Once again, White & Blue Review caught up with some of the talented broadcasters that bring Creighton athletics into your cars, homes, and offices via local media. For women’s basketball, that means learning about the Bluejays’ season through the eyes of Brad Burwell and Sara Cizek, who call CU games for KOIL 1180 AM (www.koilam1180.com).
WBR talked with Burwell about the Bluejays’ past two games, wins in their first two MVC games (on the road no less) against Indiana State and Illinois State. Plus, we look ahead to home games this week against Wichita State and Missouri State at Sokol Arena.
White & Blue Review: Creighton fans can read the recaps here and here, but from your perspective on press row how did Jim Flanery’s team look during wins at Indiana State and Illinois State? The Redbirds were picked #2 preseason, yet CU blew them out; did ISU just have a bad day, or is Creighton that much better than them right now?
Brad Burwell: They truly played great team defense in both victories. Flan has a short roster (10 players) but they all contribute. Also, ISU is a good team with three excellent scorers, but the Jays forced them into the Jays’ style of play and that disrupted the Redbirds.
WBR: Creighton is 7-4, but their losses are to Nebraska (#4 RPI), Oklahoma (#5), Kansas (#22), and Marquette (#35). The Bluejays enter this week’s games at #28 in the Ratings Percentage Index (according to Real Time RPI). When you watch Flan’s team compete against teams like the Huskers and Sooners, and then win their first couple of MVC games, is their improvement visible? Indiana State and Illinois State are upper-half teams in the Valley … how has Creighton’s challenging schedule (ranked in the top 20 nationally) prepared the Jays for the MVC slate?
BB: There is no arguing that the Big 12 has more athletic personnel than the Valley. Kelsey Griffin from Nebraska, Danielle Robinson from Oklahoma, and Danielle McCray from Kansas are real difference makers and could all play in the WNBA or overseas next season. I do believe there is a confidence level that has developed with the team that they hung pretty close with both Nebraska and Oklahoma late before losing, and it has helped them against the Valley competition so far. There is no doubt that their tough competition has prepared them well to match up with the rest of the Valley.
WBR: Everyone in the Valley knows how good a player Megan Neuvirth is. Just how much do opponents key on her when trying to stop the Jays?
BB: Actually, they are finding out that it is near impossible to defend the Jays. You cannot double Neuvirth because it will leave Kelsey Woodard or Sam Schuett or Chevy Herring or Kellie Nelson free. They doubled on Megan driving the paint on Saturday and she found a wide open Nelson under the bucket for an easy basket. Unless everybody is stone cold, completely shutting down the Jays is a problem. Megan is such a good passer, sees the floor well, and is unselfish.
WBR: Sam Schuett had a huge week, earning MVC Player of the Week honors for her efforts against the Sycamores (a career-high 19 points) and Redbirds (a team-high 15 points and 14 rebounds; her second double-double of the season). How much does defenses’ pressure on Neuvirth open things up for players such as Schuett? How important has Sam been to this team so far?
BB: Sam is really getting back to the form of two years ago before she was injured. I think most people would agree that Sam is a multi-talented player, someone who can shoot beyond the perimeter, take it inside, go to the boards, shoot free throws, and play defense against the opponent’s best scorer.
- Sam Schuett earned MVC Player of the Week honors
WBR: Chevelle Herring hasn’t scored too many points in Creighton’s first two MVC games, but she’s recorded 5 assists and just 1 turnover while averaging 30 minutes of court time. Being a veteran point guard in the Valley, how much does it help the Jays to have Chevy running the show?
BB: Chevy has done a good job distributing the ball. Lost in stat sheet a bit was Chevy’s 4 assists and ZERO turnovers against Illinois State. This is huge for a point guard. Also, having Ally Jensen back up Herring has been a real plus to limit Chevy’s minutes.
WBR: Is this the best 3-point shooting team you have seen as play-by-play voice of the Bluejays?
BB: The jury is still out. I still have fond memories of Dayna Finch, Laura Spanheimer, and Christy Neneman from the 2003- 2004 team. Saying that, with Ally Jensen’s contributions, this team may have more threats than that team. Realistically, the Jays have six players who are options from 3-point range.
WBR: What is the atmosphere like at the home gyms for Indiana State and Illinois State? For Jays fans who haven’t been to the venues, can you describe their fan bases and the intensity that faces Flan’s teams when they travel to those schools?
BB: There is great support at Indiana State, and there has been since Jim Wiede has been there. The same goes for Illinois State, although I was disappointed by the crowd during this latest visit. By midway through the second half, you could have heard a pin drop at Redbird Arena. They were realizing that the team that had handled Drake by 19 two days before was getting blown out by the team that they needed to beat on their home floor. Bluejays fans need to turn out in big numbers for this season’s team. They will like what they see.
WBR: Missouri State and Wichita State are traditionally very good programs, and both teams have started the conference season 2-0. What are the keys for Creighton picking up home wins against the Shockers and Bears?
BB: Again, they have built their records on less than stellar non-conference schedules. While MSU has been a very good program, they have fallen on hard times the last couple of years. But Casey Garrison, their sophomore guard, is exciting and they have added some great role players to compliment her. They will surprise some teams this year. I am not totally convinced about Wichita State. A lot of new players that just came this year, both freshman and transfers, still have to prove themselves over a long conference schedule. They have not been good for more than 5 years now, so I need to wait to see how they do over the long haul. I am still thinking second division for them, maybe 6th, but MSU could sneak into the upper division with Creighton, Illinois State, Drake, and Indiana State, although the Sycamores still have a lot to prove.