Waves of Mutilation (Continued)
Let’s jump right to it.
Chad Millard
(22.6 minutes, 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals per game)
Millard, the sophomore transfer from Louisville, starts alongside Watts on the CU frontline. He can do a little bit of everything; he has shown the ability to shoot from outside (47% from three-point range), he’s second on the team in rebounds per game, and he is leading the squad in blocked shots. But the defensive end is perhaps where he has made his most immediate contributions to this season’s team. When Millard’s in the game and when the Jays implement their stifling full-court press, it is he who plays the point. His elongated wingspan and quick hands and feet allow him to cut off what seems like half the baseline while opponents try to inbound the ball.
Like seemingly everyone else, Millard recorded a workmanlike effort against Savannah State. He logged just 17 minutes of action, or just about as much playing time as Watts and Dotzler. He had a steal and a blocked shot, scored 3 points, and got some rest before the trip to Philadelphia. Two years ago, Millard started games as a freshman for the Cardinals in the Big East. Back in familiar territory on the east coast, Millard scored 7 points on 3-4 shooting from the field (including one of CU’s 4 three-pointers), grabbed 5 rebounds, blocked another shot and had another steal. Oh, and he did all of that in just 19 minutes.
Efficient, huh? I have yet to see much wasted motion or energy from Millard, who continues to do a lot of things very well for Dana Altman’s team. If he can continue to play solid defense and add more rebounds to his totals, he’ll go a long way to jumpstarting his career after sitting out last season due to transfer rules.
(18.0 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal per game)
This is Bahe’s senior season, his last year in a career that has spanned two schools and years of positive effort if not below-average statistics. He is a vocal leader, simply a funny guy who knows all of the right things to say and who isn’t afraid to say them when asked.
He has started every game this season, but his traditional strong point (three-point shooting) has been anything but this season – he’s firing at just 27% from three-point range. However, he’s making crisp passes, he’s quicker on defense than he was last year, and he is putting the ball on the floor when defenders close in on his quick three-point shot and hitting pull-up jumpers with the same quick release.
These additions to his game were on display against Drexel. Bahe missed all four of his three-point tries, but he twice hit jump shots on pump-fakes from long range. Add his 2 assists and 3 steals to the equation, and it is understandable that the senior leader recorded his second-highest minutes of the season in the somewhat hostile environment in the City of Brotherly Love.
Cavel Witter
(16.0 minutes, 10.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steal per game)
Earlier this summer, after Altman and his staff announced in the spring the signing of junior college guard Witter, someone started singing the praises of a kid few Jays fans had ever seen … before he even played a game in Omaha.
There are a few hundred Jays fans that spend hours upon hours on a little Internet community known as The Bluejay Café. It’s a fancy name for the only true Jays message board on the Web, and it is where a lot of us voice our opinions of all-things Creighton athletics.
So, someone strolled onto this board and starting raving about a young guard from Kansas City, a guard this someone proclaimed would be among the best guards in the Valley during the 2007-2008 season. This someone didn’t seem to mind Witter wouldn’t be in the starting line-up to start the season, nor would he be guaranteed any more playing time than the other recruits and returners in the backcourt. This someone regaled readers of Witter’s past triumphs in high school and junior college, while readers were left to scratch their heads and wonder, “Is this someone for real? Does this person know something we don’t know?”
The answer is a resounding “yes.” From the first summer league games to the most recent win, Witter has been among the most pleasant surprises on this young season. In limited minutes, Witter is the third-leading scorer on a team loaded with guards. His athleticism and pure speed and energy have already been the focus of local newspaper reports, and his playmaking ability is followed by the caveat that his quick play can also lead to quick turnovers.
He celebrated his 20th birthday on Saturday with a 20-point effort against Drexel, doing pretty much everything the Bluejays needed in just 16 minutes of action. He was perfect from the free-throw line, going 10-10 and opening his Jays career perfect from the charity stripe for the season.
