Steve Pivovar of the Omaha World-Herald called Saturday to ask if I had called the Creighton Bluejays “soft” in a recent story. I did not remember writing that word. I picked the Bluejays first in the MVC, as did everyone else, and remembered pointing out their depth, their talented guards and their inexperienced big men.
Steve said Bluejay coaches found a story insulting their team’s toughness. They showed it to the team and put the article up in the locker room. He was trying to track down the source. I told him it was not me. Steve’s story before Creighton’s game against New Mexico described the Jays taking offense. P’Allen Stinnett called it a “low blow.”
Turns out, it was me. I guess. Here is a paragraph from my MVC preview story that ran earlier this month:
Many of the people – players and coaches – who made that three-season run possible are gone. Outside of Drake, parity marked the MVC race in 2008 and traditional front-runners Creighton and Southern Illinois turned soft. Only Illinois State made a case for an at-large bid, and few took the Redbirds seriously after a 30-point loss to Drake in the MVC Tournament.
Inspired by those words, the Bluejays rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to beat New Mexico on Sunday. I am thrilled to help the MVC with big non-conference victories. I am sure Chris Lowery is taping that same article on the Madison Square Garden locker room right now.
Valley fans, if you would like me to insult your favorite team, email psuellentrop@wichitaeagle.com with your preferred line of attack.
Game tonight:
UMKC feels good after its performance at KU.
The new three-point distance is no big deal in Iowa.
Wake up Walt Frazier: SIU is playing the Garden again.
Drake plays Morehead State. Mark Phelps took over the MVC’s toughest job and it won’t get any easier if the Bulldogs lose tonight. Northern Iowa plays at Illinois-Chicago.
Former Shocker Sean Ogirri says the talent at Wyoming is better than WSU’s Sweet 16 team in 2006.
Creighton’s P’Allen Stinnet says teammate Josh Dotzler is sick, or something.