Crawford's Foot BROKEN

[GonzoCat]

I think we still go 12-6. That was actually my prediction before the season started, but after the non-con season and great road trip last week I moved it up to 13-5 with an outside shot at 14-4. I think we win 3 more road games to go 5-4 on the road and lose 1 more home game to go 7-2. Actually we seem to play better on the road this year for some reason, so maybe I should reverse those numbers.

It's not just losing EC, we have struggled shooting all year long other than a couple games. Our defense has been so good it has and will keep us in every game, but our shooting seems to have dropped way off. Almost every game has gone down to the wire and we somehow seem to step it up right at the end and win the close ones, last night and BU being the exceptions. The old complaint about the dome being tough to shoot in and giving us a big advantage is out the window. Seems like just about every visiting team has outshot us in the dome and our guys are the ones struggling to hit shots.

What really gets to me is I have a good friend I used to work with who is a Creighton grad and we bet lunch on every game. I've had to buy her a lot of lunches over the past several years.

[oldcat]

I just want to win a Valley title once!

[UNI MadCat]

I still think we could get an at-large with a 11-7 or even 10-8 conference record. The Committee takes injuries into consideration. So even if have a bad run w/o Crawford, we should be able to pull it together for the post-season. Sure, a regular season title is not as likely anymore, but the post-season is much more important. If our bench is able to step it up and build confidence in his absence, it sets us up for a good post-season run and next year. I am sure the coaching staff knew this injury was a possibility before the season began and has a plan in place. Maybe this is why Brown did not redshirt. As long as we can be healthy by St. Louis, and as long as we aren't playing on Thursday, we are still ok.

I dont think anyone disputes this. We made it last year at 11-7 and this is a better team with more recognition in a league getting lots of props. I know we are a tourney team even right now without EC. My point is that I think goals will have to be re-evaluated. I'm sorry, but a 6 seed does not seem very likely to me right now. I'm not throwing in the towel on the season one bit but if we're looking at 11-7 then that means an 8-5 finish (assuming a Bbuster win) to the season which would have been less than ideal in our minds yesterday. I will be ecstatic when UNIs name shows up on Selection Sunday regardless. That being said though, this was the season with the biggest expectations in the history of this school, and no matter what, you do have to re-evaluate your expectations as a fan with this loss. People who think we I'm being pessimistic aren't fully reading the posts. There is no give up in this Panther fan just like they'll be no give up from this team.

[ejacobson]

EC's Foot

Regarding Eric's Foot:

Just spoke with my father, who in turn had just spoken with my uncle, (Bill Jacobson).

Eric's foot is broken and he is undergoing surgery right now. Just wanted to let everyone know what was up.

Side note: I dont think anyone is giving up, I know that 99% of the fans on here are die hards and will cheer through it all, but I just think that all of this team's goals are still attainable. The valley race is very tight, and the NCAA tourny is going to be a circus because, in every conference, everyone is beating everyone else. Thats all I am saying.

[FMPanther]

We will be ok

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2...1905240771.txt

Sorry to be the first to post this...

Out 4-6 weeks.

i hate this as Crawford is my favorite player (sorry ej). But, but I loved watching Travis last night. For those at the game, did you see/hear, as the shot clock was winding down, Mac tell Travis "take him."?? I loved it, he did and just got a bad roll on the shot. Good luck to Erik for a speedy recovery.

[ejacobson]

i hate this as Crawford is my favorite player (sorry ej). But, but I loved watching Travis last night. For those at the game, did you see/hear, as the shot clock was winding down, Mac tell Travis "take him."?? I loved it, he did and just got a bad roll on the shot. Good luck to Erik for a speedy recovery.

No apologies necessary FM I love watching EC play, that guy has a huge heart and is one hell of a player and UNI would not be where they are today without him that is for sure. I just hope that John can take up the slack left in EC's absence and that Travo can start up the steep learing curve he's got ahead of him right now.

I love Benny, but I know that there have to be 5 guys playing to win and that one of the biggest reason's Ben looks good is Eric Crawford gets him the ball. Not to compare Ben to MJ, but where would Jordan have been without Pipen? Its a team sport and Eric is a huge part of this team.

[UNI MadCat]

I love Benny, but I know that there have to be 5 guys playing to win and that one of the biggest reason's Ben looks good is Eric Crawford gets him the ball. Not to compare Ben the MJ, but where would Jordan have been without Pipen? Its a team sport and Eric is a huge part of this team.

