Category: college basketball 365

on Champions: If not now…when?

On By @gtmoblueIn college basketball 365

If not now, when?

Courtesy: Creighton Athletics

We are in the Creighton University Era of sports.  AD Rasmussen, with the blessing and help of three administrations, and an excellent staff, has built a model athletic program on the Hilltop.  The sports corridor is completed thanks to many generous donors and fans.  All that remains is to fill the new trophy cases.  Ah yes…the task at hand.  Championships – both conference and national.  If not now, when?

I have been spouting about the Creighton Era for several years and predicted our 1st NCAA Championship for 2010-11, if I remember my outrageous predictions correctly.  My calculations were off.  That is not to say I was in error, merely early in my homer’s analysis.  The 2006 basketball recruiting class had many of the faithful pumped, myself included.


I submit that the our time is NOW!
Everything required is in place:
University Administrative support, 
a top flight AD, great coaches,
facilities, top student-athletes,
and a hungry and loyal fanbase.
-gtmoBlue
                                                          

The Creighton athletic program is primed with sustained successes in several sports.  I submit that our time is NOW!  Everything required is in place:  administrative support, a great AD and staff, excellent coaching across the board, facilities and support staffing, excellent student-athletes, and a hungry and loyal fanbase.
1st know who we are.  Read Creighton’s athletic history and see how you are part of a great chronology of achievement.  Next, individually and collectively affirm the desire to achieve excellence in all our athletic endeavors – from Crew to Volleyball.  It is time to resolve to do the work required, exceed previous performance ceilings, and exert the required determination, effort, heart, and the will to win – to indeed become Champions!  Champions at the conference level and nationally.
If we are not willing to do the above, if we are willing to settle for less than conference and NCAA champions, if it is okay to settle for being less than the best (and the best we can be) – quit now…do not waste the time, effort, and resources.  They can be used elsewhere on campus.
I am absolutely confident and convinced that Creighton will attain sports greatness.  I believe that we will reach the summit of collegiate sports and achieve these goals Now!  Not in the sweet by and by, no doubts or fears – but with a steadfast faith, a tireless work ethic, determination, heart, and an unyielding will to win, Now!
Belief is power, belief is strength, and belief is a weapon.  Empires, dynasties, kingdoms, & countries have risen and fell behind belief.  In theology, politics, economics, sciences – the world as we know it has changed numerous times based on belief systems…this is merely sports.  If you have no beliefs, please use mine:  I believe in you!  I believe in Creighton and that her athletic teams will achieve greatness.

Courtesy: Creighton Athletics
Great goals-Worthy goals often appear difficult.  Easily achieved goals mean the bar was set too low. At Creighton the bar is always set high.  Bluejays are highly favored; championships are chasing us…and closing ground.  Visualize being the champions daily – breathe it, feel it, stretch it, walk around in it, live it…it’s real.  Do you want it, want it bad enough, want it more than the competition? Then work like hell…to make it so.        
Go forth Creighton, Fill the Championship Center’s new trophy cases.  We have a legacy and a tradition as winners, it is time to take our efforts to the “next level“.   Whether Men’s or Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Crew, Golf, Cross Country, Softball, Rowing, or Baseball.  Now is our time – Be Champions!
Do it, Now.
Courtesy:  Statefansnation

 “You can, if you think you can.” – Norman Vincent Peale.

Non-conference Slate "Big Games"

On By @gtmoblueIn college basketball 365
Basketball Rules for a Jump Ball
Photo: Getty Images

While it can be said that every game is a big game…playing a ranked opponent has not generally been a luxury Creighton was afforded.  Now with the assent into Big 6 Basketball, playing ranked opponents is “normal”, and expected.  

Creighton’s 2 big non-conference games look promising… 1 expect that the team will probably go 1-1 in these games, but should the Jays gel and improve rapidly over the course of the 2 months, they could win them both.

