If you know anything about Creighton then you know Nick Bahe. Bahe started his collegiate career at Kansas before transferring after his sophomore season to finish out his hoops career on the Hilltop. He was part of the last Creighton team to make the NCAA Tournament (2006-07) and his senior season led the Jays to the NIT.
Bahe now spends his time in the media. He broadcasts a weekday radio morning show, Schick and Nick, on 1620 AM the Zone. He often serves as T. Scott Marr’s color commentator for Creighton basketball radio broadcasts on AM 590, Omaha’s ESPN radio. And if he’s not on the air with T. Scott, it’s because he’s on the Action 3 News television broadcast of the game.
Bahe has experienced Arch Madness as a player and as a member of the media. We caught up with him before this week’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament to get his thoughts about the Bluejays and the weekend ahead.
White & Blue Review: Seeing the Bluejays all season long whether on radio or on television, what is the biggest thing that stands out about this team?
Nick Bahe: The resiliency and toughness to win close games and the unselfishness they display. Creighton is 6-1 in games decided by 3 points or less, last year they were 1-6. They win close games this year. And this is without a doubt the most unselfish team I’ve ever been around.
WBR: Doug McDermott was named the MVC Player of the Year on Tuesday. What is it about him that puts him at a different level than anyone else at Creighton in recent memory? Was it something you saw coming based on last season?
NB: First of all I definitely thought Doug could win the POY but I didn’t think he would have as big of a year he has had from a numbers standpoint. His stats are unbelievable. What makes Doug unique is how efficient he is. Doug is the 3rd leading scorer in the country and he does it shooting 60% from the field and he doesn’t have to dominate the ball. Lots of big time scorers have to take a lot of shots and have the ball the whole possession, Doug doesn’t need to do that.
I’ve been around some amazing seasons personally ([Anthony] Tolliver’s Junior year, [Nate] Funk’s senior year, [Booker] Woodfox’s POY senior season, KU’s Wayne Simien’s senior year) but Doug has had the best individual season I have ever seen. He has provided a lifetime of special memories in one year.
WBR: Can you tell us a little bit about Antoine Young’s leadership, the type of player he has been at Creighton and what has made him great this year as a senior? Should he have been on the MVC First Team?
NB: I personally think Antoine absolutely should have been first-team all MVC. I think Antoine has been the most underrated/undervalued player in the MVC for the past two years. Never underestimate a point guard who can handle the ball the whole game and make good decisions, score, distribute and make CLUTCH plays.
I have really enjoyed watching Antoine progress over his career at Creighton. Antoine came to Creighton as a volume scorer who didn’t really think the game like a true point guard does. Antoine was a score first attacking style of a guard who didn’t see the floor great early in his career. Antoine now thinks the game like a true point guard. He sets up his teammates, reads the defense very well, and is a much more efficient scorer. Antoine isn’t a vocal “rah rah” kind of a leader with his teammates. He has earned the trust and confidence from his teammates and coaches so he uses that to lead by example.
WBR: What is the day-to-day preparation as teams advance through the tournament? Are things done differently than regular game days?
NB: The tournament is a three-day crazy rollercoaster. Everything is different. College basketball players aren’t used to playing three games in three days. Usually there is at least one day in between games. Reflection time on the previous game as a player and as a team is completely eliminated. You don’t have time to analyze or discuss the previous game because it’s all about the next game. Prep time is cut way down for each game as well because of the short turnaround so game plans are somewhat simplified. The good thing is that you are extremely familiar with each opponent because you’ve played them twice already.
WBR: When you get to this part of the season, people talk about “tired legs.” Is that more of a myth or should players be well conditioned enough that they can play games three straight days?
NB: Tired legs are absolutely a factor. We aren’t machines, college basketball players get fatigued. Winning the MVC tournament is an emotional, mental, and physical challenge. Everybody needs to be in the right place mentally. Depth helps obviously. I always think that it’s really important to win your quarterfinal game by a lot so you can rest your core guys for the majority of the second half of that game.
WBR: What are some of your greatest memories of Arch Madness when you were a player?
NB: I had my best memory as a player and possibly my worst at Arch Madness. Obviously winning the tournament my junior year was amazing. Rushing the floor, cutting down the nets, getting hats and t-shirts, and knowing that we are in the NCAA Tournament is great. That was a great memory. But losing in the semifinals to Drake my senior year in 2008 was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever felt. Because it’s that moment that your final opportunity to go to the NCAA Tournament gets crushed.
WBR: Now as part of the media, what is your favorite part of going to the MVC Tournament?
NB: I love being in the survival atmosphere that is Arch Madness. Most of these teams only chance of getting to the NCAA Tournament is by winning the MVC tournament. That element makes Arch Madness special. I also love all the fans that come and support Creighton. The Bluejay Sendoff in the hotel lobby is like something out of a movie. So much fun!
WBR: Which team does Creighton hope to avoid if they can and what opposing player will give Creighton the most to adjust too?
NB: Avoid purple. Avoid Evansville and Northern Iowa. UNI is so well coached and they dictate tempo so well. Teams that slow down the game and make it ugly are tough for Creighton, UNI does that. Evansville is such a unique style to play against because of the disciplined motion offense and Colt Ryan is a baller. I’d say the two toughest individual matchups for Creighton are Colt Ryan and Kyle Weems. If Creighton wins the quarterfinal game against either Drake or Bradley, they will have to play one of those two studs, Weems or Ryan.
WBR: Can you see any other matchup other than Creighton vs. Wichita State in the tournament final?
NB: I’d be absolutely shocked if Wichita State doesn’t make it to the championship game and I think Creighton will make it to the title game as well. I think Creighton has a more difficult road than Wichita State though. There has been a lot of parity in the league this year but Creighton and Wichita State have separated themselves from the rest and I would be surprised if it’s not a Jays vs. Shockers title game.
WBR: What is your final prediction? What will Creighton need to do to walk away as MVC Tournament champs?
NB: Wichita State is playing as good as anybody in the nation right now so they obviously have a great chance to win. If [Jahenns] Manigat and [Ethan] Wragge are knocking down shots, the Jays can definitely beat the Shockers though. My prediction is … ask me on Sunday morning.