2008-09 Game Recaps: January 2009 Archives

2008-09 Game #22: Jays 73, Indiana State 62

By
Max Univers
on January 28, 2009 6:29 AM | | TrackBacks (0)
Look, I know the team is struggling. Their performance has been spotty, and they aren't where we expected them to be on January 28. But on Tuesday night, we got a ghastly preview of what the Qwest Center might look like if the Jays ever had a down year, because apparently many folks believe THIS is a down year.

How else to explain almost 30% of the courtside seats sitting empty? That's inexcusable. Come on, if you really feel like you don't want to go to the game because the team is struggling, fine. But give your tickets away! Hell, sell 'em! But make sure someone is enjoying them.

How else to explain a student section at less than 50% occupancy? The students reminded me of the pre-2003 days at the Civic. And for those of you who don't remember those days, trust me, this is not a good thing. For any students reading this, you DO NOT want to be compared with the student sections of my years.

How else to explain Billy Bluejay forgetting there was a game? The kid who masquerades around as Billy didn't show up for the game, and rumor has it the reason is that he forgot there was a game. Come on man, at least have the decency to pull a Dennis Howard and claim you didn't have a ride to the arena! But don't try to excuse yourself by saying you forgot there was a game. Too bad Dirty Billy isn't around anymore, the understudy could have taken center stage last night.
Continue reading 2008-09 Game #22: Jays 73, Indiana State 62.

2008-09 Game #20: Jays 79, Evansville 57

By
Max Univers
on January 20, 2009 11:45 PM | | TrackBacks (0)
In my Gameday post, I predicted the Jays would fold like a cheap suit and lose at Evansville Tuesday night. Not surprisingly, the reaction from my readers was outrageous. Several of them asked me what took so long; several more asked me what the hell was wrong with me. Hell, the editor of CollegeHoops.net even sent me an email linking me to their preview, making sure to point out they predicted a big Jays win and expressing surprise at my prediction.

Alright, alright, I get it. But you have to admit, this is a tough team to figure, isn't it? One night, they play poorly but manage to scrap and claw their way to an overtime win against Southern Illinois. The next night, they put no effort in and get blown out of the gym by the worst team in the Valley. Then they come back and blow out one of the best teams in the league at home this season.

Can you figure it out? Because I sure as heck can't. Oh, you can cop out and answer "inconsistency", but doesn't that seem like too easy of an answer? It does, but its sure as hell the only thing that makes sense.

Here's how messed up this season is: ordinarily when a 4-3 team goes on the road and beats a solid opponent by 22, you'd think the team had turned the corner and was about to reel off a winning streak. But I honestly don't have any better read on what happens next than I did before. Each game is a singular event at this point, offering almost no predictive ability for the next one. Your guess is as good as mine as to what happens against Drake on Saturday. At this point I'd believe almost any outcome up to and including Antoine Young tearing off his jersey to reveal Superman's cape and a red S on his chest.
Continue reading 2008-09 Game #20: Jays 79, Evansville 57.

2008-09 Game #19: Wichita 74, Jays 61

By
Max Univers
on January 18, 2009 4:01 AM | | TrackBacks (0)
We're 19 games into the season, which is for all practical purposes 2/3 of the way through a season. By this point, its generally pretty clear who you are and what you're capable of. And at this point, the Bipolar Jays are two things: capable of beating all but the very best teams on a good night, and capable of losing to all but the very worst of teams on a bad night. In other words, a gloriously average team.

On Saturday, they took a mood swing back into the lazy, lackadaisical bunch we saw against Northern Iowa two weeks ago, and at this point, calling them average is actually a compliment, because many people I know are calling them much worse. And not all of the words are adjectives, either.

Wichita State is getting better as the season progresses, and coming into the game, I mentioned it scared me that they hadn't won a game in the league. The Valley Game of the Week on regional television, the fans wearing black for a "blackout" promotion, and the players wearing their road black jerseys as part of it -- combine these with the fact that traditionally Wichita State and Creighton don't much care for each other, and you've got a recipe for a tough game. Then add in that the crowd was insane and the refs were allowing the teams to play and not calling much, and things start to favor the more desperate team. All of the above favored Wichita State.
Continue reading 2008-09 Game #19: Wichita 74, Jays 61.

2008-09 Game #18: Jays 73, SIU 72 (OT)

By
Max Univers
on January 15, 2009 3:11 AM | | TrackBacks (0)
A few years ago, I took a date to a restaurant that had long been a favorite of mine. Every time I dined there, the food was exquisite, and it never disappointed. On this night, the food was merely average -- not bad, not great. Eminently forgettable. Then dessert came out, and it was the most unbelievably delicious thing you could imagine. And I can imagine quite a bit. As we departed the restaurant, my date commented that dinner had been amazing, forgetting all about the average main course.

Why do I tell you this?

After the game, we were at the bar celebrating the win and trying in vain to stay warm by drinking cold beer -- a plan only a genius such as myself could devise. Trust me, there is no off position on the genius switch. Anyway, one of my buddies says to me, "That was the greatest game I've ever seen!!"

