Creighton 61, Xavier 59
R.I.P. Jeffony Tolliday
Ladies and Gentlemen, we come together today to put to rest the very first (and maybe only?) inside joke spawned by Bluejay Basketball – Jeffony Tolliday.
During the last year and a half, Jeffony Tolliday has given readers numerous memories – both good and bad – and stands as a symbol of both promise and frustrations for the hundreds of readers who became familiar with Jeffony’s exploits on the basketball court.
It all started in last year’s win against High Point. Jeffony Tolliday was born, more out of necessity than any other reason. Just two games previous to the 19-point win against High Point, Anthony Tolliver recorded a double-double in Creighton’s overtime victory against Ohio State in the Guardians Classic championship game. This was Anthony’s first taste of success as a Bluejay, but unfortunately he would be unable to prolong that success for long stretches of last season.
After the High Point game, Jeff Day and Anthony Tolliver continued to share minutes in the post position. Day recorded his best game as a Jay in a loss against Missouri State, but it was just that – a loss. After the Jays dropped that game to the Bears, they lost only twice more in the regular season, and Jeffony Tolliday’s steady play had a lot to do with Creighton’s late-season success.
Tolliday disappeared in Creighton’s NCAA tournament loss to West Virginia, combining for just 4 points in 40 minutes.
Then the season was over, and Jays fans were left to ponder what part of Jeffony Tolliday – if any – would break the mold in 2005-2006. Luckily for Jays fans, it wouldn’t take long.
The “A-Train”
Don’t be sad, Jays fans. While we are losing a fictional character, a figment of our imaginations, we are gaining something much more powerful – an All-Valley post player.
Meet Anthony Tolliver. Not the Tolliver that slugged his way through his freshman year, slowed initially by injuries in preseason conditioning and two-a-day practices, and then by seemingly unending confusion during games. Rather, meet the Tolliver Jays coaches and insiders were extremely excited about when they signed the highly-touted recruit from Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo High School in 2003.
Meet the Tolliver Dana Altman challenged midway through last season, who responded starting with Creighton’s home win against Wichita State and started focusing on the fundamentals – rebounding, defense, being in the correct position to make things happen.
I’ve had two people talk about burying Jeffony Tolliday in the last two days, after Anthony’s career night against Xavier; the first, a fellow Jays fan who posts regularly on The Bluejay Café message board, and the second, my lovely girlfriend and fellow Jay fanatic.
And why not? All Anthony has done this season is average 12 points, 7 rebounds, and just under 2 blocked shots per game, while averaging 24 minutes on the court each night.
But the victory over Xavier put the final nail in Jeffony Tolliday’s coffin.
Anthony scored a career-high 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds (including 6 offensive boards), made 8 of 9 free-throw attempts, and helped shut down Xavier’s Brian Thornton, the Musketeers’ leading scorer.
The junior is becoming a fan favorite, due in part to an intoxicating concoction of enthusiasm (his condor-arm waves when the Jays need crowd support), intimidation (he’s wiped 12 opponent shots with blocks, and he has thrown down some nasty dunks), and hard work (he’s gotten stronger and better in every facet of his game).
Even the Creighton Athletic Department is jumping on the A-Train; before Anthony was headed to the free-throw line late in the game against Xavier, and as the Jays came out of an official’s time out, the Qwest Center DJ played The Quad City DJs’ 1996 hit “C'mon 'N Ride It (Da Train).” And you know what, it fit perfectly.
With Nate Funk injured and Johnny Mathies being asked to take on even more of the perimeter scoring, Altman needed a big fella to establish himself down in the paint. Anthony leapt out from the shadow of Jeffony Tolliday, and now he’s in position to become one of the best post players Altman’s had in his 12 years on the hilltop.
I remind you, ladies and gentlemen, that this is a day not to mourn, but to celebrate!
Ladies and Gentlemen, we come together today to put to rest the very first (and maybe only?) inside joke spawned by Bluejay Basketball – Jeffony Tolliday.
