Creighton 68, Iona 62
Tuesday night’s game served as a reminder to all Creighton fans just how early in the season it is. Monday night’s game, albeit against a completely overmatched opponent, left Jays fans buzzing about the long-range future of this team. Tuesday, some of the buzzing sounded like the clanks coming off the rim from CU free throws.
Creighton defeated Iona 68-62 to win the Guardians Classic Regional Championship, but it did not come easy. The Jays shot just 36.5% from the field and committed 14 turnovers, while the Iona Gaels shot 47% from the field and gave the Jays all they could handle.
But the Jays won the battle of the boards, one of Dana Altman’s preaching points for victory, and they made the plays when they needed to. It didn’t hurt that Creighton shot 50% from beyond the three-point arc, connecting on 12 bombs.
Nate Funk was one rebound away from a double-double, leading all Jays with 18 points and 9 boards. Kellen Miliner and Johnny Mathies added 14 points each, and Jimmy Motz hit some big threes to finish with 12 points. He also led the team in “Korver Condor Arms” with three.
It was another solid game for the backcourt, as Tyler McKinney scored six points and added a team-high six assists, with just one turnover. Tyler hit his first and only bucket – a three – which sparked the Jays trifecta shooting in the first half.
Observations…
Free throws were horrible. Not more you can say than that. Motz is out there hitting 25-foot threes, but he goes 1-4 from the charity stripe. CU finishes 18-29 from the line, 62%, and could have put the game away numerous times after Iona fouls.
Nate and Kellen carried the load offensively again, but it was nice to see Johnny Mathies hitting some open shots. He has an unorthodox shooting form, but he hit a couple of threes early and the defense had to get out on him and respect his long-range shooting. That allowed him to dribble-drive and create for a couple guys. However, he still gets “DeAnthonied” a bit and doesn’t slow down at all the right times. He had three turnovers, but he offset those with three steals. Dana put Johnny on their best scorer in crunch time, and he did a great job – good ‘D’.
Also, Dana played Johnny and Tyler in the game at the same time, a few times with a third guard (Kellen, Nate) and a few times just as the two-person backcourt. I like the idea of having two solid ball handlers out there, especially at crunch time.
Jeff Day didn’t attempt a field goal, but he was fouled a couple times in the act of shooting and made 2-5 free throws. He played about 20 minutes, and had a couple boards, an assist, and a big block. I love his enthusiasm – every time Dana subs for him, Day gets a big smile on his face and shakes his head. He wants to be in there, and you can tell he wants to play the whole game. I guess sitting out of competitive basketball for a year will increase your hunger for playing time.
Speaking of playing time, Anthony Tolliver saw some but didn’t exactly capitalize on his minutes. 0-3 from the field, including a point-blank lay-up in a crucial spot in the game, and a couple of face-up jumpers. A couple turnovers, but he did add some boards and a block. I know AT didn’t play a lot of true post-up center in high school, but if Dana is going to play him at the 5, he is going to have to incorporate more than a 10-foot fade away jumper in his low-post arsenal.
Among the young guys, Tolliver and Dane Watts played the most, with Dennis Howard and Pierce Hibma each playing a couple of minutes. Steve Smith got in for one possession in the first half, which was long enough for the 8,500 people in attendance to realize he got a hair cut. He went from Funk-esq shag to Dabbert-style crop, and by the time Steve’s one minute of playing time was done, I don’t think half the people in the Q knew who had just played.
Speaking of Q, Quincy didn’t see the floor tonight. Nick Porter also didn’t play, as he continues to recover from knee surgery. Iona played a lot of zone once the Jays broke their press, and Quincy isn’t going to flourish a lot against the zone. Altman played a lot of his shooters, and Pierce and Quincy just wont get the minutes right now against a good zone defense.
Jays struggled at times last night, and were trailing by one at the half, but if they hit a couple of their missed free throws, this is a double-digit win and fans like me are not complaining. There are definitely some things to work on, but the defensive effort will get this team through the early parts of the season when the new guys are learning the offense on the run. Including the exhibition game, the Jays have shown solid defense – especially on the perimeter – and have dove for the loose balls.
CU will need a great effort next Tuesday, as they will face off against Missouri in the semifinal of the Guardians Classic. The Jays have a tune-up game on Saturday, however, with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and that will give Dana a much-needed opportunity to get some of the younger guys more familiar with game situations.
Mizzou will be tough next week, but CU should be able to put together a good effort against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and continue taking baby steps with some of the new guys. Funk and Kellen look lights out, though, and this team looks full of talent. They can win a good number of games this year, and they will win on Saturday. Just as long as we stop clanking the free throws around. Geez.
