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I've been watching Creighton play Wisconsin tonight and have to say that the Bluejays are a very strong representative of the Valley. I felt that Wisconsin played over their heads to stay with Creighton for quite a while, but the Jays finally took charge.
As I consider the game here on January 19 and the game in Omaha on March 2, I think we are still looking at the Creighton offense against the Shocker defense.
Can Orukpe, Hall and Lufile combine to stop Echenique and Artino? Can Hall, Early and White combine to contain McDermott? Can Wessed, Wiggins, Baker and Cotton combine to stop Wragge, etc? Can Baker, Williams and Cotton combine to stop Gibbs, Jones and Manigat? Can Armstead, VanVleet and Williams combine to contain Chatman, etc?
Last year, Echenique seemed to have an advantage against Stutz for whatever reason. Hall seemed to handle him better and I think Orukpe and Lufile will provide plenty of depth at the 5 to hold Echenique and Artino down pretty well.
It was amazing how well Ben Smith and Carl Hall held McDermott down last year. Well, Carl is still here and Early has the same kind of quickness as Ben, but has much more height too. Plus, you also have White who could be able to wear McDermott out some with his physical type of play.
Wragge really looked good at times tonight and could be the one who is toughest to match up with, but Wiggins is so good defensively, Wiggins is so athletic and hopefully will have time to get his defense together by Jan 19. Baker and Cotton give a lot of additional depth at the 3 to help.
I have never really been impressed by Gibbs' offensive abilities although he is a very tough, blue collar type of player. I just think that Baker, Williams and Cotton can handle anyone they have to offer.
Chatman looks like a very nice young Point Guard in the league, but the defense Armstead, VanVleet and Williams can provide could give him problems.
I cannot help but believe that the depth at each position could give Creighton some real problems. Plus, I'm hopeful that by the 1st time we play Creighton, the offense may have finally started meshing.
Oruke will not eat Echenique's lunch with his offense, but if he can make a basket or 2 plus a couple nice passes, that will be great. I think Hall can score on Echenique and I would not be surprised to see Lufile provide some offense.
I am convinced that Hall, Early and White can all provide offense against McDermott. Certainly defense is not his strength.
I believe Wessel has the quickness to provide some good offense against Wragge and NW certainly has the offensive skills to handle if he has improved his defense enough by then to earn the minutes needed to make a difference. Baker can certainly provide offense from the 3 if needed as well.
I believe that Baker will have his shooting touch by then and be very tough for Gibbs to handle. William's offensive quickness will be tough to handle for any Creighton defender and Cotton can provide great depth.
Armstead appears to be able to handle any pressure Creighton may want to attempt and will score some as well. VanVleet is coming fast and by Jan 19 will probably be playing much more like a soph or even a junior rather than a Freshman. Then you also have Williams and if needed Baker to help at the point.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I'm not impressed with Creighton. They are really good. I'm just saying that if the young Shox can become the unit we hope for soon enough, they may be able to give Creighton all they want and more. Creighton is a pretty veteran team which may well be as good as they are going to be by early January. The Shox have so many newcomers that they should continue showing a great deal of improvement as the year progresses. By Jan 19 when the Jays come to town, the Shox may be ready to handle them in front of the home crowd and by March, who knows? Maybe they will be ready to take them to the cleaners in Omaha as well.
Creighton is really good and it will not be easy. But, if the youngsters learn to play defense to the top of their abilities and the offense meshes by then, a sweep could possibly happen.
As I consider the game here on January 19 and the game in Omaha on March 2, I think we are still looking at the Creighton offense against the Shocker defense.
Can Orukpe, Hall and Lufile combine to stop Echenique and Artino? Can Hall, Early and White combine to contain McDermott? Can Wessed, Wiggins, Baker and Cotton combine to stop Wragge, etc? Can Baker, Williams and Cotton combine to stop Gibbs, Jones and Manigat? Can Armstead, VanVleet and Williams combine to contain Chatman, etc?
Last year, Echenique seemed to have an advantage against Stutz for whatever reason. Hall seemed to handle him better and I think Orukpe and Lufile will provide plenty of depth at the 5 to hold Echenique and Artino down pretty well.
It was amazing how well Ben Smith and Carl Hall held McDermott down last year. Well, Carl is still here and Early has the same kind of quickness as Ben, but has much more height too. Plus, you also have White who could be able to wear McDermott out some with his physical type of play.
Wragge really looked good at times tonight and could be the one who is toughest to match up with, but Wiggins is so good defensively, Wiggins is so athletic and hopefully will have time to get his defense together by Jan 19. Baker and Cotton give a lot of additional depth at the 3 to help.
I have never really been impressed by Gibbs' offensive abilities although he is a very tough, blue collar type of player. I just think that Baker, Williams and Cotton can handle anyone they have to offer.
Chatman looks like a very nice young Point Guard in the league, but the defense Armstead, VanVleet and Williams can provide could give him problems.
I cannot help but believe that the depth at each position could give Creighton some real problems. Plus, I'm hopeful that by the 1st time we play Creighton, the offense may have finally started meshing.
Oruke will not eat Echenique's lunch with his offense, but if he can make a basket or 2 plus a couple nice passes, that will be great. I think Hall can score on Echenique and I would not be surprised to see Lufile provide some offense.
I am convinced that Hall, Early and White can all provide offense against McDermott. Certainly defense is not his strength.
I believe Wessel has the quickness to provide some good offense against Wragge and NW certainly has the offensive skills to handle if he has improved his defense enough by then to earn the minutes needed to make a difference. Baker can certainly provide offense from the 3 if needed as well.
I believe that Baker will have his shooting touch by then and be very tough for Gibbs to handle. William's offensive quickness will be tough to handle for any Creighton defender and Cotton can provide great depth.
Armstead appears to be able to handle any pressure Creighton may want to attempt and will score some as well. VanVleet is coming fast and by Jan 19 will probably be playing much more like a soph or even a junior rather than a Freshman. Then you also have Williams and if needed Baker to help at the point.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that I'm not impressed with Creighton. They are really good. I'm just saying that if the young Shox can become the unit we hope for soon enough, they may be able to give Creighton all they want and more. Creighton is a pretty veteran team which may well be as good as they are going to be by early January. The Shox have so many newcomers that they should continue showing a great deal of improvement as the year progresses. By Jan 19 when the Jays come to town, the Shox may be ready to handle them in front of the home crowd and by March, who knows? Maybe they will be ready to take them to the cleaners in Omaha as well.
Creighton is really good and it will not be easy. But, if the youngsters learn to play defense to the top of their abilities and the offense meshes by then, a sweep could possibly happen.
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