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Creighton Basketball: Maurice Watson Jr. finished for the season with torn ACL

By Carmine Carcieri

Jan 11, 2017; Omaha, NE, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Maurice Watson Jr. (10) shoots over Butler Bulldogs forward Tyler Wideman (4) at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Creighton defeated Butler 75-64. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Omaha, NE, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Maurice Watson Jr. (10) shoots over Butler Bulldogs forward Tyler Wideman (4) at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Creighton defeated Butler 75-64. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Creighton basketball lost the heart and soul of their team on Tuesday, as Maurice Watson Jr. announced that he is done for the season.

Just when everything seemed to be going right for Creighton, the Bluejays suffered a massive setback on Tuesday.

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Senior point guard Maurice Watson Jr. announced on his Twitter that he has a torn ACL and is done for the rest of the 2016-17 season. The significant injury also ends Watson college career in disappointing and depressing fashion.

This is devastating news. Not just on the court for Creighton, but in the locker room as well. Watson isn’t just any player because he’s truly irreplaceable.

The point guard is the heart, soul and engine of Creighton’s basketball team, as he makes his teammates better and creates openings due to his elite penetration skills. On top of that, Watson has drastically improved his three point shot this season, is the centerpiece of Creighton’s transition attack (he’s one of the fastest players with the ball that you will ever see), and is an important voice on and off the court.

Watson averaged 12.9 points, 8.5 assists (best mark in the nation) and 2.6 rebounds per game this season, while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 47 percent from downtown.

But again, his value goes beyond just his numbers.

If you look at Creighton’s roster, they don’t have another true point guard that can run the show. Sure, Isaiah Zierden stepped in against Xavier and handled the ball, but that’s not his true position and he cannot do that for 40 minutes a game. Freshman Davion Mintz stands at 6’4″ and will likely handle more minutes with Watson out, but is he really ready for the big stage? Will Greg McDermott really feel comfortable using him in key situations?

It’s highly unlikely, at least for now.

The good news is that Watson will still be in the fold. He’s going to be around his teammates. His voice will likely be heard from the bench. And his energy and emotion will still be felt.

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However, the Bluejays, who were a Final Four contender and a serious threat to win a National Championship with Watson, no longer have a true realistic shot to make it that far in the Big Dance. They will still be one of the best teams in the Big East, but it’s not practical to do major damage in March without their leader, point guard and best all around player.

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