On The Flyby Sports Podcast, co-hosts and school rivals Chas McNeil and Max Alfonso dive into Falcons and Rockets athletics, including stats, scores and predictions. On every episode, they recap the past week’s sports news, update you on the play schedule for the upcoming week, select their athletes of the week, and more.
For this episode, McNeil and Alfonso talk all things MAC Tournament, held March 12-15 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. All four University of Toledo and Bowling Green men’s and women’s basketball teams made it to the quarterfinals, but only one advanced to the championship game – the UT Lady Rockets, who fell to Ball State 58-65.
The co-hosts also talk portal transfers and coaching changes; an historic run for BGSU baseball and a playoff departure for Falcon hockey; get into the past week’s game recap for all sports; select their athletes of the week; bid goodbye to winter sports; and welcome baseball and softball season.
New episodes of the The Flyby Sports Podcast drop every Saturday.
Marcy Kaptur, U.S. representative from Ohio's 9th congressional district, left, celebrates with Anthony Pattin as he cuts the ribbon at the Junction Family Pharmacy. Pattin was joined by his wife Carla, daughter, MacKenzie, 6, and his mother-in-law, Ruby Burel. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
TOLEDO – Standing with his family in front of their Junction Family Pharmacy, Anthony Pattin sliced through the blue ribbon with oversized scissors to cheers and applause – the Junction Family Pharmacy is now official.
The ribbon cutting on Friday was only symbolic, of course, because the only black-owned pharmacy in Toledo has been open for business since December.
Among those joining Pattin behind the ribbon was Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Toledo city council members at-large Brittany Jones and Cerssandra McPherson.
Marcy Kaptur, U.S. representative from Ohio’s 9th congressional district, presents Anthony Pattin with a U.S. flag that had been flown over the United States Capitol. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
It was a momentous moment for Pattin because as corporate pharmacies close, leaving community members without care,Junction Family Pharmacy is stepping up to fill the need.
When Pattin learned about the closures of two Rite Aid locations in the area, he figured it was the perfect time to move his family back to his old neighborhood and start a pharmacy practice of his own in the Junction neighborhood.
Pattin had been working as a clinical associate professor at the Buffalo Pharmacy of Pharmaceutical Sciences in New York, but decided he was ready for a career change after working in academia for 15 years.
“I wanted to serve patients more directly,” Pattin said. “With the Rite Aid departures, it just seemed like a great opportunity and a big need in the community that I could fill.”
Unlike chains, Pattin said local pharmacies have more opportunities because they aren’t restricted by corporate processes and structures.
Anthony Pattin, founder and pharmacist for Junction Family Pharmacy, looks at different items on the computer at the Junction Family Pharmacy. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
“As an independent [pharmacy], you can serve patients; you can have more connection with them; get to know them; and, as an owner, you can do things to fit your patients,” Pattin said.
Even in the wake of mail-order prescriptions, he said in-person pharmacies are important to patients.
“They want somebody they know handling their medications, or a place that’s close they can call and is accessible,” Pattin said.
Cedric Brock.
Community leader Cedric Brock, pastor of Mount Nebo Baptist Church, said he thinks Junction Family Pharmacy could encourage entrepreneurship in Toledo, especially for the younger generation.
“[Pattin] sets the right example for people to see they can do it too,” Brock said.
Brock, who knows Pattin from theInterdenominational Ministerial Alliance, called Pattin a “bridge builder,” referencing his impact on providing resources for Toledo residents.
Additionally, Brock said the location of Junction Family Pharmacy makes medicine accessibility easier for senior citizens.
“We used to say that every American lives within five miles of a pharmacy, and maybe that’s not quite so true anymore because there’s been a lot of closures, but we know that accessibility really helps health outcomes,” Pattin said.
Research from the University of Southern California on the relationship between pharmacy access and health equity supports Pattin’s claim stating, “Lack of easy access to prescription medications and other pharmacy-based services may contribute to health disparities.”
As Pattin has been working to establish himself in the community, he said business has grown and he has gained more patients.
“Since December, I’ve had some patients that I’ve seen repeatedly, so I know the medications they’re on or know some of the issues they’re dealing with, so you can have a better conversation when different things or when something new arises,” Pattin said.
Junction Family Pharmacy is not only helping community members who are patients, but is also providing opportunities for pharmacy students at the University of Toledo to complete their advanced pharmacy practice experiences, a requirement for pharmacy students to graduate.
Pattin has ties to UT as an alumnus and former associate professor. Despite no longer teaching, he said he is looking forward to working with students in a new capacity.
Today’s mega factory farm, common in the industry, often raises more than 500,000 chickens per year. (Ohio Poultry Association Photo)
OHIO – According to the Centers for Disease Control, Ohio currently has the highest number of avian flu cases in the U.S.
As one of the top three egg-producing states, along with Iowa and Indiana, the outbreak has had a detrimental impact on Ohio’s poultry industry. Since December, nearly 15 million birds across Ohio have been killed to stop the spread of the disease.
A truck removes chicken carcasses from a farm. (Mercy for Animals Photo)
When I was a 12-year-old living on a small farm, one of my jobs was to kill one of our chickens for Sunday dinner. They had the run of the place, so catching them was challenging. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was a regular part of life for a country boy. Humans kill animals for food.
To me, chickens were very interesting. I remember them being smart with individual personalities – some were quiet and laid back, while others were outgoing and feisty. Most people think of them as just being dumb birds to turn in to McNuggets and wings. I know better.
Chickens are a mainstay of American life, but the way we raise them now is a far cry from how my family (and many other families) did when I was young. Raising them on factory farms may be increasing susceptibility to diseases, such as bird flu.
Today’s mega factory farm, which is common in the industry, often raises more than 500,000 chickens per year. These farms usually have multiple broiler houses. A broiler is a chicken raised for meat, and most of them are killed when they are 5-7 weeks old.
According to the Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio is the No. 2 egg farming state in the U.S. and produces 10 billion eggs each year; Ohio chicken farms produce 554+ million pounds of chicken annually; and Ohio ranks 9th in the nation for turkey farming.
Avian flu outbreak
In February, Ohio confirmed its first human case of bird flu. The individual, who worked at a farm in Mercer County and had contact with infected birds, tested positive for the virus.
According to the CDC, cases of bird flu in humans in the United States caused by the Avian Influenza A(H5) virus have mostly been mild. Infections mainly occur in people who work closely with sick or infected animals. Symptoms are variable, but often include eye redness, fever and respiratory issues. Serious illness caused by this virus is possible, so continued prevention and monitoring are needed.
In an interview on News 5 Cleveland, Dr. Erika Sobolewski, Summit County’s public health medical director, stated that “sure, the bird flu news is always concerning, but really, it’s a low risk to the average Ohioan. At this point in time, the people who should really be cautious are any of those people who work with poultry, particularly anyone who has sick or dead poultry or even wild birds. Those are the people who should really be taking precautions.”
Dr. Joan Duggan
Speaking for herself and not for the University of Toledo, Dr. Joan Duggan, a UToledo professor of medicine specializing in infectious diseases, said the current state of avian flu “is something we’ve been worried about since the late 1990s, when we first started to see this specific strain start to move through the avian population. We have been getting ready for it over the last 20 years, with some vaccines, with some strategies, and considering different medications.”
So, the current state of play with avian influenza is that we’re seeing outbreaks, not unheard of before, but we’re seeing outbreaks with both migratory birds and domesticated birds, that spill over into the mammal world – cows specifically – and that’s what gets everybody very nervous, because, as we have everybody in close contact together, cows, chickens, humans, everybody’s mixing viruses back and forth.
Dr. Joan Duggan
One worry is that the bird flu viruses will continue evolving so that they will be able to infect many more animals beyond their natural reservoir in wild birds. The bird flu has already moved from wild birds into domestic poultry, pigs, cats and dogs, and wild mammals, including seals and humans. At present, while humans can be infected, the bird flu does not appear to be transmitted between humans.
Bird flu has also killed house cats, raccoons, skunks, seals, leopards, and several other mammals. In the United States, there have been 67 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu since 2022, with the first death reported in January 2025. The risk to the general public presently remains low due to the lack of person-to-person transmission.
Some of the proponents of the present system say that since the birds are housed inside, the risk of them catching the avian flu is minimal. Those on the other side of the debate say that the conditions in factory farms can, in fact, potentially lead to concerning viral mutations. They also say that while birds are housed inside, workers can bring the avian virus inside on clothing, footwear, machinery and contaminated feed.
As stated earlier, to date, the disease is not presently transferable from human to human, and only one death has been reported in the United States.
