Creighton 74, Bradley 65
Creighton finished the first half of Missouri Valley Conference play with a rousing and hard-fought road win over the Bradley Braves, finishing their second two-game sweep in conference play this season.
The Jays claimed victory despite committing 16 turnovers and losing the battle of the boards (by just one rebound). The Jays won despite Nate Funk being mugged, shoved, hip-checked, arm-checked, and elbow-checked (everything but Rice-Chexed) while scoring only two points in the first half, while clueless officials called phantom over-the-back fouls on Dennis Howard. And the Jays won without offensive contributions from forwards Dane Watts (1-6 from the field, 0-3 from long distance) and Jimmy Motz (1-5 from the field, 1-3 from long distance).
But it isn’t what the Jays didn’t do that's important. Dana Altman’s team forced twice as many turnovers in the second half than they did in the first. Altman’s guys also won the battle of the boards in the second stanza. Funk hunkered down, fought through countless grabs and pushes, and controlled the first five minutes of the second half (hitting three three-pointers and grabbing a rebound). And while their scoring didn’t materialize, Motz and Watts held All-Valley Marcellus Sommerville to 33% shooting from the field. Watts even recorded a career-high eight caroms.
Anthony Tolliver (of Jeffony Tolliday fame) finished some point-blank opportunities and scored as many points (seven) as he had chalked up in his previous three games. In five of his first seven games this season, Tolliver scored more than five points – including a career-high 13 points against Ohio State. His seven points against the Braves marked only the second time in his last 13 games that he tallied five or more points.
And then there is Kellen Miliner. He’s reminded me a lot of a phantom lately, partly because of the Phantom-of-the-Opera-type mask protecting his broken bone and partly because he’s disappeared at times in the past month. But after seeing his sweet shooting stroke somewhat return in the second half of the Illinois State debacle, Miliner capitalized on Bradley’s defensive attention on Funk and hit three of his most graceful and important three-pointers this season. Through Creighton’s first seven conference games, Kellen averaged a mere six points a contest. Needless to say, the Jays typically need more than six points from Kellen to consistently win Valley games.
What does all this mean? It means that while Creighton might have raised expectations of even some of their most level-headed fans with their torrid 8-1 start, this team is improving while they battle through the toughest Valley slate in years. I constantly have to remind myself of my expectations coming into the season, and I admit that after sweeping through the Guardians Classic and picking up the road win over Xavier I reassessed my outlook of this year’s team. Given the experience (or lack thereof – each player averages only about one year of Division-1 playing time), the team chemistry adjustments, the 13,000-person spotlight that is the Qwest Center crowd, and the dog-eat-dog Valley schedule, a level-headed Jays fan has to be pleased with the growth and development of this team.
Then again, as my parents, my buddy Panon, and the rest of the people in Section 123 can attest to, I’m not exactly the level-headed type. This team has the talent to finish in the top half of the Valley and make a good showing in St. Louis. It will take increased effort and tenacity to reach those goals, and I think Altman's team has those characteristics deep down inside. And I don't think I'm crazy for believing that.
COMING TOMORROW: A PREVIEW OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON.
The Jays claimed victory despite committing 16 turnovers and losing the battle of the boards (by just one rebound). The Jays won despite Nate Funk being mugged, shoved, hip-checked, arm-checked, and elbow-checked (everything but Rice-Chexed) while scoring only two points in the first half, while clueless officials called phantom over-the-back fouls on Dennis Howard. And the Jays won without offensive contributions from forwards Dane Watts (1-6 from the field, 0-3 from long distance) and Jimmy Motz (1-5 from the field, 1-3 from long distance).
But it isn’t what the Jays didn’t do that's important. Dana Altman’s team forced twice as many turnovers in the second half than they did in the first. Altman’s guys also won the battle of the boards in the second stanza. Funk hunkered down, fought through countless grabs and pushes, and controlled the first five minutes of the second half (hitting three three-pointers and grabbing a rebound). And while their scoring didn’t materialize, Motz and Watts held All-Valley Marcellus Sommerville to 33% shooting from the field. Watts even recorded a career-high eight caroms.
Anthony Tolliver (of Jeffony Tolliday fame) finished some point-blank opportunities and scored as many points (seven) as he had chalked up in his previous three games. In five of his first seven games this season, Tolliver scored more than five points – including a career-high 13 points against Ohio State. His seven points against the Braves marked only the second time in his last 13 games that he tallied five or more points.
And then there is Kellen Miliner. He’s reminded me a lot of a phantom lately, partly because of the Phantom-of-the-Opera-type mask protecting his broken bone and partly because he’s disappeared at times in the past month. But after seeing his sweet shooting stroke somewhat return in the second half of the Illinois State debacle, Miliner capitalized on Bradley’s defensive attention on Funk and hit three of his most graceful and important three-pointers this season. Through Creighton’s first seven conference games, Kellen averaged a mere six points a contest. Needless to say, the Jays typically need more than six points from Kellen to consistently win Valley games.
What does all this mean? It means that while Creighton might have raised expectations of even some of their most level-headed fans with their torrid 8-1 start, this team is improving while they battle through the toughest Valley slate in years. I constantly have to remind myself of my expectations coming into the season, and I admit that after sweeping through the Guardians Classic and picking up the road win over Xavier I reassessed my outlook of this year’s team. Given the experience (or lack thereof – each player averages only about one year of Division-1 playing time), the team chemistry adjustments, the 13,000-person spotlight that is the Qwest Center crowd, and the dog-eat-dog Valley schedule, a level-headed Jays fan has to be pleased with the growth and development of this team.
Then again, as my parents, my buddy Panon, and the rest of the people in Section 123 can attest to, I’m not exactly the level-headed type. This team has the talent to finish in the top half of the Valley and make a good showing in St. Louis. It will take increased effort and tenacity to reach those goals, and I think Altman's team has those characteristics deep down inside. And I don't think I'm crazy for believing that.
COMING TOMORROW: A PREVIEW OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON.
posted by Creighton Otter at 7:48 PM
3 Comments:
nice win last night, Blue Jays. Gotta root for those Jesuit universities!
I'm a huge fan so youmight like camp canine
A
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