Getting stops...

...is what is making the difference.  Everyone made such a big deal about their struggles shooting early on this season.  I knew their offense would come.

But their failures early this year in and the close losses against DePaul and PC and Nova were all due to failing to get stops in key spots. Giving up 80+ to Youngstown St. Their defense is so much better now.

Think about this.  Creighton is one of the best offensive teams in the country averaging 81 points again..  Yet in two games against SJU they scored 63 and 65, for an average of 64 and 17 below their average for the season.

Bill Raftery said it during the SU game in December if this team commits itself to the defensive end they can be real good.

Let's keep it going...

 Jakarr took a lot of heat early this season for his D, or lack thereof..  Lets give him some credit for digging down and putting on a great defensive effort on McDermott.    Well done

...is what is making the difference.  Everyone made such a big deal about their struggles shooting early on this season.  I knew their offense would come.

But their failures early this year in and the close losses against DePaul and PC and Nova were all due to failing to get stops in key spots. Giving up 80+ to Youngstown St. Their defense is so much better now.

Think about this.  Creighton is one of the best offensive teams in the country averaging 81 points again..  Yet in two games against SJU they scored 63 and 65, for an average of 64 and 17 below their average for the season.

Bill Raftery said it during the SU game in December if this team commits itself to the defensive end they can be real good.

Let's keep it going...

well said, that was the difference tonight!

It has been the difference. But the team has actually been passing the ball on offense too lately.

...is what is making the difference.  Everyone made such a big deal about their struggles shooting early on this season.  I knew their offense would come.

But their failures early this year in and the close losses against DePaul and PC and Nova were all due to failing to get stops in key spots. Giving up 80+ to Youngstown St. Their defense is so much better now.

Think about this.  Creighton is one of the best offensive teams in the country averaging 81 points again..  Yet in two games against SJU they scored 63 and 65, for an average of 64 and 17 below their average for the season.

Bill Raftery said it during the SU game in December if this team commits itself to the defensive end they can be real good.

Let's keep it going...

Yup, I believe Creighton had 59 with about 6 minutes left. Got the big stops down the stretch when we needed them most. Also didn't hurt that Creighton missed a ton of free throws

It has been the difference. But the team has actually been passing the ball on offense too lately.

Yes they seem to be going hand in hand.  Good defense is leading to better offense especially the rhythm on O. But when the second half tonight turned into a bit of a slog SJU got the big stops when they needed it.

Kids are finally getting it at both ends.  The roster has become more weildly, Rysheed's play has surged as has Jakarr's defense and obekpa's offense.  We are going 8 deep and getting contributions from everybody.  Agree, need to keep it up and take care of the rest of our schedule.  We might have played ourselves back in a bit, but have a long way to go to earn an NCAA spot.

Some great strips of the ball by DLo. Rysheed had a nice steal, JaKarr stopped McD's momentum...wow, all we're talking about is D

Everyone is in on those stops. No letdowns on anyone's part. At the end of the game you get the ball underneath the basket at your own risk against us.

Team defense, DLo's reliability in the clutch and Jakarr's phenomenal defense against the best scorer in the country during the last few minutes adds up to a huge win.

Gotta admit I was one of the guys fed up with Jakarr's lack of D earlier this season but he sure turned it up tonight. Good to see he was up to the challenge and wasn't intimidated

Gotta admit I was one of the guys fed up with Jakarr's lack of D earlier this season but he sure turned it up tonight. Good to see he was up to the challenge and wasn't intimidated

 What it proves is that he isn't a bad defensive player, which is what I thought, he just needs to make that a focus of his game.

Quote from: goredmen on February 09, 2014, 10:06:37 PM

Gotta admit I was one of the guys fed up with Jakarr's lack of D earlier this season but he sure turned it up tonight. Good to see he was up to the challenge and wasn't intimidated

 What it proves is that he isn't a bad defensive player, which is what I thought, he just needs to make that a focus of his game.

He has all the physical tools to be a great defender, he just didn't seem to have a good grasp on positioning and help side responsibilities. He's definitely getting there though

Quote from: goredmen on February 09, 2014, 10:06:37 PM

Gotta admit I was one of the guys fed up with Jakarr's lack of D earlier this season but he sure turned it up tonight. Good to see he was up to the challenge and wasn't intimidated

 What it proves is that he isn't a bad defensive player, which is what I thought, he just needs to make that a focus of his game.

