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[Captain Kangaroo]

Should be a good resource through Bracker Buster Day...

[GJGood]

So, how do you think we'll play this game since it is a nonconference tilt and really has no significant postseason ramifications (other than maybe CBI consideration/ seeding potential) for the Zips? Will we see more minutes logged by guys like Egner and Euton than usual or will KD play this one much like we would a tough MAC East game?

[Dave in Green]

The way the Zips are playing MAC games now, you get the feeling they really badly want a good tournament seeding and are working their butts off to make it happen. Maybe the way they play in the bracket buster game will be related to how badly they want to keep that streak alive of 20+ win seasons.

I hope they use the game to continue fine-tuning their newly found full attack mode. I understand they can't continue to shoot the lights out in every game as they have recently, and especially last night, But even if their shooting is off in the bracket buster game, I hope to see both the offensive and defensive aggressiveness that has played a big role in their current win streak. That aggressiveness has shown up in outrebounding their opponents as well as outscoring them.

[The Hip Zip]

So, how do you think we'll play this game since it is a nonconference tilt and really has no significant postseason ramifications (other than maybe CBI consideration/ seeding potential) for the Zips? Will we see more minutes logged by guys like Egner and Euton than usual or will KD play this one much like we would a tough MAC East game?

I believe that you bring up some good points but the answer is pretty simple. KD only plays to win ! IMO, Creighton is almost a perfect matchup and beating just about any MVC team would a very good win for a lot of MAC programs.

I have seen Creighton play 2 or 3 times in the tough MVC and they have some talent. They have this 6'7" freshman named McDermott who is really a player. Creighton had somewhat modest expectations for him this year but he has been their best player from day one. He leads them in scoring and boards and he's on track to be a truly great player as he moves forward. The Jays also get some decent numbers from Young, a guard who is a very consistant double digit scorer. They have a couple of 6'9" centers that are less than spectacular but can clog up the middle. In a way, Creighton is much like the Zips in that they have a lot of guys that contribute to a well balanced scoring attack.

This should be another good game though I suspect that KD would rather continue to build on their current momentum by staying in the conference.

[tpsjugglerdude]

Can we get a "just like soccer" cheer going?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I have said in the past, and continue to say - "God Bless the Bracket Buster."

Screw staying in Conference 100% of the time. I've seen Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan enough to make me puke. Throw a true mid-major hoops fan a bone!

The Bracket Buster is essentially the only way we can get opponents like VCU, Nevada and Creighton to come to the JAR. If it weren't for the Bracket Buster we'd be scheduling the all-too-familiar record-padding cup cakes. We'd always wonder, but never really know how we'd stack up against the Colonial or Missouri Valley conferences. We'd never have a shot at a February national TV game.

Is it helping decide whether or not Creighton/Akron gets an NCAA at-large? No. But who cares.

Thanks you ESPN. You're typically evil...but in this instance you rule.

[Z.I.P.]

I have said in the past, and continue to say - "God Bless the Bracket Buster."

Screw staying in Conference 100% of the time. I've seen Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan enough to make me puke. Throw a true mid-major hoops fan a bone!

The Bracket Buster is essentially the only way we can get opponents like VCU, Nevada and Creighton to come to the JAR. If it weren't for the Bracket Buster we'd be scheduling the all-too-familiar record-padding cup cakes. We'd always wonder, but never really know how we'd stack up against the Colonial or Missouri Valley conferences. We'd never have a shot at a February national TV game.

Is it helping decide whether or not Creighton/Akron gets an NCAA at-large? No. But who cares.

Thanks you ESPN. You're typically evil...but in this instance you rule.

Sorry, I just saw this thread after posting the following to the Bracketbuster thread:

back to the topic of the Blue Jays. Did no one else see this team take apart S. Illinois last Saturday on ESPNU? Watching the game, at first I thought it was just a conterpart to Akron disecting Central Michigan. However, SIU even missing about five players with injury or suspension is a much better team than what the bottom of the MAC West can offer up. This game should now be on TV -- too late for ESPN I'm afraid, but it should be one of the top BracketBusters matchups. The BlueJays center, Echineque (sp?) goes 6-8 and 270. It's going to be fun watching Zeke battle with THAT! I frankly have to think it will be a matter of whether Akron can stay hot from the perimeter (Hello, Nitro?), and then whether we can get offensive rebounds against Creighton's athletic post players. If I had to bet, I'd go with CU straight up, and I imagine the Vegas line will favor them by 3 or 4. I sure wish I could see it though. I envy those of you who get to plow your driveways to get to the JAR. Well, maybe not. Surf's up!

[akronzips71]

A few years ago, the NY Football Giants played the last game of the season against an undefeated New England team. The Giants already had the Wild Card, and could not go any higher.

Here in NY, there was a lot of speculation that the coach would just go thru the motions, not risking any key player to injury in view of the wildcard game the following week.

Well, you may recall, the Giants played to win. Hixon (familiar name?) ran one back for a TD against UNBEATABLE N.E. and the Giants played GREAT and almost pulled off the upset of the decade.

And a few weeks later, they were in the Superbowl against the same UNBEATABLE N.E. and they indeed pulled off the upset of the decade!

So the moral of the story is this:

This is NOT a meaningless game for the Zips. They are on a streak, and you use the game to get better, win or lose. MUST keep that winning attitude going forward. When you are on a roll you don't lie down, you fight for every point. It makes you better for the next game.

[Hilltopper]

Should be a good resource through Bracker Buster Day...

Heres a link to another Creighton Fan Forum.

This one has more recent activity.

