Creighton post game thread

[gsmooth]

Lost in all the crazy extremes between Liam's scoring and the rest of the team's lack there of, how well they defended tonight. I believe the 66 points scored was among Creighton's lowest where they've been lighting it up big time lately, sans their 62-60 point win against Nova a little over a week ago.

I hope they start to put it all together soon. Imagine what the score might have been if everyone was healthy and just about everyone played up or close to their capabilities?!?!

Very true about the defense. I love watching UConn play good or even great defense. I know when people think about a great defensive performance from last year they think the Illinois game first. Rightfully so as that was a high stakes Elite 8 game against a hot Illinois team that won 7 in row and had the #3 KenPom offense and a dangerous 5-out offense that could pull Clingan from the rim.

But you know which game last year was great that never gets mentioned here? Last year's game against Creighton in Gampel. They held a Creighton team that averaged 80 pts/game to their lowest score the entire season at 48. The communication and synergy they had on defense was impeccable through all the action Creighton ran. On a few possessions in that 2nd half they forced a few shot clock violations and a bunch of turnovers consecutively (Creighton didn't break 30 pts until under 10 min left in the game). They had a vice grip chokehold on Creighton's offense in that game. There are times I wish they could bottle up that defense for later use just like they could bottle up the offense from the Xavier game in Hartford last year.

 

[gsmooth]

We need to let Alex rip it against SH. Needs to find some rythym in a low risk environment.

that low risk environment should be used to get Nowell some playing time as well and to sit Hass for the entire Seton Hall game.

 

[gsmooth]

I’m sure the fans were pretty awful to him and it’s definitely a big monkey off the back in Omaha…But didn’t he just say he didn’t like that he did these kind of things? Lol, I don’t mind it but just funny.

I am okay with it. I think most Creighton fans are cool, but the ones at the game are bunch of asshats, just like PC.

 

[alphasigko]

Hurley seems to be moving off Ross and phasing out in these last two.

I really hope that winds up being true as the kid really does not bring much to the table.

 

[Fishy]

Strange freaking game.

Ball and Karaban were so far off of their shots tonight. I thought Ball did a good job trying to take the ball to the basket to compensate. Thought Mahaney actually played well.

Reed and Samson were treated like felons - the headwind caused by the refs calling such a one-sided game, it’s a miracle we were in it, let alone won it.

After 30 minutes, Reed had four fouls, Samson had four fouls and Creighton had four fouls. Creighton was not called for a foul in the second half until there was five minutes left.

I didn’t have a huge issue with the fouls at UConn - Creighton got a very kind whistle, but eh, it was not too far out of bounds. Tonight, however, was gross. Criminal.

Oh, and McNeeley played well.

 

[3rdbass]

Strange freaking game.

Ball and Karaban were so far off of their shots tonight. I thought Ball did a good job trying to take the ball to the basket to compensate. Thought Mahaney actually played well.

Reed and Samson were treated like felons - the headwind caused by the refs calling such a one-sided game, it’s a miracle we were in it, let alone won it.

After 30 minutes, Reed had four fouls, Samson had four fouls and Creighton had four fouls. Creighton was not called for a foul in the second half until there was five minutes left.

I didn’t have a huge issue with the fouls at UConn - Creighton got a very kind whistle, but eh, it was not too far out of bounds. Tonight, however, was gross. Criminal.

Oh, and McNeeley played well.

So did Alex going to the rim. 5-7 on two point shots for him. That is reassuring as he was missing those before this game too.

 

[UCann]

Is this team better on the road? Maybe they feel good about the frequent flyer miles or enjoy hotels? Bodes well.

Must be all the booing and weak crowds at home games

 

[Husker Husky]

I am okay with it. I think most Creighton fans are cool, but the ones at the game are bunch of asshats, just like PC.

We (wife is a UConn grad `78) moved from CT to Omaha in `99. Don't particularly like Creighton. They truly consider themselves to be the Harvard of the Midwest. But, absolutely hate Creighton sports and especially their fans. They are obnoxious. I`m not necessarily just talking about the students. Watching lawyers, accountants, doctors in the stands jovial as hell when the Bluejays are winning, only to turn into classless creeps when they`re losing is disgusting. They rival Philadelphia fans with their vile behavior.

But, to be honest, we are used to going to Nebraska football games. Aside from a few classless students, the Husker fanbase is the epitome of class. Watching them applaud visiting teams as they leave the field, win or lose, is something to behold.

I just wish we were in town to go to tonight's game. It would have been great to watch the Huskies silence them.

 

[SwingDog]

Fantastic win! I knew Diarra has been playing really hurt. I’m shocked the Huskies won there basically without him.

