The NIT is a funny tournament in that some years, you're clearly not an NCAA-tournament caliber team and you're glad for the extra games (2006, 2008). Some years, you're clearly not an NCAA-tournament caliber team but you wish the season would just end already (2004). And some years, you're a bubble team for the NCAA and didn't make the cut, so you're disappointed to be in the NIT (2009).
In a sense, the NIT can be more about which team cares to be there and less about who the more talented team is. You see it in lower-tier college bowl games all the time, where a clearly inferior team wins by three touchdowns over a big-name, heavily favored opponent that was disappointed at not playing in a bigger game. That's one of the keys to winning bowl game pick 'em sheets in your office: figuring out which teams in the lower-tier games actually care.
Hence our dilemma tonight. Creighton believed they were going to the NCAA Tournament, and now that they're in the NIT; many people -- players included, if the rumors are to be believed -- are not terribly excited to be there, and even less so to see Bowling Green as the opponent.
Look, I'm not hugely excited for the game, either. Part of it is that every damn time Creighton goes to the NIT, something awful happens that leaves me angry for two days.
In 2004, there was the Jake Muhleisen buzzer beater that gave Nebraska a 71-70 win and gave me nightmares for a week. Luckily my therapist, Dr. B. Light, is economically priced and always available. Four or five sessions later, I was over it.
In 2006, we had the Miami Debacle where the refs call the phantom foul on Dane Watts. Mayhem ensued, trash was thrown onto the court (although how anyone could tell the trash from the stands from the trash in striped shirts, I'll never know). Dana Altman chased the refs into the tunnel screaming bloody murder, and rumors of a certain Athletic Director allegedly taking a swing at said referees followed (for the record, those rumors were and are completely false, although it was and remains a fun rumor). Despite many sessions with my therapist, Dr. B. Light, I've yet to fully recover from this one. The Doctor's advice was to black it out as best I could, which I've mostly succeeded at doing until I stupidly brought it up just now. I've just broken a pencil in half on my desk. IDIOT.
In 2008, the Jays followed a buzzer-beater by Cavel Witter with an abomination in Gainesville, losing 82-54 and looking outclassed, outmanned and dominated. Only two sessions with Dr. B. Light were required to get over that one, because the game was over before halftime. However, three sessions with his assistant, the lovely Ms. Minnie Donutson, were prescribed and lustily enjoyed.
In 2009? My guess is Creighton wins tonight and Monday over Kentucky, then plays Notre Dame for the right to go to NYC. They're ahead all game, and in the last minute, Kenton Walker is called for a moving screen giving the Irish new life. On the other end, P'Allen is T'd up for hanging on the rim on the exclamation point dunk that should have sealed the win. Notre Dame wins on free throws. Dr. B. Light works overtime for days.
Just kidding. But seriously, the NIT has usually not ended well for the Jays. After the jump, we'll get ready for Bowling Green.
One Big Paragraph With Lots O'Dots (TM): Bowling Green plays in the MAC, and got an automatic berth by winning the regular season title but failing to win the conference tournament. They're 19-13 overall, and looking to win 20 games for the first time since their last postseason berth, an NIT run in 2002 ... In the non-conference, the Falcons lost by single-digits to Minnesota and Ohio State, and lost at Illinois State by 13. It should be noted that the Jays lost by 20+ to that same Illinois State team twice ... On January 20, they sat at 8-9, but a 10-3 run down the homestretch allowed them to claw back into the MAC race and ultimately win it ... A veteran team, the Falcons have developed into a pretty solid road team, winning six of their last seven ... Senior Nate Miller leads the team in scoring at 13.5 a game, rebounding at 7.5, and steals. He was a First Team All-MAC selection, and has a well-rounded game. He's one of just three Falcons all time with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 steals. He's also 6'4" and between 225-250 lbs depending on which source you consult. If Miller gets too feisty, foul him: he shoots an atrocious 44% from the line ... Senior Brian Moten is the primary deep threat, hitting a team-high 67 three pointers, averaging 11.5 points a game, and earning honorable mention All-MAC honors ... The Falcons are coached by Louis Orr, which is a cool name for a coach. He's also the MAC Coach of the Year this season, so good for him ... The Falcons ideal tempo is a slow, half-court game that allows their defense to drag the game down into the mud. They allow an average of just 60 points a night, and score an average of just 64. Their shooting percentages of 43% overall and 34% from long range mesh with that 64 point average, and seem to indicate if the Jays can dictate tempo and run, this game could get out of hand.
The Last Time They Played: Hard as it is to believe, Creighton and Bowling Green have never met before. In lieu of that, I'll give you this info nugget: Creighton is 1-4 against MAC teams under Dana Altman. The only win? A 71-60 W over Akron in the 2006 NIT.
Pete Rose Memorial Odds: Creighton by 11.5. Good thing I don't gamble, and only provide this number as a service to those of my readers who may be inclined to do so, because that's a high number for an NIT game. Wow.
Gratuitous Linkage: I'm not ashamed to admit that good-old-fashioned potty humor still amuses me, so it should be no surprise that this story about Bob Dylan's toilet emitting offensive odors cracks me up. Its sad people got sick, but still, I can't help myself.
Official Gametime Snack: The NCAA, which owns the NIT, bans the sale of liquor on the premises. They also ban streaming audio and video web casts. These draconian, CCCP, Cold War tactics do not amuse me. I'm not telling you to do this, nor am I saying I will do it, but IF you happen to smuggle in a flask, and IF you are so inclined to fill it with an adult beverage, PERHAPS that should be your gametime snack. Liquid diet of contraband, bootleg liquor. Again, I'm not suggesting you do this. Its definitely against the rules and it might even be a bad idea.
The totally random song I'd play right now if I were still a radio DJ: I've never seen Bowling Green play a game in my life, so I can't very well pick a proper song for tonight, can I? No, no I can't. I'm going to play "The Humpty Dance" by Digital Underground because I've been trying to work this song into a post for two seasons and haven't been creative enough to do it. Time to get crazy in a Burger King bathroom!
Prediction: I think the hangover from 50 minutes of shoddy play in St. Louis, coupled with the disappointment of playing in the NIT, will lead to an ugly first half. I have an awful feeling that Bowling Green is going to jump out to an early lead, perhaps by double digits. Somehow, the Jays will find a way to come back.
Creighton 69, Bowling Green 64
