17th Biggest Game Still?

"I didn't have my guys ready to be aggressive, and the ballgame was over." Yup, you are right Slingblade. And you lost because you failed to understand the importance of the Nebraska-Creighton game. Maybe he'll answer my questions seriously next year when I ask about this rivalry.

Yesterday was a good day - Callahan fired, Bluejays beat down the Huskers in Basketball, Missouri beat Kansas.

Now to the game:

The Jays have practiced enough. They have been yelled at, run, worked out enough. They need to play games. 3 games is 3 weeks isn't enough. This is not football but this is the schedule that they chose to play and they are 3-0. The Jays will be 4-0 after Thursday night's cupcake game but then it's to Philly for Drexel and Cinn. for Xavier. After that - it's back home for St. Joe's. Why did Nebraska come back? They are in better game shape then the Jays after playing more games and they picked up their pressure and defensive effort as well. They had the energy in the 2nd - the Jays were tired.

Give the players for Nebraska credit for responding to their coach who obviously had a lot to say at halftime and challenged his team. But the team lost because of their coach. He should have apologized in the post game for not having his team ready to play. The Jays were ready and Dana out coached Doc completely. The Qwest Center is the Jays home and Dana doesn't lose in the November at home....25-0.

CU forced 17 turnovers in the first half but they committed 11 of their own in the 2nd. That's not a good sign. Last year Nebraska shot 67% in the game and Ryan Andeson was 7 of 8 from the field. This year - NU shot 33% and Ryan Anderson 2 of 6 for 4 points. What a difference playing on the road makes.

I'll break down each individual performance below but the crowd yesterday was AMAZING in the first half but REALLY QUIET in the 2nd. I was happy to see the crowd come back to life once NU got within 12 but the game really was never in doubt. 9 points is nice after being down by 27 but it's still 3 possessions. If NU fans feel good about that then the football team has turned all NU fans into people who look for moral victories in every loss. A loss is a loss - period. Nebraska isn't the better team.....and they sure as hell don't have the better coach. They do however have a bright future with a few of their players as I'll explain below:

Nebraska:
Aleks Maric: I thinks it's obvious that Doc doesn't want to play him. But he has to play him because he's huge but he doesn't fit Doc's style. He's a liability on defense and he slows down the offense. He played 26 minutes but 9 points and 8 boards? I really thought Doc would replay the style from last year and really bang it into Aleks - didn't happen and I was wrong about NU's ability to use him.

Jay-R Strowbridge - Isn't a Big 12 player. Soft with the ball and not very athletic. 21 minutes and 2 assists? Not point guard type numbers

Ade Dugunduro - Very nice player. He got a bit windy but he plays great D and is really quick off the dribble. The game was too quick for him as he turned the ball over 5 times and that caused him to sit for a while in the 2nd half.

Cookie Miller - He's a midget but boy is he quick. He is going to have trouble in the Big 12 but against the Jays he was able to get into the paint and hit some circus shots. Good on ball defender and a tough game to handle.

Ryan Anderson - I didn't think he was that great last year and he's playing like it this year. Has a shot but he's a set shooter - in NU's running style, he won't play that much. Fouled way too much.

Sek Henry - Seems like the type of player Doc wants to play. Nice quickness and game on offense. Had a hard time handling the press though 3 turnovers in 17 minutes.

Steve Harley - The Juco AA didn't disappoint. He has a tremendously quick release off the dribble. Loves to go to his right and then stick a fade away. He's a player no doubt about it.

Shang Ping - I said before and I'll say it again - he's horrible. Dirty player in the post and no game at all. He's a body - that's it.

Paul Verlander - roll player at best

Chris Balham - barely played

Creighton:

Chad Millard - The game got too quick for him against NU. I love him at the top of the press but on defense, he was over matched. 1-5 shooting - 2 points? That's not good enough production out a game who should have 10 at least a night. Has to set his feet when he shoots the 3.

Dane Watts - Having a GREAT start to the season but he did play poorly in the 2nd half. 3 turnovers and Dana wasn't happy at all with him. 14 points and 1 monster dunk for the senior.

Josh Dotzler - Josh is going to play a lot this year but when the game goes to a track meet - he won't. Cavel Witter was the key to holding the lead in the 2nd because he could play the fast pace style.

Pierce Hibma - Hit a few big 3's in the first half but he still shouldn't starting. He's a key role player but not someone who should be matched up with the other team's best for the first 4 minutes of each half.

Nick Bahe - reread what I just wrote about Pierce.

Cavel Witter - Game Ball goes to him. He was HUGE in the 2nd half. Extremely quick and great at handling the press even though he did turn it over 5 times. 14 points - 10 in the 2nd half was huge including 6 points in under 2 minutes at a key stretch.

P'Allen Stinnet - He played like the talented freshmen that he is. Coach didn't like him yelling at the refs and picked up 4 fouls - a few in bad moments. However, his posterizing on Shang Ping was the highlight on the night. P finally got the dunk that Dane was asking for and it was a "WOW" moment.

Booker Woodfox - Finally nailed a 3, 2 actually. I think he's going to be a big factor this year once he gets his confidence back.

Kenny Lawson - His line 7 points, 2 rebs, 1 blk, 1 steal in 8 minutes! That's production off the bench in limited playing time. He has a huge upside.

Casey Harriman - just a quick look at him but he's a nice option

Kenton Walker - Again, limited time but a really nice block on Maric in 3 minutes.

Kaleb Korver - ? Didn't play. Interesting. I thought he'd come in the 2nd to try to hit a few 3's as the Jays were ice cold from behind the arc. I'll ask Dana about this this week.

1-1 Dana vs. Slingblade. Next year will be a war in Lincoln and Doc now understands this rivalry.