The Pattern Continues

Box Score

I’d like to think that I didn’t get a game recap posted on purpose because I was waiting for Northern Iowa to lose tonight…..but I didn’t.  After I saw this sign at the Creighton game last night, I started worrying about whether my TV would get the signal I needed since the analog TV stuff was supposed to be shut down last night.  But seriously, NET missed out on a great sign at the Qwest last night to advertise the analog shut down.  Oh well.

Actually between getting a bunch of boy scouts situated and settled for a basketball game, extra family in town going to the game with me, add in an exciting game and just a crazy day, I was just plain worn out to post anything last night.   Then to see how Northern Iowa lose another game at home, this time to Drake, it is just the topping on the cake and the Jays are now tied for 1st in the Valley.

The Jays game last night kind of ended up like I mentioned in the pre-game that every contest with Evansville at the Qwest had a pattern of single digit game, blowout, single digit game, blowout and this one was setup to be a single digit game.  Sure enough we got it.

It is a good thing Jason Hollsinger and Shy Ely are Seniors.  These guys seem like they have played forever and you could tell they really wanted to get a win at the Qwest Center before their careers were over since they were 0-3 coming into the game.  Hollsinger had 30 and Ely had 26 and shot a combined 18-32 from the field and 15-17 from the free throw line.  As much junk defense and different players on those guys that the Jays threw at them, those two couldn’t be stopped.

However, 2 performances by some unlikely heroes saved the game for the Jays.  The Freshman, Antoine Young, took over the game in the second half looking like a Senior taking it to the hoop and making some pretty impressive shots leading to a career high 15 points and only 1 turnover.  Cavel Witter, who has been for the most part quiet over this past month as Young has taken more and more minutes at the PG position, has been adjusting to the SG role and stepped up huge down the stretch.  His iceman free throw shooting helped keep the Jays going and had 15 points of his own.   P’Allen Stinnett, Kenny Lawson and Booker Woodfox contributed to the balanced scoring with 5 guys again in double figures.

The contest of HORSE ended up with a 3-point miss by Ely, a scramble reboun then timeout by Justin Carter and a break away dunk by Antoine Young to seal the game.  It wasn’t pretty, but it took Creighton to it’s 7th straight win and the pressure was on Northern Iowa tonight to win and keep the one game lead on the Jays.  However, they choked away the game and Jordan Eglseder missed two free throws with 5 seconds left and UNI lost 47-46 in an ugly offensive struggle and a lot of turnovers.

Creighton now is in a terrific position and if they can just keep winning, they can win the conference.  The last week of the conference season is going to be a fun one.  This whole thing is almost looking like a made for TV movie.  Let’s hope it has a great ending.

Gametime Primer: Jays vs. Evansville

Vs.

Tuesday, February 17th , 7PM
Qwest Center Omaha

Radio: Big Sports 590 AM or Bigsports590.com
Sirius Satellite Radio  (Ch. 126, according to Sirius, 130 on CU game notes)
TV: NET-1 and NET-HD Statewide (Cox 12 and 712 in Omaha)
Free Streaming from NET

Creighton Game Notes | Evansville Game Notes

Audio to Listen To
Tournament Resume’s (BS 590)
Bluejay coach Dana Altman (BS 590)
The MVC is not getting Any Love (1620 The Zone)

Other Previews
Improved Inside Play Propels Jays (OWH)

After the blowout in Southern Illinois this weekend in front of a National audience, Creighton has started to get a little more talk by the media and some have even started projecting how Creighton could get an At-Large big if necessary.  But then there is a large contingent that says to just get past Evansville Tuesday night.   OK.  I guess if that is what they want.  Here is what Evansville has been up to since the last meeting:

• Evansville has gone 3-4 since they lost to Creighton in Evansville on January 20th.
• The Aces have lost nine in a row at Omaha since beating the Bluejays in 1998-99 and that year they won the MVC regular season title.
  
• Evansville is now 15-10 and tied for 5th in the conference at this point.
  
