The scene hurt my heart (and stomach for those who can’t stand this kind of images, which we will refrain from showing), on February 24, 2022: after involuntarily hitting Posh Alexander, the leader of St. John’s, attempting to intercept a pass, Ryan Nembhardunbalanced by the contact, fell to the ground.
A priori not particularly violent, the fall however abruptly changed the “freshman” season of the Canadian leader of Creighton: his right wrist was off axis because he had just fractured it.
A painful injury without being dramatic, but which obviously sounded a brutal end to his first university season (11.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists), and therefore his absence from the “March Madness”, during which his team will reach the second round before losing to Kansas, the eventual champion.
A little over a year later, after a “sophomore” season made of progress in all respects compared to his previous year (12.4 points, 4 rebounds and 4.8 assists), the little brother of Andrew, the Pacers rookie , is this time very present for the “March Madness”, within a squad of Creighton (#6) which is doing better than last year since it is qualified for the third round (against Princeton #15, at 02:00 overnight from Friday to Saturday).
” It’s an awesome feeling » he assured in this regard, he who is playing his first NCAA tournament after his absence from last year. ” I was watching from the sidelines last year, and it was tough. So obviously, I’m super excited to be part of it this year, with all these guys. We wanted to do better than last year, we succeeded and we are very satisfied. Personally, I worked hard to come back, to experience moments like these after missing them last year. »
Small man but great leader
Modest size, with his “small” 1m88 for 78 kilos, Ryan Nembhard is nevertheless the boss of this squad of Bluejays who can clearly dream of the “Final Four”, in an East region more open than ever after the premature exits of Purdue ( #1), Marquette (#2), Duke (#5) or even Kentucky (#6).
” It’s always a luxury to have a guy like him on your team, who is not only a playmaker, but also a leader you can rely on. “Assured winger Arthur Kaluma. ” Even if he is a head shorter than us! »
Pure stock playmaker like his big brother during his four years in Florida then Gonzaga, above all a manager but capable of taking the game, like his card against Baylor (#3) in the second round with a 30-point outing At 8/13 on shots and 10/10 on free throws, the native of Aurora, Ontario is therefore this reassuring figure who brings a stabilizing presence on the floor for his troop.
” A leader like ‘R2’ is the assurance of an attack that will turn. He is the heart of our attack, and as a team we operate according to his rhythm. “Added the back Trey Alexander, his friend in the” backcourt “. ” As soon as we look at him, we see him overtaking an opponent, finding an open player, giving an instruction in attack. He does everything to win. »
A feeling obviously also shared by Greg McDermott, the coach of Creighton.
” [La première fois que je l’ai vu], I said to myself: ‘But who is this little guy from Canada?’. I was under his spell from the start Doug’s father had fun recalling. ” His attitude never wavers. The kind of attitude you want from your playmaker, because it rubs off on the rest of the team. It is never out of control, never too high when things are going well, never too low when things are going badly. »
And the technician finally summed up very simply the importance in the device of the Bluejays of the youngest of the Nembhard siblings, who could join his brother in the professionals next year.
” Our guys are selfless enough to understand that if we’re in a sticky situation, we have to find a way to give him the leather, and then we have to get out of his way. concluded Greg McDermott.
