Payton Brotzki can do more than score (Juszyk / WBR)
It’s always a fun exercise to go back in time and see how close players came to fulfilling their talent evaluation as they transitioned from high school to college.
Despite leading the state of Nebraska in scoring as a senior at Platteview High School in 2017-18, this is how Creighton head coach Jim Flanery’s description of Payton Brotzki’s game read in the media guide prior to her freshman season at CU:
“Payton is a very good all-around player that can affect the game in a lot of ways. The first thing that jumps out is how well she passes the ball, but she’s also pretty fearless at putting it on the floor and getting to the basket, and she is a good rebounding guard. Payton is a coach’s daughter who knows the game and really enjoys competing.”
Seven games into her senior season with the Bluejays, that analysis is as accurate now as it ever has been at any other point in her college career, and you wouldn’t know it by looking at the stat sheet.
This season the Papillion, Nebraska native is averaging 2.6 points per game and shooting 25.9% from the field, but Creighton is 5-2 and ranked 39th in the NET (second in the Big East behind UConn) in part because of Brotzki’s ability to make the right play at the right time.
“Payton’s been great all season,” sophomore guard Lauren Jensen said. “First of all, her passing ability is awesome. Her ability to squeeze passes into our posts and find shooters is one of the best, if not the best, on the team. And she crashes the glass hard every time and brings energy. She gets us going with the little things.
“It takes maturity to embrace that role and she does it really well.”
Her statistical output may not end up on the opposing scouting reports as the season goes on, but make no mistake about it, her fingerprints are all over the place in not only the team’s five wins, but their close losses on the road at Drake and Nebraska.
(Juszyk / WBR)
In the Jays’ 82-79 season-opening setback at Drake, Brotzki scored eight points, finished with a four-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio, and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers — including one with 3:45 to play that brought Creighton within a point for the first time since early in the first quarter.
She attempted eight shots that day, which is one more than she’s taken in the last three games combined. But in those three contests — all Creighton wins, by the way — she’s averaging 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and has six assists and just two turnovers.
In their most recent game — a 72-58 home win over Villanova — Brotzki had five points, three steals, and two rebounds (one offensive, one defensive) in the third quarter alone to help Creighton increase its halftime lead from nine to 23 heading to the fourth quarter.
And there is no question that CU has been a better defensive team this season when she’s on the floor. Not only are her eight steals tied for second-most on the team, but she’s the only player on the roster with at least as many takeaways as turnovers. With her on the floor, Creighton has allowed opponents to score just 0.82 points per possession. That number climbs to 0.93 when she’s on the bench.
“I think she’s played really the last three games,” Flanery said. “I thought she did a good job against Georgetown and Northern Iowa before that. She’s experienced enough that she knows what she can do defensively and what she can’t do. Her passing stands out, but she’s really active, and I love the way she’s defensive rebounding.”
The last component in her evolution is the hardest: role acceptance. She was a prolific scorer in high school, and throughout her college career the other facets of her game might be at risk on a day when her shot isn’t falling. This season she’s taken notice of Creighton’s diversity on the offensive end. Through seven games they’ve had four different leading scorers, and that doesn’t include starting point guard Tatum Rembao and her 11 career 15-point games.
“Knowing your role is super important on this team because we do have so many people that can score,” Brotzki said. “I know my role on this team and it’s to rebound, pass to our shooters, screen for them, and create plays. A big focus for me to stay on the floor is to rebound and play hard on the defensive end. I definitely think my mindset has shifted.”
Beginning with Sunday’s home game against Arizona State, Brotzki and the Jays will play four games in 10 days before Christmas break. They host the Sun Devils, who are 5-4 on the season and currently ranked 49th in the NET, at 1:00 p.m. at D.J. Sokol Arena.