Results tagged “Nebraska” from Jays Blog

2008-09 Game #5: Nebraska 54, Jays 52

By
Max Univers
on November 30, 2008 11:18 PM |
 

I was back home in northwest Iowa for Thanksgiving, and Saturday night my presence was expected at a family dinner at a restaurant. You know what this meant: using "alternative" methods of monitoring the Creighton-Nebraska game.

Namely, free WiFi and ESPN Mobile Gamecast on my iPod. Its an ingenious thing, to be perfectly honest. Much better than the desktop computer version, Mobile Gamecast strips down the interface to just the essentials: time, score, and the latest plays. Period. AND it updates automatically, so if you have to hide the iPod under the table in your lap for a few minutes while you engage a relative in discussion about any number of less important things, the game tracker will be up to date when you can next catch a glance.

Like I said, genius. Just after 8 o'clock when the iPod screen refreshed to say "Kaleb Korver made Three Point jump shot. > CREI 31, NEB 18" I summoned all of my strength to avoid making a scene at the restaurant. After all, no one knew I was doing this.

Using the "STATS" panel, I was able to click -- with trepidation, of course -- to take a peek at the rebounding and turnover stats. I was alarmed but not overly upset to see the Jays with 12 turnovers. I was downright ecstatic to see them with a 24-12 edge in rebounding, lack of Husker size or not.

During halftime, I made enough conversation to buy me a "conversation grace period" during the second half. Fifteen minutes or so later, it was back to making quick glances under the table every minute for an update.

Tags:

Continue reading 2008-09 Game #5: Nebraska 54, Jays 52.

Gameday: Nebraska

By
Max Univers
on November 29, 2008 12:21 AM |
First off, my apologies for the lack of Gameday Preview articles for both the Oral Roberts and Arkansas Little Rock games. The truth is, the Friday before Thanksgiving I was laid off my job as a graphic designer after nine years with the company. I spent last weekend at the bar, and this week making use of the extensive industry contacts I've made over the years.

But that's not why I didn't post previews, although it would certainly be a legitimate excuse. No, like a moron I lost my administrative password for Movable Type (the software that runs this blog), and it took me a few days to convince my web host to log in to my blog database and reset things. Incidentally, that's why the postgame articles for those two games were so late in being published. Anyway, Its back, and so am I, for better or worse! Don't worry about me, I'm actually excited for the search for my next job. Sometimes you don't find the next challenge until you're forced to look for it. To everyone who has offered me leads on jobs, purchased me beers or offered kind words, you have my sincere thanks. Now, enough sappy stuff, there's a game to talk about! You bet.

*****

Saturday night's showdown in Lincoln could well be an early turning point in the Jays' season. Coming off of a disappointing game in Little Rock in which the Jays squandered a 16-point lead and were outrebounded by an absurd 20 rebounds, the Jays travel to Lincoln for the annual in-state rivalry game with the Huskers. Win the game and the team sets themselves up nicely for a run through the rest of the non-conference. Lose the game and the season could go south in a hurry.

Tags:

Continue reading Gameday: Nebraska.

2007-08 Game #3: Creighton 74, Nebraska 62

By
Max Univers
on November 25, 2007 5:28 PM |
Creighton has a knack for scheduling one of their best non-conference home games over Thanksgiving weekend, at least lately. The last two years, I have resisted the urge to bail early on the holiday weekend to come back to Omaha for the game. Both times, I regretted the decision when the games turned into arguably the most exciting non-conference game of the year.

Two years ago, I missed the double-overtime 91-90 win over Dayton to sit around a bonfire in the middle of a field. Throughout the evening, I made up excuses periodically to run out to my car, turn on the radio, and check the score. As the game progressed from "great" to "classic", I simply stayed in my car listening for minutes at a time. Try making up convincing excuses for that! You'll recall this was the game where Nate Funk made not one but TWO buzzer beaters -- one to tie the score in regulation, another to win it in the second overtime. His 38 points in 45 minutes of action cemented his legacy as a Jay.

Last year, I opted not to come back for the first Final Four team to visit Omaha since 1980 when George Mason came to town. This time, my alternative entertainment was hanging christmas lights on my parents' roof. This was the game where Creighton fell behind big early, rallied to get a 9 point lead, then turned it over on three consecutive possessions in the final minute to squander their lead and see George Mason tie it 56-56. Dane Watts would sink two free throws with 7 seconds remaining to give Creighton a 58-56 win.


Tags:

Continue reading 2007-08 Game #3: Creighton 74, Nebraska 62.

Twice a Year? The Debate Rages On

By
Max Univers
on November 20, 2007 5:29 PM |
Yesterday, I wrote about Dana Altman's stated preference to play Nebraska twice a year. I kind of skirted around my feelings on the issue in trying to figure out why either side would want to (or not want to) play twice a year. Meanwhile, Matt Perrault took the exact opposite approach and went right for the jugular on "The Big Show" yesterday afternoon.

