Publicly, I predicted a win for the Jays in my Gameday post, but privately, I had concerns about this game. George Mason likes to play a slow, half-court game with scores in the high 50s and low 60s; Creighton, as we all know, likes to play up-tempo, the higher the score the better. Why is this a concern, you ask? Doesn't this kind of clash-of-styles happen all the time?
Well, yeah, except George Mason and their excellent coach, Jim Larranaga, have been relatively adept at forcing tempo on their opponents from what I've seen -- and a half-court game favors the team that rebounds better and plays better defense. Neither of those characteristics have generally favored the Jays this year, current win streak aside.
I needn't have worried. As has become the norm with Saturday night games, the crowd was rambunctious, boisterous and had an alcohol-fueled aggression ten minutes before tip off, traits which continued for the duration of the night. You could sense it when you walked into the building. You could sense it during starting lineups. And you couldn't mistake it during the first four minutes of the game: there was a different vibe, a different energy in the building, and not just in the stands.
The ESPNU commentators commented in the first minutes of the game that the atmosphere was as good as any they'd seen, that the crowd was in on every play -- and that George Mason would have to adjust because it was going to be a huge factor. Love it. Polyfro props to everyone in the building who contributed to that.
*****
There were still doubters around town despite the seven-game winning streak, if the small sample of my Inbox is any indication. The gist of their argument seems to be that well, yeah, its nice to win seven straight, "That's what we're supposed to do! The Valley is the weakest its been in 20 years! This team is still a huge disappointment, we should have locked up the championship two weeks ago!" Actual words from actual readers. Excuse me while I clean the poo sticks out of the punch bowl.
George Mason is, as Kyle Whelliston of the Mid Majority describes them, one of the two "best teams in BracketBusters two most accomplished leagues." The other being Creighton and the Missouri Valley, respectively. So yeah, the Valley is down. But Creighton just handed a 13-point loss to a quality opponent from a quality league.
To anyone still doubting this team, I just have one thing to say: My advice is to stop doubting and start believing. This collection of talent is playing at a ridiculously high level right now; better than we've seen the Jays play over a sustained period of time in at least two years, and maybe longer. Their post play is getting better and stronger every game. Their defense is getting more consistent. Even their rebounding is improving. And they've always been able to score.
In short: this team is peaking at the end of February and into the beginning of March, just like Dana Altman's teams generally tend to do. He's done some wonderful coaching jobs over the years, but pending the results of these last two games, this one may rank near the top. This group, a mere six weeks ago, looked lost, appeared to be rudderless and was struggling to make fundamental plays. People openly questioned whether he could convince the talent on this roster to make the kind of "Creighton plays" his previous teams had, the kind of plays required to excel in his system.
Like I said, the final two games will do a lot to help render the final verdict, but the guy is looking right now to be an even better salesman than I gave him credit for, and as you know, I'm a big DA guy. He's got P'Allen Stinnett using his quickness to disrupt passing lanes and contest shots. He's got Kenny Lawson to play the post with authority. He's sold those two players, both of which were the unfair receivers of some harsh criticism from fans, on playing his way.
Any team with Kenny authoritatively declaring the post to be his domain, P'Allen drawing defensive attention with his sheer athletic ability, Justin Carter consistently able to dribble penetrate and either make baskets or draw fouls, and Josh Dotzler setting everything up would be awfully good. But combine those four with Booker Woodfox, THE BEST THREE POINT SHOOTER IN AMERICA, and you've got a lethal team.
I've been watching Jays basketball for an awful long time, and Booker is quickly moving up in my pantheon of all-time favorite Jays. Seriously, its to the point now where every time he shoots you expect it to go in. There were flashes in Nate Funk's career where I felt that way, but the last time I can remember feeling that way over a prolonged period was (hush) Kyle Korver's senior year, and before that, perhaps Rodney Buford's classic Arch Madness/NCAA Tournament run in 1999. There is simply no stopping Booker Woodfox when he's hot, and as his ridiculous 51.3% shooting percentage on threes attest, he's almost always hot.
His lightning-quick release is twice as deadly against non-conference opponents, because film can't simulate speed. I'm sure teams look at it, identify him as dangerous, and then five minutes into the game they're shaking their heads wondering how he gets shots off with so little clearance in so little time.
For my money he's every bit as good a pure shooter as Stephen Curry, and he plays on a much better team. He makes nearly the same number of shots on way fewer attempts. Or, as one poster on George Mason's message board put it, "How come I've never heard of Woodfox before last night? He is incredible and deserves some recognition. I'm so sick of hearing about Curry and Maynor, yet nothing about Woodfox. Everything he touches seems to go in."
Here's perhaps the thing about Woodfox I love the most: after his fourth straight three pointer on Saturday night, as he was running down the court he ran his finger under the word CREIGHTON on the front of his jersey, underlining it, telling everyone its about the team and not the individual. This from the guy who is always introduced last during starting lineups yet always jogs into the huddle early before the PA has announced his name, almost as if he's embarrassed by the singularity of the cheers for one player and just wants to join his teammates in the huddle.
This team is clicking on all cylinders and -- don't look now -- has an outside chance at breaking the school record for wins in a season. At 23-5, they could win five more games before an NCAA Tournament run, where two wins would put them at 30. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but its something fun to keep in the back of your mind. Its crazy to think that six weeks ago, there was a small but vocal minority who were upset at the progress of the program, and six weeks later the second sentence in this paragraph can be written and not be dismissed out of hand.
You bet.
*****
Saturday's Polyfro Player of the Game is brought to you by The A-Team. In 1972 this crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These dudes promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles Underground. Today still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, perhaps you can hire The A-Team. Tell them Max Univers sent ya, and save 15% off your total bill, and be sure to ask about their "No Flying Discount."
Considering the praise I showered on Booker "T and the MGs" Woodfox -- sorry, Chris Berman is trying to get less annoying and attempted a Vulcan mind meld with me just a moment ago, my apologies -- one might assume I would be handing this award to him. One would be wrong. No, I'm slicing the award in half with the Miracle Blade which Chef Tony tells me on his informercial is sharp enough to cut through anything, and then cleaning up the inevitable blood from the accidental slippage of said Miracle Blade with a ShamWow.
Kenny Lawson and Kenton Walker. Combined, they had 17 points and 14 rebounds while playing great interior defense and creating open looks for the Jays guards. You bet.
