Groselle’s patience paying dividends for Creighton

By PAUL GOTHAM

That Geoffrey Groselle could contribute to the Creighton Bluejays was not the question. It’s whether he would get the chance.

Slowed by injuries during his first three seasons on campus, Groselle is taking full advantage of his last opportunity.

“Now we’re seeing what he’s capable of when he’s healthy,” Creighton head coach Greg McDermott said during a Big East tele-conference. “It’s unfortunate that he’s had the setbacks that he’s had during his career. I think a lot of young people would turned somewhere else and thrown in the towel. But to Geoff’s credit he’s continued to work. He’s done what our medical team has asked. He’s managed it extremely well.”

Playing 21 minutes a game, the 7-o center leads the Bluejays with 6.1 rebounds, and he is scoring 11.6 points a game.

“What’s really paid off is his patience,” McDermott added. “In this day and age of instant gratification and what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world these kids live in, for him to be patient enough to get back on his feet and get healthy and wait his turn is a real credit to Geoff.”

Surgery to relieve the discomfort caused by the Achilles tendon in both of his legs limited Groselle to 47 total minutes as a redshirt freshman and 49 the following year.

Currently, Groselle ranks third in the country, among players averaging at least five attempts a game,with a field goal percentage of 71.2. Earlier this season, the Plano, Texas native connected on 21 straight shots falling just five short of the NCAA record.

“We saw signs late in the season last year of what he’s capable of when he’s healthy,” McDermott added. “For the first time really since he’s been here he was able to have an off-season where he could train consistently and work at some of the weaknesses in his game. Up until that point most of his off-seasons were spent rehabbing and resting and just trying to manage the injury.”

Groselle notched his first career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds against Loyola (Chicago) earlier this season. Per KenPom, he ranks top 50 in the nation with Offensive Rating (estimate of points produced per 100 possessions) of 127.9.

It comes as no surprise that Groselle leads Creighton converting offensive rebounds into putbacks. Of his 94 field goals this season, 21 have come as the result of his work on the offensive glass. Hoop-Math notes that Groselle hits 70 percent of these opportunities.

“Now it’s to the point where he could work on his game and add a few things to his game,” McDermott stated. “With that comes confidence. With that repetition without question you become a more confident basketball player. You’re able to fight through the tough times a little bit better.”

Creighton hosts Seton Hall in Big East action on Saturday. A 7:01 tip off is scheduled. The game will be televised on Fox Sports.