Bluejays @ Shockers Game Thread

[shox1989]

I had a lot of fun at today's game. It reminded me of the old Valley games in the 70s and 80s. I hope both teams win out until the re-match in Omaha on March 2.

I have watched a lot of Cu games this year on TV and on the computer, but seeing them in person was more impressive. The big guy has definitely improved over last year and McD just plain knows how to score. This was a big win today over a very good team.

[shox1989]

Not really, another -- I went back after the game and listened to the ESPN broadcast, and one of the things I heard from their crew was the opinion that at this point Gregg Marshall is national coach of the year. So it isn't plausible to suggest that he thought Creighton was better coached -- what he was more likely saying was that if it came down to a chess match, the Blueboys had better PIECES.

Not today, though, even though our pieces couldn't shoot. As others have noted, if just Hall shoots something resembling his normal FT percentage the last two minutes -- no other changes, just that one -- the ending isn't nearly as nerve-wracking.

There is no doubt that McDermott is a very good coach. His UNI teams always seemed to play way beyond their athletic talent and would beat teams that they really didn't have any business competing with.

It is hard to compare the two coaches. They are both very good. I would say that Marshall is definitely the better recruiter. But beyond that, it is hard to say. McDermott finds a way to get his players to produce far more than they really should. I have always been very impressed with this coaching ability.

[Shocker-maniac]

It's probably already been said several times in this thread, but A+ to the student section. I loved the white sheets of paper during Creighton free throws. Definitely a big-time college game atmosphere. And of course Gregg Marshall is the dude. He is a great coach, and definitely is deserving of national coach of year award. I'm still so hyped up from the game that I'm not sure I will be able to sleep tonight. GO SHOCKERS!

[proshox]

Went back and looked at the replay at the end of the first half. Can someone tell me how the shot clock vs the play clock work together?

At one point, I was able to stop the play and it showed 20.8 on the play clock and 12 on the shot clock. How does CU get the ball with 10.1 showing on the play clock on a ball out of bounds on them?

Thankfully, it makes no difference now, but at the time, I thought the refs blew it and it hurt the Shocks.

You are 100 percent correct. We would have had the ball with at least one second left on the shot clock. Dougie and Gibbs would have been on the bench. That blown reset was huge for the halftime momentum.

[another shocker]

There is no doubt that McDermott is a very good coach. His UNI teams always seemed to play way beyond their athletic talent and would beat teams that they really didn't have any business competing with.

It is hard to compare the two coaches. They are both very good. I would say that Marshall is definitely the better recruiter. But beyond that, it is hard to say. McDermott finds a way to get his players to produce far more than they really should. I have always been very impressed with this coaching ability.

what? are you serious?

you do realize that wichita state has won in omaha the previous two seasons by double digits? BLOWOUTS now wichita state has had to labor under mass injuries. i would say that marshall is definitely the better coach. what's the record- 4-1 in favor of marshall? it's going to get worse for creighton/mcdermott next year, too, if they are still around.

[AndyMoore]

It's a W symbol not a shocker symbol. Get over it or don't but quit acting like it's vulgar. If the non wheat shocker fans think shockers and assume its a shocker symbol who cares. Engineer overalls got old in 1880 but I couldn't care less what creighton fans do.

+1!

So. Much. This.

[KC Shox]

Nice

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/21583934/valleys-premier-game-of-the-season-doesnt-disappoint

[shox1989]

Nice

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...snt-disappoint

Wow that is a very nice article.

A few excerpts:

Wichita State 67, Creighton 64 was everything any Missouri Valley/college basketball fan was hoping it would be. Good play, fan frenzy, game in doubt late -- all reasons why mid-major basketball has a couple of teams good enough to threaten for Final Four appearances this season.
You heard me right......
This was good for the league, ultimately. Both teams are top-20 in the RPI and even better in KenPom.com..... WSU wasn't ranked, but that will change come Monday. And despite the loss, I think no less of Creighton -- and even more of WSU.


....but this game was as good as any that we've seen so far on Saturday -- proof that the MVC doesn't just have good teams at the top, it has some of the best in the country.

[150946shox]

Yes, but he reeeeeaaaalllllly needs to stop shooting. Just stop. Pass. Play D, and pass on offense.

I've never yet seen a shooter find his stroke again by quitting. Yes, I was also frustrated by Tekele's shot being off tonight, but the fact is that players who quit shooting when their shots hit a cold streak are not good basketball players. TC has shot well in the past and will again in the future if he does not become the quitter you want him to.

[ShockerFever]

Im not sure how many times I have flipped on sportscenter since the game ended and have not seen any highlights on it.
They ignore WSU and the fact that Creighton was what #12? they would rather show #24 ucla or NHL crap

They've had highlights during the Butler-Gonzaga game and I think I saw em once on SportsCenter.

[ShockerFever]

Early was posting up hard and getting a seal but nobody was looking at him. It was irritating me. I sometimes think DWill is allergic to passing into the post.

I love D-Will. He has become a pretty good senior guard for this team. I love his quickness and slashing abilities. I think him and Armstead like the 1-on-1 ball a little too much sometimes and try to do too much. I completely agree that there were several openings in the post for Carl and Cle that were missed, and missed pretty easily, particularly on fast breaks at the beginning of the offensive sets. Very frustrating. I wish somebody would tell those guys we have some absolute studs down there. When we go inside, we succeed a lot. I just don't understand it sometimes. That's really my main beef with D-Will and one of a couple beefs with MA.

[ShockerFever]

I've never yet seen a shooter find his stroke again by quitting. Yes, I was also frustrated by Tekele's shot being off tonight, but the fact is that players who quit shooting when their shots hit a cold streak are not good basketball players. TC has shot well in the past and will again in the future if he does not become the quitter you want him to.

TC is not a jump shooter. He has pretty good form but he lays bricks outside of 10 feet. He's a better slasher and is really good driving at the rim. That's HIS game. I'm sorry, but his jump shooting doesn't have a chance. That's the one improvement he can make to his game IMO. Either make the shots or stop firing up there like he's on fire.

[wsushox1]

Also we let Grant Gibbs dunk...smh

[wsushox1]

Tekele has to shoot at least one or 2 jump shots a game, to establish if he's feeling good about his shot and to at least give his defender something to think about.

[The Mad Hatter]

TC is not a jump shooter. He has pretty good form but he lays bricks outside of 10 feet. He's a better slasher and is really good driving at the rim. That's HIS game. I'm sorry, but his jump shooting doesn't have a chance. That's the one improvement he can make to his game IMO. Either make the shots or stop firing up there like he's on fire.

I'm willing to give TC the benefit of the doubt in light of his hand injury opening the season. It clearly was affecting his shot, and it takes time to regain your form after not being able to get up shots with full range of motion for a long period of time. For the most part, the jump shots he has taken have been very open looks and I don't think you ultimately are better served by having a guard who is afraid to take an open jumper. On top of that, with both Ron and Evan out, we have fewer options of who will be taking shots created for wing players by the offense. If it becomes clear that your offense will consistently pass on open looks for wing players, it makes it that much easier for teams to double down on our interior players.

Will we be a lot better if TC can find his stroke? Absolutely, but I'm only going to complain about him shooting if it is bad shot selection, not if he happens to miss.