Call me crazy, but I was kind of looking forward to tonight’s game. I mean, this wasn’t just going to be another forgettable asskicking against some tin can like Elon or Redlands or San Diego Christian.
This was against somebody special. This was against … the worst team in Division I college hoops. That’s really not something you see every day.
Think about it: There are more than 300 teams in Division I — five alone that you can visit with a Chicago Transit Authority farecard — and you won’t find a worse pack of stiffs anywhere than Chicago State.
I honestly had no idea what that was going to look like. Were Chicago State players going to be running headfirst into one another like players in a Major League 2 montage? Were guys going to be getting balls caught in their shorts or accidentally tying their shoes together while sitting at the scorer’s table?
Oh man, this was bound to be hi-larious.
Halftime score: Chicago State 32, No. 22 San Diego State 32
Haha! Wait, what?
Early second half score: Chicago State 39, No. 22 San Diego State 32.
Seriously, guys. What the fuck?
Fortunately, the Aztecs managed to pull their heads out of their asses just long enough to allow the rest of us to stop breathing into a paper bag, finishing off an ass-ugly eight point win against a team that has now lost 25 straight.
What to make of this?
I suppose if any of these games against terrible opponents had to be close, I’m glad it was this one. This game — following a month of blowouts and with a showdown against UNLV looming Saturday — is bound to get the players’ attention and convince them to tighten up their shit or else.
It was also nice to see both Xavier Thames and Tim Shelton get some game action to shake off some rust. But more than that, they were both needed on the floor to stave off what would have been the most epic of dick trips — one that would have earned us more ESPN mockery than the UNLV collapse/Chris Walton free throw game.
Chase Tapley did the rest, scoring 24 points and driving to the rack repeatedly to help the Aztecs climb out of the hole they spent much of the first and early second halves digging with their disinterested play, piss poor shooting, and awful decisions.
Anyone else have a feeling Steve Fisher’s voice might be raised a wee bit in practice over the next couple of days? I’m no expert, but I think close calls against the worst team ever tend to get you yelled at.
At least they should.
Passing was sad. Rebounding was sad. Shooting was sad. I will give Chicago State credit, they played with passion, and played very physical.
I read someplace that this game may have been played to throw off UNLV scouts, but I think that is an excuse.
It was a great plan by Fisher to create game scenarios to practice. How many times in conference do we expect to be down 6-7 early in the second half against a team we should blow out. It was a great lesson in how to come back against inferior opponents and hang onto a tenuous lead late. Brilliant teaching strategy by the Fish.
I remember all last year we would have infuriating first halves. Then would out like gangbusters in the second half leaving bodies everywhere.