When you're playing on the road against the first place team in your conference -- a team that has won ELEVEN straight games, a team that beat you on your home court earlier in the season -- its not necessarily important to be picky about "how" you beat them, but merely that you beat them. It is in this vein that I profess not to caring about losing the battle of the boards by nearly 20, and profess apathy at the fact that UNI shot 30-32 from the foul line while Creighton missed ten throws. No, all I care about is one stat: Creighton 77, Northern Iowa 71, natch. You bet.
Here's why that final score is hugely important, besides getting a win and knocking off the first place team on their home court: with five games to go, Creighton is just two back. Further, Illinois State lost a heartbreaker at home to Indiana State (thanks, Coach McKenna!) to knock the Redbirds out of a second-place tie and into third place. Not to get ahead of ourselves here, but this sets up the potential for two things: one, an absolutely BRUTAL season finale on February 28 when the Redbirds come to Omaha, and two, an opportunity to steal the league crown if UNI stumbles.
I wrote earlier in the week that I believed the Jays would go 2-0 on their road trip through Iowa, and was ridiculed by a few of my readers for it. I also wrote that Justin Carter was becoming the best player on the team. I've never been confused with a genius, mostly because I go around telling people how dumb I am despite ample evidence to the contrary, but those thoughts seem awfully smart at the moment.
So lets look closer at this game, because if we didn't, what would I write about? You bet.
The Panthers, shooting a league-leading 47 percent from the floor in league games, were ice cold from the field, shooting just 29%. On Sunday, they were 18-62 from the field and 5-26 from three point land. Its tempting to say they were bound to have such a game after shooting so well for so long, but I think that would be doing a disservice to the defensive effort the Jays put forth. Employing a 2-3 zone for most of the afternoon that put the team in a disadvantage on the boards in exchange for better on-ball defense, the calculated gamble paid off. The Jays were slaughtered on the boards but the Panthers were exposed as being one-dimensional on a day when an opposing defense takes away their shooters. Adam Koch is a helluva player, as his 23 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday prove. But beyond him, when a team brings the effort defensively, is a team of inexperienced players that aren't ready to or able to yet perform.
UNI has won all conference season by playing harder than every team on their schedule. Creighton, meanwhile, has lost some games they could have won by not playing as hard as they should have. But this is February, and the Jays are a different team now. UNI played hard, but Creighton played harder with better athletes and, if not for UNI shooting a ridiculous 30-32 from the free-throw line, would have blown out the Panthers on their own court.
Individual statistics don't much matter in a game like this, but its worth noting that Justin Carter led the way with 17 points and 6 rebounds. The Panthers were able to neutralize P'Allen Stinnett and Booker Woodfox, but the Jays countered by spreading it around -- every player who played had at least 4 points. The Panthers outrebounded the Jays by 20, but 15 of those differentiating rebounds were offensive, in large part a result of the Panthers missing an absurd 44 shots.
The Jays also had 18 assists on 24 made buckets, showing the kind of passing and ball movement that leads to successful offensive games. That sort of unselfish play is further proof of this team being a different animal in February. Josh Dotzler, in particular, had another STELLAR game. On the two game road trip of must-win games, Dotzler had ten assists, eight steals and zero turnovers. Re-read that last sentence. Now re-read it again. Can we agree the dude can play, and stop ripping him for not scoring more? Please? Do this for me. I don't ask much.
You bet.
Wednesday night, Bradley comes in for a 7:35 game as the Jays look to go to 10-4 in the league and get their 20th win of the season. Both of those marks are significant: winning 20 games for the 12th consecutive year and 10 conference games for the 13th consecutive year. Think about that. Amazing, isn't it? I for one can't wait. Bring on the Braves!
*****
Today's Polyfro Player of the Game, for the third straight game, is the incomparable Justin Carter. His amazing run in taking over as the team's toughness leader continued with a 17 point, 6 rebound effort on Sunday. He continues to make tough defensive plays that set the tone for the rest of the team, raising the collective level on both the boards and on defense. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love it. Bring the toughness, knock some people down, intimidate the opponents, win. Good stuff.
You bet.