Akron Thread

[akronzips71]

The most recent post was 2/1

I think we have won at least three straight since then.

The RPI ratings are now almost identical.

Should be a good game.

[tpsjugglerdude]

Akron comes in at 145 rpi wedged in between power houses Quinnipiac and Central Conn. St. I'm not sure why espn scheduled lowly Akron to play Mighty Creighton who kills us in the rpi coming in at 137. I wonder if anyone on their board knows this.

[ZachTheZip]

Creighton fans are so easy to troll.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Douche Dislikes Bracket Buster.

[WinZip]

I hope we blow these guys out of the water!!!

[Z.I.P.]

Guys, I'm as big a Zip fan as you'll find in the MidPac. But having seen Creighton and followed the Zips, I think the RPIs can be thrown out the window for this one. BOTH teams are playing MUCH better over the past two weeks. Why is ESPN showing Cannot vs Drecksel?

[johnnyzip84]

This guy gives the Zips some respect.

Zips are a 2 point favorite, which surprises me a little. BUT, I have a feeling Zeke is going to play his best game since K.E.N.T.

Zips 76

Jays 71

[ZachTheZip]

Creighton finally started a game thread.

[zippyfan34]

I'm thinking the referee should get an assist on every Bardo free throw since he doesn't mess around in putting the shot up.

[ZachTheZip]

This game provided a good test. We faced what amounts to a top-3 MAC team and hostile referees and came away with a hard-fought win. Nice to get a decent challenge after not even having to try against BGSU.

I think the Bluejays revealed some weaknesses that still need worked on, which helps prepare for the tough remaining portion of the schedule.

Oh, and poor Zeke, on his growth-chart poster night the refs decide to make it an automatic foul to be 7' tall.

[Quickzips]

Five in a row and a pretty good win over a pretty solid MVC team. Dare I say that the Zips have found their mojo at just the right point in the season? Two big ones for the MAC race coming up this week with Miami and Buffalo coming into the JAR. Let's keep the momentum going.

[ZachTheZip]

I just realized that one of the refs was Bo Boroski. No wonder...

[Dave in Green]

Yet another solid game. Tonight solidified in my mind that this team has learned to play a strong game without Zeke on the floor. Maybe the refs are a little picky on Zeke. But he is also his own worst enemy. He seems to be out there expecting to be whistled on every play, and he often is. He's got to learn what he can get away with and what's going to draw a whistle, and adjust his game.

The rest of the players are doing fine. I could nitpick the play of each of the players, because they all make some mistakes. But the key is that they are doing more good things than bad things as individuals. and even more importantly they are playing much better as a team. There's good communication and good chemistry when they're on the floor together. They're really resilient, and bounce right back from any adversity by aggressively attacking at the other end of the court. I like the way they're playing good team D right now, and I also like the passing and setups for easy buckets.

The Serb deserves big credit for playing consistent offense and defense game after game. I couldn't agree more with what I heard KD say in the radio interview on the way home from the JAR. Nikola may have the best all-around game in the MAC right now. If the Zips run the table and win the conference, the Serb deserves strong consideration as player of the year. He may not have the greatest stats. But without his all-around play the Zips would be in deep trouble.

[akronzips71]

Yet another solid game. Tonight solidified in my mind that this team has learned to play a strong game without Zeke on the floor. Maybe the refs are a little picky on Zeke. But he is also his own worst enemy. He seems to be out there expecting to be whistled on every play, and he often is. He's got to learn what he can get away with and what's going to draw a whistle, and adjust his game.

The rest of the players are doing fine. I could nitpick the play of each of the players, because they all make some mistakes. But the key is that they are doing more good things than bad things as individuals. and even more importantly they are playing much better as a team. There's good communication and good chemistry when they're on the floor together. They're really resilient, and bounce right back from any adversity by aggressively attacking at the other end of the court. I like the way they're playing good team D right now, and I also like the passing and setups for easy buckets.

The Serb deserves big credit for playing consistent offense and defense game after game. I couldn't agree more with what I heard KD say in the radio interview on the way home from the JAR. Nikola may have the best all-around game in the MAC right now. If the Zips run the table and win the conference, the Serb deserves strong consideration as player of the year. He may not have the greatest stats. But without his all-around play the Zips would be in deep trouble.

If they run the table and make a strong showing in the tournament, they might just might have a shot at an at large or play in

OK, I am dreaming.

[xu9697]

Buffalo beat Milwaukee as well. Good night for the MAC with the Zips and Bulls wins.

[johnnyzip84]

I just realized that one of the refs was Bo Boroski. No wonder...

I'll agree there were some really crazy non-calls out there that seemed to go against us, BUT the "foul" by their trapping guys out front on Steve just about made up for the earlier discrepancies. If that call isn't made, the game is COMPLETELY different. I'm willing to leave it as a pretty poorly officiated game that, in the end, didn't really favor one team enough to effect the outcome.

Steve's 6-6 at the line might be the biggest stat for me. Way to go Steve.

I was obviously WAY OFF on my prediction of Zeke rising to the challenge tonight. Hopefully, he keeps his head in the game and contributes where he can down the stretch. I really think a big part of the turnaround is KD backing off his early season promise to develop Zeke by persistently running the offense through him. At some point, pragmatism takes over. Right now, the Zips are playing better on offense by spreading the ball around and not being so predictable. They're still working it inside to outside, just in a different (and more effective) way.

I am salivating at the notion of Q Diggs playing the defense he's been playing lately during a MAC Tourney game at the "Q". Wouldn't that be sort of apropos?