Will Creekmore — offensive catalyst?

For everyone who has watched Missouri State’s men’s basketball team this season, the following statement is going to seem like it’s sliding right out the side of my mouth, waiting for some type of jokey drum roll and cymbal crash. So, here it goes:

Will Creekmore is the most important offensive player on the Bears’ roster.

There, I said it. And I can’t believe I believe it.

To begin to wrap your head around this, let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Admit it, you think Creekmore is an awful offensive player. I’ve heard them all, and so has he. You think he gives statues personification. You think the only reason he takes so many charges is because he can’t get out of the way of quicker defenders. You don’t think you could slide a piece of paper underneath his shoes when he jumps to dunk. Maybe you didn’t think he could dunk.

But, if you watched Wednesday’s 76-66 victory over Evansville, MSU coach Cuonzo Martin wasn’t just allowing Creekmore time to post up and get the ball, he was running plays for the 6-foot-9 junior from Tulsa, Okla. Running plays. It’s incredible, really, especially for a guy whose average has jumped to 7.5 points per game from 6.1 after his last three games, which look like this, by the way:

• Evansville, 15 points, 5-7 FG, 5-5 FT
• Creighton, 12 points, 5-7 FG, 2-4 FT
• Evansville, 20 points, 7-12 FG, 6-9 FT

So, how can a guy who averages less than eight points per game and currently ranks sixth on the team in field goal attempts (107, off-the-bench Nafis Ricks has 112 in 42 less minutes), be the offensive catalyst? Easy, it’s a perception thing and, frankly, a calculated strategy from Martin.

In the Evansville press conference, Martin admitted he told his team to get the ball to the big guys inside. And with Caleb Patterson playing matador defense and not taking the ball directly to the basket, he essentially set Creekmore up for a post-offense showcase.

“What happens? The defense collapses and the shooters are able to get shots up, or (the post guys) get to the free throw line,” Martin said. “But what you also do, is get a level of confidence from your big guys to play and perform.”

That’s the kicker, confidence. Not to get too philosophical, but if perception is reality, then Creekmore looked like a stud. It’s like any reality TV “star.” If you see them on TV enough, they get on TMZ or Perez Hilton enough and draw paychecks enough club openings, their fame (infamy?) becomes solidified.

If you have a post player that puts pressure — whether or not it’s real — on the defense, then it makes scoring easier for everyone. Especially for guys like Jermaine Mallett, who isn’t comfortable being the man, Kyle Weems, who is yet to develop a top-notch one-on-one game, or Adam Leonard, who can drain jumpers from 30-feet, but isn’t necessarily a guy to take defenders off the dribble.

Even if all Creekmore does is draw a few fouls and/or get a few awkward post moves to fall, everyone else will reap the benefits. After Creekmore’s season-high 20 points, where he was “dealing” like a cross between Hakeem Olajuwon and Danny Moore, it sounds like the Frankenstein transformation is working.

“I’m going to try to take it at anyone who’s guarding me, it doesn’t matter who’s guarding me,” Creekmore said. “I’m not guaranteeing I’m going to dominate anybody, but I’m going to go hard at them and as long as I keep getting the ball on the blocks and getting 1-on-1, I’m going to go at them. If they double, I’m going to kick it out and play within myself and not try to do anything dumb.”

When asked about Creekmore’s recent emergence, Mallett alluded to Martin’s reaffirmed post mantra.

“Will always goes hard on defense, so coach always tells us to reward the big man,” said Mallett, who is third on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game.

Ah, defense. That’s another reason Creekmore is in this position. While he only averages a third-best 4.1 rebounds per game, he is the team’s best post defender. And that’s where Patterson comes in.

I asked Martin is Wednesday’s deliberate post feeding of Creekmore was a part of a message to Patterson, one that would show what kind of a payoff he’d get for more defensive intensity and a stronger post game (read: non-fadeaway jumpers). Martin laughed, but didn’t bite. While he redirected the question, he still made a statement.

“(Patterson) is a face up type of guy and we need production on the blocks, not jump shots.” Martin said, adding that Ryan Jehle got more minutes because of his defensive intensity. “Will did a good job of posting up deep and getting the ball inside. That’s why he stayed in because he was scoring the ball.”

It’s such a good message, one that rewards defense, rebounding, toughness and teamwork. Whether or not Martin is going to continue to pound the ball inside to Creekmore, or his message was received by Patterson, I think it’s one that could work. And don’t think for a second that Creekmore thinks he’s going to turn into the star of this club, especially with Northern Iowa 7-footer Jordan Eglseder coming to town Saturday.

“I’m not flashy,” said Creekmore, who said he averaged 25 points at Edison High School in Tulsa as a senior. “I’m not going to score a ton of points, or get a lot of dunks, but I’m going to do my best to be productive. I have the capability to score 15-17, but if that’s not what it takes, I’ll do whatever.”

As we’ve discussed before, the Bears are in need of a go-to guy. And while there’s no doubting that guy is not Creekmore, he could help the Bears find one by the time the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament rolls around on March 4. If that happens, as uneven as the Bears have been, they could be capable of making a run to the finals. And just think, maybe Creekmore could get the whole process started.

That’s no joke.

Do you agree with Allen Vaughan? Like it? Hate it? Want to get in touch with him? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.