If you find a dead bird you suspect might have avian flu, Mike Reynolds, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, offered some advice.
“The public needs to know that we really need you to stay away from sick or dying wildlife. Call the experts. Call the Ohio Division of Wildlife. We’ll tell you what to do,” he said.
“And if you have kids or pets, and you really need to get the dead animals out of the area, we’re going to have you wear personal protective equipment, like rubber gloves and an N95 mask or goggles, or a face shield, and put those birds in a double bag and dispose of them properly.”
Georgetown students and staff toured Maumee Bay State Park during their one-day visit to the Toledo Area. (Courtesy Photo)
OHIO – Students from Georgetown University toured Ohio towns earlier this month to learn about the impact of factory farms that Ohioans are addressing.
Guided around Toledo by Mike Ferner, of the Lake Erie Advocates, the 11 students, tour leader Paul Aversa and a faculty member Akanksha Sinha, an environmental justice fellow with the Center for Social Justice & Earth Commons at Georgetown, made a pit stop to the Toledo area, focusing on agriculture and pollution in relation to Lake Erie.
They also toured East Palestine, Cincinnati, Dayton, Yellow Springs, East Liverpool and Columbus. They returned to Georgetown March 7.
Mike Ferner, with Lake Erie Advocates, talks to Georgetown students at Maumee Bay Brewery. The students came to Toledo to study factory farming. (TFP Photo/Steve Roberts)
The group was a part of the Alternative Breaks Program (ABP) with the Georgetown Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service. ABP provides students, faculty and staff the chance to take part in meaningful social justice experiences during fall and spring breaks.
The program encourages dedication to service and social justice by working directly with communities. Students engage in hands-on activities and learn through immersion, building stronger connections with community partners. These experiences are brought back to the Washington D.C. university, where they are encouraged to have conversations about actions that support long-term change.
The tour started on March 2 at Tony Packo’s on Front St., but I spoke with three students – El Mlawski,Olivia Tomaselli and Adhithi Rajesh – after their tour. Each student highlighted an issue with an Ohio community.
Georgetown students from left: El Mlawski, Olivia Tomaselli and Adhithi Rajesh. (TFP Photo/Steve Roberts)
El Mlawski Studying: Government and Spanish with a minor in environment and sustainability
Location: Toledo
In Toledo, we primarily focused on issues surrounding agriculture and pollution. With the Lake Erie Advocates, including Mike Ferner, we talked a lot about CAFOs, the concentrated animal feeding operations, and how the different kinds of waste produced at CAFOs can be really harmful to Lake Erie, seep into the groundwater and affect the entire ecosystem.
Lake Erie Advocates is taking multiple steps in response to issues surrounding water pollution. For example, they’re doing a lot of education work, presenting to schools and community centers to raise awareness for the issues surrounding CAFOs and access to clean drinking water. In addition, they are doing direct advocacy work, lobbying to Congress and the Ohio legislature in an effort to pass bills to protect clean water sources and prevent agricultural runoff.
And then, we were learning about Markie Miller, who is with Toledoans for Safe Water. She and a number of other people on their team pushes for what is known as the rights of nature. That concept refers to the inherent value of something, like Lake Erie, and how it should be protected independent of human activity. It should be protected and conserved, because it has a right to exist. Giving Lake Erie rights similar to those of human beings.”
Location: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center located in Cincinnati
This was an opportunity for us to think about the history of different marginalized groups. And so, we started with the Indigenous Adina people and their Miamisburg mound, and then we continued at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center. And there we explored the history of enslavement and Black rights and the importance of equal protections under law in modern times. And that was really interesting to see; they had really beautiful and very thought-provoking exhibits, including artwork and historical representations and artifacts.
It was definitely a heavy and interesting experience because I previously was not as aware of the Underground Railroad in Ohio.
Olivia Tomaselli Studying: Environment in economics; women and gender studies
Location: East Liverpool, Ohio
Amanda Kiger, who is a director of River Valley Organizing, has been fighting against the hazardous waste incinerator for a long time, because of its track record of violations and health problems. She was a great guide around the community.
East Liverpool has a large hazardous waste incinerator, with a history of violations, operated by Heritage Environmental Services. There have been instances with the incinerator where the toxic smoke has covered the next-door neighborhood in ash. And looking at the health effects of that and how it continues to affect these people, the question is, ‘Why do people still live there with the health effects?’
