My experience at Creighton....

[stormspencer]

Just got back to my hotel from the game (my hotel was 3 blocks away). Besides the outcome of the game, it was a decent experience. Most folks were friendly to neutral. The arena is inside a convention center, but it is about the size of the Sprint Center in KC....and very similar in appearance as well. The crowd got rowdy when Creighton started to climb back in it, but for the most part, it is a mass of middle-aged white people who just seem to enjoy basketball.

Now to the game. It was incredibly disappointing to lose a game like that. There is absolutely no excuse to blow an 18-point lead in a 2nd half (even to Kentucky for that matter). BTW, Creighton is a VERY average team....my guess is that they will be around .500 or a little above in a relatively weak Big East and a bubble team at best (thanks to us). They lack athleticism at most spots, but they can shoot the ball and get on a roll. They only have two players who can break you down off the dribble. We have no one to blame but ourselves. We stopped guarding the perimeter in the 2nd half....period.

This was an EPIC choke job. I really expected more mental toughness out of a veteran team, but this team has a long way to go in the character and "suck it up" department. Hopefully, this team can show us something in the "Battle for Atlantis" tournament. But for those saying that this game is something we can learn from.....forget it. Burn the tape. It was all about effort (guarding someone), not losing containment, and discipline (rotation and weak side help). We didn't do any of those things much in the 2nd half. And we need to find an identity in the half-court on offense besides isolation. We need to set more ball screens and move without the ball. We "fall in love" with the 3 way too much and don't get to the free throw line enough.

This loss sucks, but we will get better. However, this game showed us that we need to temper expectations a bit. We are a tournament team, but we aren't freaking close to a sweet 16 team....yet. Keep working and, like a relief pitcher, have a short memory and forget about this game.

Boomer Sooner!

 

[BigTime]

Just got back to my hotel from the game (my hotel was 3 blocks away). Besides the outcome of the game, it was a decent experience. Most folks were friendly to neutral. The arena is inside a convention center, but it is about the size of the Sprint Center in KC....and very similar in appearance as well. The crowd got rowdy when Creighton started to climb back in it, but for the most part, it is a mass of middle-aged white people who just seem to enjoy basketball.

Now to the game. It was incredibly disappointing to lose a game like that. There is absolutely no excuse to blow an 18-point lead in a 2nd half (even to Kentucky for that matter). BTW, Creighton is a VERY average team....my guess is that they will be around .500 or a little above in a relatively weak Big East and a bubble team at best (thanks to us). They lack athleticism at most spots, but they can shoot the ball and get on a roll. They only have two players who can break you down off the dribble. We have no one to blame but ourselves. We stopped guarding the perimeter in the 2nd half....period.

This was an EPIC choke job. I really expected more mental toughness out of a veteran team, but this team has a long way to go in the character and "suck it up" department. Hopefully, this team can show us something in the "Battle for Atlantis" tournament. But for those saying that this game is something we can learn from.....forget it. Burn the tape. It was all about effort (guarding someone), not losing containment, and discipline (rotation and weak side help). We didn't do any of those things much in the 2nd half. And we need to find an identity in the half-court on offense besides isolation. We need to set more ball screens and move without the ball. We "fall in love" with the 3 way too much and don't get to the free throw line enough.

This loss sucks, but we will get better. However, this game showed us that we need to temper expectations a bit. We are a tournament team, but we aren't freaking close to a sweet 16 team....yet. Keep working and, like a relief pitcher, have a short memory and forget about this game.

Boomer Sooner!

Thanks for the report. Sorry you didn't get to enjoy a win.

 

[Waylon]

Thanks for the report. Sorry you didn't get to enjoy a win.

Jays fan here. I come in peace with zero voice left from last night. Very awesome to see the Sooners roll into town, never would have happened in the MVC days. I'm glad our ADs met on the committee last year and got this done. Personally I did not want this game this early. Lots of new faces that up until last night (and the first half of last night) had not found themselves as a team . The first half they were tight as a drum, the percentages will show. The place was charged, it just needed a reason to explode. That OU style of D frustrated the Bluejays. Once CU got it tightened up on the scoreboard it seemed OU felt all 17k in the stands on their back. ONce OU got on their heels they faded fast as the crowd got louder. Lots of athletes on your team they just fight off the momentum swing. Good luck the rest of the way out. All the best.

 

[BigTime]

Jays fan here. I come in peace with zero voice left from last night. Very awesome to see the Sooners roll into town, never would have happened in the MVC days. I'm glad our ADs met on the committee last year and got this done. Personally I did not want this game this early. Lots of new faces that up until last night (and the first half of last night) had not found themselves as a team . The first half they were tight as a drum, the percentages will show. The place was charged, it just needed a reason to explode. That OU style of D frustrated the Bluejays. Once CU got it tightened up on the scoreboard it seemed OU felt all 17k in the stands on their back. ONce OU got on their heels they faded fast as the crowd got louder. Lots of athletes on your team they just fight off the momentum swing. Good luck the rest of the way out. All the best.