• The Purple Aces are 0-5 against the top 4 teams ahead of them in the conference
  
• Shy Ely leads the league in scoring at almost 18 points a game.
  

This game is kind of one of those everyone is forgetting about and overlooking.  In some respects that is sort of expected because of the previous meetings in Omaha over the past decade.   However, check out this pattern in the games against Evansville since the Qwest Center opened:

• 2004/01/17 Creighton 72 Evansville 53
• 2005/02/22 Creighton 69 Evansville 64
• 2006/01/22 Creighton 77 Evansville 58
• 2007/02/07 Creighton 79 Evansville 74
• 2008/01/09 Creighton 77 Evansville 59

Blowout, single digit, blowout, single digit, blowout…..

So does this mean we are in for a single digit game?  I hope the Jays are able to break that string and get the win and by a larger margin.  I think this team is to the point that they understand the urgency and the need to win this game if they want to have a shot at the regular season championship.

Defense will be the key in this game as both teams give up about 64 points a game.  Shy Ely has seemed to be a thorn in the side of the Jays the past couple of seasons and will need to be contained.  With the inside play of Kenny Lawson and Kenton Walker over the Jays 6 game winning streak, this will be a great test to see how they have come along and if they can continue to show their recent dominance.

The result of this game will set the stage for UNI’s game against Drake on Wednesday and the pressure may be on the Panthers as they play their in-state Valley rival.   The Jays can make a statement in this game and the drama will continue in the Valley.

Prediction: Jays 81, Evansville 69

Who Would Have Thought…

79-57?  On the road?  P’Allen Stinnett scores 4?  Shy Ely scores 26?  Creighton loses, right?  Nope not on this night.

I was a little skeptical at the start of the game when there were so many shots by the Jays that were in and out of the basket the first 4-6 minutes and I thought the team was in for a long night.  But then things settled down and the Jays shot almost 58% for the half and 5-7 from three.

Then the second half came and the Jays extend the lead up to 30 and the rout is on.  Scoring on 16 of 17 possessions in one stretch,  and shooting 56.6% for the game, this team once again played team ball like they did against Bradley.  21 assists on 30 made baskets.  39-27 rebound edge.  8 players played 20 minutes or more.   Now if they can hold on to it for a stretch.  3 games a home is a great start.

I continue to get excited about the progress of Antoine Young.  He just looked so comfortable out there in the first half flying around the court scoring, dishing, playing defense.  It will be amazing what he could do by the time he is a Senior.

P’Allen Stinnett again with a quiet night.  However his 4 assists were a nice stat to see.

Kenny Lawson, Casey Harriman and Justin Carter were just all over the place tonight, going for every loose ball getting the rebounds and scoring career highs.

Now if Kenton Walker can just get that screening down….I get the feeling the Valley referees know about his troubles and moving screen issues and look for it on purpose.

Oh and the referees.  For once the game of basketball was played for the most part and the flow was not controlled by the refs.  What a sight to see.  They must have known they only had that 2-hour time window to get the game in!  I kid :)

This team tonight is really the team I expected to see all season.  With the bonding over the summer and for the most part a lot of the same players from last season, I had hoped to see this team from the start like they played tonight.  Honestly this Jays team could dominate the Valley if they really wanted to.  It is a shame Northern Iowa is the team that seems to be rising to the top so far and that Illinois St. gets all the hype just because they stayed undefeated so long playing a horrible schedule.  I think this is a turning point and one that can be a great positive.  With Drake,  Indiana St. and Missouri St. coming to town, this is the time for this Bluejay team to start showing why they were predicted to win the conference.  I know, a win like this makes everyone drink the Kool-Aid and say things they shouldn’t, but winning by the margin they did on a conference  road game for the first time since I think 2003 against Indiana St., it makes you want to believe.