This is exactly what I was thinking EJ. I wanted to post the question: "where would Jordan have been without Pippen?" earlier today.

This is why I feel that, with all due respect to Gruber and Foster, this loss is infinitely more detrimental to the team comparatively. Lets hope the young boys become men in a hurry!!

[Hime_Peterson]

All you have to do to find encouragement is to look across to the other bench last night.

Not to diminish the importance of Erik Crawford because he is a great player, leader, and probably an even better young man, but Creighton had a much more taxing blow with the loss of Nate Funk. There probably isn't a player in the league whose team relies on him more than Creighton relies on Funk (he led them in points and rebounds, was a defensive stopper, and shot over 50% last year). When I found out Funk was injured, I figured that Creighton would be a lower 1/2 Valley team. But, they have circled the wagons and proved that they are still in the upper half of the Valley even without Funk. It's a testament to Dana Altman and the players on that team.

I think that UNI without Erik Crawford is a more dangerous team than Creighton without Nate Funk, and the positive is that you guys may get EC back in about a month for a late-season run.

UNI and Coach McDermott will find a way, just like Creighton and Coach Altman seem to be doing. I think the Panthers will circle the wagons and win at Illinois State before coming home for a big homestand against SIU and Drake--I expect the Panthers to win both of those games.

[GoCats05]

I couldn't help but think all day about what Erik must be feeling. Every time I see the replay of him reeling in pain on the floor I almost get sick to my stomach. He's worked so hard for this team and has come through so many times when the games were on the line. It just doesn't seem fair that this has to happen. My prayers go out to Erik. May he have a speedy recovery.

Now, the way I see it, is a perfect opportunity to help us become a deeper team. We need Atch, Josten, Viet (we need him to get healthy,too), Williams and Brown to step up BIG time. Maybe now they see themselves as getting legitimate minutes, not just a few breather minutes for the starters! If we can learn anything from this loss I hope we realize that (1) we need to protect our home turf (2) WE NEED TO MAKE OUR FREETHROWS!!!!! (3) we need a cushion going into the final minutes of a game because, as we all witnessed last night, you can't rely on the calls going our way at all when the game is on the line!! Let's get behind our boys and take it to Ill State (no matter how bad their record is, it's always fun to beat them in any sport!!)

[TC is Hot]

(2) WE NEED TO MAKE OUR FREETHROWS!!!!! (

i was thinking that same think as i left the dome last night. man, if we would have made our free throws, we would have won the game. there's just nothing else to blame... though a lot of high percentage shots were missed too.

crawford's defense will be missed more than anything, but hopefully the team can rally. remember how we felt when sanders went down and the fb team lost to ill state?

[Born-a-Panther]

remember how we felt when sanders went down and the fb team lost to ill state?

Exactly. Or when Petrie went down at SIU last year. Or when Foster went down right before conference tournament time.

I feel terrible for Crawford, but UNI teams seem to find a way to rally when times get tough. (A sign of great teams). This is going to give our bench much needed experience, and then when we get Crawford back for the end of the season, we'll be more deadly than ever.

Lets start it out right and get Ill. State.

[ceaser150]

Any word on how surgery went yesterday?

[ejacobson]

Lets not forget that we are tied with 4 (FOUR!!!!) teams for second right now and SIU is only really a half game ahead having played one less game than everyone else in the conference. This race is still WIDE OPEN and Mac will rally the troops I have no doubt that they can overcome this with the emotion and heart they have as a team. I cannot wait to hear how they come out tomorrow on the road, I'm feeling positive that Mac will have them ready to play and with that little extra spark missing EC they might just play lights out.

[MPLS-PANTHER]

I would have liked to have been in practice yesterday. I bet Coach has the guys unbelievablly focused and I think you are going to see something special for the rest of the season. Losing Erik is a HUGE loss, but I think Benny is going to throw this team on his back and show everyone (although merely reaffirm in my mind) why he is the best college basketball player in the State of Iowa, the MVC, and when he's hot I'd take him over anyone in the nation. John Little and the rest of the guys will do a great job. Let's hope for a speedy recovery for Erik.

GO PANTHERS!!

[JCPanthers]

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2006/01/13/news/breaking_news/doc43c781ee0144a971410059.txt

Article on Crawford's surgery. Don Bishop thinks that 6 weeks will be the most that he'll miss and that Erik will be able to begin jogging within 3 weeks.