Saturday, Creighton not only picked up a win, but came from 16 points down to do so. It was the second comeback from double-digits down in a victory this season (the other was at home against UAB), and their eighth in the last two seasons. Impressively, five of those comebacks have come away from home. The hope, of course, is that this comeback gives Creighton some much-needed confidence down the home stretch.
They’ll need it because tonight’s opponent is one of the most confident — if not one of the hottest — teams in the league. Yes, Southern Illinois is 11-15 and 4-11 in the MVC and in last place, but Barry Hinson has them playing their best basketball of the season; after starting 1-10 in conference play, in its last four games, SIU has defeated Wichita State, Evansville and Missouri State while losing by one in the final seconds at Indiana State.
The first meeting was an 81-51 pasting on national TV, but it’s unclear what exactly can be gleaned from that game. Jeff Early, who averages 11.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and has led the Salukis in scoring each of the last two games, was suspended for that first meeting. Without their leading rebounder and most furious defender, the Jays destroyed SIU on the boards, 39-19, dominated the paint, 34-20, and won the battle of 2nd chance points 13-3. The Jays also shot 12-20 from behind the arc, including 5-7 in the decisive first half.
Will any of those things hold true in the rematch? In winning three of four, SIU has ratcheted up their defense, giving up an average of ten fewer points than they had in the 22 games before that. They’ve also crashed the boards with more success, outrebounding two of their last three opponents and playing to a tie in the other. They remain an undersized team with a talent deficiency compared to the elite teams in the league — their tallest regulars are a pair of 6’5″ players in Desmar Jackson and Dantiel Daniels — but by out-hustling opponents, they’ve had some success.
That’s not to say they don’t have dangerous players. Jackson, a transfer from Wyoming, leads the Salukis in scoring (15.4 points per game), steals (48, 1.8 per game) and three-pointers (33-106, 31%). He scored 16 points on 6-13 shooting, including 3-6 from long range, in the first meeting, and scored the first four points of the game. Early is just 6’1″, but is terrific at getting position for rebounds and averages 2.6 offensive rebounds a game (and 7.3 overall). Freshman Anthony Beane, Jr. has steadily improved over the course of the season, and now averages 9.5 points and 1.1 steals a game, providing a spark off the bench.
Creighton hasn’t had many three-game losing streaks over the past two decades, so the fact that they’ve lost games No. 24, 25 and 26 each of the last two years is a prop bet that would make even the most irresponsible bettor sweat. Seriously, how crazy is it that the three-game losing streaks the last two years both occurred in the same games, numerically? Losing three straight has cost them a spot in the polls, dropped them in the RPI, and made some pundits reconsider their NCAA Tournament prognosis. But it’s worth remembering the way last year’s team ended their season following the exact same three-game losing streak in the exact same three games.
The 2011-12 team snapped their three-game losing streak with a big win on the road (88-69 at Southern Illinois), followed that with a crucial BracketBusters win vs. a team from California (Long Beach State), would win its final two regular-season games, and win the MVC Tournament.
This year? They snapped their three-game losing streak with a big win on the road, and hope to get another win at home before a crucial BracketBusters game vs. a team from California (St. Mary’s), followed by the last two regular-season games. Sometimes, history repeating itself is painful, as in the case of the three-game losing streak. Sometimes, history repeating itself is OK; win out and this little losing streak will be merely a speedbump, not a barricade, on the road to March Madness.
Catching Up with the Salukis: The Salukis are 3-10 on the road this season and are winless in seven Valley road tilts … The Salukis score 64.0 points per game and yield 65.8 per contest … The Salukis shoot 44.5 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from long-range … Only 11 men in MVC history have been a head coach at different league schools, including both Greg McDermott (CU/Northern Iowa) and new SIU coach Barry Hinson (SIU/Missouri State). Before McDermott rejoined the MVC in 2010, he was the first man since Ken Hayes in 1975 to do the rare double.
One Big Paragraph with Lots O’Dots™: Gregory Echenique owns 249 career blocked shots (155 at Creighton), putting him one shy of 250 … Creighton is a perfect 62-0 at CenturyLink Center Omaha against teams that enter with a winning percentage of .500 or worse. Overall, Creighton has won 72 straight home games against teams that are .500 or worse, dating to a Feb. 25, 2002 loss to Drake on the final night of the regular-season. That setback cost the Jays an outright MVC title … Since February of 2000, Creighton has suffered consecutive home losses just twice, as it fell to Kent State and Wyoming in 2004 and last season it fell to Missouri State and Wichita State in consecutive home games … Since 2000 Creighton owns four MVC wins by 30 points or more, including an 81-51 win at Southern Illinois on Jan. 27th; each of the previous three times the Jays won by 30 or more, it lost the rematch later that same season. The last time Creighton beat a team by 30 or more, then beat the same team later that same season came in 1999-00.
The RUN-DMD Show: Doug McDermott owns a double-double in each of his last three games and now is tied for second in the MVC with eight double-dips on the season. McDermott has had three straight double-doubles once before, doing it early last season when he had four consecutive in non-conference play. Before McDermott’s run last season, no Bluejay had compiled three consecutive double-doubles since Nate King had four in a row in 1993-94.
The Last Time They Played: On January 27 in Carbondale, Creighton beat SIU 81-51, as Gregory Echenique and Doug McDermott both had double-doubles. Echenique finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while McDermott had 21 points and 10 rebounds on 9-for-13 shooting. The Jays held a 43-25 halftime edge, after shooting 73.9 percent in the first half, paced by 7-of-8 marksmanship from McDermott, who had 16 points by the break. Echenique added eight points and eight rebounds by the break. SIU was paced by 12 points at half from Jackson, but he did not score in the final 8:30 of the period. Creighton scored the first nine points of the second half and was never seriously threatened after the break.
The Series: Creighton owns a 52-36 all-time lead in the series against Southern Illinois, including a 27-14 mark in Omaha. Creighton has won the last 10 meetings and 11 of 12 since an eight-game losing streak to Southern Illinois was snapped in 2007.
Greg McDermott is 9-7 against Southern Illinois (5-0 as CU coach) and 7-7 vs. Barry Hinson. Hinson is 8-17 against Creighton all-time.
Gratuitous Linkage: Jason Parini of Bleacher Report (I know, but this is not a slideshow, I promise!) runs down Barry Hinson’s first year in Carbondale, and provides a good glimpse of the optimism their fans have that SIU is back on the rise.
This Date in Creighton Hoops History: On February 19, 2003, a 15-2 run to open the second half helped extend a 36-27 halftime lead and propel #17 Creighton to a 77-54 rout of visiting Indiana State before a rowdy crowd of 8,740 fans at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Kyle Korver led Creighton with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists while adding a pair of three-point baskets. Larry House finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while Brody Deren contributed 12 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
Completely Random, Totally Rad Music Video of the Day: Lenny Kravitz and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones? Yes please.
The Bottom Line: The $1 beers and/or sodas make the fans extra brave and/or caffeinated. Creighton continues getting back on track. Everybody (except the few fans decked out in maroon) leaves the arena happy. Free pizza is enjoyed later this week.
Creighton 78, SIU 68