He conveniently forgot the first 35 minutes of average, forgettable basketball and only remembered the exhilarating finish. For most of the night, this was UNI: Part Deux, and like the awful Charlie Sheen movie I stole that title from, it made me want to throw up in my mouth. There were still way too many open shooters with open looks, and the Jays only made SEVEN baskets after halftime. Seven. Seriously, you could look it up.

But hey, the Jays beat Southern Illinois in overtime, so I'd be the veritable turd in the punch bowl to point those things out, wouldn't I? Yes, yes I would. I am many things, but I am not a turd, nor do I make a habit of swimming in punch bowls. Its 3AM, and its time to celebrate what went right, not harp on what went wrong.
Continue reading 2008-09 Game #18: Jays 73, SIU 72 (OT).

2008-09 Game #17: Jays 73, Bradley 64

By
Max Univers
on January 11, 2009 7:01 AM | | TrackBacks (0)
Heart.

In yesterday's Gameday post, I wrote that my heart said the Jays would win, but that my head said they would lose.

In Tuesday's game, the Jays heart -- or lack thereof -- disgusted the fans and, apparently, embarrassed the players. According to Dana Altman in this morning's World-Herald:

"The guys were embarrassed Tuesday night. They felt bad. They knew they had let our fans down and they had let themselves down. And the coaching staff, we didn't have them ready, so we have to take our share of the responsibility. Fortunately, we bounced back tonight."

Bounce back? Did they ever. For 38 minutes, the Jays led this game. For the entire 40 minutes, the Jays showed the toughness, grit and most importantly, the heart that had been lacking in the previous two losses.
Continue reading 2008-09 Game #17: Jays 73, Bradley 64.

2008-09 Game #16: UNI 69, Jays 66

By
Max Univers
on January 7, 2009 8:12 AM | | TrackBacks (0)
For the first time since 1996, Northern Iowa leaves Omaha with a win. Creighton falls to 2-2 in the league after a home court loss to an average UNI team. And you know what?

Its not the loss that's nagging at me, stuck in my craw like a popcorn kernel. I've rooted for the Minnesota Vikings my entire life, so trust me, I know how to deal with a loss. No, my problem is when a team doesn't play hard. If you play with max effort and lose because the other team is better, or simply has a better night, I'm generally OK with that. Teams can learn from that.

I'm not sure you can learn much from a performance when you half-ass your effort. And I'm sorry, that display on Tuesday was not even half-assed. It was more like a quarter-assed effort. I get pissed as hell when players don't give maximum effort. What am I talking about, specifically? Not hustling, not rebounding for fear of contact, not diving for loose balls, not getting back on defense. I'm sorry if I'm off base here, but I don't think its too much to ask for players to play hard EVERY game. Not most games, not when they feel like it, EVERY game. I won't make excuses for you if you don't play hard. For two straight games, this team has played at about 60% effort, and that pisses me off.

And you don't want to piss off The Polyfro.
Continue reading 2008-09 Game #16: UNI 69, Jays 66.

2008-09 Game #15: Illinois State 86, Jays Much Less

By
Max Univers
on January 4, 2009 9:52 AM | | TrackBacks (0)
The response to the Jays' 22-point loss in what was (so far) the biggest game of the year was eminently predictable. Because taken on the surface, that was what my old college roommate used to call "An ass kicking buffet." Illinois State kicked the Jays posterior, and then came back for seconds, and thirds, and later, dessert. The Redbirds were faster, more athletic, more fundamentally sound, played better defense, and hit every open shot. They were better in every aspect of the game. Period.

Its becoming a disturbing trait of this team that when they don't shoot well, the rest of their game goes into the crapper too. When Booker Woodfox is hitting shots and P'Allen is making plays, they rebound, play defense and beat good teams like Dayton and St. Joes. When they have an off night shooting, they get outrebounded by a million, play Bullfighter Defense, and lose the game.

Their energy for the other aspects of the game come from offense, which is not a recipe for success, because you're going to have nights where shots don't fall. Those are the nights that separate the good teams from the great teams. Do you win the games when you shoot 35% from the field and only make a couple of threes? The teams that do are the ones who win league championships.
Continue reading 2008-09 Game #15: Illinois State 86, Jays Much Less.
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About the Author

Max Univers (not his real name) is a graphic designer and author of two books, neither of which you’ve probably heard of. A 2001 graduate of Creighton University’s Journalism program, Max takes time out of his busy nightlife to share his thoughts on Jays hoops here during the season.

Why Univers? Its his favorite font, plus it just sounds really cool as a surname.

Why Polyfro? Years and years ago, Max had a giant afro wig that he wore as part of a Halloween costume. Not wishing to retire its giant fro awesomeness after the holiday, he began wearing the wig out in public as part of his everyday ensemble. One night at a dance club, the DJ called out the moniker over the soundsystem. Max thought it sounded cool, and purchased the URL shortly thereafter.

More questions? Send me an email: max-at-polyfro-dot-com. I like jokes, story tips, and generally all correspondence involving Bluejay athletics. Emails that point out how stupid I am and/or where I should go after I die are not encouraged.

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About this Archive

This page is a archive of entries in the 2008-09 Game Recaps category from January 2009.

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