Thanks. No offense, but we gave you the game with mental errors that were nearly all self inflicted. OU wins by 8-15 on a neutral court and blows you out in Norman. That said, hope you win every game in the sad shell of the Big East. Congrats on your crowd - made the difference in carrying you back.

 

[Waylon]

Thanks. No offense, but we gave you the game with mental errors that were nearly all self inflicted. OU wins by 8-15 on a neutral court and blows you out in Norman. That said, hope you win every game in the sad shell of the Big East. Congrats on your crowd - made the difference in carrying you back.

Well you get a chance for revenge in Norman next year..... Hence the term "home and home". From my perspective, the Jays first half tightness (under 25% from 3 and not much better from the field) could give you that feeling of giving it away. I thought if the averages came up to normal it would be a game. Heard on the radio OU is 0 for 7 in front of road crowds over 14k for some time frame. Good luck, beat Texas. Look forward to next year.

 

[scrybe]

Jays fan here. I come in peace with zero voice left from last night. Very awesome to see the Sooners roll into town, never would have happened in the MVC days. I'm glad our ADs met on the committee last year and got this done. Personally I did not want this game this early. Lots of new faces that up until last night (and the first half of last night) had not found themselves as a team . The first half they were tight as a drum, the percentages will show. The place was charged, it just needed a reason to explode. That OU style of D frustrated the Bluejays. Once CU got it tightened up on the scoreboard it seemed OU felt all 17k in the stands on their back. ONce OU got on their heels they faded fast as the crowd got louder. Lots of athletes on your team they just fight off the momentum swing. Good luck the rest of the way out. All the best.

It's difficult for Sooner fans to be told their team was put "on their heels" and "faded fast." But your assessment of what happened last night was actually pretty accurate, IMHO.

Your Jays are a tough and resilient team and I, for one, am still glad we got the chance to play them at their place, where the atmosphere is so very tough. Enjoy the win. Next time we meet, I'm confident the Sooners will be the ones celebrating a win.

 

[FlyJays]

Jays fan here. Just wanted to echo what an earlier poster noted. Creighton fans in general were pumped to get this game, because it never would have happened if we were still in the MVC days. I think most fans would agreee that the Big East will never be what it was, but I think "sad shell" is a stretch. It's still a solid league.

Anyways, we respect the heck out of Lon Kruger, and you guys are going to have a great year. Hield and Thomas are big-time players, and Spangler is a guy anyone would want on their squad. Hard-nosed player who works his tail off. Athletically you had an advantage at just about every spot except for the point. Luckily for us Chatman was able to capitalize on that and get our crowd back into it. The crowd certainly carried us. Looking forward to the return game in Norman.

Good luck the rest of the way. We'll certainly be pulling for you up in Omaha.

 

[Chiefdaddy]

Good game Jays fans. OU fans got comfortable, like the team, once we built that big lead. But on the road in a hostile environment, all it takes is a run, fueled by wide open three's, to get the crowd back in it. There is no doubt that we stopped playing hard nosed D once we got up big. Part of it was effort but I think some of it was due to guys being tired. Krueger didn't start subbing in the second half until it was too late and it was a tight game again. Shooting %'s tend to even out over the course of a game, and it sure did after you guys struggled in the first half. I love playing these games early because you definitely learn some things that can help you later in the year and in conference play. I love the atmosphere at your arena. Everyone is into the game and it is loud in there. Good luck the rest of the season.

 

[TINY]

Jays fan here. I come in peace with zero voice left from last night. Very awesome to see the Sooners roll into town, never would have happened in the MVC days. I'm glad our ADs met on the committee last year and got this done. Personally I did not want this game this early. Lots of new faces that up until last night (and the first half of last night) had not found themselves as a team . The first half they were tight as a drum, the percentages will show. The place was charged, it just needed a reason to explode. That OU style of D frustrated the Bluejays. Once CU got it tightened up on the scoreboard it seemed OU felt all 17k in the stands on their back. ONce OU got on their heels they faded fast as the crowd got louder. Lots of athletes on your team they just fight off the momentum swing. Good luck the rest of the way out. All the best.

Welcome, Waylon. Congrats to your Jays.

It's fair to say the players and coaches felt the crowd noise. The refs Most certainly did. I hate to be that guy..but the first half officiating, especially, was beyond pitiful; ou should have led by 17-20 if not for the refs. Gave the non-athletic/non-aggressive team of jump shooters 10+ free points from the line in the first half. Not to mention on the alley oop by Thomas he was smacked in the head..should have been and-1. The fast break dunk in the second was another clear and-1; the jay stiff body-checked the sh!t out of him while he was in the air. The missed jump ball/tie-up where 2 separate sooners tied the jay up while he was on the ground..5 seconds later they award the coach a timeout..smdh. To me college hoops is probably the most consistent poorly officiated sport and is a major turn off for the sport.

 

[Waylon]

Welcome, Waylon. Congrats to your Jays.

