Creighton at Nebraska: Clash Of The ChipperTeams 2009

[ChipperF1]

We got 4 inches of wet slushy snow up here. Eastern Nebraska got an even bigger blanket of white stuff....Just in time from Bluejays-Huskers tonight.

While trying to figure out what tonight's watching the game meal-wine-dessert will be...I wonder...Has there been a better matchup for this game that what we have this year.

Both teams off to strong starts. Both teams have their best weapons at 100%. This game will be quite a game to see :)

[Dale8R]

This game will be quite a game to see

Right you are, Chipper. But most of us will have to rely on your eyewitness account.

My chips are on Creighton, but that's more a sentimental vote than anything.

You can tell that it is THE BIG GAME. I just typed one word, Creighton into the google news search and got all kinds of references right there at the top

http://www.huskerextra.com/articles/2009/12/09/womens_basketball/doc4b1f015ece3cf011859376.txt

http://www.omaha.com/article/20091208/BLUEJAYS/712089838

http://www.gocreighton.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1000&ATCLID=204846110

[HuskerFan86]

I think I'm gonna brave the elements and try to make it to this game. I really wish the snow storm would've held off, because I think there was the potential for a big crowd for this one.

So many interesting story lines, and I think word is starting to spread that the Huskers might have the makings of something special this year.

I really like Creighton's lineup this year, and the fact that it's all Nebraska kids makes it so much better. They have size, speed, versatility, and shooters all over the court, and it's easy to see why they were picked to win the MVC. If everyone stays healthy and they develop some depth, I think they could end up being the best Creighton team in a long time (even better than the Nenemann-Spanheimer years).

I think you could make a case that every one of CU's starters could help Nebraska in the Big 12, and even though I'm pretty excited about the talent level on our roster right now, I still can't help but wonder if Connie should've used scholarships on some of these local players.

At PG, Herring's got tremendous speed and can be an explosive scorer, she would've been especially helpful last year (before Lindsay Moore), but would make a great backup PG off the bench.

At SG, Woodard has size and a deadly shooting touch...not the quickest but NU still lacks a pure shooter. Probably wouldn't beat out Kelley or Turner, but seems to be a cut above Reeves and Burke at this point in their careers.

At center, I like Kellie Nelson and really wish she and her sister would've come to NU. Mobile, 6'3" players are always handy in the Big 12.

At the forward spots is really where Creighton did some masterful recruiting, nabbing 2 versatile, athletic wing players right out from under NU. Schuett and Neuvirth are both players in the 6'-6'2" range that can guard positions 1-4, shoot the ball, rebound, and help handle the ball. Again, I'm not sure if either would start at Nebraska (although I think the frontline of Griffin-Montgomery-Neuvirth looks awesome), but they would definitely be high in the rotation.

Anyways, just fun to see all the Nebraska kids succeeding in D-1 and realize that the local players that excel in high school can make it at the next level.

I think Creighton will have a great season after tonight, but as for this game, I think it'll be close for a while, but in the end, too much Griffin, Montgomery, and Redmon for the Jays to handle.

[ChipperF1]

Looking at this game, I'm looking really hard at guard play. The Huskers have almost always had the interior advantage over Creighton and they will again Wednesday night. Kelsey Griffin vs. Kellie Nelson is matchup in Nebraska's favor. Coach Jim Flanery will have to collapse down a great deal on KG23 using Schuett.

However, Creighton's got an interior matchup, too. I'm sure Connie Yori hasn't forgot about 2007, and Sam Schuett's 30 point barrage. Schuett's counterpart defensively is Cory Montgomery, who is weak defensively.

This is where guard play will make the difference. Lindsey Moore will get a test today in her duel with Chevelle SuperSport Herring. Herring is small, but quick. The key for Moore is using her wingspan, move her feet and cut off Herring's driving and passing lanes. Put Herring in position to where she's not comfortable, and then add Vonnie Turner freelancing the perimeter passing lanes, perhaps being the "help" in a trapping defense, and closing off Woodard, Neuvirth and Ally Jensen from shooting threes. Turner has to do what she does best defensively, this time in a role of ball/shot denial.

Offensively, Moore has to work that ball inside. Get Griffin in the rhythm early and keep beating Creighton over the head with it. If the Bluejays pack the inside early, then Nebraska has to shot some shots. One thing Flanery will do perhaps force Turner and Moore to create shots from 15-to-20 feet. He especially wants Turner to put the ball on the floor early and see if they can perhaps take advantage of Turner's shaky ballhandling. The Bluejays are going to test Nebraska early to see two things: 1. Can we force perimeter turnover and move Griffin and Montgomery to set up high instead of low? 2. Can Nebraska's guard shoot the ball?

