In my preview of this game, I wrote "it will be a barnburner, coming down to a couple of plays late to win. Whoever makes the big play will win a game like that; the classic March Madness photo finish. And I trust the Jays to make that big play. I really do."
Well, it was indeed a game just like that. Except Creighton wasn't able to make the plays down the stretch to win. They played close the entire day, with 12 lead changes and 10 ties. Nevada's largest lead was 7 (coming in the first half), Creighton's 6 (coming in the second half).
Traditionally in NCAA Tournament games that CU has lost, Creighton has started slowly, fought back to make a game out of it, and ultimately lost in the waning moments. Only the West Virginia game two years ago broke the mold. Even in the two games they've won, slow starts were the rule.
Against Nevada, however, Creighton started reasonably well. In fact, the first half was incredibly competitive, and the Jays had a 32-28 lead with just 30 seconds left in the half. In that first half, they got points from Pierce Hibma, Manny Gakou and Isacc Miles -- all coming off the bench -- and that had to be seen as a positive sign.
But at the end of the half, Nevada's Marcelus Kemp hit a toilet bowl three to cut the lead to 32-31. The luck of that shot going in gave me a sneaking suspicion that things were not going to break the Jays way. Still, they had a lead -- the first NCAA Tourney game in the Altman era where that was the case -- so that can't be bad, right?
The second half was a flurry of ties, lead changes, and great plays. An amazing flurry of three consecutive steals and fast-break buckets might have been the greatest stretch in CU Tournament history -- part of an 11-4 run that gave CU their biggest lead. But Nevada would have none of it, clawing back to tie the game at 59-59 with 90 seconds left.
Flashback to Drexel. All of a sudden, the Jays couldn't get a rebound to save their life. Three times Nevada missed a shot, three times they got the board. A back-door trap leading to an errant pass gave CU the ball back with 18 seconds left.
Tie game. Timeout? No. This has been debated to death, and we all know Coach Altman believes its strategically beneficial to not allow the defense to set up. I don't happen to agree, but that's the way it goes. Tie game, 18 seconds left, ball in Nate Funk's hands? I'll take those odds.
Unfortunately, just like the Indiana State game, Funk never even got a shot off, as he lost the ball in traffic. Was he fouled? Yeah. But no ref makes that call. Well, those guys from the NIT game against Miami would have, but that's why they're working the NIT, isn't it?
You know how the rest went. Nevada outscored the Jays 18-12 in the OT period, and it was another bitter first round loss for the Jays.
The last five postseason games for Creighton have been decided by a sum total of 16 points. That five-game span, spanning the Bluejay careers of Anthony Tolliver and Nate Funk, and for two of the games, Nick Porter, includes these four gut-punch games:
Nebraska 71, Creighton 70. Nebraska's Nate Johnson hits a jumper with 12 seconds left to give the Huskers a 71-70 lead. Funk's desperation shot at the buzzer is blocked by Jake Muhleisen.
West Virginia 63, Creighton 61. Tyrone Sally's breakaway dunk with 2.4 seconds gave WVU a 63-61 lead. Funk misses a three at the buzzer.
Miami 53, Creighton 52. Guillermo Diaz hits two free throws with 2.6 seconds remaining after a *highly* questionable foul call on Dane Watts. Johnny Mathies is tackled at midcourt taking a desperation three, and no foul is called.
Nevada 77, Creighton 71. Creighton goes scoreless over the last 2:27 of the game, scores just 2 points over the last 6 minutes, and falls in overtime.
Seriously, that's Boston Red Sox type stuff right there. Gut punch after gut punch. You have to think Creighton and its fans will eventually be rewarded for this. I think so. That's why I continue to be a die-hard fan in the face of these horrifying defeats.
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Eight months until the Jays take the court again. Ouch.
Be sure to add this site to your RSS feeds, because during the off-season I have a lot of cool things planned. Things you won't want to miss. Trust me on this.
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Over the course of the season, I've only awarded the Heee-Haw Player of the Game after wins, for obvious reasons. But I have to change that policy today. These guys played so hard, so well, they deserve it.
And it goes to Anthony Tolliver, Nate Funk and Nick Porter. Well done, guys. A can of Heee-Haw for all.
You bet.
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