Dein erstes Forum » ed by some of the decisions hes got to make

OMAHA, Neb. -- Akron coach Keith Dambrot knows Creighton better than most nonconference opponents, perhaps better than he would like.After his Zips lost 82-70 to the 10th-ranked Bluejays on Saturday night, Dambrot said this Creighton team appears to be a cut above the other three hes faced over the last 11 years -- even the Doug McDermott-led squad that beat his team by 16 points in 2012.Theyve got a big-time point guard, a center who can run to the rim and three guys around them who all make shots, so it puts pressure on you defensively, Dambrot said.The point guard, Maurice Watson Jr., set a CenturyLink Center record with 13 assists to go with his 14 points. The center, 7-foot redshirt freshman Justin Patton, had 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and three steals. One of those shooters, Marcus Foster, scored a season-high 27 points, including 13 of Creightons first 16 points.The Bluejays (8-0), off to their best start since the 2003-04 team opened 12-0, played their strongest first half in five games and never trailed.It was about staying focused in warmups, as we talked about last week, Foster said. We have to have a better mental approach to the game. I was really focused and locked in through warmups and it carried over to the first couple plays of the game.Kwan Cheatham Jr. had 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the Zips (6-2), who lost for the first time in seven games. Isaiah Johnson, the Zips 6-foot-11, 300-pound All-MAC center, had 10 of his 13 points in the second half. He struggled when Creighton sped up the game in the first half. The Zips were able to slow things down over a few stretches of the second half, and he was able to go to work in the post.It was hard to handle him with just one body, hes so big and so skilled, said forward Cole Huff, who had 16 points.Akron pulled to 39-35 early in the second half. Foster picked up the crowd when he sneaked in the backdoor to dunk a lob from Watson. After Josh Williams 3-pointer for Akron, Foster weaved through the lane for another basket.Huff made back-to-back 3s, and Watson hit a 3 between dunks by Justin Patton and Foster before the Bluejays finished a 16-3 run putting them up 62-44.The Zips were without starting point guard Noah Robotham, who has an ankle sprain. Tavian Dunn-Martin picked up most of Robothams minutes and had seven points and three assists.BIG PICTUREAkron: The Zips wont see any tougher opponent -- until next week when they play No. 8 Gonzaga.Creighton: The Bluejays once again showed they are capable of getting offensive production from anywhere on the floor, with four players scoring in double figures.DONT FORGET MOWatson came into the game second nationally with 8.2 assists a game, something that has not gone unnoticed by his teammates.Hes the key to our success, and we go as far as he goes, Foster said. He could have 20 points a night, but he chooses to pass. I love playing with Maurice, a point guard who is going to find me and get other guys involved before he thinks of himself.Huff said, Ive never played with a point guard as unselfish as Maurice. He wants everyone else to feel good about himself and get their shots and get their rhythm.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Bluejays wont drop from No. 10 after sweeping MAC opponents Buffalo and Akron this past week, and they might even move up a rung.HE SAID ITThis is the fourth time Ive been in Omaha. One was for a Nike clinic and the other three have been a miserable experience. -- Dambrot, who dropped to 0-3 on the road against Creighton.UP NEXTAkron hosts Coppin State on Wednesday.Creighton visits Nebraska on Wednesday. Don Baylor Jersey .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. Luis Aparicio Jersey . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. https://www.cheaporioles.com/278i-frank-robinson-jersey-orioles.html . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Paul Fry Jersey .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Rick Dempsey Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. ATHENS, Ga. -- Three precocious passers are trying to prove its now possible for true freshmen quarterbacks to win big in the Southeastern Conference.Alabamas Jalen Hurts, Georgias Jacob Eason and South Carolinas Brandon McIlwain are a combined 5-0 as starters. Hurts and Eason directed comeback wins last week.Hurts was named SEC offensive player of the week after No. 1 Alabama overcame a three-touchdown deficit to beat then-No. 19 Mississippi. Eason calmly threw a go-ahead touchdown pass on fourth down with less than 2 minutes remaining in No. 12 Georgias win at Missouri.McIlwain ran for two touchdowns in his first start, a win over East Carolina.Excluding redshirts, no first-year quarterback has led his team to a SEC division title since Tennessees Erik Ainge in 2004.Its not difficult to measure just how tough it is to win big as a rookie quarterback in the SEC. Two of the leagues biggest stars, Tennessees Peyton Manning in 1994 and Georgias Matthew Stafford in 2006, played on four-loss teams as true freshmen. Manning won seven of his eight starts.Former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims said he has marveled at the early success enjoyed by Hurts and Eason.Ive been watching Alabama, Ive been watching Georgia and I think both quarterbacks are doing a great job, said Sims, who signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad as a running back last week.Sims was a backup quarterback and running back at Alabama before starting his first game at quarterback as a senior in 2014. After waiting so long for his chance, he appreciates seeing true freshmen win as starters.Its really tough, Sims said. Youve got to be real strong mentally and very calm and youve got to understand the little things.There are several reasons why true freshmen are having success.South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said players leaving school early for the NFL or transferring creates more opportunities.Quarterback is the one we focus on, but I think its all positions there are more guys coming out for the draft, Muschamp said. So there are more younger players playing now.Georgias Kirby Smart believes the growth of the passing game in high school has made quarterbacks better prepared to play immediately in college.They see so much more, they throw so much more, theyve seen a lot of the defenses befoore, the Bulldogs coach said earlier this month.dddddddddddd There are a lot more prolific offenses out there in high school football. ... I certainly think quarterbacks come in with more ability to play early.It can also help a quarterback to adjust more quickly to the college game if he has played in a similar scheme as in high school.I think if a guy played in spread offense, hes probably more apt to be able to come in and play early in a spread offense in college, Alabama coach Nick Saban said. If a guy played in a pro-style, drop-back sort of offense in high school, hes probably going to be more apt to play in that style of offense in college.Hurts, Eason and South McIlwain opened the season as backups.Senior Greyson Lambert started in Georgias opening win. Redshirt freshman Blake Barnett started Alabamas opener against USC. Eason and Hurts became starters for their second games; McIlwain had to wait one more week.Eason was rated by some as the nations top high school recruit at quarterback. He enrolled early but even after going through spring practice is still learning.Smart has given candid criticisms about Easons difficulty in running the huddle, calling plays and throwing to the correct receiver. Even so, Smart said he and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney never doubted Easons poise.Coach Chaney has always said this kid is not affected by the environment, Smart said. Hes really not. Hes affected by what hes got to say in the huddle. Hes affected by some of the decisions hes got to make coverage wise, but hes a very confident player.Hurts has impressed with his cool demeanor, including after his lost fumble was returned for a touchdown by Ole Miss.Running back Damien Harris said after the play Hurts was no different than he was before.Sims said he told Hurts to remember its still the same game.Its like hey, Im back in high school, Im in the backyard still, Sims said. Thats how my process was.I talked to Jalen and I told him the same thing.---AP Sports Writers John Zenor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Pete Iacobelli in Columbia, South Carolina contributed to this report.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '