How In The Hell.....

...did the Chiefs get into the PLAYOFFS?! WOW. KC was a long shot at best to get into the postseason when the day began. Then the Bengals lost. Then Titans lost. Then the FREAKIN' San Fransisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos in Overtime! How 'bout that for Chief fan. The Broncos lose and the Chiefs get in? They got in thanks to their star running back Larry Johnson who's 138 yards rushing lead KC to a 35-30 win over Jacksonville today at Arrowhead.

KC will travel to Indy for a game on Saturday with a 3:30 pm kick on Big Sports 590 and NBC. With Indy's pathetic run defense, you have to like the Chiefs' chances at actually WINNING a playoff game this team around.

Let's be honest - the Chiefs don't belong or deserve to be in the playoffs. Teams that blow 28-14 leads to Cleveland shouldn't be in. But they are in - so why not enjoy the ride.

The Chiefs vs. Colts is not the only really interesting match up for WildCard Weekend. How about the Patriots vs. the Jets? Magini vs. Belicheck Round 3! 1-1 so far. Or the Eagles vs. the Giants's rubber match game in Philly? Dallas vs. Seattle will be worth watching because I want to see if Tony Romo can actually pull the 'Boys out of this nosedive.

My preseason Super Bowl pick is not going to happen - Cowboys vs. Bengals. Now that we have the teams set....My prediction is Saints vs. Chargers. I want to take Philly but Jeff Garcia? I just don't trust him in the postseason yet. Philly vs. New England rematch would be a lot of fun though.

Special Win Closes Out 2006

Down by 11 with 4:38 to play vs. Missouri State at home yesterday, I wrote in my notes "Ball Game" after 2 FT's went down for Bears. I was all prepared to host the Bluejay Wrap-Up post game show and talk about missed opportunities, lack of effort in the second half, and season of promise gone sour. It didn't happen that way although it very easily could have. A win is a win but those with pace-makers should beware of the 2006-2007 Bluejays. This season is proving to be one heck of a roller coaster ride.

The team needed a spark and a minor miracle to send the crowd home with smiles. What they got from their 2 Senior, First Team PreSeason All-MVC players most likely saved their season. Nate Funk and Anthony Tolliver, for the first time, looked like they were on the same page for most of the game. Down the stretch, the two stars willed their team to victory with clutch free throws and tremendous defense. Funk 's line: 23 points, 7 assists, 5 reb, 3 steals in 37 minutes. Tolliver's: 20 points, (10-13 FTs), 6 rebs, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals in 35 minutes. Even though Dane Watt's 3 pointer won the game for the Jays, it was Funk and AT that deserve the most credit for the W.

A 77-74 win over Missouri St. 1-0 in the Valley. Still undefeated at home. Maybe the start of the year that everyone was hoping for.

Coach Dana Altman has been searching for a line up that would give his team the best chance to win. He tried everything in the first 10 games that he could think of and the result was a disappointing 4 loss start. Yesterday, in front of nearly 16,000, the Bluejays found a line up that brought the intensity that the fans and Coach had been expecting all year long. Funk, Bahe, Watts, Tolliver and yes, Pierce Hibma on the floor together appeared to understand what Coach Altman was asking them to do. The result was a 18-4 run for the Jays over the final 4:38 and big win.

I've been very critical of Hibma this year but his 6 points in the first half and defensive effort in the 2nd were huge. Now, he almost wore the goat horns by taking a 3 when the team was down by 4 with 1 minute to play. Luckily for him, it didn't cost the team. I've said before, Pierce should not be shooting 3's in key moments but his defense down the stretch set a great example.

The Jays didn't do it alone and had help in the comeback. The Bears missed 4 crucial free throws down the stretch and looked overwhelmed by the crowd's intensity. Coach Barry Hinson after the game said it all "I told them in the locker room that we gave that game away. Teams that win championships, which we have never done, find ways to win games like that." Winning on the road in the Valley (and in Omaha) is going to very tough this year, especially if the Qwest Center crowds are similar to yesterday. (Although UNI did it last night at Witchta)

Senior Blake Ahearn dropped 21 points on the Jays including 5 of 10 3 point shooting (a few seemingly from Grand Island) but it wasn't enough. Missouri State went to the line 13 fewer times than the Jays and proved to be the difference. It was a game of streaks and the 14-0 run midway through the second half for the Bears may have happened too soon.