Gametime Primer: Jays vs. Evansville

@

Tuesday, January 20th , 6PM
Roberts Stadium

Radio: Big Sports 590 AM or Bigsports590.com
TV: ESPNU (Cox Ch. 220 in Omaha)

Creighton Game Notes | Evansville Game Notes

Audio to Listen To
Evansville Head Coach Marty Simmons
Creighton Head Coach Dana Altman

Other Previews
3 Seniors Let Aces Draw to Success (OWH)
CHN Preview

After the let down in Wichita, the Jays try to regroup and salvage a road trip with a visit to Evansville.  Here is what you need to know about the Purple Aces:

• Evansville is log jammed with Creighton with 4-3 conference records.
• The Purple Aces have had all of their conference games decided within 11 points or less except for one game.
• Shy Ely leads the team in scoring and last season just destroyed Creighton in the game at Evansville.
• The Valley’s current scoring leader Jason Holsinger plays for the Aces and is just a shooter that is not afraid to shoot from anywhere.
• Evansville is the home of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a men’s music fraternity

Let’s face it.  Creighton players need to understand that when it comes to conference play, every team in the conference pegs the Bluejays with a big target on their back whether they are having a successful season or not.  The game at Indiana St. was $3 tickets.  Saturday night it was the Black Out at Wichita St.   Tuesday night it is Evansville trying to pack as many people as they can in Roberts Stadium (11-1 at home by the way) by offering $5 seats and $1 popcorn, $1 hot dogs and $1 Pepsi’s.  What a deal.  Jaybackers can’t even get popcorn for free anymore much less for $1.  If I am Evansville fan, I pack the family of 15 and head to the game for a good night of basketball and cheap food.

There just isn’t an easy game for Creighton, much less on the road in conference play.  It is time for the players to recognize this and embrace the adversity that is put in front of them.  That did not happen at Wichita St. Saturday night but hopefully it will here on Tuesday.

Last season, Shy Ely sliced and diced the Jays with a career high 28 points.  He has been one of the leaders of the team and with the relatively “soft” frontline for the Jays, he may do the same again.

But frankly, I get concerned about Jason Holsinger.   This guy seems like he has been there for at least 7 years, but just loves to shoot.  There have been some key shots he has hit against the Jays in his career and he will be the difference maker in this game.  Sure let Ely have his points, but if Holsinger gets hot, the rest of the team gets hot behind him and another MVC team will have a record shooting night against the Jays.

At some point, you wonder if a lineup change is in store for the Jays basketball team.  Yes, there have been some different starting lineups due to injury and “suspensions” but nothing based on perceived performance.  I don’t have a problem with Josh Dotzler starting.  He has been solid and has tried to even score a little more because of the stagnant offense.  Booker Woodfox brings it every game whether his ankle is killing him or not.  Justin Carter has been pretty consistent on the boards.  Kenny Lawson–though inconsistent, he is still a big guy that is needed on the floor.  No, who I am calling out is P’Allen Stinnett.

Yes he is probably the best player and yes, he has shown signs of leadership.  But what I can’t stand is watching players play when they want and not give their all 100% of the time, especially ones that are supposed to be leaders and big contributors.  I have been pretty positive about P’Allen this season and I keep waiting for him to have a string of consistency. However, P seems to disappear at times that just surprise me.  After the SIU game last week, I thought he turned the corner to carry this team on his shoulders and get this team pumped up.  However, once again on the road, P’Allen disappeared in the Wichita St. game and had 21 minutes of almost insignificance.

In the games that the Jays have lost, P’Allen’s stat line looks like this in the 4 losses he played in:

12-35 from the field, about 9 pts a game, 4 rebounds, less than 1 assist per game, 2 turnovers a game and less than 2 steals a game.  Then he didn’t even play in the Nebraska game.

So I guess I am saying that when P’Allen has a bad game, the Jays have lost.  When he chooses not to play, it hurts the team immensely.  If P is P and plays how he feels, then the Jays will lose Tuesday night.  If he brings it and helps be a leader for this team, Creighton wins going away.  However, these teams have had really close games at Evansville (4 of last 5 at Evansville have been 4 points or less) and they will have another dogfight in this one.  I still have faith that they can win on the road.

Prediction:  Creighton 65, Evansville 61.