IU finishes preseason easily
Freshman Creek propels Hoosiers to early lead, victory
BLOOMINGTON – Maurice Creek grabbed two rebounds and forced a turnover in the first three minutes of Monday’s exhibition against Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) College.
The Indiana freshman guard’s contributions were just starting. Creek finished with 16 points and seven rebounds in the Hoosiers’ 95-67 victory in front of 15,289 fans at Assembly Hall.
“I thought he looked comfortable,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said. “He’s really buying into the defensive energy setting the tone for his game.”
Creek seemed more active in IU’s second, and final, exhibition game of the season. He took over in spurts, helping the Hoosiers jump to a quick double-digit lead that never vanished.
“I was really impressed with how aggressive he was on the backboards,” Crean said. “ … I thought he really drove the ball well. Maurice is a smart player. He’s played a lot of basketball at a high level getting to college. He did a good job of letting the game come to him.”
Getting to the basket became a priority for Creek, who finished with as many points as turnovers, five, in Wednesday’s exhibition opener against Grace.
“I didn’t shoot the ball well and relied on my jump shot (Wednesday),” Creek said. “(Monday), I tried to prove that I’m more than a jump shooter.”
On Monday, he didn’t have any turnovers. Creek showed his ability to do a little bit of everything midway through the first half. First, he collected a rebound off a miss by sophomore Verdell Jones III and followed with a layup.
Then, on the other end of the court, he rebounded a three-point attempt by Saint Joseph’s Austin Peebles, leading to a basket by junior Jeremiah Rivers. The Pumas called a time-out after the layup, two of the Hoosiers’ 20 fast-break points that gave IU a 32-18 lead with 7:53 remaining in the first half.
“Coach said, ‘You’re going to make it through. You’re going to play better. You’re just getting used to it.’ ” Creek said. “(Monday), we showed him that we got used to how we did in the first game and brought it to the second game.”
Creek was one of four Hoosiers to reach double figures in scoring. Rivers and Jones each had 15 points. Freshman Christian Watford added 13 points. Freshman Derek Elston scored eight points. Freshmen Bawa Muniru, in his first appearance of the preseason, and Jordan Hulls each finished with seven points. The regular season starts Friday against Howard.
Indiana’s biggest questions entering this season centered on its retooled defense.