Looking Ahead - Creighton

[Elonsmusk]

Seems like we always have fun nail-biter games with Creighton.  I expect another one.  Perhaps tilting in our favor:  We get a full week off.  Creighton and their 6 man rotation had double OT last night in Providence, and they play at St John's Saturday.  No idea if they stayed out East after last night's game, but regardless that's a pretty tough stretch to then come back and play Tuesday night in Omaha.

[MuggsyB]

Seems like we always have fun nail-biter games with Creighton.  I expect another one.  Perhaps tilting in our favor:  We get a full week off.  Creighton and their 6 man rotation had double OT last night in Providence, and they play at St John's Saturday.  No idea if they stayed out East after last night's game, but regardless that's a pretty tough stretch to then come back and play Tuesday night in Omaha.

I expect MU to play loose and with tremendous confidence on 2-21.  We sort of stole one tonight.  I fully expect us to be ready to go and have multiple guys dropping buckets all over the floor. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Depending on how SJU game goes.

Kam and Scheirmann could have quite the shoot off.

Because between tonight and last night............woof both are due.

[Silent Verbal]

One thing I'll say about Wojo — without looking up what his actual record was against them — he seemed to kind of own Creighton, especially in their house.  His squads just matched up well against theirs. 

Creighton is not deep and won't be well rested, but I'm expecting a game similar to tonight, unfortunately.  Frustrating, never quite getting over the hump but always close with lots of lead changes, and *hopefully* an MU victory. 

We're going to get everyone's best game from here on out.

[GoldenEagles03]

Our offense always shows up in Omaha.  Something about the backdrop must be great because we always sling it there.  Hopefully that is true again next Tuesday.

[BallBoy]

On the roadmap for a conference championship is win at home, steal one on the road and don't lose against the bottom. MU protected the house against the Top 7 (especially hard in the Top 4) and they have chance to be the first to steal one on the road as a Top 4 against a Top 4. 

the Creighton game determines if they win the title alone or they share it.

[Shooter McGavin]

One thing I'll say about Wojo — without looking up what his actual record was against them — he seemed to kind of own Creighton, especially in their house.  His squads just matched up well against theirs. 

Creighton is not deep and won't be well rested, but I'm expecting a game similar to tonight, unfortunately.  Frustrating, never quite getting over the hump but always close with lots of lead changes, and *hopefully* an MU victory. 

We're going to get everyone's best game from here on out.

Agree, especially with the last sentence.  MU is talented enough to keep grinding out wins despite their youth and inexperience and I think they get it done Tuesday.  Getting everyone's best will pay big dividends down the road, this year and next.  The offense will eventually break through after getting used to the way similarly talented (or even more talented) teams play us. This will hopefully lead to a mentally tough team who can get it done when it matter most, in the tournament.

[bilsu]

I thought Kalkbrenner looked out of sorts against Providence. He had a very physical battle with Sanogo the game before. In that game the refs were not calling fouls and Sanogo was repeatedly banging into Kalkbrenner. Early in the Providence game Kalkbrenner got called for a touch foul and he never really seemed in the game after that.

[MUfan12]

That first 12 minutes will give MU some valuable film for next week. They allowed Nunge to affect the way they played far too much. Can't let Kalkbrenner do the same thing.

[mugrad_89]

I will be there proudly wearing my MU gear!  Just hoping we get an even whistle.

[Newsdreams]

Seems like we always have fun nail-biter games with Creighton.  I expect another one.  Perhaps tilting in our favor:  We get a full week off.  Creighton and their 6 man rotation had double OT last night in Providence, and they play at St John's Saturday.  No idea if they stayed out East after last night's game, but regardless that's a pretty tough stretch to then come back and play Tuesday night in Omaha.

Unless NCAA rules have changed they have to go back to their campus

[Uncle Rico]

Unless NCAA rules have changed they have to go back to their campus

NCAA 😂😂

[willie warrior]

Only way we beat Creighton on their floor is push tempo entire game. Run the kegs off of Kalkenberger. Kolek and Mitchell and rest of team must run, run, run. Including Joplin during his minutes.

[mugrad_89]

Only way we beat Creighton on their floor is push tempo entire game. Run the kegs off of Kalkenberger. Kolek and Mitchell and rest of team must run, run, run. Including Joplin during his minutes.