It's fair to say the players and coaches felt the crowd noise. The refs Most certainly did. I hate to be that guy..but the first half officiating, especially, was beyond pitiful; ou should have led by 17-20 if not for the refs. Gave the non-athletic/non-aggressive team of jump shooters 10+ free points from the line in the first half. Not to mention on the alley oop by Thomas he was smacked in the head..should have been and-1. The fast break dunk in the second was another clear and-1; the jay stiff body-checked the sh!t out of him while he was in the air. The missed jump ball/tie-up where 2 separate sooners tied the jay up while he was on the ground..5 seconds later they award the coach a timeout..smdh. To me college hoops is probably the most consistent poorly officiated sport and is a major turn off for the sport.

Again a matter of perspective. The refs were equally bad for both IMO but i know the loss is fresh so it's still stinging. OUs hacking style of play leads to a lot of whistles and a lot of free throws with stoppages of play and a lot of uncalled fouls as well. Your coach's choice to make it wrestling meet, guess he didn't want to run with our "un"athletes. Probably will be the lowest score for Creighton this year. Glad you can take solice in your athletic teams eye test over victory. many have ventured to Omaha and left with the same result. the Sooners should fair better next year in Norman.

 

[bocabull]

Bottom line is that for 3 years + Krugers teams are easy to rattle, especially late in games.

All this talk from them with predictions of winning the conference ... they need to shut up and show it on the court. Because so far that confident talk is demolished in crunch time on a regular basis. Don't say it, do it.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Bottom line is that for 3 years + Krugers teams are easy to rattle, especially late in games.

All this talk from them with predictions of winning the conference ... they need to shut up and show it on the court. Because so far that confident talk is demolished in crunch time on a regular basis. Don't say it, do it.

has the basketball team made predictions about winning the conference?

 

[BanjoCharley]

No, it's just Bocapoop as usual.

 

[JBaker]

has the basketball team made predictions about winning the conference?

Buddy said they were going to.

 

[TINY]

Again a matter of perspective. The refs were equally bad for both IMO but i know the loss is fresh so it's still stinging. OUs hacking style of play leads to a lot of whistles and a lot of free throws with stoppages of play and a lot of uncalled fouls as well. Your coach's choice to make it wrestling meet, guess he didn't want to run with our "un"athletes. Probably will be the lowest score for Creighton this year. Glad you can take solice in your athletic teams eye test over victory. many have ventured to Omaha and left with the same result. the Sooners should fair better next year in Norman.

We will have to agree to disagree on the officiating. The stats tell the true story with the first half discrepancy in free throws..while creighton jacked 5 more 3s, had less rebounds, less points in the paint, less assists...yet over twice as many free throws attempted. Chatman and zierden had 0 fouls in 75 minutes of play. Doesn't make sense to anyone outside of Omaha. You clearly couldn't retort any of the plays I referenced in my previous post, and those were just off the top of my head.

OU was not playing tight or "hacking" d any more than was creighton..just the whistle blew on one end of the court and not the other.

Chapman is a good athlete, the rest are average d1 athletes from what I could tell. Doesn't mean they cant be a good team. My guess is creighton will be a bubble team, at best, but you never know.

Would enjoy a rematch on a neutral site, and we are looking forward to the game next season. Good luck to your team this year.

 

[skyvue]

Again a matter of perspective. The refs were equally bad for both IMO but i know the loss is fresh so it's still stinging.

Creighton's first foul in the second half came with under nine minutes to play in the game. Sorry, but I've never seen a game of basketball where a team -- especially a team that is scratching and clawing to get back in the game -- legitimately went 11 minutes without committing a foul.

So it's no coincidence your boys rallied when they did. It's a lot easier to come roaring back when the officials chip in and do their part. And in the first half, the foul/FT differential was huge -- free throws were the only thing that kept you in the game. You'd have been blown out of the gym otherwise; that 11-point halftime margin could easily have been 20 or more.

That said, we had our chances and blew it. In the second half, we played some of our worst basketball under Kruger. Unforced error after unforced error on offense. And to their credit, CU got hot and hit their shots while the officials pretended they'd misplaced their whistles.

 

[campbest]

Like clockwork

 

[skyvue]

Like clockwork

Ditto.

Plenty of people questioned the officiating in that game and I was not the first to bring it up in this thread.

We did plenty wrong in that game, and I acknowledged that. Perhaps you didn't read that far. But for literally three quarters of the game, Creighton was coddled by the officials.

 

[campbest]

Ditto.

Plenty of people questioned the officiating in that game and I was not the first to bring it up in this thread.

We did plenty wrong in that game, and I acknowledged that. Perhaps you didn't read that far. But for literally three quarters of the game, Creighton was coddled by the officials.

haha "coddled". Gimme a break.

I didn't quote anyone, just commented on the nature this thread has taken. Under the rules emphasis the past two years, it makes perfect sense why OU would have more fouls.

Fouls / non-calls are missed on both ends, this game was no different...had nothing to do with the outcome.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Under the rules emphasis the past two years, it makes perfect sense why OU would have more fouls.

I don't like the complaining either but I don't get why the rules changes would make OU have more fouls?