Creighton defeated Iona 68-62 to win the Guardians Classic Regional Championship, but it did not come easy. The Jays shot just 36.5% from the field and committed 14 turnovers, while the Iona Gaels shot 47% from the field and gave the Jays all they could handle.
But the Jays won the battle of the boards, one of Dana Altman’s preaching points for victory, and they made the plays when they needed to. It didn’t hurt that Creighton shot 50% from beyond the three-point arc, connecting on 12 bombs.
Nate Funk was one rebound away from a double-double, leading all Jays with 18 points and 9 boards. Kellen Miliner and Johnny Mathies added 14 points each, and Jimmy Motz hit some big threes to finish with 12 points. He also led the team in “Korver Condor Arms” with three.
It was another solid game for the backcourt, as Tyler McKinney scored six points and added a team-high six assists, with just one turnover. Tyler hit his first and only bucket – a three – which sparked the Jays trifecta shooting in the first half.
Observations…
Free throws were horrible. Not more you can say than that. Motz is out there hitting 25-foot threes, but he goes 1-4 from the charity stripe. CU finishes 18-29 from the line, 62%, and could have put the game away numerous times after Iona fouls.
Nate and Kellen carried the load offensively again, but it was nice to see Johnny Mathies hitting some open shots. He has an unorthodox shooting form, but he hit a couple of threes early and the defense had to get out on him and respect his long-range shooting. That allowed him to dribble-drive and create for a couple guys. However, he still gets “DeAnthonied” a bit and doesn’t slow down at all the right times. He had three turnovers, but he offset those with three steals. Dana put Johnny on their best scorer in crunch time, and he did a great job – good ‘D’.
Also, Dana played Johnny and Tyler in the game at the same time, a few times with a third guard (Kellen, Nate) and a few times just as the two-person backcourt. I like the idea of having two solid ball handlers out there, especially at crunch time.
Jeff Day didn’t attempt a field goal, but he was fouled a couple times in the act of shooting and made 2-5 free throws. He played about 20 minutes, and had a couple boards, an assist, and a big block. I love his enthusiasm – every time Dana subs for him, Day gets a big smile on his face and shakes his head. He wants to be in there, and you can tell he wants to play the whole game. I guess sitting out of competitive basketball for a year will increase your hunger for playing time.
Speaking of playing time, Anthony Tolliver saw some but didn’t exactly capitalize on his minutes. 0-3 from the field, including a point-blank lay-up in a crucial spot in the game, and a couple of face-up jumpers. A couple turnovers, but he did add some boards and a block. I know AT didn’t play a lot of true post-up center in high school, but if Dana is going to play him at the 5, he is going to have to incorporate more than a 10-foot fade away jumper in his low-post arsenal.
Among the young guys, Tolliver and Dane Watts played the most, with Dennis Howard and Pierce Hibma each playing a couple of minutes. Steve Smith got in for one possession in the first half, which was long enough for the 8,500 people in attendance to realize he got a hair cut. He went from Funk-esq shag to Dabbert-style crop, and by the time Steve’s one minute of playing time was done, I don’t think half the people in the Q knew who had just played.
Speaking of Q, Quincy didn’t see the floor tonight. Nick Porter also didn’t play, as he continues to recover from knee surgery. Iona played a lot of zone once the Jays broke their press, and Quincy isn’t going to flourish a lot against the zone. Altman played a lot of his shooters, and Pierce and Quincy just wont get the minutes right now against a good zone defense.
Jays struggled at times last night, and were trailing by one at the half, but if they hit a couple of their missed free throws, this is a double-digit win and fans like me are not complaining. There are definitely some things to work on, but the defensive effort will get this team through the early parts of the season when the new guys are learning the offense on the run. Including the exhibition game, the Jays have shown solid defense – especially on the perimeter – and have dove for the loose balls.
CU will need a great effort next Tuesday, as they will face off against Missouri in the semifinal of the Guardians Classic. The Jays have a tune-up game on Saturday, however, with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and that will give Dana a much-needed opportunity to get some of the younger guys more familiar with game situations.
Mizzou will be tough next week, but CU should be able to put together a good effort against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and continue taking baby steps with some of the new guys. Funk and Kellen look lights out, though, and this team looks full of talent. They can win a good number of games this year, and they will win on Saturday. Just as long as we stop clanking the free throws around. Geez.
posted by Creighton Otter at 9:55 AM
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