You’re welcome, U.S. Government.
The existing home sales results for October are out, and the surge in sales no doubt has glad-handing politicians from D.C. to Sacramento patting themselves on the back. They can thank Mrs. Creighton Otter and me, a tiny bit, because we took the plunge. We are officially first-time home buyers; we moved into our new place this weekend.
So needless to say, my mind wasn’t exactly focused intently on the early season fortunes of the Creighton Bluejays as I waited (… and waited … and waited…) for the movers to make it to the apartment on Friday afternoon. And debating the merits of a full court press versus a more standard half court set didn’t cross my mind when making what seemed like the millionth trip up and then down two flights of stairs with more awkwardly shaped containers full of glasses (how did we end up with so many pint glasses?!).
But for all the minor frustrations, our move so far has been an experiment in excitement. Everything fit! We hosted our first visitors! We’ve met a few neighbors! And for all the things I thought I couldn’t live without that are now strewn about the basement in boxes yet to be unpacked, I’m finding the process of Settling In to be a fantastic one.
That’s the attitude I took when watching Creighton’s 15-point win against Arkansas-Little Rock today. With three games under their belts in the past 10 days, plus a few exhibitions before those real contests, the newcomers are no doubt starting to develop familiarity with what the coaches expect of them day in and day out during the season. The returners, including the core of juniors that will take this season’s team as far as it can go, seem to be gelling a bit with the newbies, forming some exciting lineups during the course of the game and actually flashing some smiles out on the court.
With a new house come other new things: some new furniture in a few rooms, a few new “necessities” such as lawnmowers, etc. And just as it is exciting to bask in the warming glow of consumerism, so too is it enjoyable to watch Creighton’s newer players.
Darryl Ashford got another start, in place of Justin Carter (who had his own life-changing experience this weekend, too), and Sleepy overcame an 0-5 night behind the arc to score 8 points, grab 6 rebounds, dish a few assists, and block a shot. His 4 turnovers were anything but smooth, but Ashford continues to present Dana Altman with some options from the wing.
Wayne Runnels (3) and Ethan Wragge (4) played with foul trouble most of the afternoon, and their minutes were limited (15 and 14 minutes, respectively). Still, Runnels grabbed 4 rebounds and scored 4 points in limited time, and Wragge mixed it up inside with taller, bigger Trojans, to the tune of 4 rebounds and his signature sweet 3-point shot (1-2 from long distance on the day).
But not all new things in a house are fun. Our main level bathroom has a handle that needs a jiggle here and there. Not a big deal, in the cosmic scope of home ownership, but something that will take some time to adjust to.
A couple Bluejays experienced some pains (some physical, some not) in Sunday afternoon’s win. Casey Harriman, visibly weaker after battling multiple sicknesses the past few weeks, gave the Jays a 3-pointer and a few rebounds in 8 minutes. Chad Millard, playing his first game of the season after a foot injury, played just 5 minutes. Both understandably looked a bit rusty, as did frosh guard Andrew Bock.
Bock’s problems were for other reasons, though. The good: he was aggressive in his 11 minutes. The bad: 0-4 from the field, 0-2 from 3, and 2 turnovers. He isn’t seeing many minutes behind Antoine Young and Cavel Witter at the point position, and that will change as the season continues. But it will be challenge for Bock to progress, just as it is for most freshmen at the lead guard spot.
Ever find something you were missing while either packing or unpacking? How did that Kyle Korver bobblehead get into that box? I thought my 2003 Road Trip to Saint Louis mix CD got snapped in two during a fatal center console accident! This weekend presented plenty of those discoveries, both at the new house and at the Qwest Center. Jays fans rediscovered the Kaleb Korver and Cavel Witter they had heard about during offseason workouts, if not from previous highlights of seasons past.
Korver had one of his best all-around games as a Bluejay. He hit 4 3-pointers in 22 minutes, adding a few rebounds, an assist, and 3 steals (a career high) without committing a turnover and while playing solid defense against taller, bigger UALR players.
It was hard to tell what Witter did more of: swishing pull-up jumpers or smiling to his teammates and the crowd. I’d have fun, too, if I had a points-assists-turnover line of 10-4-1 in 23 minutes of playing various guard spots. Instead of trying to finish in the paint against a taller frontcourt (see: Dayton), Witter shot 50% from the field thanks to his great finish on some jab step jump shots.
All in all, the move went well, and I’m excited to settle in. More than anything, making the step into home ownership makes me excited for the future, both immediate and further away. Same goes for watching the Bluejays this season. For all his playmaking ability and his (so far) steady effort this season, P’Allen Stinnett had a few passes go through his hands — plays that just make you scratch your head. Kind of like looking for the electrical outlet at the front exterior of your new house … and looking … and looking, then realizing that there isn’t one and you’ll have to have that done. Not a big deal, of course: not something that takes too much away from the stately brick used to build the home. And not something to take away too much from Stinnett’s 5 assists and 13 points in a team-high 25 minutes of play.
Will the 2009-2010 Creighton basketball season provide its fair share of frustration? Sure. The same probably goes for the first year (or few) of owning my own place. But both will be exciting and both will be entertaining. Even if you have to jiggle the handle.