11.01.2009 / Here Come the Jays! From the Creighton Athletic Office, The Voice of Billy Bluejay
The long off-season is finally about to end and we are geared up to talk about this years Bluejays. We have had an opportunity to view the team the past two weekends in open practices. This Wednesday will be the first time the team will work as a single unit against another opponent, as the Griffons of Missouri Western State University come in for the first exhibition game of the year.
Missouri Western was 14-16 last year in Division II and was 8th place in the preseason media poll for the MIAA conference, the same league in which Nebraska-Omaha now competes. However, the biggest question for the exhibition season is not about the nature of the opponent, but how the Jays are able to come together as a team, as well as how individual players are able to settle into the roles that will be expected of them as the season progresses.
Creighton will go into the season needing to replace two starting guards, with the graduation of four-year starter Josh Dotzler at point, and the reigning MVC Player of the Year, Booker Woodfox, at the off-guard spot. Dotzler was the sort of gritty and cerebral player that head coach Dana Altman loves. He knew the offensive sets in his sleep and could lock his man down on defense. Woodfox was a scoring machine; someone who was never afraid to take the tough shot. Also, Creighton will need to continue to show progress on the glass, as the Jays were outrebounded by their opponents last season by about 3.5 boards a game. Center Kenny Lawson returns as an upperclassman and will be looked upon to take on more playing time as the season goes along. With the departure of his primary backup Kenton Walker, and with Chad Millard starting the year out with a foot injury, Lawson will need to take up some of the slack.
It will be interesting to watch the early development of the incoming recruiting class with freshman point guard Andrew Bock, freshman forward Ethan Wragge, and a pair of junior college transfer forwards in Wayne Runnells and Darryl Ashford. The star from Omaha Central High School, Josh Jones, will also see his first action after a redshirt season during his freshman year.
It should be a great time for all the Bluejay faithful to get back to the Qwest Center on Wednesday night and see the team get ready for another action-packed season of Creighton basketball!
Are you going to the game? What are you predictions for this years season? Share your comments.
