Posted on Tue, Feb. 01, 2005
Shockers aim to end dry spell in Omaha
Wichita State hasn't beaten Creighton on its home court since 1992, but this year could be their best shot.
BY ADAM KNAPP
The Wichita Eagle
The last time Wichita State won a road game at Creighton, the No. 1 single in the United States was Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy."
George Bush, the first one, was still president.
Shocker center Paul Wight, now a 470-pound star on the World Wrestling Entertainment circuit, had eight points and seven rebounds against the Bluejays that night, Feb. 22, 1992.
Since then, the Shockers have lost 12 straight in Omaha, a streak they will try to break tonight. WSU's three seniors have been close, losing a two-point decision as freshmen, but have been manhandled on Creighton's Senior Night the past two seasons.
"Senior Night was tough, because there was so much emotion," WSU center Paul Miller said. "It was a hard place to play. Not that it should matter, but we ran into bad timing. This year, we know them well and we have a pretty good idea what they're trying to do. We're just trying to play our style of basketball and beat them."
If they don't do it this year, it may never happen.
That's because the Shockers are clearly a better team. They're alone in first place in the Missouri Valley Conference, winners of five straight, and have already won seven road games.
Creighton, meanwhile, is vulnerable. The Bluejays are 5-5 in the Valley, tied for fourth, and are 6-4 at home in their second season playing in the Qwest Center.
Part of the season for that is a lack of inside players. With centers Brody Deren and Joe Dabbert graduated, the Bluejays have searched for a post presence.
But the Bluejays may have found an answer. In Saturday's seven-point loss at Southwest Missouri State, 6-9 Washington transfer Jeffrey Day came off the bench to score a team-high 20 points.
"He played in the Pac-10, and he might be as good as anybody, potentially, in the league," WSU coach Mark Turgeon said. "We might be hitting him at the wrong time."
Turgeon also said he's concerned with 6-7 junior Jimmy Motz and 6-8 freshman Dane Watts. He once recruited Creighton's starting center, 6-8 sophomore Anthony Tolliver.
"Their big guys are good," Turgeon said. "They're just young.... You don't beat Nebraska, Ohio State and Missouri (nonconference victories for Creighton) the way they beat them if you don't have good players. The Valley's really tough. You can't take any nights off."
Turgeon doesn't expect the Shockers to tonight. They may be in first place, but they still consider the Valley title to go through Creighton and Southern Illinois.
"They've been great in Omaha," Turgeon said. "This is the one year they've struggled at home. If we're going to get them, this is our best team and this is their worst home record. On paper, it looks like this might be the year. But we still have to play the game."
