Reigning Missouri Valley Conference defensive player of the year Gregory Echenique might not need much help clogging the paint, redirecting shots and collecting rebounds next season, but he might get it anyway.

When the pink-shoed Venezuelan needed a breather or found himself in foul trouble last season, coach Greg McDermott had few options to turn to. Either Will Artino, then a redshirt freshman, would do his best to provide relief or Doug McDermott would shift to center, where he is outsized.

This season, the elder McDermott will have to make the same decision, but he will have bigger, more reassuring options. Artino returns as the established back-up at center after averaging over three points and two rebounds in a little more than seven minutes per game a year ago. Now standing beside him is Creighton’s first seven-footer since Bill O’Dowd left in the early 90s — Geoff Groselle. The 7-foot Texan hopes to use his size and skill to carve out his own slice of the playing-time pie after redshirting last season.