Creighton 67, Northern Iowa 66

Dana Altman’s actions spoke louder than words Saturday night. Wrap together Creighton’s close losses, frustrating defensive lapses, and lackadaisical rebounding, and all of those concerns seemed alleviated for a brief moment in time after Nate Funk’s game-winning jump shot on the road at Northern Iowa. And with all of those bothersome issues weighing on the striving perfectionist Altman, he was allowed to release a little steam.

If you watched the broadcast on local television, or were one of the Jays fans in Cedar Falls, you saw the ecstatic blue streak run across the UNI-Dome court after Funk’s shot hit the bottom of the net. That grown man running across the hard wood in a royal blue mock turtleneck, pumping his fists in the air, and skipping like one of his shocked Jays players was Altman – a man stoic in most media interviews, celebrity appearances, and public engagements. He displayed his excitement to KM3’s Travis Justice after Funk’s shot was reviewed by officials and deemed to be the game-clincher.

Altman began his brief interview by releasing an excited growl, visibly conveying how his coaching staff, players, and Jays fans all over felt about this win. He conveyed just how important this win was to his team, both with what he said and how he said it. They needed this one badly, because the proverbial shoe had been on the other foot so many times already this season.

Creighton has suffered three conference losses by a combined total of 10 points, with two of those two-point defeats coming on the road. All of those games were close through the first 20 minutes of action, with the Jays staking leads in all three of the games’ second halves. Inevitably, Creighton lost those leads, couldn’t hit free throws down the stretch, and allowed their opponents to get good looks at the basket in the waning minutes. Northern Iowa encountered each of these issues last night, and the Panthers learned what the Jays already knew – in this season’s Missouri Valley Conference, no team can afford that kind of play and expect to win, at home or on the road.

Altman, more than anyone else, knows just how important this win will prove to be. First, Altman’s teams have always struggled against UNI in Cedar Falls – six of his seven losses to the Panthers took place on the road. More importantly, in a Valley race that looks to be the tightest in recent years, any road wins are absolutely huge. Every team has its flaws, and it will be the teams with winning road records that are left standing in early March. There are no “gimmies” in the Valley this year – just ask Wichita State. I’m sure they’ll tell you that Creighton’s loss at Indiana State wasn’t a fluke.

Perhaps the biggest driving force behind Altman’s reaction was his team’s will. This wasn’t like the other close games (and close losses, for that fact). The Jays didn’t squander a big lead in the second half. They didn’t stop attacking the rim with dribble penetration. And they didn’t give up. In a season that looks to be nip-and-tuck the entire rest of the way, it is that kind of effort that will win ballgames.

An effort Altman would be quick – and loud – to applaud.

Thoughts...

• This is what I wrote in the review of Creighton’s victory over Drake. “For Creighton to succeed, [Johnny] Mathies needs to continue to drive the lane, shoot perimeter jumpers, and force the tempo of the game – even if it results in a few turnovers here and there.” I don’t intend to toot my own horn, but just to prove that I wasn’t kidding, take into account Mathies’ stats since retaking his starting role that was relinquished after last season ended. In his six starts beginning with the home victory over Bradley, Mathies averaged 12.5 points per game. In Creighton’s last three wins, he’s averaged 14 points per contest. These numbers don’t even take into account the 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals he added in the High Point game, which he started due to Funk’s shoulder injury.
  
  When you walk around the Qwest Center or talk to Jays fans around Omaha, they always comment on Johnny’s lack of control. People think he is careless with the ball, but in reality he averages only 1.5 turnovers per game (26 this season), while logging almost 24 minutes per game (fourth-most on the team). Compare that to the steady Tyler McKinney, considered to be one of the most reliable ball-handlers in the Valley. McKinney plays about 10 minutes more per game and averages 2.4 turnovers per contest (41 total).
  
  Mathies led the way for the Jays against UNI, scoring 18 points, dishing two assists, blocking one shot, and recording three steals. Most importantly, he hit both of his free throws and did not turn the ball over once. He’s tied for second in the Valley in steals, and he averages almost two takeaways per game. He fights through screens and picks, rarely gets lost on defense, and has even picked up his rebounding since moving back into the starting lineup. If Mathies can continue to play aggressive defense and draw some attention with his up-tempo offensive abilities, it will make life a little easier on Funk and the other consistent scorers.
  
  
• In an attempt to shake things up a little bit, Altman decided to start Jeffrey Day in place of Anthony Tolliver. Jeffony Tolliday was his same old collective self, however, going 2-10 from the field for four points and seven rebounds. Tolliday didn’t even draw a foul, and couldn’t take advantage of one of the Valley’s more undersized frontcourts. But that’s what Creighton fans have come to expect, which leads to my next thought.
  
  
• The guards need to carry this team. Not only is most of the college experience in the backcourt, but the majority of the scoring power rests in the hands of Funk, Mathies, and Kellen Miliner (who recorded another sub-par game on the offensive end). Anything that McKinney can add to this equation is icing on the cake, because it changes the offense entirely when he is driving to the lane and actually tries to put it in the basket. McKinney has always been able to finish in a crowd, and his 14 points against UNI were a mixture of dribble-drives and a couple of three pointers. Creighton's guards combined for 56 of Creighton’s 67 points, and they will need to continue this production for Creighton to succeed in the guard-driven Valley.
  
  
• No one in the Valley is invincible. Wichita learned that on the road in Terre Haute, and Southern Illinois needed a banked three pointer by center Josh Warren as time expired to beat a feisty Southwest Missouri State squad. Bradley almost blew a double-digit lead to Evansville in Peoria, and Illinois State – picked to finish last in the preseason media poll – drubbed up on Drake at home, pushing their record to 11-5 and 3-3 in conference play.