Parrish’s Early Top 25 & 1 –  13. INDIANA 

  • Notable players definitely gone: Max Hoetzel, Stanford Robinson, Hanner Mosquera-Perea
  • Others expected to leave: None
  • Notable players expected to return: Yogi Ferrell, James Blackmon, Troy Williams, Robert Johnson, Nick Zeisloft, Emmitt Holt
  • Others expected to join the roster: Thomas Bryant, Juwan Morgan, Ogugua Anunoby

Why the Hoosiers are ranked here: What was Indiana missing this season? A competent big man. What is Thomas Bryant? A competent big man. So the Hoosiers should have no issues making the NCAA Tournament again — especially with Yogi Ferrell returning.
 



gtmo – With the player losses from last season, coupled with the unexpected losses of Fwd Mosquera-Perea and Fwd Devin Davis, Indiana has a lot of holes to fill.  I am surprised the pundits have them ranked, as it must be based on “potential”, as they have nothing in the paint.  Expecting Thomas Bryant to be an “instant force” is wishful thinking, as he will have the standard Frosh learning curve.  
The best possible course is for the Jays to meet them early and overwhelm their frontcourt guys, with containinig either Blackmon or Ferrell.  Fortunately Creighton will be their opener and the timing is great as they will be looking ahead to Wake Forest and the rest of the Maui Invitational a couple of days later.  Although the IU coaches will be preaching to not look past the Jays – that CU is a dangerous team, the facts are:   
1)  CU is only a recent accession to a major league.
2)  The only “true” player we had (DMD) has matriculated to pro ball
3)  Our record last year as last in the BE / 14-19 overall says CU is not a good team
4)  It is the IU opener/home opener – 19 November 2015
The above points will only help the IU players underestimate the Jays coming into Bloomington. 
IU doesn’t/can’t play defense.  If they fall behind they will attempt to score their way back.  I look for a 2nd half shootout.  1st team to 80…or 90, wins.
IMO Creighton pulls the “upset”.
                         
                    Parrish:

8. OKLAHOMA 

  • Notable players definitely gone: TaShawn Thomas, Frank Booker
  • Others expected to leave: None
  • Notable players expected to return: Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins, Jordan Woodard, Ryan Spangler, Khadeem Lattin, Dinjiyl Walker
  • Others expected to join the roster: Akolda Manyang, Christian James, Rashard Odomes

Why the Sooners are ranked here: Buddy Hield’s decision to return for his senior season means he could be a First Team All-American. It also means Kansas and Iowa State will have a third legitimate challenger for the Big 12 crown.  


gtmo – Oklahoma has a daunting schedule.  While the Sooners will have time to gel a bit, and assuming they don’t lose any games (@Memphis, Wisconsin, Villanova-neutral site) prior to facing the Jays, they still have some weaknesses which will be exposed in the non-conference.  Of their bigs Spangler is a good, experienced PF, with a good skillset.  However, the rest of their bigs are inexperienced role players.  OU is obviously a guard-led team and will probably run a 4 guard out offense with Spangler or Lattin under. They will go as far and their iron men guard quartet takes them.
The problem for OU is that they are not a deep team.  The Sooner roster is thin after their starting 5 and Lattin. The reserve cadre is a grossly inexperienced group.  If their starters get in foul trouble, OU is in trouble.  If they have an off night with their outside shooting, do they have the capability to play from behind.  God forbid they incur any injuries along the way.  Lloyd Noble is a nice arena, but it will be practically empty during the height of football season, maybe 4-5K diehards.  Unfortunately for the Jays this Oklahoma team will probably have a couple of Ls in their record by the time CU comes calling in Norman on 19 December.  After last years’ loss OU won’t be overlooking Creighton.  However, if they have racked up 2-3 losses along the way the team confidence and chemistry could be suspect – One can only hope.  The Sooners then travel to the Diamond Head Classic, Sheriff Ctr-Honolulu on the 22nd of December, initially playing Wash St., with 2 possible other good contests in that field. 
The IU and OU big games reasonably bookend the non-conference slate for the Jays and will be excellent milestone markers as to the progress that CU has made over the Nov. & Dec. time period.