Creighton 85, Northern Colorado 66

“Stuck in the mud”

I’m going to keep things brief this evening. After posting a 19-point win against the Northern Colorado Bears on Saturday night, the Jays will play their second game in three days Monday versus the Southern Jaguars. In his postgame press conference, Dana Altman said he was fairly happy with CU’s win, save for a few, ummm, glaring deficiencies on the glass. The first half was a bit of a letdown following Wednesday’s big win against Dayton, and Altman felt the Jays were “stuck in the mud” before pulling away from the Bears Saturday night. The following is a quick look at some of the good, bad, and ugly numbers from the game’s box score.

(NOTE: Perhaps the most important takeaway from Saturday’s win didn’t show up in the stats. Kenton Walker, who earlier this summer battled a broken wrist, injured his arm again against UNC. We’ll probably know more about the extent of his injury today or tomorrow, but he won’t play against Southern.)

• The Jays got beat on the boards for the first time in a couple of games. Altman’s team reverted back to some of their season-opening ways, getting outrebounded 38-25 and only grabbing 2 offensive boards. According to Steve Pivovar, the only other time in Altman’s tenure at CU that the Jays finished with as few as 2 offensive caroms came in a 2007 win against Drake.
  
  Leading the way on the glass for CU was Kenny Lawson and his 6 rebounds. Overall, Lawson put up 8 points (one of three Jays to miss double figures in scoring by one basket) and blocked 2 shots in 19 minutes. With fellow sophomore Californian Walker out of Monday’s game and arguably questionable for the foreseeable future, it will be imperative for Lawson’s rebounding totals to increase with an assumed rise in his minutes played per game.
  
  
  
• Speaking of double figures, three Jays tallied more than 10 points against the Bears. CU was lead again by Booker Woodfox, who continues his torrid point production. In 23 minutes he poured in 16 points (6-11 from the field; 2-4 from 3-point range), grabbed 4 rebounds, and added an assist and a steal.
  
  Kaleb Korver had another impressive all-around night, hitting 4 more 3-pointers and a few free throws for 14 points. He brought in 3 boards, dished 2 assists, swiped 2 steals, and even blocked a shot in 25 minutes.
  
  Rounding out the top scorers was Cavel Witter, and he accomplished his offensive feats all in the second stanza. He hit 3 3-pointers on his way to 13 second-half points in 13 minutes of action. In Witter’s last four games, he has 12 assists and only 3 turnovers. Add 4 steals to those totals and Witter looks more and more each game like a difference-making guard Altman will couple with Josh Dotzler to lead the Jays into conference play and beyond.
  
  
  
• Speaking of Dotzler, he had another outstanding “little big things” game. His past four games include 16 assists and 6 turnovers, but one stat sticks out far and above any others.
  
  Although it completely contradicts what the Jesuits on the Hilltop teach their students, Altman is employing one of the filthiest felons in college hoops. Dotzler’s 27 steals ranks 7th in the nation through Sunday’s games, and his 3 steals per game average puts him 9th in the country. On Saturday against Northern Colorado, Dotzler swiped 6 steals, exactly one half of CU’s steal total.
  
  He has almost as many assists (27) and steals (27) as points (29) this season. With plenty of scoring options on the court for Altman and the Jays, Josh doesn’t have to worry much about his offense. But his playmaking abilities and defensive savvy are paving the way for a remarkable senior season for a guy who deserves nothing but success.
  
  
  
• The box score might not reflect it, but P’Allen Stinnett once again played a productive and flashy role in the Jays’ victory. His 4 assists led the team, he only turned it over twice, picked up a steal, and grabbed a couple rebounds in 20 minutes of play. And 4 of his 8 points came on two rim-rocking one-handed dunks that capped great defensive plays by the Bluejays.
  

The numbers from Monday night’s box score might get a little out of control; Southern is just not very good. As long as the rebounding total is markedly greater than Saturday’s effort, you can bet Altman will be happy.