After the loss at Evansville on Wednesday, I tried to put a positive spin on things. I wrote that it wasn't that bad in the big picture; after all, the team could still finish 11-7 in the league if they held serve at home and won one of the last two road games.
Well, now they have to go undefeated the rest of the way in the Valley to accomplish that.
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There's a technical term for games where you get your ass summarily handed to you: Poo Sandwich. I think it comes from the Latin word "Poo" which, roughly translated into English, means "Crap".
I anticipated enjoying a much different kind of sandwich on Saturday. I'd just been to see the butcher down the street, and purchased all kinds of delicious sliced meats. Roast beef, smoked turkey, glazed ham. Even had him slice some fresh cheddar from the block. Put that stuff on a Rotella's hoagie and brother, that's a tasty sandwich. The perfect lunch for a Saturday afternoon Jays game on TV, I thought.
Sadly, I hadn't even taken a bite from either of the two delicious sandwiches on my giant plate yet and the Jays were already down 11-0. I was still working on devouring a stack of Pringles, and they were already down double-digits. And it was turnovers, again. The Jays first three possessions all ended in turnovers. Stop me if this sounds rudimentary, but isn't it kinda hard to score if you never get to shoot?
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I missed the memo where Bradley became Creighton and the Jays became Houston Baptist. I really should check my mailbox more than twice a month. Dammit.
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Here's my issue with the last two games: it doesn't look to me, as an outsider looking in, like the players give a damn. Their body language says to me that they don't care. Maybe you read it differently, which is a distinct possibility; unlike identifying Poo Sandwiches, reading body language is an inexact science.
When you've got as much riding on a game, the easiest part of your preparation should be getting excited. To come out flat is completely unacceptable. Now, I'll grant you that its difficult to get mentally psyched to play in front of a couple thousand people against a last-place Evansville team. A team with vocal hell-fire leadership should still be able to get up for it, but I'll grant you its possible to be lackadaisical.
But a regionally televised game in front of a sold-out, raucous arena against a good team? Come on. I apologize for going all Debbie Downer on you today, but come on. After the loss in Evansville, after they were embarrassed by the last place team in the league, what did you think would happen? That they'd come out firing, pissed off, and win the next game with a determination and aggression the likes of which we haven't seen in a while? Yeah, me too. But as it turns out, not so much. Instead they come out flat, they come out uninspired, they come out looking like they don't give a damn.
Everybody gets the blame for this. I'm sick and tired of hearing people bitch and moan about Josh Dotzler not being able to shoot. I've had it with people griping about Chad Millard getting minutes instead of Kenny Lawson. I've had it with people whining about Pierce Hibma. One player does not make a difference when you get your butt kicked by 28 points. Seriously, and I mean this with all sincerity, when you're losing by 36 late in the second half, its time to give up whining about one player. That's a team effort.
As a wise man once said -- I think it was Confucius, but I generally used my 8:30 M-W-F Philosophy class to catch up on the sleep I lost by being at the Bluejay Bar so who knows -- One man can make Poo, but it takes Twelve men to make Poo Sandwich.
Words to live by there, my friends. One man can make Poo, but it takes Twelve men to make Poo Sandwich.
You bet.
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Earlier in the season, I wrote a piece on this site where I talked about the non-box score things the Jays missed from Anthony Tolliver. Things that weren't as easily quantifiable as points, rebounds, assists and turnovers. Things like covering up defensive mistakes in the paint. Things like getting in teammates faces when they made a mistake.
Do you think for a minute that the A-Train would have allowed a debacle like what happened Saturday without raising hell? No way. And that's what bothers me. Show some fire in your belly. Act like you give a damn.
Please, I'm begging you, don't make me have to apply the Brody Deren Theory to this team. Please. You wouldn't like it if I had to apply that. Trust me.
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