When last we saw Houston Baptist, they were a provisional member of Division 1 (in their first year) and thus didn’t register an RPI. That was in December of 2007, and the Huskies were in the midst of an epic 18-game road trip. The RPI-less Huskies allowed Creighton to score 61 second-half points in a 110-73 win.
This time around, they’re no longer a provisional member of D1, so they actually have an RPI. Trust me, this is not a good thing, as there is no worse team in America based on that statistic. They’re 1-11, with their only win coming against Fairleigh-Dickinson. They shoot just 38% from the floor, 24% from behind the arc, they turn it over 17 times a game and get outrebounded by 3. Surprisingly, those are all better numbers than Savannah State, but a strength of schedule that is in the bottom five nationally makes most of those numbers tough to put much stock in.
Make no mistake: this team is just as brutal as the Tigers were last week, but have not played near the schedule. In fact, despite playing seven of their first 11 games on the road, they’re played in front of more than 2,500 fans just once. This is their home gym, the aptly named Sharp Gymnasium:
As it was last week against Savannah State, this game is more about the Jays than it is about their opponent. Barring a catastrophe, the Jays are going to win. This is a game to get some confidence, get a win, and get ready for MVC play. The season hasn’t gone how any of us hoped so far, but the second half starts next Tuesday with the conference opener against UNI. A healthy win tonight could jump-start a run through the Valley. They should win by a similar margin to the game two years ago, but margin of victory is less important than how they get there: solid defense, rebounding and effort for 40 minutes. Lets hope to see all three. (And yes, I know we’ve yet to see that all year, but a man can hope, can’t he?)
Oh, and did I mention Wendell Preadom, former Wichita State Shocker, plays for Houston Baptist now? Preadom played six times against Creighton, including three times in Omaha where he was 2-14 from the field, 0-4 from three-point range and had six rebounds, four points, three assists, 11 turnovers and one steal in 84 minutes. His Shocker teams went 2-4 against Creighton. So if you can’t get excited for the Huskies being in town, at least come down and root against the former Shocker. You bet.
One Big Paragraph with Lots O’Dots™: Houston Baptist was an NCAA Tournament team in 1984, an impressive feat because the tourney had yet to expand to 64 teams. That team was coached by Gene Iba, the nephew of legendary Henry Iba. However, they dropped to NAIA status in 1991 and just returned to D1 in 2007 … The Huskies first year of men’s basketball was in 1963, and they have fielded a team all but three years since then, compiling a 673-581 record in both D1 and NAIA … Head Coach Ron Cottrell took over the program in 1991 when they moved to NAIA after a two-year span where they did not have a team. He owns a 380-218 record in those 19 years, which also doubles as his career mark … According to Rob Anderson in the CU Sports office, the teams flew from Phoenix to Omaha on the same full Southwest Airlines flight, leaving many Creighton players/staffers sitting next to Houston Baptist players/staffers, and vice versa … Andrew Gonzalez leads the Huskies, averaging 16 points per game while leading the club with 12 three-point baskets. Wichita State transfer Wendell Preadom scores 12.7 per contest, and Mario Flaherty scores 12.1 per game … The Huskies are a first-year member of the Great West Conference, which quite honestly includes two schools I’ve never heard of: New Jersey Tech and Utah Valley State. The rest of the league is comprised of North Dakota, South Dakota, Chicago State, and Texas Pan American. Interesting mix.
The Last Time They Played: Creighton won 110-73 in a game in which they opened the second half with a 31-8 run before the starters were given the rest of the night off. They led 49-37 at halftime after a lethargic first half, but sensed it was unacceptable and made it right after the break.
Last-Minute Shopping Ideas: These are actual items from actual Omaha-area stores, discovered and photographed during my Christmas shopping this year.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Nebraska Basketball Snuggie! Sure to keep you warm through all those competitive Big XII games this winter. Found at the Furniture Mart Electronics store.
A Wichita State golf bag! No further comment necessary. Found at Scheel’s.
Seriously, this is a real shirt. I may be little, but I’m a BIG Saluki fan! Niiiiice. Found at TJ Maxx.
Gratuitous Linkage: The Secret Santa game is not something I’m fond of. One year, I got a Neil Diamond Christmas album. Another year, I got a chess board with shot glasses for game pieces. Another year, I got a Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD. I would not buy any of these things for anyone I know, much less myself. Somehow, this terrible, awful, no-good very-bad holiday song-slash-video manages to be worse than the game it purports to laugh at. That’s hard to do.
Official Gametime Snack: Mini Donuts! Mini Donuts! Mini Donuts!
The Totally Random Song I’d Play Right Now if I was Still a Radio DJ: Apparently there’s a big winter storm coming that’s going to prevent everyone from traveling to their families this week. Or at least, attempt to prevent. The weather forecasters have told me this, in an overly excited tone. Do they not realize that everyone who’s not a meteorologist hates bad weather, does not find it amusing and certainly doesn’t find it exciting? I half expect them to invent some terminology to make it sound even more intense, like a “snownami” or something. Actually, don’t give them any ideas.
Here’s hoping you can ride the storm out and make it home safe to your family this week. REO Speedwagon’s 70’s classic provides the soundtrack.
Prediction: Two years ago, Creighton hung 110 points on Houston Baptist. I’d love to see that sustained an effort tonight, but I don’t think we’ll see it.
Jays 93, Houston Baptist 77