Tues 1/28 BE Game Thread (1 Game, SJU-CU).

[HoosierPal]

Btw, kenpom rates teams based on performance and not just wins and losses and they have us #2 so that would argue for underrated.

Thank you. Exactly my point. Computer stats are interesting, but not all telling. If anyone thinks Creighton is the 2nd best performing team in the nation, well quit reading this post now. Having seen plenty of hoops from the ACC, Big 10, A-10, Pac 10, Big 12 and the Valley, kenpom can show his stats anyway he wants. Creighton is not the 2nd best "performing" team in the nation. Sorry.

[Jet915]

Btw, kenpom rates teams based on performance and not just wins and losses and they have us #2 so that would argue for underrated.

Thank you. Exactly my point. Computer stats are interesting, but not all telling. If anyone thinks Creighton is the 2nd best performing team in the nation, well quit reading this post now. Having seen plenty of hoops from the ACC, Big 10, A-10, Pac 10, Big 12 and the Valley, kenpom can show his stats anyway he wants. Creighton is not the 2nd best "performing" team in the nation. Sorry.

My point is, that shows they are underrated. They aren't #2 but they aren't #20 either.

[handdownmandown]

One of the nicknames that Shocker fans had for Doug was Captain Hook.

[JohnnyBoy]

One of the nicknames that Shocker fans had for Doug was Captain Hook.

Yeah well someone tell Wichita State fans that once their current crop graduates they will go back to being irrelevant. He does get away with hooking, but what can you really do? Perks of being a POY I guess. Like baseball where the best pitchers get a wider strikezone from umps.

[xu1990]

The year AFTER David West, winner of most National Player of the year awards, graduated from X; the A-10 based Muskies went to Elite 8. After West dropped 47 on Dayton I recall many people saying, well X is going to suck next year.

Seems similar to CU and McD. Not saying losing him won't hurt, but foolish to think others won't step up. The 20 something shots DMcD took last night are now available to someone else. Wait and see before writing off the Jays.

[Bill Marsh]

Btw, kenpom rates teams based on performance and not just wins and losses and they have us #2 so that would argue for underrated.

Thank you. Exactly my point. Computer stats are interesting, but not all telling. If anyone thinks Creighton is the 2nd best performing team in the nation, well quit reading this post now. Having seen plenty of hoops from the ACC, Big 10, A-10, Pac 10, Big 12 and the Valley, kenpom can show his stats anyway he wants. Creighton is not the 2nd best "performing" team in the nation. Sorry.

All of the computer power ratings use different formulas, so they all come out with results that are a little bit different. I would never rely on just one of them. Sagarin has Creighton at #6 and Team Rankings has them at #8. They have unquestionably played like an Elite 8 team.

I don't care how many games you or anyone else has watched. Your evaluation is subjective and it's subject to the bias of what you think a top team looks like. Same is true for me or anyone else. In the end, these subjective eye tests don't matter. It's not about "how good" anyone is. The beauty of supports is that it's achievement based. It's about results and accomplishments, which is what the computers are looking at.

Going into last year's tournament , no one would have picked Wichita State as a Final Four team. Most wouldn't have picked Syracuse either. No one would have picked UConn to win it all in 2011. Nor would they have picked Butler and VCU to be at the Final Four with them. Arguments that make definitive claims for what a team is or isn't in January are fun, but there's a lot of basketball to be played. Many of these teams are closely competitive, so regardless of who's ranked above whom, when the games are played on a neutral court, they can easily go one way or the other.

In the end. All that will matter is how each team does in conference play and how each finishes in the tournament. Creighton has a unique style of play which can be devastating. Sort of like BYU of a few years ago but on steroids. They also have their own set of weaknesses that can be exploited. IMO they have as good a chance as anyone to go deep into the tournament. They also face the possibility of an upset early. They are a fun team to watch and I'm happy to be along for the ride,

[cu blujs]

Your feet don't have to be "set" (as in standing still) to take a charge against a player who is dribbling at you. As long as your body is square to the player and you have position, if the player lowers his shoulder and blows into your chest, the correct call is charging. Dingman was in clear position and had his shoulders square. It was the correct call - though I don't disagree that it is still a 50-50 call. Refs had called pretty much the same thing a block the handful of times before so I don't blame the guy for thinking he would get the block call again. But the law of averages finally caught up to him there.

[Smitty03]

It was apparent early that Lavin's plan was to force Doug to beat CU on his own and it almost worked. SJU shut down our other scorers and frustrated CUs guards to no end. They couldn't score and they were careless with the ball. Manigat played his worst game of the year. He had 4 to's and had 3 total in the last 3 games. Brooks looked out of his league and even steady Chatman was frazzled. With all of that CU still had an 18 point lead with 11 minutes to go. This game like the Providence game is why the Jays need Gibbs back He is a calming force for this team and I doubt SJU comes back if Gibbs is on the floor.

The Jordan charge at the end was a close one. Dingman definitely didn't foul him but it could have easily been a no call. Couch Mac said in his post game interview that the Refs said it was a terribly difficult game to officiate because the two team play an opposite style of bball. It was easily the most inconsistent officiating I had seen this year. However, the Jonnies complaining about calls.? SJU was in the double bonus in the 2nd half with like 3+ to play. they got some calls or sure.

McBuckets was flat out filthy last night. aside from the game for the regular season title against WSU last year it was the best I have seen him play. Lavin's plan to let Doug win on his own almost worked but Doug was just too good. He's the POY no doubt about it. The Jays will be down next year for sure but lets not talk about next year. This year we are all(CU fans or not) experiencing greatness.

[Westbrook36]

One of the nicknames that Shocker fans had for Doug was Captain Hook.

Doug is a very crafty player and it is a subtle hook that he uses. I saw him use it 2 or 3 times last night, just as I've seen James Bell, Pinkston, & Ochefu from Nova use it. Difference is Bell, Pink, & Chef use their whole arm, wrapping below their elbow around a defender making it a quite obvious call. Doug is subtle, he just uses a little "chicken-wing hook", he doesn't use the whole arm just above the elbow. Now add in that he's 99.9% probably the POY, and the refs ain't making that call on him, even if it is an unfair advantage he creates with that move.

[OutlawWales]

One of the nicknames that Shocker fans had for Doug was Captain Hook.

Doug is a very crafty player and it is a subtle hook that he uses. I saw him use it 2 or 3 times last night, just as I've seen James Bell, Pinkston, & Ochefu from Nova use it. Difference is Bell, Pink, & Chef use their whole arm, wrapping below their elbow around a defender making it a quite obvious call. Doug is subtle, he just uses a little "chicken-wing hook", he doesn't use the whole arm just above the elbow. Now add in that he's 99.9% probably the POY, and the refs ain't making that call on him, even if it is an unfair advantage he creates with that move.

At the same time, and on the other hand, Doug gets absolutely mugged, held, and shoved by defenders without a call more than any POY caliber candidate I've ever seen. It's one of those things where it seems like the officials almost CAN'T really call that little hook to make space while also allowing defenders to be physically draped on his back and wrapped around his arms leading up to it.