By RENALDO DORSETT
Tribune Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
FREDRICK King and the no.9 ranked Creighton Bluejays are off to an expected undefeated start to the season.
The freshman big has averaged 7.3 points and five rebounds per game off the bench in his early transition to NCAA Division I basketball.
In game two, King finished with eight points and eight rebounds in just 14 minutes of a 96-61 win over South Dakota.
He followed with nine points and five rebounds in Tuesday night’s 94-65 win over Holy Cross.
“When I first came I was a shy guy but they’ve made me feel like a brother,” King said in the preseason. “Great culture, great coaches, great environment and positive people.”
Creighton continues their four-game home stand tonight against UC Riverside.
In exhibition play, King had 10 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in a 109-97 win over Drury.
The Bluejays were selected to finish number one overall in the Big East when the conference announced its preseason poll. They finished last season 23-12, fourth place in the Big East Conference regular-season standings, and runner-up in the league tournament.
After receiving an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament, they defeated San Diego State in the first round before they lost in the second round to eventual national champion Kansas Jayhawks.
“We’re trying to win the ‘Natty’ but for me I’m just trying to be a better me everytime I step on the court,” King said of the team and his individual goals this season. “We just have to stick together as a team, work for each other and have each other’s back.”
King joined a roster that returned three double figure scorers from last season, several players that received all-conference honours.
A 6’10” frontcourt player out of the NBA Academy (Latin America), he decided on the Bluejays over the BYU Cougars, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Utah Utes.
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