Discouraging.
That's just about the only word I can think of to describe what transpired out in Fresno on Saturday night. Discouraging. The energy, the effort, all of the progress showed the previous weekend against Xavier, gone. What's the deal, guys?
Late west coast games are supposed to be awesome. I'm a night owl and I pine for the days when my Minnesota Twins played in the AL West and had a chunk of their schedule in the Pacific time zone, with games starting at 9pm. That one lone west coast road trip they now make every year is cause for celebration, as I actually get to see games live (otherwise I have to TiVo them and watch on delay -- when you're out livin' life, 7pm starts are just damn inconvenient).
I remember one time a couple of years ago, I got home from the bar just after 1am, turned on the TV, and they were still playing in extra innings. That's what I'm talking about! While I ate my Taco Bell, I sat at the peninsula in my kitchen and watched live baseball. Good stuff.
So I was excited for this game. How many times do you get to go to the bar -- at regular going-to-the-bar hours, no less -- and watch the Jays? If my memory serves me correctly, this was the first televised Creighton game to be played in the Pacific Time Zone in the 10 years I've been in Omaha. There was a 11pm game at Colorado State on ESPN Big Monday around 2000 (I have the DVD to prove it!) but that was one of those made-for-TV time slots like the 11pm game at home last year. This was just straight-up, west coast time slot style.
Coming off their first complete game in an exciting, thrilling home victory last weekend against 24th ranked Xavier, this matchup against the Bulldogs of Fresno State had all the makings of an exciting game.
You bet.
I never thought I would wish for "lackadaisical perimeter defense", seeing as that's a pretty undesirable trait for a team to display. But when the alternative is "complete and utter lack of perimeter defense", boy, you start pining for the days of lackadaisical-ness real quick. And yes, I know that isn't a word. I just invented it, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Since I don't get paid to figure out what the hell is wrong with this team -- and thank god for that -- its silly for me to sit here and try to do that. I'm just a smartass with an internet connection, after all, so what do I know?
I know that at the first turn, the Jays have underachieved. 7 games into a 28-game slate (1/4 of the way through, hence the "first turn" horse racing reference, genius), they are 4-3 with three victories against inferior opponents, one nice win over a ranked team, and three road losses in which the team has looked progressively worse in one game than in the last.
There was a huge amount of hype surrounding this team -- something I warned against buying into before the season in my "Anticipation" post -- and regardless of which excuse you believe for their play, the simple fact is they have the lowest RPI in the Valley, and run the risk of returning home from Hawaii with the only losing record in the conference. Ouch.
I don't care for excuses. I don't want to talk about the team not having gelled yet. I don't want to hear about inexperience. Hell, I don't even care if they win. I just want to see improvement from game to game, I want to see teamwork and honest effort on both ends of the court, and I don't want to read anymore quotes in the paper from Anthony Tolliver and Nate Funk blaming road woes on a lack of team play.
Why don't I want to hear these excuses? Because whatever ails the Jays right now, I have no doubt they have the right man for the job of fixing it. My fear is that by the time things get figured out, it will be too late -- can you honestly say the Jays are a Top-4 team in the MVC right now, or that even if they finish that way, that a lower-finisher won't get a bid over them (see: Missouri State/Bradley, 2005-06)?
You can't. And that, frankly, scares the beejeezus out of me.
***
Lucky for me, Walgreens, that proprietor of Granny Fashion, had a special on stylish Blue Blocker sunglasses over the weekend. Man, you put those things on, and everything looks so much better!
Funk makes most of his shots! Dotzler is healthy enough to play defense! Porter can make a layup! Man, these things are amazing!
When you wear these things, you can clearly see that this team will go 13-5 in the Valley. They'll hold serve at home, steal road wins at Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State and Drake, and finish with the #2 seed behind Wichita State and just ahead of SIU. They'll beat Wichita in St. Louis, claim the automatic bid to the NCAA's, and get a 7 seed in the tourney! These things are amazing!
I believe everything I see through these amazing Blue Blockers! This season is far from over, folks, and that's what I truly believe. Will I be wrong? Maybe I will be. The only thing I know for sure is that I look like an incredible dork in these glasses, so they better be right.
You bet.
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