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.
Was it akin to turning a light switch "on" that made the difference so quickly? Nope. It was a freshman from Bellevue West getting more playing time, as it turned out. I know! It surprised me, too. Antoine Young played just 13 minutes, but in those minutes, he showed that he was the quickest player on the court, the most unselfish, and far and away the best defender. How many times this season have we watched as an opponent dribbled into the heart of the Jays defense, drawing little or no contact, or worse -- seeing the defense roll out the red carpet for him? I can't count the number of times I've muttered under my breath at the failure to stop -- or even attempt to stop -- dribble penetration.
And then a true freshman who has shown flashes of quickness and defensive talent in the limited minutes he's played in the first 16 games, forced into more PT by an injury to Booker Woodfox, comes in and immediately becomes the best defender on the team.
A funny thing happened, too. The rest of the team stepped up their games on that side of the ball, and everyone played better defense. Was it a case of the other guys being shamed into playing defense, a case of his energy being infectious? That will answer itself as the season continues, but I found Altman's postgame comments on the radio broadcast revealing.
"Antoine's play tonight makes me look awfully stupid for not getting him more minutes earlier in the season, doesn't it?"
But it wasn't just Young sparking the win. Kenny Lawson and Kenton Walker, for the first time since they've been at Creighton, didn't just show potential -- they freaking got it done. Combine the two centers stat lines and you get a pretty damn good combo. 16 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks. That's the type of production they need, nay, HAVE to get every game the rest of the way. When they get competent production out of the post, it not only opens up lanes for their guards to exploit defenses, it allows the Jays to actually play a legitimate power forward. You'd be amazed at how your rebounding improves when you have a power forward actually playing power forward.
Chad Millard is NOT a center, but has logged substantial minutes there because Lawson and Walker have been so ineffective. To his credit, he plays hard and brings a nasty streak to the position even though he's woefully undersized. But put him at the 4, where he ought to be, and all of a sudden he's a nightmare.
Lets not get carried away, though: the Jays weren't outstanding, and they certainly weren't overwhelming. What they were was all of the things they weren't on Tuesday...tough, aggressive, and hungry. The way the Jays used to be. The way this particular group hasn't ever been. They weren't dominating on the boards, but when they ABSOLUTELY had to get a board, they got it. They weren't overwhelming offensively, but when they HAD to score to stop a run, they found a way to get a bucket. They hustled, dove, and were the tougher team, all night.
"We haven't had a good tone all year,' Altman said. 'I haven't liked our tone, even when we were winning. The things we've tried to do over the 15 years we've been here ... these guys have been breaking all the things we've tried to build (the program) on.'
But he was much happier with the tone Saturday. Could it have been because of the crazy tone of his pregame speech?
'I don't know if it was crazy,' he said. 'Our guys just decided they were embarrassed.'
Said Woodfox: 'He asked us to play hard and play for Creighton, to play as a team and stand together.'
That's what the Jays did.
You bet.
*****
Today's Polyfro Player of the Game is brought to you by "The Coalition to Find Max Univers a New Job." It took just 45 days from the day I was laid off until the day I signed the letter of employment at my new job, meaning the Coalition had a war chest of cash left over to spend on things other than food and shelter. Everyone wins.
Because I grew up in Iowa during the Tom Davis Era, I certainly appreciate a good bounce pass, so Antoine Young's sweet bounce pass to P'Allen Stinnett for a layup was a thing a beauty to my eyes. But this team needs solid post play, and on this night, Kenton Lawson -- as the two-headed center monster shall heretofore be called on this site and perhaps elsewhere -- was solid. 16 points, 14 boards, 4 blocks, and one very happy blogger impressed with their line. You bet.