His rant was pretty extraordinary, boiling down to three main points. One, Creighton and Nebraska need to play twice a year. Two, Nebraska won't do it because they're scared. Three, Creighton knows this, and that's why they keep bringing it up -- to paint themselves as a "Bring it on" type of gunslinger, and Nebraska as running away from a challenge.

Yep, he came right out and called Nebraska scared -- afraid of what losing twice a year to Creighton would do to recruiting, what losing twice a year would do to support, afraid of what losing twice a year to Creighton would do to attendance.

I would love to see Creighton and Nebraska play twice a year. Yes, there aren't many in-state rivals who play twice a year, but there aren't many states with only two D-1 basketball programs either. You're not comparing apples to apples when you say Iowa doesn't play UNI twice a year; they also play Drake and Iowa State every year. That's three in-state games. Why can't Nebraska and Creighton play twice? Its a huge risk for Creighton -- if they were to lose twice to Nebraska, it would be devastating. But if they beat Nebraska, the Huskers would just go back to being irrelevant until spring practice starts up again. Creighton has everything to lose and nothing to gain -- regardless of what Nebraska thinks, it ain't the other way around. They're quite frankly a terrible program that rides the wave of their conference and their football program to a false sense of superiority. Creighton's RPI probably drops by playing them twice (Nebraska's average RPI the last five years: 105). But if Altman is willing to take that risk, I'll all for it.

Based on the emails I got after bringing this up yesterday, it seems most Creighton fans are, in fact, not in favor of playing two. Interesting. For my part, I think its time to drop the whole thing and move on. You bet.

Tags:

The "Twice a Year" Debate, Rekindled

By
Max Univers
on November 19, 2007 5:30 PM |
Tom Shatel brought up the idea of Nebraska and Creighton playing two games a year in his column this morning. This is a idea that's been floated by Creighton in the past, one that's generally been met with resistance from the brain trust, if you can call them that, down in Lincoln.

The idea was first suggested by The Rat, aka Danny Nee, back in the Rick Johnson years. Before Creighton could take them up on it, Johnson was out, Altman was in, and Nebraska was no longer interested. The story really picked up steam a few years later when Barry Collier was named the coach at Nebraska and stated his preference to not play Creighton at all. His quote at the time was, "I don't see what we have to gain from playing them." Over his tenure, his stance softened on playing the game once a year, but he never so much as batted an eyelash at the idea of playing an annual home-and-home series.

Since Sadler took the job last year, the subject really hadn't been broached. His AD, Smiley Steve, was still around and it was him that many suspected was really behind the "dropping Creighton from the schedule" idea. But with Smiley gone, and the contract for the series expiring after the game on Saturday, Shatel brings the subject back to the surface for another go-round. Dana Altman's comments haven't changed; and while Slingblade may be new, the party line he's toeing on this subject isn't.


Tags:

Continue reading The "Twice a Year" Debate, Rekindled.

2006-07 Game 2: #20 Jays 61, Nebraska 73

By
Max Univers
on November 19, 2006 5:48 PM |
Things are never as good as they seem when its going good, and things are never as bad as they seem when they're going bad. Nebraska shot 67% for the game, and 77% in the second half, despite pretty decent defense from the Jays. I know some fans will disagree with me, and I know Coach Altman claims they are "simply a bad team right now". But there were several times that they held Nebraska to a rushed shot at the end of the shot clock, and twice where they threw up desperation threes. Both of those went in. The defense was decent, not terrible and not good, decent. I'll grant you there were too many breakdowns that led to open shots, but the body of work as a whole was not terrible.

To have a team shoot lights-out, and only be down 2 points with 6 minutes left, is awfully good. Typically, even against atrocious defense, a team might shoot 60% on a great night. 77% is once-in-a-season stuff. As I said yesterday, you don't need to look any further than March Madness to see examples of a seemingly inferior team winning. How do they often do that? Insanely red-hot shooting.

Tags:

Continue reading 2006-07 Game 2: #20 Jays 61, Nebraska 73.

This Is Why I Love College Basketball

By
Max Univers
on November 18, 2006 5:47 PM |
Apparently there's a big football game this afternoon. Michigan and Ohio State? Yeah, I think I heard something about that. But you know what I'll be watching? Wichita State at George Mason on ESPN2. The Patriots are raising the Final Four banner before today's game.

But then, I've always liked college basketball more than football. Hell, that Texas-Michigan State game was just fun to watch, even though I had nothing invested in the outcome. College Basketball season is just great to watch unfold. In my mind, the tournament at the end of the season makes it the best sport in America. There is nothing in sports with more excitement than March Madness.

If Louisville and Rutgers are playing in football, am I watching? No. Never. Who cares about that? The Big East? Whatever. But if Maryland and St. John's are playing in basketball from MSG, I'm watching that. Two eastern teams there, and yet, I care about that. And its because of the NCAA Tourney, which includes pretty much every team who's any good at all.