Housing is scarce. It’s expensive. You know, people can’t always leave.
It’s also very tricky, because these people work there. These are their jobs. So they kind of look at…how do you put pressure on things like this and make the community a more environmentally friendly place, when these are people’s jobs, and people need this type of work?
Adhithi Rajesh
Studying: Psychology and pre-med
Location: Antioch College in Yellow Springs
We went to Antioch College, where we spoke to Shane Creeping Bear, who is head of admissions. We discussed how they are specifically geared around the Indigenous community, and how a lot of their techniques for maintaining the environment and things like that have been basically appropriated by society, taken by white researchers and termed as different things. And the credit hasn’t gone back to that community, which does a lot of things.
Firstly, they don’t get credit for the work they’ve done, and a lot of times they’re shunned as just using ‘magic’ or just not taken seriously. And, second of all, they’re not taken seriously when it comes to issues of how to further preserve the environment. Their techniques aren’t seen as valid because they were termed differently and taken over by researchers who claim to have discovered these new methods of cultivating land.
Mainly, they promote regenerative farming rather than simply sustainable farming. They advocate that we should be stewards of nature while farming. So, that’s what they focus on, the fact that we’re not just here to take some nature; we’re also here to give back to it and maintain a reciprocal relationship.
Regenerative farming is what the indigenous community in Antioch was talking about: restoring and enhancing the productivity and health of ecosystems. For example, plant extra so that nature and animals can sustain themselves. It’s about focusing on altering it in a way that’s beneficial for both humans and nature…like invasive species. Don’t let them get into certain areas and things of that nature.
Location: Dayton – Black Indigenous People of Color Food & Farming Network
BIPOC is a group and collective where everyone who’s farming and people of color who don’t have access to other resources and information can come here, learn from others and just work together in that sense.
The Edgemont Solar Gardenwas a community farm to have more fresh food options for the people in that community; it was kind of a food desert in terms of not having a lot of access to fresh fruits and vegetables. So these guys came together and developed this farm growing a lot of different plants. They had banana trees and collard greens and things of that nature that people wouldn’t normally be able to have access to. So, they really showed how, even in a smaller space with not a ton of money, you could really develop a lot of these plants with just the proper sunlight and water and care.
And the kitchen incubator was basically a space for people starting food businesses, restaurants and such [to] rent out a space. They could have this kitchen space where they could either operate it as a ghost kitchen where they just make the food and deliver it, or they could operate it as a restaurant.
So, they did the work to give their community a wider variety of access to both healthier foods, and also give small businesses the chance to kind of operate in this area. We really saw that a lot of these small businesses weren’t able to develop as much in the area, so [the incubator] gave them a chance to do that without having to put down a really big investment.
They also educate a lot of the younger people in the area about eating healthy. One of the people we talked to said that you can grow all these vegetables as much as you want, but unless the kids actually want to eat it, there’s no real benefit there. Side-by-side, they teach the kids about healthy foods and vegetables, show them how it’s actually grown and get them excited about so they eat healthy in the future as well.
The Collins Park Water Treatment Plant.
The Collins Park Water Treatment Plant.
Georgetown student tour leader Paul Aversa is interviewed by WTOL at Tony Packo’s.
Georgetown University students El Mlawski, center left, and Julianne Meneses listen to a representative from Lake Erie Advocates at Tony Packo’s.
Georgetown student Sami Levick talks to representatives from the Lake Erie Advocates.
11 students from Georgetown University toured the Toledo area and Lake Erie this month to study factory farming issues. (TFP Photo/Mike Ferner)
On this episode of Behind the Byline, host Jaden Jefferson has a conversation about a national housing crisis with George Thomas, CEO and general counsel of the Fair Housing Center in Toledo.
On March 17, the Fair Housing Center put out a press release announcing that two of their awarded grants were abruptly terminated in February by DOGE and HUD. The cuts were made because of the current administration’s recent attempt to cancel fair housing civil rights, according to Thomas.
Thomas talks about:
how the grants would have helped the Fair Housing Center with education and advancing racial equality in housing
the role of the Fair Housing Center
what the community loses by losing those grants
the different between equality and equity
how investing in people helps our community grow
how the Fair Housing Center studies ongoing discrimination
Gamers gather around the table for a game of Homesteaders. (TFP Photo/Raymond Bieber)
TOLEDO – The gaming community was in for a treat this past weekend when the University of Toledo campus unleashed BASHCon. UT Bash, a student organization, hosted the 39th annual event at the Lancelot Thompson Student Union.
