I’ve been critical of the ESPN Bracketbusters. It’s outgrown the original idea. Too many teams. Too many meaningless games. It’s not worth interrupting the conference season for.
I’m not alone. Bracketbusters critics have grown in recent years, including Valley and Creighton fans, and coaches.
But then along comes a game like Creighton-Long Beach State.
Wow. What a game. What a thriller. It was everything Bracketbusters was intended to be: two high mid-majors, toe-to-toe, mano-a-mano, one-upping the other. A two-hour mid-major highlight reel.
For Doug McDermott, another chance to play Superman on national TV and play his way back into the national spotlight after a tough couple weeks. For Gregory Echenique, a chance to show his guts and poise and ever-increasing growth chart.
For Austin Chatman, a glimpse of the future without Antoine Young. Chatman helped set the stage for victory with some ferocious defense.
For Young, a chance to leave his mark, once more, with feeling, on the memories of Creighton fans who will miss him more than they know.
And for the Jays, as a whole, a chance to boost the resume. A loss to the Beach wouldn’t have knocked CU out of any NCAA bracket. But a win makes them that more solid. And, by the way, Northwestern looks good now, too, and every little bit helps.
It was great fun and anyone involved on either side had to consider it a worthwhile excercise. And those of us Bracketbusters critics who enjoyed the ride were bracketbusted.
Now, if it could only be that good every year.
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Thanks for a marvelous night of basketball CU and LBSU. If this is mid-major, I’ll take it!
It was a memorable night for Creighton basketball. If only they could have shown such intensity during their skid. In any event, there is now hope for the remainder of the season (maybe).
Great game. Long Beach State is very similar to Wichita State. Bluejays showed backbone in coming back from 9 pt deficit.
McDermott was the best player on the floor. Loved seeing Young get the game winner. That kid is street tough on the court.
I will admit after about 10 minutes I thought CU was going to get absolutely ran off the court, didn’t have the athletes to compete, but some how, some way they won. Still would be very concerned about their inability to play D against athletic teams. Luckily for them Beach didn’t play D either…. it was a very entertaining game. Two average teams playing an exciting brand of Bball
Blah, blah, blah, blah…. Creighton can’t play defense….blah, blah, blah, blah… the Missouri Valley stinks… blah, blah, blah, blah…only major conferences have good basketball teams….blah, blah, blah, blah…Creighton has no athletes…there is no basketball talent in Nebraska….CU fans are there just for the beer…blah, blah, blah, blah… (get over it!)
Creighton is the nation’s only program with 4 top-50 wins AND nine true road wins this season.
Uh…yeah…apart from Witcihta State, the MVC is loaded with talent and scary road venues. That’s why everyone’s so impressed that Creighton has 9 road wins. Pretty awesome.
Blah, blah, blah, blah…. Creighton can’t play defense….blah, blah, blah, blah… the Missouri Valley stinks… blah, blah, blah, blah…only major conferences have good basketball teams….blah, blah, blah, blah…Creighton has no athletes…there is no basketball talent in Nebraska….CU fans are there just for the beer…blah, blah, blah, blah… (get over it!)