Chicago State Cougars
Sunday, November 16, 4:30pm
Omaha
Last Season: The Cougars went 13-19 a year ago, though they finished 8-8 in the WAC, giving them a respectable third-place finish in their first year in the league. It was their best record since 2008-09, when they went 19-13 as an independent (incidentally, that’s their only winning record since 1985, and just the second since moving to D1 in 1984.) Yikes.
Last Meeting/All-Time Series: Last December 29, Creighton defeated Chicago State 90-58 in Omaha. It was the third all-time meeting between the schools, and CU has won all three. Notably, Zach Hanson had a big game against the Cougars, scoring nine points with two rebounds and two blocks while going 4-4 from the field, all in just nine minutes of action.
Head Coach: It’s been a tough building process — “re” building infers there was actually something to build on — for Tracy Dildy. Taking over a program with just one winning season since 1985, his teams have had records of 6-26, 4-26, 11-22 and 13-19.
Top Returners: Just one starter is back from last year’s squad. Second-leading scorer Clarke Rosenberg, a 6’4″ senior point guard, averaged 14.0 points, 2.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds a game a year ago. He was right on average in their game at Creighton last December, scoring 14 points on 5-8 shooting, though he struggled running the offense, dishing out just one assist while turning it over three times. Rahjan Muhammad, a 6’0″ guard, missed most of last season with injuries and played in only 11 games. When he did play, he was a solid sixth-man and provided 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds a game.
Key Losses: Quinton Pippen, the Cougars leading scorer a year ago at 15.2 points per game and nephew of Bulls great Scottie, is gone. So is Matt Ross, their leading rebounder at 7.5 boards a game. Third leading scorer Nate Duhon, who scored 9.4 points a game, is also no longer around.
Key Additions: Faced with replacing four starters, the Cougars went heavy on the JuCo route during the offseason. The Cougars added JuCo transfers Devin Foster (6’4″, 185 lb. guard), Jesse Tesmer (6’8″, 225 lb. forward), Jawad Adekoya (6’6″, 190 lb. guard) and Kieran Woods (6’2″, 200 lb. guard). They also add four true freshmen: Joshua Meier, Anthony Glover, Montana Byrd, and Elijah Robertson.
Foster is by far the marquee name in the huge class. He was one of the top prospects in the state of Illinois in 2012 before going to Mott Community College in Michigan for two years, and averaged 7.6 points and 4.9 assists per game as a sophomore. Foster hit 52% from the field, and is penciled in as a combo guard.
Among the freshmen, Glover probably has the most potential. Playing for St. John’s Jesuit in Ohio, he led them to a state runner-up finish in Division 1 with 17.6 points, 3.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds a game. He’s projected to be a starter from Day One for the Cougars.