I was actually happy to see him sit most of the game because he needs the rest in order to heal and because it forced other guys to step up. It was kind of like when McNeeley went down. I think as the season progresses that we may find these things to be blessings in disguise as we'll have a more well-rounded and battled tested team.

 

[Waquoit]

Literally…..we had ONE guy play above average. I mean he was stratospherically above average, but we got pretty much nothing from anyone else

It’s a team game.

 

[freshler40]

66 shots for us, 47 for them. Didn't seem that way. Volume > efficiency tonight.

Our pace of play and quick shot selection with the small line-up was the key. The team had lost its rhythm playing the long shot clock game.

 

[UConn76]

@ Marquette, v St. John’s, @ Creighton

2-1

Take that and do what you will with it.

Sets up a huge game @ MSG

 

[Edward Sargent]

I am headed to surgery this morning so I taped the game but had to peak at the score. I can't wait for anesthesia to wear off to watch this game.

 

[Umami Zen]

Our closer is back and healthy. Has to be one of the top individual performances by a UConn player in the Hurley years at UConn as well as in CBB this year. In addition to his shot-making.Played tough D on Ashworth and handled his point forward responsibilities very well-Very few TOs. Epic game by Liam and huge Q1 W in a hostile environment. Beer and pizza strategy didn't work this time.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Strange freaking game.

Ball and Karaban were so far off of their shots tonight. I thought Ball did a good job trying to take the ball to the basket to compensate. Thought Mahaney actually played well.

Reed and Samson were treated like felons - the headwind caused by the refs calling such a one-sided game, it’s a miracle we were in it, let alone won it.

After 30 minutes, Reed had four fouls, Samson had four fouls and Creighton had four fouls. Creighton was not called for a foul in the second half until there was five minutes left.

I didn’t have a huge issue with the fouls at UConn - Creighton got a very kind whistle, but eh, it was not too far out of bounds. Tonight, however, was gross. Criminal.

Oh, and McNeeley played well.

It was a weird game. Creighton was up 3 when Ashworth picked up his 2nd foul with 7:41 left in the first half. Not counting the 2 free throws from that foul, Creighton outscored UConn 14-2 with Ashworth on the bench to take a 14 point lead with 3 minutes left in the first half. Then UConn went on a 30-9 stretch over the next 12 minutes of game time where Creighton hit one basket, a 3 by Traudt along with 6 free throws. I won’t call it a run because it happened over such a long period and happened because Creighton just stopped scoring.

Why didn’t McDermott play Zugic more? He needed offense. Why not rest Kalkbrenner a little? King is a solid backup and Kalk was spent by the end of the game and wasn't getting the ball much anyway. During that 30-9 stretch, it didn't feel like Creighton was running its normal action beyond the 3 point line where Ashworth would keep reversing on screens until he can get downhill and either hit Kalk or kick out. Instead, Creighton was just aimlessly passing the ball around. Creighton's one man zone is designed to stop penetration by guards, but Creighton did not adjust at all as McNeeley's big night started to develop. Why not just face guard McNeeley and trap him off screens? Anything to get the ball out of his hands. McDermott just let McNeeley light Creighton up. The Creighton traps at the end of the game were sloppy and seemed like everyone was not on the same page, with some players trying to trap and others appearing to just give fouls despite having UConn pinned in the corner on consecutive possessions.

McDermott has this reputation as a great game coach, but he had a pretty bad night last night. He gave UConn the game.

 

[GlastonTim]

I am headed to surgery this morning so I taped the game but had to peak at the score. I can't wait for anesthesia to wear off to watch this game.

Good luck

 

[TroyHall98]

Seton Hall Saturday don’t need him. Let him heal

We can’t afford to sleep on Seton Hall. It’s also been somewhat of a house of horrors in Newark the past 2 seasons.

 

[TheShot1990]

How do we get Alex going again?

• I hate to quote Pitino but he was right here. Move closer to the basket before shooting.
• If it's not falling in warm-ups (and Lapass said it wasn't for AK), then it's not gonna magically come during the game so take fewer 3s when that happens
• Keep shooting those floaters in the lane. They saved us and are un-guardable
• As Ray Allen used to do, shoot a grillion 3s in practice and pretend you are in a game
• Keep doing all the other great things you do Alex such as defense, not fouling, screens, etc

 

[UCLJ0211]

Stop calling this team soft. They’re limited, but they have enormous balls.

And a solo ball too

 

[temery]

Y'all need to remember this for when he has a bad game.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Strange freaking game.