Most of the event was in the auditorium on the third floor of the Student Union. Visitors could purchase art, board games, shirts and accessories for role-playing games, such as Dungeons and Dragons. Guests could also choose from several board games to play at a table.
Attendees played arcade games on the second floor. There were also more active events, such as Belagarth, where participants could join a live combat simulation to experience what dueling was like in medieval times.
Kevin prepares to play Wacca Reverse in the arcade room. (TFP Photo/Raymond Bieber)
Bryan and Ian engage in a duel hosted by Belegarth Medieval Combat Society. (TFP Photo/Raymond Bieber)
Board games could be bought and sold through the annual bazaar, an auction-style event where anyone could bring a board game they wish to part ways with.
About 450 visitors attended the event, including 17 vendors and four vendors.
Christian Pieri, BASHCon lead coordinator, said Toledo BASHCon started in 1986, one year after the student organization began.
“After a year of hanging out, playing tabletop RPG games like Dungeons and Dragons, everyone realized, ‘Hey, a lot of people like this. We should run an event for a bunch of people from all over to come attend, and they started Bashcon,’” said Pieri, who wants attendees to be part of the gaming community.
“The big thing I want people to take away from BashCon is the community that you can find,” he said. “We have all these open play tables set up so the people who’ve never talked before – never seen each other before – can sit down and just have fun, even though they don’t know each other.”
Pieri discussed how board games provide a more friendlier competition than sports.
“It’s a lot more ‘I am against my opponent,’ whereas you sit down at a table with three other people to play a game of Commander for Magic: The Gathering, and most of the time you all just end up having an entirely separate conversation away from the game,” explained Pieri. “While it still can be hyper competitive and there are tournaments and such for it, it’s also so easy to just sit down and play with your friends. It’s a great way to tell a story and get immersed in a world so different from our own.
“My pitch to someone who’s never been to Bashcon before would be if you’ve ever played a board game and had fun, if you’ve ever played a card game and had fun, you could attend Bashcon and at least find one thing you’ll enjoy with all of the vendors, from tabletop RPGs to Magic to figure fighting. We have everything [for] anyone who enjoys board games.”
Heidi Fry, of Jestertastic Creations, sells accessories, including dice and handmade dice bags. (TFP Photo/Raymond Bieber)
To have a successful board game convention, there has to be reliable vendors selling board games. One vendor has been a reliable distributor of board games and accessories in Toledo for several years.
Ken Solo, owner and CEO of Checkmate Games and Hobbies, has been part of UT BASHCon since 1986, and Checkmate has been at the event for the last 14 years. He said the mission of Checkmate Games and Hobbies is to get kids away from screens and “interacting with other real live human beings face to face.
“A convention is just to get a whole bunch of people of similar interests to convene. Having a board game is great, but having someone else to play it with makes it worthwhile. We, as upright mammal human beings, need to interact with somebody else, and video gaming can only get you so far.”
Solo discussed the need for human interaction and how too much online gaming can lead to anxiety and depression. He also talked about the learning benefits board games can offer.
“We learn things like forward thinking strategy, or, even in the case of some kids who are playing Pokemon, just reading comprehension. Just doing basic math. Once you do play a card game long enough, you don’t need to pull out your pocket phone so you can use a calculator. You already know that math instantaneously because you do it in your head all the time as you’re playing games.”
Kelson and his wife Kim set up for the Bazaar, an auction of previously owned board games. (TFP Photo/Raymond Bieber)
One student there to pursue their interest in D&D and board games was Autumn Cerniak, a sophomore media communications major, who attended to visit a friend working at the event and for D&D. She said the role playing aspect draws her to the game.
“It’s really nice to have a space like this for people like me, and it’s nice to meet up with people to support local vendors. D&D is important to me, and D&D and other board games are very important to these people.
Cerniak also gave a pitch to people who have never attended.
“If they’re a student, I would just say, it’s free. But for someone who’s not a student, you can go check out a bunch of local vendors, play a bunch of board games with your friends. What more could you ask for?”