Without Ty Morrison, without Josh Dotzler - Creighton needed their bench to step up. Nick Bahe, Pierce Hibma and Manny Gakou all played key roles in the comeback and gave the starters a much needed blow. With Freshman Isaac Miles playing his worst game as a Jay, (committing 5 turnovers in 24 minutes, looking completely lost a times) Nick Bahe came in and settled down the team. It proved to be a key component to the win. His attitude and emotion will be something that the Jays need more of this season.

I called the game a must win and they got it done vs. the Bears. Next up is Illinois St on Monday. If The Qwest Center crowd can duplicate the atmosphere from yesterday, it will be very tough for them to walk in and win, especially with how young they are. With Nebraska football playing right before the game, the number of fans in attendance will be an interesting key to watch.

Ty is Done....

First D'Angelo, then Josh gets hurt again and now, Junior College transfer Ty Morrison has left the Bluejay program. I heard about it at about 12 noon today....the Jays made it official at 1:30 pm.

I'm trying to contact Ty and figure why he has left the program but the battle with Graves Disease really prevented us from ever seeing how good he could have been. This is a guy that was being recruiting Arizona and Gonzaga for God Sakes but could barely play for 5 straight minutes.

More info to come....

Must Win Game For Creighton

The Bluejays vs. The Bears. Altman vs. Hinson. Funk vs. Ahern. 3 pm at the Qwest Center better not be the "Quiet Center" tomorrow if the Bluejays have any hope of playing in March without a Tournament Title bid. When I saw the picture to the right I thought - That's the Jays! ...playing like it's 3 on 1, lost and confused. It's been very hard to watch this team choke on their own hype.

Tomorrow is the start of the most anticipated Missouri Valley Conference schedule to date and it could not come at a worst time for the Jays. Media doom and gloom, injuries, poor shooting and defense has suddenly put a lot of pressure on CU. I've made the comparison on my show that the 2006-07 Jays are looking a lot like the 2006 Iowa St. Football team. Well, the Cyclones went 1-7 in the Big 12. Creighton better find itself soon or they will suffer a similar fate.

Now after a 2-1 trip to Hawaii, CU will have to live without PG Josh Dotzler for at least a month after having finger surgery. The team has lost 4 of their first 1o and has lost every road game they've played in ugly fashion. Obviously, not a good start for the post season resume'. They simply do not have the chemistry to win on the road right now. Undefeated at home but the best win being Xavier - no wins on the road....its a pathetic start to a season that had a ton of promise.

However, it still can be magical. For that to happen, the Jays must beat Missouri State tomorrow. A win will send a message to the Valley that CU is still the team to beat in the conference. It will give the team confidence to move past the non-conference slate and face Illinois State on the 1st with a bounce in their step. A loss however, would be crushing. The ball is rolling in the wrong direction and people are jumping off the bandwagon. Yet, like Steve Spurrier always said "You win the Conference first and the rest will take care of itself".

The Bears came into the season with a lot to prove after last year's heart crushing NIT bid. Basketball fans across the country watched on Selection Sunday as Barry Hinson looked like someone just killed his dog right in front of him. He has made the 2006-07 season his personal vendetta against the NCAA and Jim Nance/Billy Packard and the team has responded to his call. Missouri State and Wichita State have been the front runners of the Valley so far but they both have shown cracks recently. Tomorrow, the Jays need to keep that crack growing in the Bears.

Missouri State is the new face of the little guy. It's the role the Jays used to play of the unknown underdog from some small nowhere town, fighting for respect. Sporting News just called the 2006-07 Bluejays the most disappointing team of the year after the nation finally paid attention to the program. I don't disagree with the assement. Maybe, after playing the Bears, the Jays will remember the style of play that sold 13,000 season tickets before the year and get back to being the team to beat in the Valley.

Wanna go to the Cotton Bowl?

So what happened to Nebraska fans support like no one else? Neither Nebraska nor Auburn have sold out there allotment of tickets for Monday's Cotton Bowl and there is ZERO buzz for this game.

In fact, according to Stubhub.com - you can buy tickets for as low at $12 bucks! What?!!! The face value is $90! This, the excitement for a game that has Nebraska in it? Last year, the Alamo Bowl had the fans buzzing after missing a bowl game in 2004...and the Huskers were facing a Michigan team that had played like crap all year. At least Auburn has defeated 2 BCS teams....one being Florida!! Why aren't the fans going in droves?

I, for one, am very excited for the game. I've picked Auburn to win 28-24 but a big Nebraska win could make a large statement for next year. I think it could be one of the best of the bowl season if both teams show up. I guess the question should be asked as well - will the fans show too?