Creighton 73, Wichita State 69
I love Creighton basketball. LOVE it. Therefore, weeks like the one that started with CU’s win over Wichita State are some of my favorite times of the year. Three home games in eight days against a triumvirate of some of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference. With just one month until Arch Madness in St. Louis, stretches like the one facing Dana Altman’s team now only make a squad tougher. Wins against teams like Wichita State do wonders for a unit’s budding confidence.
There is just something about hosting the Shockers that brings out the toughness and tenacity in Altman’s Jays. Altman has never lost to Wichita State in Omaha, and most of the contests have been physical battles displaying flaring tempers and big-time performances. Recent memories include Tyler McKinney’s game-winning coast-to-coast lay-up as a freshman in 2002, Larry House’s career-high 28 points on Senior Night in a 26-point CU win in 2003, and seniors Mike Lindeman, Mike Grimes, Brody Deren, and Joe Dabbert scoring 50 of CU’s 75 points in last year’s regular season-ending route of the Shockers.
Not only will last night’s victory join a long list of exciting and pivotal wins over Wichita State, but it helped to further establish a few facts about this Jays basketball season.
1. Anything can happen in this conference. I wrote before the SMS loss that the top four teams in the conference through nine games could be completely shuffled in a different order by the end of the regular season, and I still stand by that claim. At the time this article was published, Southern Illinois had put 89 points on Bradley and pulled into a tie with the Shockers in the loss column for first place in the Valley, and Northern Iowa had blown out Evansville to remain tied in the conference standings with the Jays. Creighton really controls their own destiny, with games against SMS, UNI, Wichita State, and SIU still to come, not to mention payback opportunities against Evansville, Indiana State, and Illinois State.
2. The Qwest Center is quickly becoming the Cardiac Q. This free throw shooting is getting ridiculous, but don’t expect it to drastically improve any time soon. The only guys that don’t look sped up at the line are Johnny Mathies and Jeffrey Day, which is ironic because a lot of the time those are two of the most hurried players on the floor. Don’t expect any of the home games the rest of the season to be blowouts either way, which means come to the Cardiac Q with a lot of intestinal fortitude and long fingernails – you’re going to need both.
3. Johnny Mathies is the most improved Bluejay this season. Everyone knew Nate Funk was due for his true breakout season, and most expected McKinney and Kellen Miliner to be serviceable backcourt players for Altman. But based solely on his transformation from bustled hard-luck starter last season to role-player-turned-starter this season, Mathies looks more comfortable and has found his true niche on this team. He is not as muscular, tall, or formidable as Ben Walker, but he is better offensively than DeAnthony Bowden and plays wonderful overall defense. His pull-up three pointer in transition early in the second half helped cut into Wichita State’s lead and set the tone for an explosive 10 minutes of Bluejay offense. He is just outside the top 10 in scoring per game in conference play (13 points per game) and is tied for second in conference games with 18 steals.
4. Jeffony Tolliday is quickly becoming a one-man show. I credit Anthony Tolliver for easing into his role and trying to improve on his play from game to game, and one of the most pivotal plays of the game was his touch pass to Jimmy Motz during Motz’s streak of three three-point bombs, but Day will have to continue his success of the last couple of games if the Jays intend to have any meaningful success in March.
It is difficult to remember that Day hasn’t played at the Division-1 level since the spring of 2003. I can’t remember the last time a Jay blocked six shots in one game, and my favorite rejection was his flat-out disrespect of Jamar Howard’s low-post game. With two minutes remaining in the game and the Jays holding an eight-point advantage, Howard tried to shake off a difficult offensive evening and score from the low blocks. He took to dribble with his back to the basket, but Day didn’t back down after excessive bodying from Howard. When Howard tried to pump fake and draw Day in the air, he failed, and when he tried a half-hearted jumper, Day sent it toward the stands of rowdy Jays fans. Just absolutely beautiful defense, and the 11,000 people at the Cardiac Q LOVED it. Altman and the rest of the coaching staff really need to get the most out of Day down the stretch, because he can alter shots and has finally put together back-to-back games where he doesn’t give up on his low-post moves if the shots aren’t falling early or if fouls aren’t being called regularly.
5. Have I mentioned the free throw shooting? Unbelievable.
The second game in this crucial home stand is Saturday night, when the Jays host SMS on “Get Blue” night. The Omaha Shootout is all day at the Q, with some of the best high school basketball teams from the Midwest taking the court. I’ll be there to watch Creighton recruit Josh Dotzler, and I hope to put together a piece on CU’s recruiting class in the next few weeks. “Get Blue” festivities run directly up to tip-off, which is an hour later than most night games (8 PM), which leaves an extra hour to “prepare” for the game – take advantage of the 24 oz. Bud Lights at the Big Bud Bar. Combine the “Get Blue” festivities, the late start, the Fox Sports Net television presence, and the good publicity of the win over Wichita State with the chance to appease last weekend’s loss the Bears, and I think this weekend’s game could be the loudest and most exciting experiences of the season.
