Creighton

[bleedXblue]

I recall several posters a few years back railing on Creighton and writing them off after Doug McDermott left.

I wonder what they have to say now?

Damn glad they are part of our league!

[xudash]

I recall several posters a few years back railing on Creighton and writing them off after Doug McDermott left.

I wonder what they have to say now?

Damn glad they are part of our league!

+1

[X-Fan]

They looked really good closing out that game. Very Impressed!

[Strange Brew]

Damn glad they are part of our league!

Yeah, we need the dudes! :)

Great win by a fine Jesuit institution. Now what to do about the heathens in Indy....

[Emp]

McDermott finds players for his style and coaches the hell out of them. And he's got bodies to go with the shooting this season.

[xufan2434]

He's been recruiting well since his son left. Just needed some time for those guys to develop. They are going to be a tough out all year long.

Our game in Omaha is going to be nuts

[Muskie]

I recall several posters a few years back railing on Creighton and writing them off after Doug McDermott left.

I wonder what they have to say now?

Damn glad they are part of our league!

I think I was under the impression that they would struggle for a season or two after losing a player of McDermott's caliber. Creighton has a history was before DD was on campus. I'm probably not the person you were talking about though.

I watched a little bit of the game last night. Creighton looked very competitive. Watson Jr. is a very good PG.

[muskiefan82]

Creighton has always been solid. They just haven't had that "run" that would have made them a huge name. They are, in my opinion, much like X was before 2004. Good, solid, a tough out, and ridiculous at home. Dangerous. Clearly, the Big East saw their recent history as well when they invited them. That's a good program with a great coach. I still find it odd to be in a conference where, frankly, I actually LIKE the other teams for the most part. I enjoy Villanova and Creighton and Providence. Any BE team can put it together to beat you. The competition is so much better. I am not a huge fan of JTIII, but I don't have the GTown hatred that I had for UD. The only team I don't care much for is Butler, but that's more from recent history than anything to do with basketball (they are a good team with recent, significant success). I suppose I should have some anger towards Marquette with the way they abandoned the MCC years ago, but it worked for them and, in the end, it worked out for X too. I don't get too excited for DePaul, but in the end, DePaul is still a better team on the schedule than the A-10 bottom feeders. The Big East is why we're flirting with the top 10 again and when the other teams are in it to win it, it makes everything better. Villanova cutting down the nets was exactly what I wanted once X was upset. I can't imagine having the same reaction to any other team in the A-10 winning it all before X. I can't. It would have been awful. It's strange to have that "If it ain't X, then I'm glad it's one of us" attitude AND it feels like the other conference teams and fans support the other teams. I love this conference!

Sorry if this went a little OT, but excellent showing Creighton. Wish this had been Wiscy's second consecutive Big East loss, though.

[xufan2434]

Creighton has always been solid. They just haven't had that "run" that would have made them a huge name. They are, in my opinion, much like X was before 2004. Good, solid, a tough out, and ridiculous at home. Dangerous. Clearly, the Big East saw their recent history as well when they invited them. That's a good program with a great coach. I still find it odd to be in a conference where, frankly, I actually LIKE the other teams for the most part. I enjoy Villanova and Creighton and Providence. Any BE team can put it together to beat you. The competition is so much better. I am not a huge fan of JTIII, but I don't have the GTown hatred that I had for UD. The only team I don't care much for is Butler, but that's more from recent history than anything to do with basketball (they are a good team with recent, significant success). I suppose I should have some anger towards Marquette with the way they abandoned the MCC years ago, but it worked for them and, in the end, it worked out for X too. I don't get too excited for DePaul, but in the end, DePaul is still a better team on the schedule than the A-10 bottom feeders. The Big East is why we're flirting with the top 10 again and when the other teams are in it to win it, it makes everything better. Villanova cutting down the nets was exactly what I wanted once X was upset. I can't imagine having the same reaction to any other team in the A-10 winning it all before X. I can't. It would have been awful. It's strange to have that "If it ain't X, then I'm glad it's one of us" attitude AND it feels like the other conference teams and fans support the other teams. I love this conference!

Sorry if this went a little OT, but excellent showing Creighton. Wish this had been Wiscy's second consecutive Big East loss, though.

Could not agree more with everything that was said. And I think that collective attitude most BE fans have is because of the blatant disrespect most of the conference got when it was forged. There's definitely people who still whine about the Old BE but that number goes down more and more every year. I love rooting for the other BE teams in the non-conference and honestly the last couple years the conference has been kicking ass the first couple of months. Which is why we are where we are. Last night just another example

[X-band '01]

Creighton fans (on the Interwebs, anyway) actually do consider Xavier one of their rivals and were not afraid to be vocal in years when Xavier would not play them out-of-conference. Butler is the only other Big East program that I know of that has any hatred and/or contempt for Xavier right now.

[Xavier]

I know this isn't the point- but man, I have never been so disappointed in a non Xavier tournament loss than when Doug McDermot lost. I really thought they could win it all that season. Obviously, I didn't care too much- but I was rooting for them.