Very very good D, despite getting no help from the refs.     I was impressed by Jakarr's focus, he never wavered.  He was tight on McDermott the whole game. 

Quote from: goredmen on February 09, 2014, 10:06:37 PM

Gotta admit I was one of the guys fed up with Jakarr's lack of D earlier this season but he sure turned it up tonight. Good to see he was up to the challenge and wasn't intimidated

 What it proves is that he isn't a bad defensive player, which is what I thought, he just needs to make that a focus of his game.

My view exactly. And believe it or not I think the fact that he had to focus 100% on McDermott helped him. I think he gets lost when he worries about help defense and the like. GREAT job by him tonight.

Jakarr took a lot of heat early this season for his D, or lack thereof..  Lets give him some credit for digging down and putting on a great defensive effort on McDermott.    Well done

+1 and McD is a very tough cover. karr was wearing his jersey for the last 8 minutes! Great Job!

Defense certainly keys this season, but let's not reduce it too much.  Getting stop has not been the only major problem...the offense has gone through some terrible droughts late in games.

The offense has been impressive.  Look at our assist totals during the winning steak.  They will never be a skilled, crazy high-scoring offense, but they have been playing like a very smart and prepared team of late on the offensive end.  They clearly have matchups/situations they want to exploit coming into the last few games and there have been some advanced things going on.  I think Whitesell's influence if finally being felt. 

Defense certainly keys this season, but let's not reduce it too much.  Getting stop has not been the only major problem...the offense has gone through some terrible droughts late in games.

The offense has been impressive.  Look at our assist totals during the winning steak.  They will never be a skilled, crazy high-scoring offense, but they have been playing like a very smart and prepared team of late on the offensive end.  They clearly have matchups/situations they want to exploit coming into the last few games and there have been some advanced things going on.  I think Whitesell's influence if finally being felt. 

It is not overdoing it.  Butler led SJU 25-15 and was shooting the lights out early in that game.  I think there were what 8-9 minutes to go?  Butler scored 27 points THE REST OF THE WAY...

Marquette was shut down and scored 59 including some meaningless baskets.

Creighton was held 17 points below their average.

Meanwhile they give up 77 points to DePaul.  So 52 points to Butler and 64 points to Creighton and 77 points to DePaul?? 

there have been some advanced things going on.  I think Whitesell's influence if finally being felt. 

I wonder if this is not the case. I think he's the big man coach as well, which might explain Obekpa's sudden improvement.  I noticed last night during the double TO at game's end that Hines had the whiteboard, not Lavin. I wonder if Lavin has figured out that the less coaching he does the better off the team is.

Karr played D last night with a purpose.  I never saw that from him before.  Never.  He usually coasts and gets by on his athleticism.  Last night there was a fire especially defensively that I've never seen out of him before.

Quote from: Marillac on February 10, 2014, 06:37:43 AM

Defense certainly keys this season, but let's not reduce it too much.  Getting stop has not been the only major problem...the offense has gone through some terrible droughts late in games.

The offense has been impressive.  Look at our assist totals during the winning steak.  They will never be a skilled, crazy high-scoring offense, but they have been playing like a very smart and prepared team of late on the offensive end.  They clearly have matchups/situations they want to exploit coming into the last few games and there have been some advanced things going on.  I think Whitesell's influence if finally being felt. 

It is not overdoing it.  Butler led SJU 25-15 and was shooting the lights out early in that game.  I think there were what 8-9 minutes to go?  Butler scored 27 points THE REST OF THE WAY...

Marquette was shut down and scored 59 including some meaningless baskets.

Creighton was held 17 points below their average.

Meanwhile they give up 77 points to DePaul.  So 52 points to Butler and 64 points to Creighton and 77 points to DePaul??

Depaul plays at a much faster pace.   They avg more possessions than anyone in the conference.   
The defense was good last night, but Marillac is correct that for most of this year our struggles have been when the offense stalls for 5, 6, 7 mins or more at a time.