Completely agree - McDermott failed to develop his bench this year, so hopefully Shaka uses some full court pressure to wear them down.

[HowardsWorld]

Im happy that we get 6 days of rest before the next game. Just have to hope that a slow start doesn't happen because of it. Winning this game doesn't just help us with the cementing of 1st place but it also looks up a tiebreaker that will be used for conference seeding that no other team can have, in the event they slip up in the final 3 games. The tiebreaker will more than likely come down who beat each team behind them in the standings at a better win percentage. They would all be tired except for Creighton.

[wadesworld]

When Creighton hosted Xavier and Xavier had Hunter in the game, Creighton put Kalk on Hunter and had him completely ignore Hunter.  He just played a one man zone about 4 feet in front of the rim.  I'm worried Crieghton will do that to Oso.  Xavier was doing that early in the game and it really clogs up any cuts to the rim and bogs down this offense.  I'd like to see Oso attack the rim and get into Kalk's body to take away his shot blocking and/or draw fouls.  I'd also like to see Oso do a handoff to Kam at the top of the key if Kalk is ignoring him, and really hit Kam's defender on the screen after the handoff.  Should give Jones some open looks, and if their defense gets into rotation then you can attack going downhill.

[GoldenEagles03]

We got swept...0-3 last year against Creighton...

No better time than now to get that immediate revenge.  Go take it!

[BallBoy]

When Creighton hosted Xavier and Xavier had Hunter in the game, Creighton put Kalk on Hunter and had him completely ignore Hunter.  He just played a one man zone about 4 feet in front of the rim.  I'm worried Crieghton will do that to Oso.  Xavier was doing that early in the game and it really clogs up any cuts to the rim and bogs down this offense.  I'd like to see Oso attack the rim and get into Kalk's body to take away his shot blocking and/or draw fouls.  I'd also like to see Oso do a handoff to Kam at the top of the key if Kalk is ignoring him, and really hit Kam's defender on the screen after the handoff.  Should give Jones some open looks, and if their defense gets into rotation then you can attack going downhill.

I would keep Oso close to the rim if Creighton takes that approach.  If Kam or TK penetrate, Kalk will naturally rotate to block the shot.  A quick dump off to Oso for the dunk.  If we bring Oso out for a pick and Kalk doesn't follow then I would get the ball to Kam bring Oso out for the pick and then let Kam have an uncontested three ball.  Same for Jop but  at the top of the key. 

[tower912]

6 days off will help.    As opposed to last night, I hope MU uses their depth to wear Creighton down.   
All 5 starters played 30+ last night. 

[Galway Eagle]

Only way we beat Creighton on their floor is push tempo entire game. Run the kegs off of Kalkenberger. Kolek and Mitchell and rest of team must run, run, run. Including Joplin during his minutes.

Has he put on some beer weight recently?

[MuggsyB]

3 of our 4 best players haven't played near their top level the last few weeks.  I think having the weekend off, and time to analyze and prepare, could be exactly what they need moving forward.

My personal take is that all of them have pressed a little bit knowing what is at stake and being a top 11 team.  I'd like to see less iso ball and better decisions in open space depending on how they are being defended. 

We're a very streaky 3pt shooting team but a dangerous 2pt shooting team.  There's really no reason to take early 3's off the dribble  with 25 secs on the shot clock.   I believe when TyKo gets additional help as a creator, we are at our best.  OMax, Jop, and Kam don't necessarily need to make the dime but instead move the ball when help comes.  Ighodaro is a tremendous passer, but his hesitancy at the 15 foot range in open space has been problematic the past few games.  I would be more forceful going to the rim, or take that 8 footer with confidence.

I think the pressure will be off in Omaha and I expect our guys to be ready. 

[tower912]

It is still a conference road game against a ranked team.

[Goose]

Muggsy

Our top guys have struggled a bit and there is a ton of pressure on them. They are team oriented group, but a number of them are playing to get a very big raise next season. Difference this season, those guys are still playing in the team concept.

[Its DJOver]

Us, X, CU, and PC are all undefeated at home in conference play.  Further, we have yet to win a game against a tournament team outside the Forum.  Hoping we can change both of those.

[MuggsyB]

You're coaching MU on Tuesday.....what's your overall strategy and plan of attack?  How do we get Kam in particular going?