Illinois State 82, Creighton 77 (OT)

Before Creighton’s loss to Illinois State at the Qwest Center, I was enjoying a choice beverage with a couple of close friends. We were awaiting the tip-off, loitering in our seats during warmups waiting for the teams to go back to the locker rooms and anxious for Pierce Hibma’s highlight reel to be shown on the Jumbotrons. As the Redbirds made their way from the tunnel to the court before the national anthem, ISU Head Coach Porter Moser walked gingerly to the visitor’s bench with a smile and a look of determination. I shouted "go get em’ Porter" as he walked past me, and through all of the pre-game strategies bouncing around his brain he heard me, acknowledged me, and kept walking.

It is always nice to see Moser, because he reminds me of some of the first CU teams that I truly followed with a passion. And I enjoy that a guy like him can come back to Omaha and be warmly received. But the real reason I wished him success was because I didn’t actually think he would leave Omaha with a win.

I figured his guys were still a year or so away from winning big Missouri Valley Conference road games, and I also factored into the equation Creighton’s recent two-game winning streak and the fact that I didn’t think the Jays would let a must-win home game slip from their grasps.
After the first 10 minutes of the first half, I was glad I’d wished Porter success, because he had to be absolutely flabbergasted by the offensive explosion Creighton unleashed after the opening tip. The Jays were scorching hot, hitting 10 of their first 12 shots and finishing the first half shooting 53% from the field. Chip in five three-pointers, and the crowd settled into what they thought was going to be a blow out.

I got the feeling that almost everyone in the Q was surprised that the Jays only took a five-point lead into the locker room at half. Creighton had finished even with the Redbirds in rebounding, but the defense was not there. The Jays were actually outperformed in the first 20 minutes, as Illinois State shot 57% from the field. Trey Guidry, a transfer from North Carolina State, poured in 18 first-half points, besting Nate Funk’s 14 points and giving Creighton a thorn in its side that would prove to be fatal.

In the second half, Funk continued his torrid shooting, adding nine more points and further establishing himself as one of the best players in the league. But he got some help too, with Kellen Miliner breaking out of a funk (1-5 from the field in the first half) and scoring seven points in the second stanza. However, those were the only Jays who really made a difference offensively in the half, and Illinois State systematically chiseled away at the lead.

And what happened next surely will go down as one of the most unexpected losses in the short history of the Qwest Center. Things seemed peachy when Hibma nailed a three-pointer and Miliner added a jump shot with two minutes left to play, staking the Jays a six-point lead and some energy from another huge home crowd. But in the last 120 seconds, the Jays failed to hit the front end of a one-and-one at the free throw line and complicated matters further by turning over the ball with a three-point lead and 14 seconds to play. All I could think of was last year’s Nebraska NIT game and the last two Southern Illinois battles, and how Creighton had once again failed to seal the deal – they had a game seemingly in hand, and we dropped it.

Obviously, momentum was wearing red after Neil Plank’s steal and Trey (did his parents name him that because they knew he was going to hit big shots) Guidry’s 28-foot three-pointer sent the game into overtime. And it was easy to understand the red-eyed anguish that befell a few of the die-hards in my dad and my section – the look of frustration with a team that could legitimately be 15-4 right now and cruising right along in the top of the Valley standings. Plus, a lot of the people at Saturday night’s game realized just how tough things could get in the next month.

With one month left in the Valley regular season schedule, Creighton faces one of the toughest stretches of conference games in recent memory. Chalk that up to the highly-competitive Valley and the highly-confusing Jays squad that seems to play even with their opponent no matter the skill level, talent difference, or court advantage/disadvantage. Road trips to Bradley and Southwest Missouri State and Wichita State and Southern Illinois bookend a home slate featuring Wichita State, SMS, and Northern Iowa coming to Omaha in one-week span. The next time Creighton will likely be favored will most likely be the last two home games of the season (Evansville and Indiana State), depending on who they draw for ESPN’s Bracket Buster Saturday (Feb. 19).

But I’m trying to bask in the opportunities of this season, rather than focus on the frustrations. Creighton will be in the spotlight of college basketball’s biggest star – ESPN – three times in the next month, with a chance to gain much-needed attention for a mid-major program always on the prowl for the media spotlight. And, each of the remaining games are almost guaranteed to be gut wrenching and exciting. Plus, the trials and tribulations of a rough Valley schedule, coupled with the earlier successes in non-conference play, will prepare Dana Altman’s squad for post season play – starting with Arch Madness.

So from now on, the only coach I wish good luck to is Altman, and the only Creighton heroes I root for are the current Jays – guys like Tyler McKinney, Funk, and Miliner that have shined before, and the inexperienced guys that might be heroes yet this season. And no more fraternizing with the other coaches, no matter how well they represent Creighton’s quality basketball program.