Ball and Karaban were so far off of their shots tonight. I thought Ball did a good job trying to take the ball to the basket to compensate. Thought Mahaney actually played well.

Reed and Samson were treated like felons - the headwind caused by the refs calling such a one-sided game, it’s a miracle we were in it, let alone won it.

After 30 minutes, Reed had four fouls, Samson had four fouls and Creighton had four fouls. Creighton was not called for a foul in the second half until there was five minutes left.

I didn’t have a huge issue with the fouls at UConn - Creighton got a very kind whistle, but eh, it was not too far out of bounds. Tonight, however, was gross. Criminal.

Oh, and McNeeley played well.

Agree on the Ball point, he’s been much better recently at putting it on the floor and getting to the hoop when the defender overplays. He also drew a lot of contact today on those drives and only shot two FTs before the intentional foul at the end.

McDermott has the MO of not fouling, which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy a lot IMO. He just gets a friendly whistle. Today of all days, UConn took it to the paint a lot, drew a lot of contact on the primary ball handler, and still didn’t get to the line. Normally I chalk it up to us not taking it to the basket and the league not caring about freedom of movement fouls but this was just lopsided.

 

[BPT2Storrs]

That point where AK missed three straight 3’s, all of which were great looks was brutal to watch. However, I give AK a ton of credit. He had that great stretch of defense on Kalkbrenner when Reed and Johnson both went to the bench. He also did a bunch of little things, including a couple of key baskets and diving for loose balls.

I know it’s been a frustrating season but I am not ready to write this team off just yet. I believe a lot of people underestimate Diarra’s ability to run the point. When he is healthy we are a much better team and I hope the rest he got tonight helps in his recovery. We have two solid bigs we just need to ensure they stay out of foul trouble. The biggest issue that will make or break this season is AK on offense. The 3 isn’t falling. Hurley and Luke need to pivot and run plays for AK to get him closer to the basket and to the line.

 

[uconntoatl]

The Ghost of Alex Karaban still haunts us

 

[uconnyankee]

Surprised that Singare and Nowell didn’t see more playing time last night.

I thought earlier in the year, Singare played some great minutes spelling SJ and TR when the hit foul trouble.

I went from thinking this was a horribly managed game by Hurley to one of his best.

So many things going wrong, but all trumped by one thing going right…. LM was

 

[upstater]

Agree on the Ball point, he’s been much better recently at putting it on the floor and getting to the hoop when the defender overplays. He also drew a lot of contact today on those drives and only shot two FTs before the intentional foul at the end.

McDermott has the MO of not fouling, which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy a lot IMO. He just gets a friendly whistle. Today of all days, UConn took it to the paint a lot, drew a lot of contact on the primary ball handler, and still didn’t get to the line. Normally I chalk it up to us not taking it to the basket and the league not caring about freedom of movement fouls but this was just lopsided.

The most telling part for me was when Samson picked up his 4th for wrastlin with Kalk on one end, and then JStew was literally thrown to the floor on a rebound and there was no call.

That said it all.

The replays of lay-ins for UConn in a late montage during a timeout showed them going to the hoop and getting fouled badly with no call, but still scoring. Mahaney got bodied on one and McNeeley got smacked in the face hard on a layup.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

I’ve been as down on Mahaney as anyone but making Liam the de facto starting PG and Diarra the backup finally takes Mahaney out of that role. He is much better when looking to score instead of looking to pass. Idk maybe I’m just in a good mood but I like this 9 man rotation.

Liam / Diarra
Ball / Mahaney
Stew / Ross
Alex
Samson / Reed

remove Mahaney and you’re onto something

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Karaban is 4-47 from his last 7 games from 3. Yikes.

maybe a good sign to shoot less 3s…

 

[Stinger92860]

If you ignore Alex’s shooting woe’s last night, the rest of his stat line was 10 pts, 6 boards, 1 assist, no turns, and plus 7. The D he have us at the 5 was big. A very solid game.

It was not only AK, everyone not named Liam shot 1 of 16 from three. Thats 6% and almost requires Intentional missing. You have to hope that AK returns to the mean, hits one, hits two and builds on that.

 

[RuffRuff]

The reality is Karaban really needs to come back. He's not going to be a first round pick and he's clearly not ready to play in the NBA. I'm sure it's not something he would've expected but it makes sense for him to come back for his senior year with all that NIL.

I’m really hoping it doesn’t come to that. Still some time for him to regain form and assume his stock. Also I would think his coming back may push someone out.

 

[Dogfish]

Is this team better on the road? Maybe they feel good about the frequent flyer miles or enjoy hotels? Bodes well.

Well, they did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!