Editors Note: The following was written at the conclusion of a night of pre-game partying at the Homy Inn and the Musette. Keep this in mind as you read. You bet.
Ah, Game 31. Back in November, various media outlets chose Creighton to be the standard-bearer for the league, the flag bearer, the Champion. A roller-coaster, up-and-down regular season appropriately wraps up today with an ultimate up-and-down game:
Cut down the nets, raise up a banner.
That's what's on the line, folks. Sure, its not the epic Thunderdome game I think a lot of us were hoping for, where both teams were fighting for the brass ring, winner take all -- but to use a mainstream media cliche, any time you get a chance to play for a championship, its awfully special.
While I reach for another slice of greasy pizza, feel free to point and laugh in my general direction for writing that last sentence. Not one of the finer moments in my writing life.
The situation today boils down to this: If Creighton wins, they clinch no worse than a tie for the championship, pending the outcome of the Northern Iowa-Evansville game tonight. That's good stuff, isn't it? Just think, six weeks ago there were mysterious unnamed Jaybackers being quoted in newspaper columns calling for Dana Altman's head, and nine straight wins later, the team is exactly where they were predicted to be on the last Saturday of the season. Namely, in first place, one win from a title.
For those of us who never lost faith, its particularly sweet. For those who did and are now back among the awesome people, welcome back. Now then...on to the fun stuff.
Shameless Plug: Otter, or rather Panon, a contributor on his site, has once again outdone himself with an unbelievable piece about "The Square." Its magazine-worthy writing, and if you haven't already read it, you need to right now. You have my permission to leave but you must promise to come back.
Keith Olbermann Memorial Special Comment: Illinois State during the Osiris Eldrige Era has owned the Jays. He seems to be maddeningly efficient at scoring points, grabbing rebounds and getting under P'Allen Stinnett's skin. Whether you refer to him as the O-Hawk or some other less friendly name (I can think of a few), he's officially the Jays arch nemesis and has fully grasped the crown of "Dubious Villain of the Valley". Essentially, the best non-Jays player in the league gets this title, and its rare for someone to hold it for more than one year. I have sole discretion over awarding this title, and take great pleasure in giving it to the O-Hawk. I don't like him very much, and I plan on making that quite apparent at the game.
Osiris' Evil Mohawk has haunted my nights for many months, and is solely responsible for no less than three purchases of cheap As Seen on TV crap by yours truly. Why is the O-Hawk to blame? If his Evil Mohawk wasn't keeping me awake at night, I wouldn't be up at 4AM and therefore, wouldn't be susceptible to the sales tactics of ShamWow Vince. I will personally take enormous pride in watching the smacking down of the O-Hawk on Saturday. Don't worry, pal, it happens to the best of 'em. It happened to Rico Hill, it happened to Kent Williams, Tony Young, Jamar Howard and Randal Falker. It will happen to you today. Like a villain in a western, the bad guy may torment you for a long time, but eventually you get payback. Today is that day for the O-Hawk, and it will happen in front of 17,500 witnesses in Omaha and a national TV audience on ESPN2.
One Big Paragraph With Lots O'Dots (TM): Illinois State comes in at 22-7 and 11-6 in the league, and has clinched third place and the three seed in St. Louis regardless of the outcome of today's game ... The Redbirds are 7-5 on the road and just 4-4 in MVC play, although those marks likely mean nothing against a team they seemingly match up so well against ... Champ Oguchi leads the team in scoring at almost 15 a night, making 73 threes this year. Osiris averages 13.5, but averages 21.5 at Qwest Center Omaha. Dude ... The Redbirds are the best rebounding team in the conference, with a +- differential of almost five boards a game ... Their scoring margin is also stellar, as they average 71 points scored and just 63 allowed ... Did I mention how much I don't like Osiris? ... Illinois State has dominated the overall series, winning 37 of the 60 games played. To understand how lopsided this series once was, consider the Jays have won 12 of the last 18 and are still 14 games under .500 against the Redbirds. Ouch ... The Jays haven't lost on Senior Night in year in which there is a senior on the team since 1995, and overall haven't lost the home finale since 2002 against Drake.
The Last Time They Played: Lets not talk about the last time, shall we not?
Pete Rose Memorial Odds: Creighton by EIGHT, with an over/under of 139. Holy schneikeys, that's an absurd line. Jays by 8? Yes please.
Official Gametime Snack: The Jays, and the fans, will be dining on one thing and one thing only today: Redbird. So make it chicken wings, or if you're at the game, chicken tenders with hot sauce. Do it.
The totally random song I'd play right now if I were still a radio DJ: Tina Turner, "We Don't Need Another Hero" -- a.k.a. the theme from Thunderdome. The Qwest Center will be the Thunderdome today. Enjoy.
Prediction: Its Senior Night for Booker Woodfox, Josh Dotzler, and Dustin Sitzmann. A win means at least a share of the conference championship. There will be a sold-out crowd of 17,500 and millions more watching on ESPN2.
There will be a big Jays win.
Creighton 77, Illinois State 69
