From the time Creighton started playing men’s basketball (1916-1917) through the 1959-1960 season, the Bluejays called the Vinardi Center home. CU went 336-92 in 42 seasons in the on-campus gym, which now stands as home to the basketball practice facility.
Each week of the Creighton men’s basketball season, WBR will catch up with a Creighton coach to report about practice and the state of the program.
This week, we poke our microphone into the huddled media masses at a midweek practice.
Greg McDermott, on his team’s improvements from last year to this year:
“I think it is experience. I think it is guys who were in the situation last year and who understand why this happened a certain way last year. Now you add a guy like Grant Gibbs into the equation, who has a great feel for the game and a great calmness about him on the floor, and that is going to help his teammates. I’m not sure we had that last year. I don’t think we had a personality that was that strong. Grant’s personality has really helped our team.”
McDermott, on whether his team has the advantage over St. Joe’s, who plays Wednesday night, because of the week between games:
“I think any advantage we have we lose because of where we’re playing. We are playing on campus in front of a full house, and there is a lot of energy in that arena. It seems to be a bit bigger version of Sokol Arena, it seats 4,200 and the people are loud and they have a good time with it. Sometimes, when you’re rolling, you’d just as soon play in three days than practice for four or five days. But I think it allowed us to get a little rest, get our legs back, and we’ll have a good plan going in. As important as it is to be fresh physically, we’ll be fresh mentally going in to the game, as well.”
McDermott, on averaging 87 points per game:
“We have the ability to play that way. The coach and coaching staff have to be able to adjust to the abilities of their players. My staff’s done a good job of that, figuring out what positions we can put these guys in to be most successful. Transition offense is an area where we have really thrived so far. But we have to continue to work on it, and it has to be a priority for us every day because those five or six baskets we’re getting every game in transition end up being huge for us.”
Gregory Echenique, on his production through seven games:
“I’m not disappointed. I hope it picks up more. I just work at it. At the same time, sometimes when we’re playing the way we are playing and things are going like they are you just have to play your role. That’s the main thing. We’re winning. If I can better my numbers, good. But I’m all about the team, so we’ll keep working on it that way.”
Echenique, on his size sometimes limiting what he can do defensively:
“I believe in college basketball they protect the players a lot, maybe more than they should. I’ve seen through my international play that once you leave college [the physical play] is different. The protected play holds me back a little bit, but I’ve got to play with what I’ve got.”
Josh Jones, on how good the team can be this season:
“We can be as good as our ears. We just need to listen to our coaches. Personally, I need to play my role, whatever my team needs me to do that given night. It isn’t about how many points I score. It is about what I can contribute at that very moment, and in that situation for my team. As long as everybody plays together and plays their roles, we’ll be successful.”
Jones, on coming off the bench, and what he brings in that role:
“Defensive energy. Being a spark off the bench. Obviously our starters, Grant [Gibbs] and Jahenns [Manigat] get tired, so I’ve got to pick up for them. I try to stop the other team’s best player or grab a couple rebounds or just make plays. I feel like I’m an X factor to keep our team going from where others left off. I just do whatever I’m needed to do to help us win each game.”
Grant Gibbs, on unselfish play and being among the nation’s leaders in assists per game:
“I think passing is contagious. I think our chemistry’s come a long way since the summer and since the beginning of the year. And we’re doing a great job shooting the ball; I think that’s one of the best things we’re doing. We are getting really good shots, and that’s helping us score a lot of points. We’re taking pride in our passing right now.”
Gibbs, on how difficult it is for opponents to handle Doug McDermott:
“He has such a unique skill set, and the way he scores is so different. For an opposing team he’s tough to scout. He can obviously step outside but he scores around the basket in such a unique way. You can try to body him but he’s very crafty and he can get to the line. Just the uniqueness of his offensive game makes him a matchup problem.”
Ethan Wragge, on getting back into a rhythm shooting the basketball:
“It took me a few games to get back into the swing of things, but it started to click and I got more comfortable with my role out there. Now when I’m open I just have to let it fly.”
Wragge, on playing in the low post when Gregory Echenique is on the bench:
“Considering the matchups we’ve been playing against it has worked pretty well so far, especially in the last two games. When I’m out there [in the low post] I just need to make sure I’m doing what the coaches need me to do.”
Wragge, on gaining experience in the low post now, ahead of Valley play:
“The Valley is always physical. My first year, I felt like I got pushed around. I told myself that was something I didn’t want to happen again. So playing these bigger teams [San Diego State, Nebraska] will help us prepare for the conference season ahead of us.”