Southern Illinois had this coming to them. The Jays owed them a butt-kicking, and brother, that's what they got. I described the win over Northern Iowa as a "butt-kicking buffet" because they took all they wanted and then came back for more, and this was another trip through the buffet line. After the first minute of the game, there was no point where you thought Southern could win the game. It was a blowout almost from the word "go".
Does a 19-point win on national TV make up for the two one-point losses to the Salukis in Omaha the last four years? Does it make up for the six and seven point losses the two years in between? The five straight losses in Carbondale? Not entirely, but its sweet nonetheless, make no mistake. It would have been nice to win on a buzzer-beater, ripping their heart out and showing it to them while its still beating a la "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", but a 19-point blowout that was over at halftime will suffice. You bet.
***
And to think, when I wrote my pregame prediction, I called it "crazy" and "off-the-wall". 65-38 sounded as tasty and delicious as a cold Bud Light in an aluminum bottle, but there was no way the margin would be that big. Right?
Turns out it almost could. 72-53 is not exactly 65-38, but its in the ballpark. Waiting in line at the concession stand for a tasty and delicious Bud Light, which refreshes the palate...and the loins. Not in the bowl, but in the stadium. In the ballpark. Close enough.
***
Although I hate to admit it to my colleague in the Fellowship Of The Fro, Jackie Moon, I drank PBR at the game. Not quite the same tasty mix of barley, hops and delicious alcohol, but it seemed more appropo for SIU-Carbondale. Plus my buddy Gilby was buying, and if that's the heat he's bringing, I'll take it.
***
When I say that the game was never in doubt, here's what I mean: Randal F'n Falker scored an easy bucket to make it 2-0 just 12 seconds in. Then P'Allen Stinnett and Dane Watts hit consecutive threes, Josh Dotzler hit a running layup, and Stinnett had a thundering dunk from the wing -- and it was 10-2 Jays with 16:12 to play. Their lead would never be less than six the rest of the first half; the lead was in double digits for the last 30:26 of the game.
Domination.
The thundering dunk from Stinnett was just one of three fabulous plays from the freshman. Another in the second half was not as decisive or timely as the first, but the distance he got up off the floor was amazing. And then the Globetrotters Shot...how can I describe it?
The official box score described it as "GOOD! JUMPER by Stinnett,P'Allen". But that doesn't quite cover it, now does it? Catching the ball on the wing, he drove the baseline and crossed under the basket, transferred the ball from one hand to the other, and when he was hacked to the floor but no whistle was blown, he threw up the ball as he fell. The ball went in, of course.
Speaking of P'Allen, I think we can officially say he's a marked man. When was the last time he shot a free throw? OK, he shot a couple last night, but he practically lost an arm in the process. I understand he ran his mouth early in the season and showed up the refs on more than one occasion after calls went against him. I understand they don't appreciate that, and with good reason. What I don't understand is continuing to hold a grudge against him and making sure every 50/50 call goes the other way. The refs were at Farrell's after the game refreshing their loins with a delicious Bud Light; I was awfully close to walking over to them to ask. I don't want trouble, and I don't expect The Jordan Rules where he can take nineteen steps on a drive to the bucket without dribbling, but could he get a 50/50 call once in a while?
Make no mistake: he deserves the scrutiny after his behavior early in the season. But the ticky-tack stuff that he gets whistled for that no one else does is slightly annoying. Slightly.
Not annoying: the play of Booker Woodfox. In addition to having the best name in D-I hoops, he is fast becoming the Next Great Bluejay Sharpshooter. 20 points in 19 minutes, 16 in the first half. 7-10 from the floor, 2-3 from the arc, 4-5 from the line.
Also not annoying: the mad rebounding of Kenny Lawson, who I predicted would shame Randal F'n Falker. SEVEN boards in the first half, 11 for the game. Falker had one. Count'em, ONE. Actually, can we get a round of applause for Mr. Falker? Helluva effort from the preseason MVC Player of the Year. 3-4 from the floor, 1-3 from the line, ONE rebound, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks, and he fouled out. His foul where he threw Casey Harriman to the ground because he had the audacity to try for a loose ball was classic. And his fifth foul was the sort of foul a guy makes when he quits. He walked immediately to the bench afterwards, Coach Lowery ignored him, and he sat there and sulked. There hasn't been a player in the MVC I'm happier to have seen the last of since Jamar Howard.
***
POLYFRO CHORK PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tonight's player of the game is brought to you by the delicious test-tube taste of Chork. Not quite chicken and not quite pork, its Chork!
Well, if this award went to the player with the most highlight-reel plays, it would have to go to P'Allen Stinnett. And if it went to the guy who did the most offensively, it would go to Booker Woodfox. If it went to the guy who dominated the paint and single-handedly grabbed almost as many rebounds as the entire other team in the first half, it would go to Kenny Lawson.
You know what, I'm giving this one to the entire team. The first Creighton team to hand Southern Illinois a loss at the Qwest Center -- all of them, collectively, are the Polyfro Chork Players of the Game.
You bet.
Leave a comment