The buzz around Creighton during this week of finals is not so much about the men’s basketball team, but about a lot of other different things. The game against California on Saturday has sort of been on the backburner, but also the games have been so fast and furious during the first couple months of the season causing this week long layoff to seem like forever.
The news on Wednesday was the condition of Josh Jones and his undetermined absence from the team due to an atrial flutter on his heart. On Thursday, the rumors started flying — several reports mention Creighton as a possible member of a new, basketball-centric college conference being created by a splintered group of Big East schools without FBS football programs, schools like Marquette and Georgetown.
With all those distractions and traveling to California in the meantime, Saturday night will not be a walk in the park for the Bluejays. However, they have a great opportunity to get another win against a Pac-12 team and do it on the road.
To give us a little more information on the Bears, we reached out to John Crumpacker, who covers Cal for the San Francisco Chronicle. Here is what he had to say:
White & Blue Review: Cal was predicted before the season started to finish in the top 3 of the Pac-12 this season. Is that about where you think they will be this season and what kind of expectations do fans desire this season?
John Crumpacker: That might be a little generous if Cal doesn’t improve its rebounding and low-post scoring. Expectations from fans are for a competitive team that challenges for the Pac-12 title.
WBR: The Bears lost a tough game against UNLV. What were the things that went wrong in that game?
JC: Lousy free throw shooting, for one. Cal finished 15 of 28 from the line but at one point was 4-for-13. Cal was also out-rebounded badly on the offensive glass.
WBR: Which players should Creighton fans look out for on Saturday night to make an impact in the game?
JC: You start with leading scorer Allen Crabbe. He’s capable of 30-point games. He’s a smooth shooting wing player who can really get on a tear if his shot is falling. Off guard Justin Cobbs is fearless in driving the lane and leading the break. Forward Richard Solomon has his moments but is not consistent, either scoring or rebounding.
WBR: What do you think of this matchup with Creighton? Do you know any background on how this series came about?
JC: It’s a great match-up for Cal as it tries to slough off a “soft Pac-12 team” reputation in what will be its last significant non-conference game before Pac-12 play begins. I don’t really know how the series came to be, sorry.
WBR: Some teams have packed the post while others have played Creighton straight up one-on-one. Which way do you think Cal will go to defend against Doug McDermott and the rest of the Jays?
JC: I think Cal will use a variety of defensive ploys on McD, perhaps going with Crabbe on McD when he’s on the perimeter and hoping the 6-10 Solomon, 6-9 David Kravish and 6-10 Robert Thurman off the bench can have a combined effect defensively around the basket.
WBR: Last season, the Pac-12 was criticized heavily for their performance in the non-conference season and subsequently were not highly regarded through the conference season. How important is it for the Pac-12 to get back to being the power conference they were and how close are they?
JC: It’s important for the Pac-12’s respect nationally. The conference has been perceived as weak/soft for the last several years, one that is incapable of standing up to more skilled and physical teams. I don’t think the Pac-12 is close to restoring its old reputation.
WBR: For the fans that are heading out to this game, do you have any suggestions on where they should go before and after the game?
JC: You mean Creighton fans? I’d suggest taking a pre-game stroll along Telegraph Avenue (a block east of Haas Pavilion) to get a flavor of the Berkeley campus area. For eats, try Top Dog on Durant, terrific for brats, Kip’s, also on Durant, for post-game pizza and beer.
WBR: What is your final prediction? What will Cal need to do to keep Creighton from leaving Berkeley with a win?
JC: Creighton 72, Cal 63. Cal needs to limit turnovers, concentrate on offensive rebounds, prevent Creighton’s other four starters from going off and hope that Crabbe’s shot is working early and often. Cal doesn’t have much of a bench and only goes 7 deep.