During the last year and a half, Jeffony Tolliday has given readers numerous memories – both good and bad – and stands as a symbol of both promise and frustrations for the hundreds of readers who became familiar with Jeffony’s exploits on the basketball court.
It all started in last year’s win against High Point. Jeffony Tolliday was born, more out of necessity than any other reason. Just two games previous to the 19-point win against High Point, Anthony Tolliver recorded a double-double in Creighton’s overtime victory against Ohio State in the Guardians Classic championship game. This was Anthony’s first taste of success as a Bluejay, but unfortunately he would be unable to prolong that success for long stretches of last season.
After the High Point game, Jeff Day and Anthony Tolliver continued to share minutes in the post position. Day recorded his best game as a Jay in a loss against Missouri State, but it was just that – a loss. After the Jays dropped that game to the Bears, they lost only twice more in the regular season, and Jeffony Tolliday’s steady play had a lot to do with Creighton’s late-season success.
Tolliday disappeared in Creighton’s NCAA tournament loss to West Virginia, combining for just 4 points in 40 minutes.
Then the season was over, and Jays fans were left to ponder what part of Jeffony Tolliday – if any – would break the mold in 2005-2006. Luckily for Jays fans, it wouldn’t take long.
The “A-Train”
Don’t be sad, Jays fans. While we are losing a fictional character, a figment of our imaginations, we are gaining something much more powerful – an All-Valley post player.
Meet Anthony Tolliver. Not the Tolliver that slugged his way through his freshman year, slowed initially by injuries in preseason conditioning and two-a-day practices, and then by seemingly unending confusion during games. Rather, meet the Tolliver Jays coaches and insiders were extremely excited about when they signed the highly-touted recruit from Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo High School in 2003.
Meet the Tolliver Dana Altman challenged midway through last season, who responded starting with Creighton’s home win against Wichita State and started focusing on the fundamentals – rebounding, defense, being in the correct position to make things happen.
I’ve had two people talk about burying Jeffony Tolliday in the last two days, after Anthony’s career night against Xavier; the first, a fellow Jays fan who posts regularly on The Bluejay Café message board, and the second, my lovely girlfriend and fellow Jay fanatic.
And why not? All Anthony has done this season is average 12 points, 7 rebounds, and just under 2 blocked shots per game, while averaging 24 minutes on the court each night.
But the victory over Xavier put the final nail in Jeffony Tolliday’s coffin.
Anthony scored a career-high 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds (including 6 offensive boards), made 8 of 9 free-throw attempts, and helped shut down Xavier’s Brian Thornton, the Musketeers’ leading scorer.
The junior is becoming a fan favorite, due in part to an intoxicating concoction of enthusiasm (his condor-arm waves when the Jays need crowd support), intimidation (he’s wiped 12 opponent shots with blocks, and he has thrown down some nasty dunks), and hard work (he’s gotten stronger and better in every facet of his game).
Even the Creighton Athletic Department is jumping on the A-Train; before Anthony was headed to the free-throw line late in the game against Xavier, and as the Jays came out of an official’s time out, the Qwest Center DJ played The Quad City DJs’ 1996 hit “C'mon 'N Ride It (Da Train).” And you know what, it fit perfectly.
With Nate Funk injured and Johnny Mathies being asked to take on even more of the perimeter scoring, Altman needed a big fella to establish himself down in the paint. Anthony leapt out from the shadow of Jeffony Tolliday, and now he’s in position to become one of the best post players Altman’s had in his 12 years on the hilltop.
I remind you, ladies and gentlemen, that this is a day not to mourn, but to celebrate!
posted by Creighton Otter at 8:21 PM
1 Comments:
Hi, my name is Matthew Barker, and I own and maintain an Ohio State sports blog called Buckeye Sports Blitz.
While searching the web for good college basketball poll and not being able to , I decided to start one.
I have founded the College Basketball Bloggers Association or the "CBBA".
If interested in joining and being a voting member, click the link above to the home of the CBBA.
Here is the link to the complete poll.
Looking forward in having you as a voting member,
Matt
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