A no answer to both those questions put the game in Creighton's favor. A yes answer to either or both gives the game to Nebraska. Nebraska doesn't have a consistent shooting threat, but Creighton doesn't have perimeter defender who can consistently stop Nebraska from getting ball inside to where the Bluejays will either give up a Griffin lay up, foul, both or find a kick out to Montgomery or a red and free confident Nicole Neals for a three. Plus, consider that Griffin can get the ball 18 feet from the basket, put it on the floor and create a better opportunity.

Where Nebraska could get hurt? 1. turnovers. More than 20, and Creighton has a chance. More than 25? Creighton wins, because the Bluejays have enough firepower to cash some gimmes in.

2. Foul Trouble -- Griffin, Moore or Turner on the bench equalizes the game greatly. especially if you lose a perimeter player. Redmon would still be tough to deal with defensively, but she is still a liability offensively. Jessica Periago in the post give a decided advantage to Creighton.
\

3. Defensive intensity -- Nebraska's intensity and focus defensively can be hit-or-miss..If its a miss on anybody in Creighton first six in the rotation, that means that Chevy SS is firing on 8-cylinder, Schuett is create a lot of scoring. Jensen and Woodard and doing their Iowa State impression and Creighton is putting up runs that either erase leads or builds leads. Creighton isn't going to cat and mouse Nebraska, they want to run, spread Nebraska out and create space, one-on-one matchups and breakdowns to set up a lot of opportunities outside and challenge in penetration by Herring. If Chevy Herring is getting inside and getting to the line, the Bluejays are winning.

OVERALL OUTLOOK: I'm picking Nebraska, but this game will go down to the final possessions and maybe the final play.

Nebraska 68, Creighton 66

[HuskerFan86]

Another interesting note, this is the first of 3 straight games against Big 12 teams for Creighton. They play Kansas and Oklahoma following the Nebraska game, and I'm assuming they play Iowa State at some point too.

I think the defensive match-ups for Nebraska (assuming they play man-to-man vs. a team that is second in the nation in threes) might look like this:

Turner on Herring
Moore on Woodard
Kelley on Neuvirth
Griffin on Schuett
Montgomery on Nelson

We really don't have a great match up for Neuvirth, but I think Dominique's physical strength makes her the best option. I'm not sure that Moore has the quickness to guard Herring, so I might switch her onto Woodard if possible.

[mred]

and I'm assuming they play Iowa State at some point too.


We haven't played them in a few years. We've essentially traded that series in for one with Minnesota. Personally, I'd like to play both. The problem is that we have an annual series with Iowa, Drake, and UNI already. When you have too many annual games, scheduling gets difficult.

[ChipperF1]

So far its been trading punches...Nebraska started fast, but Creighton's scrapping back...The big key? Lindsey Moore...she just completed a nice and 1, after Woodard launched missiles!!!

Dominique Kelley steals another possession away off Woodard...

Lindsey Moore is the quarterback Bo Pellini wishes he had!!! nice pass to Griffin!!!! Moore with 7 points and 2 assists so far + a steal!!!

Nebraska 21, Creighton 13 10:30 left 1st half..

[ChipperF1]

Nebraska 23, Creighton 17
The Bluejays are working inside to get the mismatch Nelson has beaten Montgomery on two straight plays

2FTs by Chevelle SuperSport put Creighton closer Nebraska up 23-19

Cat Redmon is in at center she has been fouled twice so far, the Huskers are in 1-and-1 Redmon is 0-3 from the free throw line

Herring complete miss Redmon rebound.

Still 23-19. Moore on the bench getting a breather, she has played well

Ally Jenson find spot from 21 foot 23-22
Griffin answers down low 25-22

Yori's has Griffin up top as an HK

Neuwirth slips through the paint for 2 25-24

Wow!!!!! Kelsey Griffin plays the underground and the crossover beating a triple team!! 27-24


Neuwirth Turn your key ma'am!!!! 27-27!!!!
Montgomery retaliatory strike!!!!!! 30-27 NU!!!!

Media Time Out. 3:35 left. NU-CU have a limited exchange

[ChipperF1]

Nebraska caught for shot clock violation on the possesion 2:26 left
Nelson for CU caught on illegal screen her 3td personal foul. That could really hurt the Jays. CU is really crashing the boards well.

