Gameday Pick ‘em #16: Northern Iowa (8-6; 2-1)
The Pundits
“Hungry Bluejays concern Panthers” (OWH)
“Lack of rebounds plaguing Bluejays” (OWH)
“Creighton may be hungrier than usual” (Des Moines Register)
The Picks
Are our guys really that skinny? I, for one, think Kenny Lawson and the other Bluejays look stronger this year compared to last. But both the Omaha World-Herald and the Des Moines Register used adjectives “hungry” and “hungrier” in their brief synopsis of what to expect appetite-wise from Dana Altman’s team tonight against Northern Iowa.
Creighton has won 13 of the past 15 matchups with the Panthers, including wins of 74-50 and 68-59 last season. They’ve feasted on UNI a lot lately, and there will no doubt be a little extra motivation following Creighton’s lackluster showing on the road against Illinois State. But to beat the Panthers, the Jays will need to recommit to the two areas glaringly missing from their effort in Normal; defense and rebounding.
I’m sure it sounds like a broken record by now, but those aspects of basketball are truly what the Jays must concern themselves with at this point — especially against UNI. Ben Jacobsen’s team is one of the most cautious squads in the nation with the basketball; they turn it over just 11.9 times per game on average, a top 25 ranking nationwide. And while their rebounding averages are similarly pedestrian (much like CU’s), they have skilled post players Jordan Eglseder and Adam Koch (as well as a host of newcomers in the paint) who can go and grab a rebound against anyone in the Valley.
If they are in fact hungry, then Creighton’s defenders need to take it into their own hands and go take what they want (namely, the basketball). One of the most thieving defenses in the nation, the Jays average 9.2 steals per game. A week ago that average was 10.1 spg, but following subpar efforts defensively against Indiana State (3 steals) and the Redbirds (4 steals) they find themselves just outside the top 25 teams in the nation in steals per contest.
Expect Jacobsen’s team to be extremely careful with the ball. They shoot free throws almost as well as Creighton, so P’Allen Stinnett and Josh Dotzler and the other Jays guards must be cautious themselves when swiping at the ball as to not put the Panthers in scoring situations from the charity stripe. However, after Saturday night I’d be fine as a fan watching the Jays resume a pressure-packed game plan, even if it results in a few fouls.
And like it or not, tonight is extremely for Booker Woodfox. Creighton’s supreme shooter has suffered sub-50% shooting nights in his past two games (36% against Indiana State; 18% versus Illinois State). Previous to those contests, Woodfox hadn’t shot worse than 50% dating back to Creighton’s 82-50 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on November 20. The senior is averaging 17 points per game and is still shooting at a 50.6% clip from the field. But teams continue to key on him defensively, and Creighton can ill afford to have their most valuable scorer hit a cold streak.
If the Jays are in fact as hungry as the pundits project, Jays fans in attendance at the Q tonight should see them licking their chops early and often against the Panthers. But if CU allows UNI to stick close early, Jacobsen’s team is savvy enough to stay right with the Jays for the full 40 minutes. Still, I think the Jays pull this one out.
Leading Scorer
Creighton Otter: Cavel Witter (13)
Panon: Booker Woodfox (17)
Dance Cam Guy: Woodfox (22)
Mrs. Creighton Otter: Justin Carter (14)
Mrs. Dance Cam Guy: P’Allen Stinnett (17)
Margin
Creighton Otter: Jays by 10
Panon: Jays by 11
Dance Cam Guy: Jays by 14
Mrs. Creighton Otter: Jays by 4 (it won’t be pretty)
Mrs. Dance Cam Guy: Jays by 12
“Hungry Bluejays concern Panthers” (OWH)
“Lack of rebounds plaguing Bluejays” (OWH)
“Creighton may be hungrier than usual” (Des Moines Register)
The Picks
Are our guys really that skinny? I, for one, think Kenny Lawson and the other Bluejays look stronger this year compared to last. But both the Omaha World-Herald and the Des Moines Register used adjectives “hungry” and “hungrier” in their brief synopsis of what to expect appetite-wise from Dana Altman’s team tonight against Northern Iowa.
Creighton has won 13 of the past 15 matchups with the Panthers, including wins of 74-50 and 68-59 last season. They’ve feasted on UNI a lot lately, and there will no doubt be a little extra motivation following Creighton’s lackluster showing on the road against Illinois State. But to beat the Panthers, the Jays will need to recommit to the two areas glaringly missing from their effort in Normal; defense and rebounding.
I’m sure it sounds like a broken record by now, but those aspects of basketball are truly what the Jays must concern themselves with at this point — especially against UNI. Ben Jacobsen’s team is one of the most cautious squads in the nation with the basketball; they turn it over just 11.9 times per game on average, a top 25 ranking nationwide. And while their rebounding averages are similarly pedestrian (much like CU’s), they have skilled post players Jordan Eglseder and Adam Koch (as well as a host of newcomers in the paint) who can go and grab a rebound against anyone in the Valley.
If they are in fact hungry, then Creighton’s defenders need to take it into their own hands and go take what they want (namely, the basketball). One of the most thieving defenses in the nation, the Jays average 9.2 steals per game. A week ago that average was 10.1 spg, but following subpar efforts defensively against Indiana State (3 steals) and the Redbirds (4 steals) they find themselves just outside the top 25 teams in the nation in steals per contest.
Expect Jacobsen’s team to be extremely careful with the ball. They shoot free throws almost as well as Creighton, so P’Allen Stinnett and Josh Dotzler and the other Jays guards must be cautious themselves when swiping at the ball as to not put the Panthers in scoring situations from the charity stripe. However, after Saturday night I’d be fine as a fan watching the Jays resume a pressure-packed game plan, even if it results in a few fouls.
And like it or not, tonight is extremely for Booker Woodfox. Creighton’s supreme shooter has suffered sub-50% shooting nights in his past two games (36% against Indiana State; 18% versus Illinois State). Previous to those contests, Woodfox hadn’t shot worse than 50% dating back to Creighton’s 82-50 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on November 20. The senior is averaging 17 points per game and is still shooting at a 50.6% clip from the field. But teams continue to key on him defensively, and Creighton can ill afford to have their most valuable scorer hit a cold streak.
If the Jays are in fact as hungry as the pundits project, Jays fans in attendance at the Q tonight should see them licking their chops early and often against the Panthers. But if CU allows UNI to stick close early, Jacobsen’s team is savvy enough to stay right with the Jays for the full 40 minutes. Still, I think the Jays pull this one out.
Leading Scorer
Creighton Otter: Cavel Witter (13)
Panon: Booker Woodfox (17)
Dance Cam Guy: Woodfox (22)
Mrs. Creighton Otter: Justin Carter (14)
Mrs. Dance Cam Guy: P’Allen Stinnett (17)
Margin
Creighton Otter: Jays by 10
Panon: Jays by 11
Dance Cam Guy: Jays by 14
Mrs. Creighton Otter: Jays by 4 (it won’t be pretty)
Mrs. Dance Cam Guy: Jays by 12
posted by Creighton Otter at 9:05 AM
1 Comments:
Jays match up really well against N. Iowa, especially defensively. Woodfox also won't shoot below 40% guaranteed, he just isn't the type to hit a prolonged dry spell. Creighton comfortably by 16 in this one.
We're actually looking for Creighton bloggers on www.collegefanz.com, the largest college sports site on the net. Our blogs are free and simple, and come with a built in audience- our user base. I think we have a Creighton baseball blogger on board but now's a good time for basketball to get some representation.
Take a look around the site and let me know what you think about blogging with us at mgleeson@collegefanz.com. I think your blog would do well there; it would get national exposure.
Mike
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