pick for most impressive Bluejay through three games. From his effortless and smooth three-point touch to his command of the offense, Zierden looks to have bounced back well from the injury that shortened his redshirt freshman season. He’s shooting 47% from three, best among CU’s regulars, and he’s regularly been in passing lanes on defense.
James Milliken (9.6 ppg, 1.6 apg, 0.6 tpg, 1.0 rpg, 66 minutes)
Instant offense when called from the bench, the redshirt junior certainly seems ready to make up for lost time when given the opportunity. Milliken gets his shot off quickly, and thus far accurately. He’s shooting 46% from three-point range and 53% from the field overall.
Milliken will get a stout test, like Zierden, against an Oklahoma backcourt that promises to challenge CU guards on both ends of the floor.
Rick Kreklow (9.3 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.3 tpg, 4.6 rpg, 64 minutes)
Creighton’s Rick Kreklow (WBR/Adam Streur)
Creighton’s wildcard has benefited from Avery Dingman’s absence from the lineup. Kreklow, a one-and-done senior transfer, has brought a discernable level of toughness and physicality to his play on the wing. He looks comfortable letting the offense run through him while facilitating for teammates, and he hits the glass with interest too.
The practice reports on Kreklow stressed the streakiness in his shooting, and that’s shown up already in three games. He scored 18 points on 5-10 shooting from the field (2-5 from three) against Central Arkansas. But in his exhibition against Sioux Falls he made just 2 of 6 shots from the field and he failed to hit a shot in two attempts against Chicago State. But regardless of whether his shots were falling, Kreklow didn’t allow the misses to affect the other parts of his game, a commendable trait.
Will Artino (15.0 ppg, 0.6 apg, 0.6 tpg, 8.3 rpg, 51 minutes)
He started slowly (2 points, 7 rebounds in 12 minutes against Sioux Falls), but Artino has answered the bell once the ‘real’ games began. He scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Central Arkansas. Artino then followed that up two days later with a career-high 20 points to go with 8 rebounds, 5 steals, and a block against Chicago State.
Interesting Artino state: 14 of his team-high 25 rebounds have come on the offensive glass.
Zach Hanson (4.6 ppg, 0.3 apg, 2.3 tpg, 4.0 rpg, 38 minutes)
Geoffrey Groselle (5.0 ppg, 0.3 apg, 0.3 tpg, 1.6 rpg, 30 minutes)
Creighton’s Geoffrey Groselle (WBR/Brad Williams)
Following the Sioux Falls exhibition, Greg McDermott told the postgame radio crew that he and his coaches were waiting for a player to emerge and take a stranglehold on playing time at the “5”. Artino has seemingly done that through the first three public opportunities, while sophomore Hanson and redshirt junior Groselle have effectively split the minutes behind Artino in the low post.
Both Hanson (71%) and Groselle (80%) have finished around the rim when given the chance, but both have struggled in plenty of areas. For Hanson, he’s leading the team with 7 turnovers (tied with Kreklow, who has played nearly twice as many minutes). For Groselle, he’s been unable to establish a controlling presence on the glass despite his 7-foot frame.
The Oklahoma Sooners aren’t extremely deep in the frontcourt, but Mac will need everything he can get out of Artino, Hanson, and Groselle to slow OU’s TaShawn Thomas and Ryan Spangler
Avery Dingman (DNP)
Avery Dingman sits against Sioux Falls (WBR/Mike Spomer)
It would be a stretch, it seems, to think Dingman would be available for the Oklahoma game Wednesday. It’s too bad, considering Creighton could use his experience defensively against a team that features Buddy Hield.