Grats on a great season, CU

[Aargh]

With all the obstacles CU faced this year, CU had a GREAT season.

Between the injuries and illnesses a lesser team would have quietly faded into the bottom half of the toughest MVC league in decades. Maybe the toughest MVC from 1 - 6 EVER!

CU is guaranteed (at least) a win over an Elite Eight team and 2 wins over Sweet 16 teams. That's something to be proud of in any year. This year Altman was probably looking for a uniform for the ball boy.

CU showed a tremendous demonstration of dedication, hard work, resiliency and heart to accomplish what they did this season. I hope CU fans can remember their team this year for what they accomplished in the face of utter adversity.

My hat is off to CU's team and coaching staff.

[barkeep1967]

Amen

This was DA's best job yet and I fear you guys next year.

[meatballs]

Thanks, I agree wholeheartedly, as for the way the Jays went out your nick sums it up best... AARGH!!!!

[WuDrWu]

No doubt. Dana shows again why he is the Dean of the Valley. Can anyone even fathom that CU could be outside the top 4 as long as Altman is coach?

They will be tough next year, but don't everyone annoint them champs just yet.

[shockerfan13]

I agree, great job Jays. I really thought you would get Miami and you almost came back to do it. You competed in a year where the conference has been the best it's been in years and with all the injuries that's impressive.

[outpost]

It's okay to look back, Creighton fans. Great season in spite of all the pitfalls, injuries, and adversity you endured.

Although in many ways the aura of invincibility wore off of Dana and the Jays, they were - and still are - part of a very special season for the entire MVC.

Now looking forward, CU will undoubtedly be in the mix. Nate Funk will help make them as tough as ever. And Dana will till be Dana.

Don't forget that you've got a very competitive baseball team to watch. Every one of you needs to bring a friend or two and go out there and support them as well (when the snow melts in Omaha, of course!!). Not only for the team, but for the league as well.

I hope that as a league we can open up another bottle of this champagne next year, and the year after that, and the year after that, etc.

Good luck in the upcoming recruiting wars, and best regards - as always,

Mr. and Mrs. outpost

[Ricky Del Rio]

Coach Altman is the man in the Valley.

[getreal4]

Congrats to the Jays, great coaching job, great fan support, great young players. Great program!

Just stay out of Iowa on those recruiting trips! :banghead:

[torear]

Thanks, everyone.

It's sad to see the season end on such a contentious note, but it was a great season. Sure, we're not where we thought we'd be to end of the year based on preseason optimism, but you never know what the future holds.

This was Coach Altman's best coaching job since he's been here at CU. It would have been extremely easy for the kids to pack it in when Funk went down and go out quietly, but they never did that. We came close to still fullfilling much of that preseason promise, even with all the injuries, but it became just too much at some point.

The future is very bright for this team and Jays fans have no reason not to be fired up for next year.

This is why we are all so excited about what the Valley's done this year: as great as it is, the foundation is there. Our marquee programs have strong foundations set and aren't going anywhere. That is what is going to keep this head of steam rolling.

[7hottamales]

I agree. It would have to be considered an excellent season. Altman did an amazing job. Who knows...if not for Funk's injury, we might be talking about 3 Valley teams in the sweet 16.

[PurpleJays]

Yeah it was a great year...Baseball has won 15 stright games (longest ever) so I guess we got that going for us now...Mathies, Motz, and Day won't hurt as much as Funk, Dotzler and Tolliver coming back with the addition of Kenny Lawson, a 6-8, 215-pound power forward from Oceanside, Calif. :jays:

[JayPak]

Thanks to the league for recognizing our achievements this year. Sorry for not getting it done last night. The guys competed to the end... we are NEVER out of a game at the Qwest Center.

Certainly the Jays will be good next year, but we need to find a way to replace Johnny's speed, and develop a quality backup center. There were a lot of players who could not be used this year:
C Steve Smith, injured
SG Funk
PG Dotzler
SG Thomas Lane, greyshirt
SG Nick Bahe, transfer

That's five guys in street clothes. Manny Gakou and Brice Nengsu need to develop.

Without added depth and speed, the Jays will have a hard time with Wichita, who methinks will not tail off much despite the loss of Miller. Then you look at SIU, who returns EVERYONE from a team that owned Creighton again, and Bradley, who still has great talent, and don't forget Mo State.

[7hottamales]

Miami's a difficult match up. Hite and Diaz is an extremely difficult wing combination.

What are your expectations for Bahe?