Woodard challenges Griffin and took her to the hole!!! 30-29 Nebraska. The Huskers have to Escher up in defense. Creighton is really finding the holes well.

:35 left NU ball Moore misses Cripes rebound.

Creighton has the last shot option.
Schuett has a drive and kicks out Neuwirth misses completly

Nebraska 30, Creighton 29 HALF
Overall outlook: An even game. Offensively, Nebraska is getting something done but they need to keep pushing inside
Defensively, the Huskers are not being aggressive and are playing into Creighton's hands.

[ChipperF1]

2nd half Griffin put up
one and gets the foul.

Nebraska up 34-29 and they are on the attack.

Creighton going to a trapping defense.
Katie Franks strips Moore

Woodard trying to dish stolen by Kelley!!!

Kelley sets up half court beat Herring with a runner 36-29

rebound on the miss and Griffin and Kelley work a 2-on-1 for the bucket!!!! Flanery calls time out!!!!

Nebraska 38, Creighton 29 16:39 left

[ChipperF1]

Dominique Kelley works off the screen and she drove to the hole 40-31 DK has scored 6 straight points and forces Creighton to burn a time out.

Nebraska can put the knockout on

Moore steal on Herring!!!! Moore with a naughty pass and Redmon misses as usually. Nebraska gets the rebound. Kelley has the ball pass to Moore who
misses from three as usual but Groffin cleaned up the mess strong and 1 42-31 Huskers

[ChipperF1]

Turner to Griffin who has a nasty mismatch vs Neuwirth 44-33 Woodard answers from 13 44-35

[ChipperF1]

11:47 left Huskers leads 44-37.
Vonnie Turner gotten more aggressive in the last 2 minutes. She is running the point. Kelsey Griffin is 8-for-9

Nebraska shooting 51% Creighton shooting 35%

Vonnie Turner hit both FTs coming put of the time out
Huskers up 46-39

Neuwirth blocked by Periago she stays with it puts it back up 46-41

[ChipperF1]

Neuwirth took Kelley to school on a spinning runner 48-43
Oops Neuwirth muscled by Moore 48-45

Retaliatory attack option!!!!! Moore for three 51-45!!!!!

Herring vealer for charging in backcourt Huskers ball
Franks fouled Griffin. The Huskers have been ugly from the stripe tonight
Griffin missed, again...... And again!!!! Are you kidding me???? We can't hit free throws?

[ChipperF1]

Neuwirth just nailed another big shot and then forced a turnover at the media time out!!! Nebraska 51, Creighton 47 7:59
Neuwirth has 22. She's killed Montgomery and Kelley

Nebraska escape with a shot clock violation after CU passes on three good opprtunity to drive to the hole

Griffin makes them pay with a drive to the bucket 53-47 6:44

Creighton puts on a press and Griffin drove hard on Neuwirth to break press and score 55-47

Schuett answes with a 13 footer 55-49

Moore on penetration draws a foul on Neuwirth she hit 1 of 2 56-49

Schuett gets big from three 56-52!!!

Griffin with nice roll off the post up and Jelley laced a nice pass Griffin draws a foul she hits the free throws 58-52 NU Griffin has 23

but Megan Neuwirth from 24 feet with bank deposit!!!! 58-55

5:00 CU ball Herring to tie No way!!! Rebound Griffin!!!

NU half court Redmon drives in trying to pass stolen by Neuwirth Neuwirth fouled!!!

Woodard gets a screen but it was illegal by Scuetts

Dominque in the inbound and she drives to the hole on Neuwirth Bucket and foul!!!!!! Nebraska 61, Creighton 55

Neuwirth with the ball travelled!!!!
Media time out 3:46 left Nebraska up 61-55.
The Huskers may have finally played a trump card.

[ChipperF1]

Dominique Kelley gets the first step nice pass to Griffin this game is OVER!!!!!
Nebraska 64-55

Herring drive on Montgomery and Mongomery draws a Charge!!!!!!!! Unreal

Moore to Griffin and again KG23 brings it home
66-55 and then Kelsey Griffin Not A Chance Ms. Spaulding!!!!!! Big block 28 points 9 rodmans!!!!! 2:13 left

In the second half these Huskers came to play!!!!

