It's Past Yo' Bedtime, Tom Shatel

Normally I agree w/ Mr. Shatel, but the fact that the below exchange took place is a disgrace. How hard is it to look at the 'Zags 2008-09 schedule to make sure he knows that of which he speaks!!!??? My submission to him is at the bottom.....Creighton & its fans are delusional, the same way Omaha residents are delusional that their city is not a dump. Tom 'Hearts' B-Jays....

From: Jim, Omaha
Published Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009

With the Creighton fan base constantly growing, the addition of Qwest Center Omaha, top 12 in attendance nationally, and their coach getting paid more than half of the “big boys,” is going to the NIT and winning one or two games or going to the NCAA and losing its first game ever considered “bad?” I have to think Creighton fans want to start seeing more results.

Looks like Creighton hoops is a year-round topic around here. For the record, Altman's salary — which a private school can keep private — is said to be lower than the reputation. Whatever. I do hear some Jays fans getting restless. Many more are happy to have the coach they like and be in the hunt for the Valley and an NCAA bid every year. And I think several of us in the media — and I'm as guilty if not more than anyone — have overhyped Creighton in recent years with this idea of becoming the next Gonzaga. I'm not sure that's realistic. The Jays play in a conference that gets one or two NCAA bids per year; last season was a tough lesson in how hard it is for a school like CU to make the tourney. Creighton needs to take some chances with its scheduling if it wants to beef up its RPI and national reputation (like this year's tourney in Orlando). Taking chances isn't Altman's thing. He's pretty stubborn. The Qwest Center and the consistently big crowds create their own expectation level which, again, isn't necessarily realistic in the Valley. That doesn't mean CU shouldn't shoot high — or be in the NCAA tourney, especially with this group. They should. But a lot of the Sweet 16 talk and Gonzaga comparisons are a little out of whack. What's Gonzaga done lately anyway? They aren't even Gonzaga anymore. Mid-major or non-BCS schools go in talent cycles; they usually can make a run every three or four years because they rarely recruit kids who go to the NBA after one year and have to develop their talent over a four-year period. CU has that type of team this season; one that's been around and needs to make some noise. Sounds like a topic for October or November, right?


Tom are you serious with this question? "What's Gonzaga done lately anyway?" Maybe they didn't win the NCAA Championship, but the list below is more impressive than an MVC-Tourney flameout and NIT bid.

28-6, 14-0, WCC Champions

Beat Oklahoma St.
Beat Maryland
Beat Tennessee
Beat Indiana
Lost by 5 to UConn AND Arizona
Qualified for the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual national champion North Carolina.

So sad that you're always comparing the 'Jays to Gonzaga, when they lack the coach, talent or resume to come close to measuring up.