Such a tired narrative.
Creighton & McDermott were basically spotted a 4 game lead in the “series” during the first 2 years of the Hurley rebuild, we were heavy underdogs to win any of those games simply due to talent level disparity.
Let’s check in on the status of the series in 2-3 years or so now that Hurley has rebuilt us back to UConn. If he’s owned us, then I’ll admit they have our number.
This post made me think a lot, so here is my long response for anyone that cares to read it.
Creighton is 9-3 against UConn and frankly I would like UConn to defeat them more. Winning on Saturday would have done wonders to putting the kibosh on this narrative even if it is overblown. But it's not like UConn being 11-0 against Butler.
were basically spotted a 4 game lead in the “series” during the first 2 years of the Hurley rebuild, we were heavy underdogs to win any of those games simply due to talent level disparity.
This is true except it was 5 games. Creighton was going to be a high seed in the cancelled 2020 COVID season and was already established while Hurley was rebuilding until 2021 or 2022. Don't forget the very first game in Gampel against Creighton (Bouknight 40 point game), RJ Cole choked and missed 2 FTs with 11 seconds left that would have put UConn up by 4 and instead Creighton tied it and then won in OT. The 2nd game in 2021, UConn was missing Bouknight. In the 2023 game in Omaha, UConn blew 4 fast breaks that should have been easy baskets and then they lost because Hawkins' toe was on the line for the potential tying 3 pointer. I thought UConn should have swept them that year. Those 2 games would make the all time series 7-5 in Creighton's favor, but there really wouldn't be any narrative.
Another thing to consider is that UConn lost 4 players to the NBA last year and Creighton lost 2 while having Kalkbrenner and Ashworth return. Let's put it in UConn terms, that would be like Clingan and Castle returning. Do you think UConn would have fared better against Creighton and this season in general with those 2 returning? Of course they would be a top 5 team in the country. But they are in the NBA where they belong.
It does seem like McDermott anticipates Hurley's moves the same way Tom Coughlin in the NFL anticpated Bellicheck's moves. Hurley, I love him, but he needs to be more flexible in game plan principles. Feed Tarris more in the post and force Kalk to play defense and Tarris being the post can screen Kalkrenner when he tries to help (think Jake Voskuhl, he was great at eliminating shot blockers doing this and Zuby did this a few times on Saturday). Tarris should be a bigger part of the offense in general this entire season, but that's another conversation. Go small in the lineup, even if for a few minutes, to bring Kalkbrenner out of the paint more and force him to use more energy. Hurley accidently ran into this strategy in Omaha when Tarris and Samson were in foul trouble. Also, try to fastbreak more off of misses to tire out their starting 5 that plays so many minutes (worked against Edey in the title game).
Don't overreact to the 3 point shooters on the other teams so that they can play 1-on-1 in the paint without other defenders being able to help (doesn't mean concede wide open 3s either). I found that troubling in the PC game in Gampel this year as they built a 14pt lead with the likes of Cardett Jr and Ryan Mela burning by Karaban on other defenders. PC offensively and defensively emulated Creighton's gameplan, they just are not as good as Creighton. Even Shaka stated, "UConn doesn't help on defense" after the 2nd Marquette game.
It's not like Creighton swept UConn during their championship years, that would drive me crazy, but Xavier did in 2023 and that always bothered me. UConn punked Creighton in the Gampel game last year (John Fanta's words) in their first game being ranked #1 and held them to their lowest scoring game of the year. But it seems like UConn has to play great D against Creighton to win since they don't score as much against Creighton's drop coverage.
The best way to squash this tired narrative: just beat them a few more times in the next few seasons. They already defeated them in getting Eric Reibe (Creighton was in 2nd place for him). Oddly enough he would have been the perfect center besides Sanogo for Kalkbrenner's deep drop coverage as he can shoot the 3 (Sanogo took Kalkbrenner to the woodshed in the post both games in 2023 and hit 3s on him).
