Valparaiso Recap

Final Score: Creighton 68, Valparaiso 43

Box Score

Recaps: CU | VU
Media: OWH | Gary Post-Tribune | Honolulu Star-Bulletin

"Who kidnapped Nate Funk and who is that wearing #10?"

That's been the question early in the season. While he's obviously been giving the effort and was finding other ways to be productive and valuable on a nightly basis, it's obvious through the early we haven't seen what we all know the young man from Sioux City is capable of. In the second half in Hawaii last night, we started to see it. With 20 second half points, Funk powered his Jays past Valparaiso in the opening round of the Rainbow Classic, blowing them away by draining eight of his last nine shots on the night.

Shooting the basketball is one of the more fickle and unpredictable skills in sports. You can have perfect form and a sweet stroke and still go through a stretch where you simply can't find the net. Confidence and mental toughness is an essential part of shooting success and it can be easy to lose. Granted, Valpo is not exactly the most challenging opponent the Jays will see all year, but the importance of having a performance like that is it is exactly the sort of thing that builds confidence and puts that spring back in your step.

Now, it wasn't just a one man show last evening. Anthony Tolliver got his, but more importantly than the 11 points he chipped in, was the fact that he was far more active than he's been down in the post, taking the ball to the rim, dishing off and working the kick out. When this offense runs inside-out, it's far more effective and we saw that last night.

Also, we cannot go without giving requisite props to the man from Lincoln, Nick Bahe. Bahe has taken a lot of criticism at points for his struggles, but considering his lack of honest game experience over the past few years, it was a bit unfair to expect him to be able to hit the ground running immediately. However, Nick's two three last night did seem to set off the spark that put this team back into gear. Also, his baseline drive and reverse layup to draw the hoop and harm was damn pretty.

Overall, we got out of this game exactly what we needed: a chance to get a comfortable win and to start to feel better about themselves. It's not going to be an easy road here on out, though. Later tonight, the Jays will face off with Tom Penders' high flying Houston Cougars, and either Hawaii or the Cornhuskers lurk for tomorrow. Finally, we will also need to keep an eye on the dislocated fingers that Josh Dotzler suffered as well. It will be challenging, but it is doable and, most importantly, this team knows it.