Chad Millard
(22.6 minutes, 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals per game)
Millard, the sophomore transfer from Louisville, starts alongside Watts on the CU frontline. He can do a little bit of everything; he has shown the ability to shoot from outside (47% from three-point range), he’s second on the team in rebounds per game, and he is leading the squad in blocked shots. But the defensive end is perhaps where he has made his most immediate contributions to this season’s team. When Millard’s in the game and when the Jays implement their stifling full-court press, it is he who plays the point. His elongated wingspan and quick hands and feet allow him to cut off what seems like half the baseline while opponents try to inbound the ball.
Like seemingly everyone else, Millard recorded a workmanlike effort against Savannah State. He logged just 17 minutes of action, or just about as much playing time as Watts and Dotzler. He had a steal and a blocked shot, scored 3 points, and got some rest before the trip to Philadelphia. Two years ago, Millard started games as a freshman for the Cardinals in the Big East. Back in familiar territory on the east coast, Millard scored 7 points on 3-4 shooting from the field (including one of CU’s 4 three-pointers), grabbed 5 rebounds, blocked another shot and had another steal. Oh, and he did all of that in just 19 minutes.
Efficient, huh? I have yet to see much wasted motion or energy from Millard, who continues to do a lot of things very well for Dana Altman’s team. If he can continue to play solid defense and add more rebounds to his totals, he’ll go a long way to jumpstarting his career after sitting out last season due to transfer rules.
Millard is a tough match-up for smaller guards and slower forwards
(18.0 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal per game)
This is Bahe’s senior season, his last year in a career that has spanned two schools and years of positive effort if not below-average statistics. He is a vocal leader, simply a funny guy who knows all of the right things to say and who isn’t afraid to say them when asked.
He has started every game this season, but his traditional strong point (three-point shooting) has been anything but this season – he’s firing at just 27% from three-point range. However, he’s making crisp passes, he’s quicker on defense than he was last year, and he is putting the ball on the floor when defenders close in on his quick three-point shot and hitting pull-up jumpers with the same quick release.
These additions to his game were on display against Drexel. Bahe missed all four of his three-point tries, but he twice hit jump shots on pump-fakes from long range. Add his 2 assists and 3 steals to the equation, and it is understandable that the senior leader recorded his second-highest minutes of the season in the somewhat hostile environment in the City of Brotherly Love.
When he isn't making Funk laugh or impersonating Altman, Bahe can play basketball, too
Cavel Witter
(16.0 minutes, 10.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steal per game)
Earlier this summer, after Altman and his staff announced in the spring the signing of junior college guard Witter, someone started singing the praises of a kid few Jays fans had ever seen … before he even played a game in Omaha.
There are a few hundred Jays fans that spend hours upon hours on a little Internet community known as The Bluejay Café. It’s a fancy name for the only true Jays message board on the Web, and it is where a lot of us voice our opinions of all-things Creighton athletics.
So, someone strolled onto this board and starting raving about a young guard from Kansas City, a guard this someone proclaimed would be among the best guards in the Valley during the 2007-2008 season. This someone didn’t seem to mind Witter wouldn’t be in the starting line-up to start the season, nor would he be guaranteed any more playing time than the other recruits and returners in the backcourt. This someone regaled readers of Witter’s past triumphs in high school and junior college, while readers were left to scratch their heads and wonder, “Is this someone for real? Does this person know something we don’t know?”
The answer is a resounding “yes.” From the first summer league games to the most recent win, Witter has been among the most pleasant surprises on this young season. In limited minutes, Witter is the third-leading scorer on a team loaded with guards. His athleticism and pure speed and energy have already been the focus of local newspaper reports, and his playmaking ability is followed by the caveat that his quick play can also lead to quick turnovers.
He celebrated his 20th birthday on Saturday with a 20-point effort against Drexel, doing pretty much everything the Bluejays needed in just 16 minutes of action. He was perfect from the free-throw line, going 10-10 and opening his Jays career perfect from the charity stripe for the season.
Forget his size; Witter's been huge for the Jays thus far
posted by Creighton Otter at 11:08 PM
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