Sometimes it gets taken for granted, with almost every game televised anymore. Last night was a rather refreshing change, listening to the Jays game on the radio. That's right, the radio. Listening to two voices paint a visual picture of the game in your mind, especially for someone as creative as myself, can sometimes be more fun than watching on TV. Imagination.
So last night for the big big showdown with Wichita State, I decided on the way home to stop by Hy-Vee to get some ingredients to make one of my favorites, Tuna Noodle Casserole, to enjoy during the game. Since I had to be in the kitchen to hear the game anyway, might as well be doing something like cooking, right? Those plans almost blew up when it took me 25 MINUTES to get home, mostly thanks to sitting in traffic on Maple for 20. Why anyone would ever choose to live on Maple is beyond me. RIDICULOUS. If I'd shot down Fort like usual, and then backtracked to Maple at 156th, I'd have shaved 10 minutes off my drive. Easy. Seriously.
Parking just 10 minutes before tip-off necessitated the shortest shopping trip in the history of ever. No cart. No basket. Just two hands. Speed walking, I grabbed mozzarella, two cans of Cream of Mushroom, two cans of tuna in water, a box of shell macaroni, and some milk. Remember, with no basket. Tough, as it turns out. But I made it.
And the checkouts were busy, of course, and by the time I get back to The Colorado, the game is 2 minutes old. Holy crap.
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Listening to the game on the radio, what I heard was a gritty effort by a team saddled with yet more injuries. Already playing most of the season without their All-American guard Nate Funk, and having lost two other bench players for significant time earlier, in this game they were without their starting point guard Josh Dotzler. Plus Dane Watts had been diagnosed with Mono. In all honesty, playing in the Roundhouse, I figured the game would play out thusly:
Jays once again come out flat, fall behind early. Furious rally gives them a lead early second half. Home court advantage brings Wichita back ahead, and they pull away for a 15 point win.
What really happened was that they did indeed fall behind early, and battled back, but instead held the lead until very late in the game. In the final four minutes, the lead went back and forth several times, and finally going to OT.
The Overtime was more of the same. Back and forth. Jays missed several free throws that could have iced the game, and at the buzzer, Wichita State hit a contested three to win. You can see a dramatic reenactment of my reaction at that moment.
My buddy John is going to give me hell and tell me I've gone soft for what I'm about to say, but dammit, its the truth. Everyone wrote them off last night, between injuries, playing on the road in one of the toughest gyms in the Valley against a top team, and the terrible performance Saturday. And they almost won. It took a last-second shot in overtime to beat them. I'm proud today.
The Jays gave their absolute best shot in this game, and lost. So while that hurts a helluva lot more than losing when you play poorly, I applaud Wichita for pulling it out. The Jays played solid defense -- SOLID -- executed their gameplan well, outrebounded the Shockers, but just made one fewer play than they did. And they got a call or two that helped, but that's what happens on the road.
When both teams in a game play at an extremely high level, its often the intangibles that decide the outcome. Things like homecourt advantage, who's healthier, and who can execute in the clutch.
So it hurts, but when you play as hard as they did, and do almost everything right, I find it hard to be pissed for long.
Next time though, fellas, please make your free throws. For me. Please.
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Now, after the game, talk centered on whether the Jays are now on the NCAA Tournament Bubble. They fell from a "lock" to now the fifth-place RPI team in the league. I don't care what anyone says, the Valley ain't getting 5 bids.
Freaking Missouri State. All of a sudden, there they are, one game back and higher than the Jays in RPI.
Here's what I think happens: Jays hold serve at home, beating Fresno on ESPN at 11PM this Saturday (11PM! I can't wait to have last call for alcohol AT A BASKETBALL GAME! How awesome is that!) and then Indiana State next week on Senior Night. This sets up an epic battle with Missouri State in Springfield that may very well be for the last NCAA Tourney berth.
Even in a loss, the team played better last night than they have in a while, and the effort leaves me quite confident they can win their last three games. They won't lose again at home, and they match-up well against Missouri State.
So despite some pretty negative Jays fans today, I think their case for a berth is solid. They've played a top-tier schedule, they've won most of them, and will have 20 wins in a top-6 conference. If that doesn't get you a berth, I will eat something unpleasant like my shoe.
There will be no NIT game at the Qwest this year. Mark my words, the Jays will be in the Big Dance. I guarantee it. Nay, I absolutely promise it.
You bet.
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