[xudash]

Creighton has always been solid. They just haven't had that "run" that would have made them a huge name. They are, in my opinion, much like X was before 2004. Good, solid, a tough out, and ridiculous at home. Dangerous. Clearly, the Big East saw their recent history as well when they invited them. That's a good program with a great coach. I still find it odd to be in a conference where, frankly, I actually LIKE the other teams for the most part. I enjoy Villanova and Creighton and Providence. Any BE team can put it together to beat you. The competition is so much better. I am not a huge fan of JTIII, but I don't have the GTown hatred that I had for UD. The only team I don't care much for is Butler, but that's more from recent history than anything to do with basketball (they are a good team with recent, significant success). I suppose I should have some anger towards Marquette with the way they abandoned the MCC years ago, but it worked for them and, in the end, it worked out for X too. I don't get too excited for DePaul, but in the end, DePaul is still a better team on the schedule than the A-10 bottom feeders. The Big East is why we're flirting with the top 10 again and when the other teams are in it to win it, it makes everything better. Villanova cutting down the nets was exactly what I wanted once X was upset. I can't imagine having the same reaction to any other team in the A-10 winning it all before X. I can't. It would have been awful. It's strange to have that "If it ain't X, then I'm glad it's one of us" attitude AND it feels like the other conference teams and fans support the other teams. I love this conference!

Sorry if this went a little OT, but excellent showing Creighton. Wish this had been Wiscy's second consecutive Big East loss, though.

Excellent post. Agree with everything you wrote.

I'm watching other BE games during the season; watched both Gavitt games last night (damn Georgetown!). I would never watch an A10 game that didn't involve Xavier.

Like most here, I like all the BE teams - well, I tolerate Butler - and cheer for them during OOC and the Tournament.

I believe the thing with the A10 is that it never achieved and will never achieve the status of a major conference. The teams in it are constantly fighting within a contained box that is perceived to be mid majorville. We couldn't "afford" to have a team break out and go ahead of us when we were in the A10. We still have to do what we have to do to achieve success at the highest level, but we're simply operating within a much stronger brand now and therefore have no reason to suffer through some of the insecurities that come with an A10 membership.

[XUMIOH12]

Creighton fans (on the Interwebs, anyway) actually do consider Xavier one of their rivals and were not afraid to be vocal in years when Xavier would not play them out-of-conference. Butler is the only other Big East program that I know of that has any hatred and/or contempt for Xavier right now.

apparently its pretty one-sided with Creighton haha

[birdman71]

Creighton fans (on the Interwebs, anyway) actually do consider Xavier one of their rivals and were not afraid to be vocal in years when Xavier would not play them out-of-conference. Butler is the only other Big East program that I know of that has any hatred and/or contempt for Xavier right now.

I remember Creighton beating us at the buzzer in the Gardens on a 3 in the season when the college 3 began. Ouch!!!!
Did I make that up? No. I'm sure it happened!

[muskiefan82]

I remember Creighton beating us at the buzzer in the Gardens on a 3 in the season when the college 3 began. Ouch!!!!
Did I make that up? No. I'm sure it happened!

I remember. I remember walking out of the Gardens and saying it would have been a tie last year and hating the 3 pointer at that point. I got over it later that year with the win over Missouri in the NCAA Tournament.

[xubrew]

I recall several posters a few years back railing on Creighton and writing them off after Doug McDermott left.

I wonder what they have to say now?

Damn glad they are part of our league!

I feel the same. If anything, my feeling is "Well, here we go again!"

Two years ago, Creighton was in the Top 25 in November after a big home win against Oklahoma (I think), and people were talking about how great they were and how they were able to rebuild.

It's not like we've never seen this from McDermott before. We've seen it many many many times before. It isn't that I don't like him. It's that I've believed in him before and have been burned. He had Northern Iowa ranked in the teens a couple of times. He had Iowa State ranked really high a time or two. In November his teams are great. In December his teams are great. In January his teams are great. For the first two weeks of February his teams are great. Once the second half of conference play begins, they slide. It's happened before. It's happened many times before. His opponents adjust to him, and he does not adjust to them. And the Big East is just a little bit better than the Missouri Valley.

This is not unexpected. I wouldn't be surprised if Creighton cracked the top ten at some point. I don't they'll be there in the end, though. If they are, then good for them and good for him. But, we've seen this before. So, I feel the same now as I did before. I will continue to think he struggles in the latter part of the season after teams have made adjustments until he stops struggling in the latter part of the season after teams have made adjustments.

[sirthought]

I believe the thing with the A10 is that it never achieved and will never achieve the status of a major conference. The teams in it are constantly fighting within a contained box that is perceived to be mid majorville. We couldn't "afford" to have a team break out and go ahead of us when we were in the A10. We still have to do what we have to do to achieve success at the highest level, but we're simply operating within a much stronger brand now and therefore have no reason to suffer through some of the insecurities that come with an A10 membership.