And there's so much strategy involved in hoops. That's why I don't care one iota about the NBA. A lot of the players piss me off, and there's just too much perfection. It sounds crazy, but I prefer the imperfection of the college game. I love watching Dana Altman bring a team decimated by injury together. I love watching him get in someone's grill if they don't play defense. I love seeing him get on someone about shot selection.

Tags:

Continue reading This Is Why I Love College Basketball.

Didn't See That One Coming!

By
Max Univers
on December 11, 2005 6:48 PM |
JAYS 70, Nebraska 44

Wow. Didn't see that one coming. In my prediction post yesterday, I thought Creighton would win a slugfest 49-46, but could easily see Nebraska winning. What happened?

Creighton came out with huge energy, and despite shooting poorly, hit the big shots when they needed them. And they did EVERYTHING else: staunch defense, stellar rebounding, all the hustle plays, diving on the floor and beating Nebraska to the ball time after time. Meanwhile, Nebraska came out flat, unable -- or unwilling - to match Creighton's intensity.

For all the talk by Husker fans the past three weeks about this being the biggest game on their non-conference slate, about this being the year Nebraska knocks off Creighton, apparently the message didn't get to the players. Because, quite frankly, they didn't bother to show up. The score was 31-11 at the half. AT THE HALF. I cannot remember a game anywhere with any team where they only scored 11 points in a half. Much less in an in-state rivalry game of such importance, in front of the largest crowd in the state's history.

Long story short, in a game their coach absolutely had to win, against a bitter rival who was reeling and down to just 8 players, they got outhustled, outschemed and flat-out outplayed. They got run out of the gym, folks.

Tags:

Continue reading Didn't See That One Coming!.

Prediction Time: Jays and Huskers

By
Max Univers
on December 10, 2005 6:47 PM |
Before we go any further, lets face facts. Nate Funk, our leading scorer, rebounder and the heart and soul of the team, is out. Pierce Hibma, a defensive plus and solid "system" guy, is out. And now, Jimmy "Instant Offense" Motz is out. Creighton will suit up 8 players, plus one walkon. The Creighton you know, the pressing, running, high-scoring Creighton, doesn't exist right now. They can't, because they simply don't have the bodies. They are going to struggle to win this game.

The Jays come in 3-2, playing a moderately tough schedule thus far, with good wins and bad losses in their resume. But with all the injuries, you just don't know what this team has. Will Johnny Mathies be able to fill the scoring void? Will Anthony Tolliver and Jeffrey Day be able to at least hold their own inside? Can they still press with only 8 players?

Tags:

Continue reading Prediction Time: Jays and Huskers.

Creighton and Nebraska

By
Max Univers
on December 9, 2005 6:46 PM |
I grew up in Iowa, 160 miles from the Nebraska border. Before coming to Omaha for college 9 summers ago, my knowledge of the Huskers was limited to the yearly drubbings of nearby Iowa State in football, their successes and failures in bowl games, and their general mediocreness in every other sport. But I had no real feelings one way or the other towards them. Oh sure, the Husker fans that existed in Fort Dodge were obnoxious; talking smack when they were outnumbered by fans of not one but two schools 100-1. But every school has those fans.

Likewise, my knowledge of Creighton was even less. I remembered them losing to Iowa in basketball a couple of times in the early 90s, but that was about it. Lets just say that since I enrolled in the fall of 1997, my knowledge of them is, well, lets just say I've done what I can to educate myself on their past to fill in those gaps.

When I came down here to go to school, the extent of my knowledge of Nebraska basketball was this: Andre Woolridge had left their program to transfer to the Hawks in the early 90s. And they had a coach with Pat Riley's hair. That was about it. I lost a drinking contest in the dorms on this question: Name two Big-6 conference teams to have never won an NCAA Tournament game. I knew Northwestern. Figured Florida State was the other. Really? Nebraska? No! A lot of shots went down that night.

Tags:

Continue reading Creighton and Nebraska.

  • Case sensitive
  • Regex search

Tags

Max Univers (not his real name) is a graphic designer and author of two books, neither of which you’ve probably heard of. A 2001 graduate of Creighton University’s Journalism program, Max takes time out of his busy nightlife to share his thoughts on Jays hoops here during the season.

Why Univers? Its his favorite font, plus it just sounds really cool as a surname.

Why Polyfro? Years and years ago, Max had a giant afro wig that he wore as part of a Halloween costume. Not wishing to retire its giant fro awesomeness after the holiday, he began wearing the wig out in public as part of his everyday ensemble. One night at a dance club, the DJ called out the moniker over the soundsystem. Max thought it sounded cool, and purchased the URL shortly thereafter.

More questions? Send me an email: max-at-polyfro-dot-com. I like jokes, story tips, and generally all correspondence involving Bluejay athletics. Emails that point out how stupid I am and/or where I should go after I die are not encouraged.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.