Creighton's Watson limiting miscues after tough run

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By Steven Pivovar / World-Herald staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, December 29, 2015 1:00 am

Watson limiting miscues after tough run

After struggling to adjust early this season, Creighton transfer guard Maurice Watson has 31 assists and 5 turnovers the past four games.

Creighton figured it was getting a player in guard Maurice Watson who knew how to distribute the basketball.

In 2 seasons at Boston University, Watson recorded 410 assists. As a sophomore during the 2013-14 season, he ranked third nationally in APG (7.1) and AST (248).

Five games into his first season with the Bluejays, Watson was still dishing out assists at a high rate. He also was committing turnovers at an alarming rate, raising concerns in some corners about his ability to transition to a higher level of competition.

One group that never lost faith in him was his teammates.

“We have a lot of faith in Wop,” said Creighton guard Isaiah Zierden, referring to Watson by his nickname. “We know he’s going to make some mistakes, but most of the time it’s going to be like what we’ve seen these last nine games.”

In the past eight games, Watson has recorded 54 assists and committed only 13 turnovers for an excellent 4.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He has been even better in the last four games, registering 31 assists to just five turnovers.

“He’s doing everything you want your point guard to do,” coach Greg McDermott said.

McDermott’s faith in Watson never wavered in that rough five-game opening stretch in which the junior from Philadelphia committed 19 turnovers while recording 29 assists.

McDermott knew some of the early problems were undoubtedly tied to Watson having to adjust to a new style of play, new teammates and a new league. That led to what the coach called uncharacteristic turnovers, the kind he hadn’t seen from Watson since he joined the program in June 2014.

“I think he’s just become more comfortable with our offense and where his teammates are and what their strengths are,” McDermott said. “He’s done a much better job over these last nine games of reading situations.”

Watson sees another reason for the rise in assists and the reduction in turnovers. Early in the season, he said, he was thinking he had to be more of a scorer to help the Bluejays.

“I was trying to score too much at the beginning of the season,” he said. “I was getting myself into trouble by dribbling in too deep and rushing and not being poised.

“I think I’ve adjusted well to the length of the big guys. They’re taller and they’re more athletic than in the Patriot and America East.”

McDermott and Watson also spent a good deal of time watching film together, breaking down the physical and mental parts of what produced good and bad plays.

“I have a better understanding of what he wants me to do now,” Watson said. “I’m just trying to go out there and execute everything that we talked about, and I think I’m doing that well now.”

During those film sessions, coach and player also talked a lot about the demands of leadership that have been thrust upon Watson, partly because of the position he plays and partly because of his personality.

McDermott tried to get across the point that the responsibilities that come with being a leader are a 24/7 proposition.

“If you’re in that position, you can’t have bad days,” the coach said. “You can’t sit in the locker room, not feeling like practicing that day and giving that vibe to your teammates.
“When you’re a leader, your teammates have to know what to expect from you on a daily basis. He’s done a much better job of that the last three weeks, of bringing a consistent effort and consistent attitude to practice on a daily basis.”

Even though Watson has concentrated on other aspects of the game, he remains Creighton’s scoring leader with a 12.5 PPG average heading into Big East play.

“I think there were times early when he was looking for his shot, and I still want him looking for his shot,” McDermott said. “I don’t want him to be unaggressive.
“I want him attacking the rim, and if they go under a ball screen, I want him shooting that 15-footer every single time. He’s in the gym every day working on that.”

Creighton opens Big East play Thursday at St. John’s. Watson starts conference play second in APG (6.4) to Providence’s Kris Dunn (7.3).

Watson also ranks sixth in assists-to-turnovers ratio (2.6 to 1). Dunn stands seventh at 2.5 to 1.

“Maurice is making great decisions with the basketball and really distributing at a high rate to his teammates,” McDermott said. “I think he’s a real gem and a lot of fun to coach.”
Contact the writer:
402-679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com, twitter.com/PivOWH