In the Batman comics (and later in the movies), Harvey “Two Face” Dent had a coin that he would flip to help make decisions. It occurs to me that such a coin is needed to predict Jays games this year, because every time I’ve thought I had a read on this team, they’ve gone the opposite direction. They’re completely unpredictable. So today, I’m going to dispatch with reason and knowledge, and simply flip a coin. Heads they win, tails they lose. Its a terrible idea, but hey, I have lots of terrible ideas (like going to Alvarados last night for 1AM burritos after a gallery show where my work hung on the wall for all to see, and where copious amounts of beverages were enjoyed).
(Flips)
And its heads. But can they really win in Springfield? Well, the Jays have swept the season series three years in a row, so yeah, they can…but can this year’s team do it? I better flip again.
(Flips)
And now its tails. Now, the Bears have the highest scoring offense in the conference at over 72 points a game, so given the Jays propensity for struggles scoring, if the Bears get hot it will be tough to win. This is one of the worst defensive teams Dana Altman has run out on the court, either at Creighton or at Kansas State. Its entirely feasible that a Bear goes off for a career night. Who has that career night is debatable, but it wouldn’t surprise any of us if someone gets 30 tonight, would it? Dammit, this is depressing. I’m going to flip again.
(Flips)
And now its heads again. Josh Jones has been a spark off the bench, suddenly becoming a key part of the Jays rotation. Who would have thought we’d be saying that a couple of weeks ago? He’s enthusiastic, and from where I sit it looks like his attitude is contagious. In the three games he’s seen big minutes (sans P’Allen), the Jays have won at Bradley, lost a close game on the road against the hottest team in the league in Drake, and set a school-record for shooting percentage in a win against Evansville. It might be coincidence. Or it might be something else. So we better flip again.
(Flips)
Now it comes up tails. Missouri State is 11-2 at JQH Arena this season with its losses by a combined margin of four points. Saturday is Hall of Fame Night at Missouri State, as six former MSU coaches and student-athletes, including former men ‘s basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour, will be recognized for their achievements during halftime ceremonies, so the crowd will be extra-rowdy. And MSU has reached double-digits in offensive rebounds in eight straight games and 15 total games this season. Over the last eight contests, the Bears have outrebounded seven opponents and grabbed 14.4 offensive boards. Those stats are terrifying, and point towards bad things. I’m not a legit media source though, I’m a fan, and I want to flip again.
(Flips)
Now its heads. Nafis Ricks scored 18 points in the first game in Omaha, with a ton of the points coming on ball screens the Jays either failed to recognize or failed to properly defend. You think that’s correctible with film study and practice? I do. And being a positive guy, I say he’s had his career game against us, and won’t repeat it tonight. Lets flip one more time.
(Flips)
Its heads again! I better quit while we’re ahead.
One Big Paragraph with Lots O’Dots™: The Bears were 11-20 season last year, but Missouri State opened this season with 10 straight wins and takes a 15-8 record into Saturday’s game. They’re 5-7 in the MVC, are tied for eighth place, and own an 11-2 mark at JQH Arena … Sophomore Kyle Weems leads the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game, in rebounding at nearly 6 per game, and in steals with 1.5 per game, while also making 42.2 percent of his three-point shots … Eastern Kentucky transfer Adam Leonard averages 12.8 points per game and has made a team-best 64 three-point shots. Leonard missed all seven shots he took and was scoreless in the teams’ first game in Omaha, but made seven three-pointers and scored a career-high 29 points on Wednesday at Southern Illinois … Jermaine Mallett, a junior swingman, contributes 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game … Missouri State’s five-man junior class (Jehle, Creekmore, Leonard, Mallett, and Ricks) needs just 35 collective points to reach 1,000 for the season … MSU’s bench has outscored opponent reserves in 18 games this season. The Bears are 13-5 in those games … The Bears are 11-0 this season when shooting at a better percentage than their opponents. MSU has fired at a .500 clip or better five times this season (5-0), but just twice in league play … Will Creekmore, who played 23 games last season for the Bears, had 178 points and 14 assists in 2008-09 during his sophomore season. Through 23 games this season, Creekmore has exactly 178 points and 14 assists … The Bears have started the last four games by hitting a three-pointer for their first field goal: once by Kyle Weems and Jermaine Mallett, and twice by Adam Leonard … Adam Leonard now has 64 three-pointers this season which ranks No. 8 on the MSU season list, just 30 shy of the all-time single-season school record (94), set by Johnny Murdock (1992-93) and Blake Ahearn (2006-07) … The Bears lead the MVC in scoring offense at 72.3 points per game, and allow just 66.3 points per contest. MSU shoots 44.5 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from three-point range and 74.2 percent at the line. The Bears also outrebound teams by 2.6 boards per contest.
The Last Time They Played: Creighton escaped with a 76-72 win in Omaha a couple of weeks ago in the first meeting of the year. Creighton hit its final 19 free throw attempts in a back-and-forth game that featured 14 second-half lead changes. The Jays trailed for most of the second half, but tied the game on two free throws by Cavel Witter just before the eight-minute mark, knotting the score at 55-all. The final 6:15 featured 10 lead changes and four ties.
The Series: Creighton has won the last eight meetings to claim a 30-22 lead over Missouri State in the series. Missouri State leads 15-7 in games played in Springfield, but Creighton has won its past three trips and is undefeated in the new JQH Arena.
Creighton has won 23 of the last 30 games with Missouri State, and nine of its last 14 Bluejay wins in the series have been by six points or less. Dana Altman is 25-14 against Missouri State and 3-0 against Cuonzo Martin.
Gratuitous Linkage: Instead of the usual link here, I want to pass along a statistic. Anthony Tolliver had more points/rebounds (78/53) during his 10-day contracts than former Bradley Brave and lottery pick Patrick O’Bryant in TWO YEARS with those same Golden State Warriors (66/50). As if we needed any further proof that O’Bryant was always an inferior player to the A-Train despite the three NCAA Tournament games that made O’Bryant’s reputation, this cements it.
The Totally Random Song I’d Play Right Now if I was Still a Radio DJ: Its time for more Survivor, as we explore the catalog of a band who made their name almost entirely off songs from 80s movies. Today, a video that’s SO cheesy, its almost beyond belief. I miss the days when a wind machine behind a curtain could constitute a set for a music video.
The Pick: The coin says win. And who am I to argue with U.S. Currency?
Jays 74, Missouri State 72