Just don’t forget to bring the antacids and something to chew on – it promises to be another nail biter.
There is just something about hosting the Shockers that brings out the toughness and tenacity in Altman’s Jays. Altman has never lost to Wichita State in Omaha, and most of the contests have been physical battles displaying flaring tempers and big-time performances. Recent memories include Tyler McKinney’s game-winning coast-to-coast lay-up as a freshman in 2002, Larry House’s career-high 28 points on Senior Night in a 26-point CU win in 2003, and seniors Mike Lindeman, Mike Grimes, Brody Deren, and Joe Dabbert scoring 50 of CU’s 75 points in last year’s regular season-ending route of the Shockers.
Not only will last night’s victory join a long list of exciting and pivotal wins over Wichita State, but it helped to further establish a few facts about this Jays basketball season.
1. Anything can happen in this conference. I wrote before the SMS loss that the top four teams in the conference through nine games could be completely shuffled in a different order by the end of the regular season, and I still stand by that claim. At the time this article was published, Southern Illinois had put 89 points on Bradley and pulled into a tie with the Shockers in the loss column for first place in the Valley, and Northern Iowa had blown out Evansville to remain tied in the conference standings with the Jays. Creighton really controls their own destiny, with games against SMS, UNI, Wichita State, and SIU still to come, not to mention payback opportunities against Evansville, Indiana State, and Illinois State.
2. The Qwest Center is quickly becoming the Cardiac Q. This free throw shooting is getting ridiculous, but don’t expect it to drastically improve any time soon. The only guys that don’t look sped up at the line are Johnny Mathies and Jeffrey Day, which is ironic because a lot of the time those are two of the most hurried players on the floor. Don’t expect any of the home games the rest of the season to be blowouts either way, which means come to the Cardiac Q with a lot of intestinal fortitude and long fingernails – you’re going to need both.
3. Johnny Mathies is the most improved Bluejay this season. Everyone knew Nate Funk was due for his true breakout season, and most expected McKinney and Kellen Miliner to be serviceable backcourt players for Altman. But based solely on his transformation from bustled hard-luck starter last season to role-player-turned-starter this season, Mathies looks more comfortable and has found his true niche on this team. He is not as muscular, tall, or formidable as Ben Walker, but he is better offensively than DeAnthony Bowden and plays wonderful overall defense. His pull-up three pointer in transition early in the second half helped cut into Wichita State’s lead and set the tone for an explosive 10 minutes of Bluejay offense. He is just outside the top 10 in scoring per game in conference play (13 points per game) and is tied for second in conference games with 18 steals.
4. Jeffony Tolliday is quickly becoming a one-man show. I credit Anthony Tolliver for easing into his role and trying to improve on his play from game to game, and one of the most pivotal plays of the game was his touch pass to Jimmy Motz during Motz’s streak of three three-point bombs, but Day will have to continue his success of the last couple of games if the Jays intend to have any meaningful success in March.
It is difficult to remember that Day hasn’t played at the Division-1 level since the spring of 2003. I can’t remember the last time a Jay blocked six shots in one game, and my favorite rejection was his flat-out disrespect of Jamar Howard’s low-post game. With two minutes remaining in the game and the Jays holding an eight-point advantage, Howard tried to shake off a difficult offensive evening and score from the low blocks. He took to dribble with his back to the basket, but Day didn’t back down after excessive bodying from Howard. When Howard tried to pump fake and draw Day in the air, he failed, and when he tried a half-hearted jumper, Day sent it toward the stands of rowdy Jays fans. Just absolutely beautiful defense, and the 11,000 people at the Cardiac Q LOVED it. Altman and the rest of the coaching staff really need to get the most out of Day down the stretch, because he can alter shots and has finally put together back-to-back games where he doesn’t give up on his low-post moves if the shots aren’t falling early or if fouls aren’t being called regularly.
5. Have I mentioned the free throw shooting? Unbelievable.
The second game in this crucial home stand is Saturday night, when the Jays host SMS on “Get Blue” night. The Omaha Shootout is all day at the Q, with some of the best high school basketball teams from the Midwest taking the court. I’ll be there to watch Creighton recruit Josh Dotzler, and I hope to put together a piece on CU’s recruiting class in the next few weeks. “Get Blue” festivities run directly up to tip-off, which is an hour later than most night games (8 PM), which leaves an extra hour to “prepare” for the game – take advantage of the 24 oz. Bud Lights at the Big Bud Bar. Combine the “Get Blue” festivities, the late start, the Fox Sports Net television presence, and the good publicity of the win over Wichita State with the chance to appease last weekend’s loss the Bears, and I think this weekend’s game could be the loudest and most exciting experiences of the season.
Just don’t forget to bring the antacids and something to chew on – it promises to be another nail biter.
posted by Creighton Otter at 1:55 AM
1 Comments:
Congrats on the nice win. Enjoyed the write-up as well
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