How many times can a team have their best game of the year against us? At some point you have to see that there is a reason behind it! I could dig up old threads, but I've seen that comment after at least half of our losses (which all happen to games we should have won). It's almost a backhanded criticism, if that's not an oxymoron. We had been defending the 3 well up to this point this year. I think people remember how bad we were against it in past years and lump it in with this team. A few of their guys had a quick release on the 3 and we couldn't recover in time in that zone, period.
For a team that came in scoring well in the paint, we played good D against them down low. HUGE kudos to Sam Singh. He played as about of good as defense as he can and fought for rebounds just about everytime! ATTTABOY! I really wish he would have knocked down those FT's or the jumper from there as that usually where he is high %. Egolf also played good D and TB had some boards in the middle of a crowd of Blue Jays.
It's no excuse, and I know why people are sick of hearing it BUT those refs really were just plain awful. Sometimes the calls went for us, some against. Either way, terrible--terrible--terrrible. Never seen some of the calls that were made tonight. Not to mention they got probably 7 or 8 out of bounds calls WRONG (both ways, over half VERY obvious). It makes me furious when refs call that touch foul on a drive when we had a good look then turn a blind eye to the obvious hacks on a layup. Regardless, gotta overcome the stripes.
A couple of guys didn't look great, but whatever. Both AW and CR played decent D and rebounded well. If DSE knocks down that open 3 instead of clanking it off the far iron, his path to the basket is that much more open. He missed, and defenders slacked off him the rest of the night.
Dana is a great coach. You can tell how in-control he really is. I think that P being out helped him keep control all night. You could see the rest of those kids looking to him in lots of situations.
After all that we were in a position to still win this game with 2 minutes left.
What were we doing chucking up 3's down 3 with 1:30 left?? I turned to my friend and said take the easy two take the easy two. We launch like we were the team that made 12 3's tonight. Maybe if we did shoot well it doesn't bother me much, but we weren't so it does. That turns the game around completely. It makes Creighton's next possession a MUST stop or else it's a foul and FT contest. We get the stop, somehow, then chuck up another 3!!! WHY????? If we take the easy 2 in either situation we are in control of the clock and the game. Don't force yourself into a corner if you don't have to!!! Extend the game and give us a better chance.
Before that we have AW all by himself, don't see him soon enough and still get the pass to him. He starts to slow it down then forces a pass. Why not slow it down? What are you trying to force there? If you slow down a run the offense, different game and the last minute thirty are changed.
Not to mention on a MUST STOP on defense to have a chance to tie, 98% of the crowd is SILENT. You could hear DV and Bussone stumbling all over each other 30 rows down and a cheerleader choke on her gum. It was that quiet. If there was any time to go nuts, that was it. If I was a BlueJay I would be real happy I didn't come play for a crowd like that.
Had a chance to reel one in at home to maybe make up for one of the multiple blown games earlier. Didn't/couldn't do it. Frustrating as all hell. AT ISU red becomes a much bigger game now. And...dare I say we HAVE to steal one at Qwest??? Maybe we can pull an @SIU once-in-a-decade win. Probably not.
The students no longer care about this team. Only a few remain from the years of the Sweet 16. If we can't get students out for Creighton on a WEDNESDAY, when will they come? ISU? Great. See you in another year, kids.
That's my 77 cents. See you in Bloomington on Saturday where I will be biting my tongue all afternoon hoping we pull one out so I can let loose!!!