Griffin at the line 29 points And Griffin sends Neuwirth to the reject line!!!!!! Big block and the foul

Griffin at the line 2 more she has 31!!!!
69-55, NU

This is what I've waited to see from Griffin, a game where she is the straw that stirs the drink!!!!!!

[ChipperF1]

Nebraska 69, Creighton 56 FINAL.

Kelsey Griffin throughout her career at Nebraska has had to fight through some things. She's played through illness, injury, heartache.

At times, she has showed a world of potential. At times, she has deferred.
I've always believed thatas good as she was, there was a level of greatness within her reach.

Tonight, I saw that greatness.

31 points, 9 rebounds, steals, blocks and big plays.
But it wasn't so much the numbers. Griffin has put up some numbers. It was how she did it.

In the second half, she put the team on her back and dominated the ballgame, granted it was against a team from the Missouri Valley Conference, but KG23 had yet to do that, and she did it against a team that made be mid-major, but wasn't a slouch.

Elsewhere. Dominique Kelley was tough and smart with the basketball. Good decisions and a good game.

And....Lindsey Moore. Another efficient, smart, performance on both ends.

For Creighton -- Megan Neuwirth. Memo to the Mo Valley She Got Game! 22 points and she looked like a Big 12 player doing it. She played the best on a night where at times the Bluejays straddled between attacking and thrust-and-parry. The Bluejays at times played too conservative especially when they had the matchups in their favor. Kellie Nelson played a very solid game, but was stymied by foul trouble. Chevelle Herring passed up too much penetration options trying to be a "pure point guard". Sam Schuett was great in the first half, but wasn't on her game in the second half.

OVERALL OUTLOOK: Another wild wooly Clash of the ChipperTeams, but this Clash really told me something about ChipperTeam Red. This team is showing a lot of determination, and grit. This isn't what you saw last season.

I was looking to this game to answer if Nebraska deserved to be in the Top 25. Are they #23/#24 good?
The answer I take from tonight is a resounding maybe.

I didn't like the defensive lapses for most of the game. We got outhustled on the boards for a good deal of the game by a team with less size, and will somebody teach Cory Montgomery how to guard somebody and keep doing it. Her taking a charge was a good start. We still have a lot of work to do before conference play.

We aren't a tournament team yet, but tonight we showed that we'll get there.

[mgood1]

Good job Kelsey and Nebraska. 9-0 :eek:

:BIG12:

[HuskerFan86]

Just back from the game...very entertaining, well-played game.

I was really impressed with Creighton...they spread you out so thin and make you play their game. Very Iowa State-esque, with versatile forwards that can shoot and drive the ball, a decent center that can hurt you one on one, and several guards that can bury the three.

Megan Neuvirth is fantastic. There's no doubt she'd start in the Big 12. She is solid in all areas and created all kinds of mismatches for Nebraska. I also really liked what I saw from Woodard and Schuett. Creighton looks like an NCAA tourney team to me...if they find a way to get Herring going, they will be very tough to beat.

For Nebraska, Griffin was simply unstoppable. One of the best performances I've ever seen in the Devaney Center. She's so efficient offensively and there aren't too many players that will be able to guard her one-on-one. Her rebounding was great, she finished everything, and made a number of incredible plays. Tonight KG23 looked like an All-American.

I think a lot of the credit should go to Lindsey Moore as well. I was VERY impressed with the freshman. She had a little trouble defending and hitting the 3, but her ball handling is a notch above anything we've ever had at Nebraska. She looks so comfortable with the ball and she gets the ball to our players in places they can score. Her dribbling is outstanding and I love the no-look passes into the post and precision lobs. She's the kind of point guard we've needed, and it's easy to see why she's leading the team in minutes and the other 4 starters are all averaging double figures.

Kelley made some huge plays to decide the game at about the 5 minutes mark, and i like what I see from her as well.

Turner struggled mightily, but shut down Herring, Montgomery was good offensively and poor defensively, vice versa for Redmon, and I thought Kuhlmann played well for us too. KK played good D, hit a three, and really didn't make any mistakes the whole game.

The fact that Vonnie only scored 2 and we still scored 69 and won by 14 against a fierce rival that always plays us well makes me feel pretty excited for this team. I agree that there are still gaps to fill, but there are some awesome pieces to build around...Griffin looks fantastic and I think Moore can take us to the next level. There's a reason #00 hasn't lost a basketball game in almost two years. :)

Next up is Northern Illinois, who's not supposed to be too bad. I shouldn't look ahead, but I really think we could beat LSU...