I’ve seen it before. The cold, the wind, and the snow. If it had been a day during the week, schools might have closed and local activities would probably have been canceled. But it wasn’t a school day and many stayed bundled in their homes refusing to go outside. However, in college athletics, if the teams are there and the venue is temperature controlled, then there is pretty much no reason a game will be canceled whether fans can make it there or not. I was one of those who braved the blizzard like conditions to get to the game. I parked downtown which felt like a mistake initially. Fighting the wind in my face, tromping through a couple snow drifts and almost literally blown off the curb on 10th and Capital, I made it into the Qwest Center. And I was amazed at how many other true blue fans there were out there.
Saturday night was and end of an era. It was the last game before Greg Echenique joins the team to play some games starting NEXT Saturday night amongst the large expectations placed on him. It’s possible that the situation juiced up others for the game against St. Joseph’s. Whatever the case, the Bluejays looked a little different Saturday night and probably played their most complete game of the season in their 82-75 victory.
Kenny Lawson hit a three pointer and a block to start things off for the Bluejays. After that, things seemed to slow down for Creighton as a few missed shots and some missed opportunities had St. Joseph’s starting off with an early 12 point lead in the first ten minutes of the game. However, Lawson seemed to be involved in every play, whether it was scoring a basket, getting a rebound or a blocked shot. He basically demanded the ball on defense and the next thing you know, the Bluejays were back in the game and went to the half with a 38-36 lead. Lawson had 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and an assist. The Lawson that people have been waiting for to emerge this season was on fire with the Bluejays having the momentum.
Doug McDermott came into the game with four weeks of MVC Newcomer of the Week honors and scoring in double-figures in each game he has played in to start his career Creighton Otter had some great insight on McDermott and his historic start, but it appeared that St. Joseph’s watched some film and read the scouting report. They effectively shut down McDermott and put him into some situations where he looked like a freshman. The Hawks had their way with him and were set on stopping him. McDermott finished scoreless and only played 19 minutes. What they didn’t expect was the explosion of Ethan Wragge.
Wragge was inserted for McDermott within the first four minutes of the second half with the game going back and forth and tied at 40. With some foot problems at the beginning of the season, which he is still somewhat fighting through, Ethan has been playing more minutes recently. After starting abysmal from his normal three-point spot on the floor through the first few game appearances, his shot has been coming back and he has been looking more comfortable on the court going 3-of-9 against BYU and Nebraska. The Hawks got the scouting report on Wragge, but didn’t figure he would put everything back together in one evening. In a span of 2:54, Wragge hit four three-pointers in five possessions and also assisted on a three-pointer by Kaleb Korver in the other possession to force St. Joseph’s for a time out.
Nothing against Dana Altman, but after that stretch, it would have been likely Ethan would have been taken out of the game. But with Greg McDermott at the helm, he kept with Wragge and his teammates worked hard to find the hot hand. Wragge then hit another couple of three’s before missing a couple “heat-check” shots and the Bluejays were out to their own 10 points lead. The sharpshooter finished with a career high 22 points and has quickly re-established himself as the marksman from outside the arc.
Lawson continued on his torrid pace to finish the night with 30 points and 18 rebounds, career highs in both statistics. The last time a performance like that happened with a Creighton player was a 32 and 18 effort by Gregory Brandon back in 1983. Lawson’s 18 rebounds was the best effort since Bob Harstad had 20 against Southern Illinois in 1989. On the night that Harstad’s jersey was retired, flashes of Harstad were apparent in Kenny Lawson’s performance. This was a statement game from Lawson about his role once Echenique hits the court next weekend.
Lost in the amazing nights by those two were the solid efforts of Antoine Young who had 17 points and 5 assists. His assist number seems low because he seemed to keep finding the open players on the court and knew when to dish it and take the points for himself. Korver also had 6 assists. In all, 17 assists on 27 baskets is phenomenal.
The performances from Saturday night had to leave Creighton fans with a little more excitement and expectations heading into next weekend. It definitely made it a lot easier to brave the elements back to my car for the drive home.