Creighton freshman guard Andrew Merfeld is serving as our guide to the Bluejays’ NCAA Tournament ride in Indianapolis this March. So he checked in with us following Creighton’s 63-62 victory over UC-Santa Barbara on Saturday.
 
And so, how did the jubilant Bluejays celebrate their thrilling one-point victory over the Gauchos in their first-round NCAA Tournament game? A mammoth pizza party? A smorgasbord of Buffalo Wild Wings? A free-for-all at Applebee’s?
 
“The only celebration we really had was in the locker room,” Andrew said. “We do a little dance after every win so Christian (Bishop) had it this time. Just a little dance. That was really it.”
 
The reason Bishop, and the rest of the Bluejays, are still dancing is because it was Bishop who sank the crucial game-winning free throws with 16 seconds to play that spelled victory for Creighton. Bishop finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds to go along with those two free throws so he had every right to unveil his dance number in the locker room. But after seeing a tape of Bishop’s dance moves, well, let’s just say he saves his best moves come on the court.
 
Worst dancer you’ve witnessed this year, Andrew?
 
“No I’m definitely up there as being one of the worst dancers on the team,” Andrew said laughing. “But it was a good job by Christian.”
 
Bishop stepped to the line for his free throws as a 57 percent foul shooter. So, what was the feeling on the sidelines when he prepared to take his two shots?
 
“Honestly, between the people I was next to, we were all saying, ‘He’s making both of these,’” Andrew said. “Then they went in and we were all excited and happy for him and us.”
 
UC-Santa Barbara still had those 16 seconds to pull off a victory. And when Gauchos guard JaQuori McLaughlin fed Amadou Sow for what looked to be a game-winning layup, how was the Bluejays bench holding up?
 
“At first when McLaughlin made that pass inside (to Sow) we were all like, ‘Holy crap!’” Andrew said. “But I guess we just lucked out. He didn’t go up strong enough and it rimmed out. Just worked in our favor I guess. But those last 16 seconds, it felt like an eternity. Especially when the ball was in the air.”
 
What was the feeling in the locker room at halftime as you just managed to take the lead right at the end of the half?
 
“Honestly at halftime we felt like we had the momentum,” Andrew said. “We knew we didn’t play our best for the first five, six, seven minutes. So we thought we had the momentum. But they just kept clawing back and making it a game. So we just tried to stay even keeled the whole game and just do what we do.”
 
When the Bluejays went up 47-37 with 13:30 to play on a three-point play by Mitch Ballock, did you finally feel like you were ready to pull away?
 
“We did a little bit. But you never know in March. Anything can happen. Yeah, they made a really good fight to get back in it.”
 
In fact UC-Santa Barbara went from 10 points down to six points up with just over 5:00 to play. Were those antsy times in Creighton-Land?
 
“Yeah, we were getting a little nervous,” Andrew said. “That momentum swing kind of threw us for a loop. But I have trust in all my teammates and I knew we’d get back to where we needed to be. I wasn’t doubting them at all.”
 
Now it’s on to Ohio, a 13 seed which knocked off No. 4 seed Virginia. You just watched film of the Bobcats this morning. What did you learn about them? 
 
“They play really fast and they have a point guard in Jason Preston who’s very skilled and a very good passer,” Andrew said. “He can kind of do everything. And they also have a skilled four-man in (Ben) Vander Plas who is a really skilled four man. So we’re going to have to try and limit them as best as we can.”
 
The rest of Sunday’s schedule for the Bluejays entailed weight lifting, an afternoon practice and, of course, another Covid test. Then maybe lay around and watch some of the other games in the tournament.
 
“A couple of guys will watch the other games I’m sure,” Andrew said. “Just staying off our feet.”
 
So does it feel good to get that first victory under your belts?
 
“Definitely. I think everybody kind of has their confidence and is feeling good about themselves right now,” Andrew said.
 
Ohio is clearly a formidable opponent. But if you manage to get by them, a date with mighty Gonzaga awaits, assuming they aren’t upset by Oklahoma. Would you guys relish a shot at the number one overall seed?
 
“I think that would be a great matchup for us if we could get there,” Andrew said. “But we’ve got to get there first. So we’re worried about Ohio right now.”