I don't hate Southern Illinois; hate is an awfully strong word. I have a grudging respect for what they've accomplished. but that doesn't mean I like them. How's this: I really, really, really don't like them. Really, really, really, really, REALLY don't like them.
Which makes the nine-straight regular season losses hurt me like getting shafted out of dollar PBR night at the Musette Bar (which actually happened to me this week).
Its absurd but true: the last time Creighton beat Southern Illinois in the regular season was a fire marshal special nationally-televised on ESPN. Played before 1000 more fans than there were seats at the Omaha Civic Auditorium, the Kyle Korver-led Jays beat the Salukis 85-76. Those Salukis were coached by Bruce Weber; the Jays are winless against both of his successors (Matt Painter and Chris Lowery).
Since that victory, here are the results of the SIU/Creighton series in the regular season (last year's MVC tourney win not withstanding):
03/01/03 - SIU 70, CU 62 (A)
02/07/04 - SIU 61, CU 60 (H)
02/24/04 - SIU 68, CU 60 (A)
01/09/05 - SIU 69, CU 63 (H)
02/12/05 - SIU 71, CU 67 (A)
01/24/06 - SIU 62, CU 48 (A)
02/11/06 - SIU 74, CU 67 (H)
01/20/07 - SIU 58, CU 57 (H)
02/10/07 - SIU 72, CU 68 (A)
This is ridiculous, and it has gone on long enough. It must end tonight; nay, it WILL end tonight. You heard it here first. Now, if you've read this site for any length of time, you know that I don't generally make wild predictions. From time to time, I'll even predict the Jays to lose. More often than not, I predict conference games to be close because I respect the quality of Valley teams more than I should. But not tonight. No, my prediction today is crazy, off the wall and God, I hope it comes true.
And its going to end in an ugly bloodbath, a 27-point blowout where not a single fan leaves early because every single person in the sold out 17,500 crowd wants to see Randal Falker leave the court with a look of indiscriminate sadness. Creighton will come out and hit them in the mouth (figuratively, if not literally) and bring the toughness to SIU, not the other way around as has generally been the case in this series of late. There will be NO open looks, and with SIU's heinously horrible offense, they will struggle to score points. 20 of their 38 points will come at the free throw line, as the Jays foul early and often to set the tempo. Offensively, SIU will neutralize P'Allen Stinnett but Chad Millard will be unstoppable from 15-feet in and Kenton Walker and Kenny Lawson will shame Falker by showing him what actual talent at something other than hacktastic defense looks like.
Tonight, ugly will be beautiful.
PREDICTION: Jays 65, SIU 38
***
I stop in at The Bluejay Cafe message board on an almost daily basis to see what people are saying, and every once in a great while I actually contribute something. A lot of what is posted is ridiculously silly kindergarteners-in-the-sandbox arguments, the sort of things message boards are known for. You know that going in. But every once in a while, a genius post makes all the visits worthwhile. Something like this genius post from earlier in the week.
Its dripping with irony, and certainly I don't want to see players getting hurt (retribution for the cheap shot that ruined Josh Dotzler's knee is not necessary). But I'll be damned if it isn't hilarious. Verbatim from a poster who goes by the handle Jayball:
"Ok so forget all the petty arguments about schedules, whiteouts, fan expectations, crowds, student section energy, overpriced beer, hybrid fans, and anything else that might serve to distract from what is before us on Sunday.
We play SIU.
We have lost 9 straight regular season meetings with SIU.
They are undefeated in the Qwest Center.
This cannot continue.
We need to get nasty. We need to be on them before the game starts. They need to feel unwelcome. On Sunday it is time to release anything you've been holding in. Whatever is wrong in your life is because of the Salukis.
Get passed over for a promotion...its their fault. Girlfriend break up with you.....its their fault. Wife force you to watch Cashmere Mafia.....its their fault. Husband a lazy oaf.........its their fault. Car trouble.........its their fault. Bad grade on a test..........its their fault. Couldn't get tickets for Hannah Montana....its their fault. Boss a jerk.......its their fault. TPS reports filling your inbox.....its their fault.
I don't care if it is Sunday, leave your church decorum at home. I want to destroy them, break their will.
I want Brian Mullins limping before halftime. I want someone to tackle Matt Shaw everytime he thinks about touching the ball. I want Falker in a straight jacket. I want shoulders lowered, I want elbows, I want blood. The Salukis play tough basketball, we need to be tougher, we need to be nastier. Last game we played tough for 30 minutes. I want twice as much effort for the full 40 minutes. I want Kyle Korver/Joe Dabbert in the MVC finals effort. I want SIU to leave Omaha wondering if they should shut their basketball program down and cancel the plans for a new arena.
They are an unholy abomination on this earth. They must pay."
Enjoy the game tonight. You bet.
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