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 playing Northwestern in Omaha:
“They had their way with us last year in Chicago. This is an opportunity for us to see how far we’ve come. With the exception of their point guard from last year, they really have about everyone back. They’re off to a great start at 10-1, and it will be a fun way for us to end our non-conference schedule.”
Creighton Head Coach Greg McDermott (Streur/WBR)
McDermott, on defending the Princeton offense:
“What makes it difficult is we don’t see it every year in our conference play. Teams in the Big Ten, once they see it, the next time it rolls through they kind of know what to expect and they can quickly get their players on the same page. Last year we had a one-day prep for Northwestern. Today’s preparation is going to be really important for that reason, just making sure that there is no uncertainty. We have to have it down by the time practice is done this afternoon.”
McDermott, on going into conference play on a winning note:
“It is important first because you’re going on a couple day break, and it would be nice for the guys to have a smile on their face during that time. And also we are playing a team that has done a good job during non-conference play and have positioned themselves with a decent resume, and we don’t get very many opportunities to play teams like that especially on our home floor. This is a very important game for both teams, and any team worth its salt has to protect its home floor. That’s why we need a great crowd in here tomorrow night.”
McDermott, on growing into the position at Creighton:
“We’re just more comfortable because this is our second time through with each other with a lot of the guys. They have a better understanding of what I’m all about, and I’ve learned how to coach them better because I know more about them and their strengths and weaknesses. We love Omaha. We love Creighton University. The fan base in Omaha has been incredible, and it has been neat to be a part of.”
McDermott, on knowing the guys better:
“A trip like the Bahamas this summer, as valuable as it was for them, it was an opportunity for them to see me with my guard down on somewhat of a vacation and for me to see them in the same light and spend some time with them that isn’t all basketball related. That was very valuable for me, as well.”
McDermott, on how much of Thursday night’s outcome is dictated by defending Northwestern’s style versus asserting Creighton’s style of play:
“We are spending a lot of time in practice on them, obviously. But we have to play the way we are going to play. We have to get out and run, we have to push the ball, we want to dictate the tempo. We want to get the ball inside, which is always going to be a focus of ours. But we have to be careful. We can’t give up transition baskets like we did last year. I felt that some mistakes we made the [John] Shurna converted in transition were the different in the game. We defended their actions pretty well. It is going to be important that we do that again tomorrow night.”
McDermott, on the pressure of playing against a guy like John Shurna:
“Northwestern’s offense is predicated on waiting for you to make a mistake and then taking advantage of it. John Shurna reads those situations as good as anybody. As soon as you make a mistake on a screen, he’s going to make you pay for it. He has the ability to make the three-point shot, and he can make those in bunches, yet he is crafty and can get to the basket and do some things off the dribble. And he’s dangerous in transition. There’s a reason he’s scored the amount of points he’s scored; he’s a very talented young man.”
McDermott, on what’s on his Christmas list:
“I haven’t even thought about it. Haven’t done any shopping. All I need is a win against Northwestern and my Christmas will be fine.”
McDermott, on a memorable Christmas gift he got:
“There was a time, when I was maybe nine years old, when I wanted a fishing pole for Christmas. And my two older brothers packaged a Chicago Bears poster in the shape of a fishing pole. And I hate the Chicago Bears. So here it is under the tree for two weeks, and I’m thinking ‘I’m getting my Zebco’, and out comes the Super Bowl Shuffle, so I wasn’t real pleased with it.”
Doug McDermott, on how prepared they feel they are to play Northwestern after seeing different styles this season:
“I feel like we’re pretty prepared. We played them last year so they style isn’t completely new to us. But they have some really skilled players so it should be a good challenge.”
All the McDermotts want for Christmas is a win over Northwestern (Mike Spomer/WBR)
Doug, on how much of it is adjusting to their style, versus having them play your style:
“A little bit of both. They do what they do really well. They don’t spend a ton of time on their defense, I don’t think, but they definitely have their offense down. The way we play, we’re probably faster and I don’t think they’ve seen that much this year. So I think if we can run the floor and do what we do we should be fine.”
Antoine Young, on playing a team with the style of offense they run:
“It is very difficult, especially with the principles we have this year. We’re always up and denying everything, so it is kind of hard to get away from your principles and stay back and not give up back cuts. It is hard to not let those give you trouble.”
Young and the other Jays must adjust to Northwestern's offense. (Adam Streur/WBR)
Young, on how much of the game Thursday is about pushing Creighton’s style of play, versus reacting to Northwestern’s:
“Obviously, a lot. Usually I’m up pressuring the ball, even getting pressure on the ball in the full court. Now it will be more sitting back, worrying about some back cuts. It is a tough offense to defend, just because it is constant movement and constant back-door cuts, and it goes completely against our defensive principles. But we have to get it down.”
Grant Gibbs, on what practice has been like preparing for the Princeton offense:
“It’s been tough. We have to throw most of our defensive principles out and guard them completely different. We have to be really focused and that’s the biggest thing; every possession, to be dialed in to what they are doing and not make mistakes.”
Gibbs says practicing for the Wildcats has been tough (Mike Spomer/WBR)
Gibbs, on what changes they need to make on defense:
“Usually we are trying to get in the gaps and defend the ball, but that just plays right into them getting back cuts and being able to run right behind handoffs and knock down shots. We have to try and avoid giving up easy buckets. They will run their sets the duration of the shot clock, so we have to be ready to defend for 35 seconds and not make mistakes, because they try to feed off those.”