I'm not sure how far back your college hoops awareness is, but before X joined the A10 that conference was considered one of the better conferences in the nation. UMASS, Rhode Island, Temple, Penn State, W.Va.…those were all high production programs for a while. Marcus Camby, Marc Jackson, Lamar Odom, Tyson Wheeler, Rick Brunson, Eddie Jones, Lou Roe, Aaron McKie...there were some big time players in the conference.

Once X joined the conference, due to schools like Rutgers, W.Va., and Penn State jumping ship, the remaining programs took a turn towards mediocrity. Jim Harrick left, John Calipari left, John Chaney became a stubborn fool. It would have been hard to see in the mid 90s that XU wouldn't want to be in the A10.

It really was the failure of the A10 to not get better TV contracts and facilities that swayed better coaches and players towards other conferences.

[SC in DC]

Agree, love the BE and ALWAYS want the other teams to win out of conf. And like someone said it's because the league was marginalized when the fball schools left and ESPN and Jay Bilas showed us no respect.

[SC in DC]

Plus, (sorry had to run out to store) perception is reality to the casual fan and Nova had gone out early in the Dance in the two prior years, even tho we know they had a really good team (much like X last yr!) so the new BE sucked. And, when Nova shot 2-200 from 3 last yr and lost by like 30 to Oklahoma, Gottlieb or some tool on ESPN said that the BE wash't really a big boy league anymore. We would all perish if we had to play in a real league! So GREAT satisfaction when Nova went thru Oklahoma AND Kansas last yr. Not sure what Gottberg had to say about that, but sure helped change the leagues perception to the unbiased fan. Just like the Bluejays win last night.

[xudash]

I'm not sure how far back your college hoops awareness is, but before X joined the A10 that conference was considered one of the better conferences in the nation. UMASS, Rhode Island, Temple, Penn State, W.Va.…those were all high production programs for a while. Marcus Camby, Marc Jackson, Lamar Odom, Tyson Wheeler, Rick Brunson, Eddie Jones, Lou Roe, Aaron McKie...there were some big time players in the conference.

Once X joined the conference, due to schools like Rutgers, W.Va., and Penn State jumping ship, the remaining programs took a turn towards mediocrity. Jim Harrick left, John Calipari left, John Chaney became a stubborn fool. It would have been hard to see in the mid 90s that XU wouldn't want to be in the A10.

It really was the failure of the A10 to not get better TV contracts and facilities that swayed better coaches and players towards other conferences.

I graduated from Xavier in 1978, so I go way back.

I Gatch and agree with everything that you wrote. But my point is based on relativity. You are right: there was a point where the A-10-even with Xavier is part of it-was beginning to compete against the BIG EAST. But it simply wasn't sustainable.

Anyway you look at it, as far as today is concerned, that conference is a shell of its former self. And even when Xavier was a part of it towards the end, it was Xavier and Temple, primarily, propping it up.

[MADXSTER]

When Xavier left the MCC, the MCC was ranked as the 17th best conference in the country. The A10 was always ranked between 7 - 10. It was a major step up.

[ReturnOfTheMack]

Agree, love the BE and ALWAYS want the other teams to win out of conf. And like someone said it's because the league was marginalized when the fball schools left and ESPN and Jay Bilas showed us no respect.

I think you're confusing Jay Bilas with Doug (got your credit card) Gottlieb. I'm sure you could probably cite a couple of on-air examples of perceived slights of the Big East by Bilas but unfortunately those "opinions" are often shaped by the narrative that ESPN wanted to push. Bilas was the keynote speaker at the Moeller sports stag last year and was GLOWING about the Big East. He mentioned how refreshing it was for an entity to take control of their own fate and not be beholden to the power brokers in college football. He acknowledged that the Big East may not have quite the cache of the "old Big East", and honestly it doesn't, but it is as competitive from top to bottom as any league in the country.

[XUMIOH12]

i cant stand gottlieb, i genuinely hate listening to him

[GoMuskies]

When Xavier left the MCC, the MCC was ranked as the 17th best conference in the country. The A10 was always ranked between 7 - 10. It was a major step up.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the step up from the MCC to the A-10 was much, much (MUCH) greater than the step up from the A-10 to the Big East.

[xubrew]

Creighton has been way last crappy that Georgetown for the past year and a week. I will give them that.

[American X]

Creighton's offensive numbers are insane:

PPG 91.6
Scoring Margin +20.5
FG% 54.4
3PT FG% 44.8
APG 18.9

Maurice Watson averages 9.1 assists per game. 9.1! In college!

[X Factor]

That Creighton v Nova game in Omaha on New Year's Eve is going to be nuts! Will definitely be watching that game. Those Creighton fans, all 17,000 of them, will be going crazy.

[American X]

Enquirer Sneak Peak At Creighton (http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/2017/01/12/creighton-visit-xavier-off-best-start-ever/96500994/)