Dan uses a tape measure to check for line of sight in Bolt Action. (TFP Photo/Raymond Bieber)Neal Thompson and host Dennis Schroder play Canvas Eagles with homemade stands for the mini planes. (TFP Photo/Raymond Bieber)
Toledo native Jamiya Neal, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, is averaging 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds a game heading into Creighton’s NCAA Tournament opener Thursday against Louisville in Lexington, Ky. (Courtesy Photo)
TOLEDO –JamiyaNeal’s feet will never get stuck in cement.
The Toledo native, who helped Rogers’ boys basketball team reach the regional semifinals in 2020, has been, shall we say, on the move over the past several years.
Thursday night, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Neal and the ninth-seeded Creighton Bluejays (24-10) will take on eighth-seeded Louisville (27-7) in a South Region opener in Lexington, Ky.
Neal, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, is the only Creighton player to start all 34 games for coach Greg McDermott’s squad.
Creighton basketball coach Greg McDermott, who has led the Bluejays to five straight NCAA Tournaments, said senior guard Jamiya Neal, a Toledo native, has exceeded his expectations. (Courtesy Photo/Sullivan Lawrence)
“I’m pretty excited,” Neal said. “I’m happy we get this opportunity to play another game with our teammates and my coaches. I want to try to extend my senior year as long as I can.”
This will be Neal’s third game playing in an NCAA Tournament game. He played in two NCAA games as a sophomore guard at Arizona State two years ago. He scored a career-high 16 points in the Sun Devils’ 98-73 win over Nevada at the University of Dayton that season.
“It was my first time playing close to home,” Neal said. “I had a lot of family and friends there.”
The Sun Devils lost to TCU, 72-70, on a last-second shot in their second NCAA game.
Neal spent his freshman and sophomore years at St. Francis de Sales High School, then transferred to Rogers for his junior season.
“I was ready to move on from that situation,” Neal said. “One of my best friends was going to Rogers and we knew all those guys at Rogers.”
Eighth-ranked Rogers was set to take a 22-3 record into the 2020 Division II regional semis against top-ranked Lima Shawnee when the Covid-19 pandemic forced officials to cancel the tournament.
“I’m grateful for Rogers and the opportunity to go there,” said Neal, who averaged 10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in his lone season with the Rams. “I’m still a Ram for life. We had a good shot to win state. There were a lot of seniors on that team and they didn’t get to finish their season.”
Fearful that his senior season at Rogers might get canceled due to Covid, Neal transferred to Hillcrest Prep Academy in Gilbert, Ariz. for his final year of high school. He averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game for the Bruins and still had to decide where to go to college.
“I was playing AAU ball that summer and [Arizona State’s staff] happened to be at one of the tournaments,” Neal said. “We had conversations, and then I went out [to ASU], toured it and decided to go there. It was what I needed; playing with other players who had Division 1 offers, playing against better competition. It got me better prepared had I stayed in Toledo. I’m so happy I made that decision.”
Neal still wasn’t done moving around. He learned about Creighton basketball and decided to transfer to the Omaha, Neb. campus to play for McDermott and the Bluejays.
Toledo native Jamiya Neal, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, is averaging 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds a game heading into Creighton’s NCAA Tournament opener Thursday against Louisville in Lexington, Ky. He is the only Bluejays player to start all 34 games this season. (Courtesy Photo)
“It just felt like the right fit,” Neal said. “I was searching for something and they had everything where I could grow as a basketball player and as a man. The weather [in Omaha] is kind of the same as Toledo, and it has a little bit of a Toledo feel. You get a big sense of community here, and I like that.”
McDermott, who has led Creighton to five straight NCAA Tournaments, said Neal “has been a breath of fresh air for our program.”
“He came here and has played every role we’ve asked him to play, and he’s become ‘us’ rather than forcing us to become ‘him,’” McDermott said. “That’s not easy when you’re in your last year of college basketball. He comes to work every day with a smile on his face and has really worked hard to get better.
“It’s been fun to watch him connect with his teammates. His assist numbers are as good as they’ve been at any time in his career. I think that’s a sign of trust in your teammates, when you’re willing to share the basketball like that. He understands that they’re going to share it with him as well.”
The Bluejays finished second behind sixth-ranked St. John’s in the Big East standings during the regular season. Creighton got past DePaul in double overtime and then beat two-time defending NCAA champion Connecticut, 71-62, in the Big East Tournament before falling to St. John’s in the championship game at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“I’ve never played at Madison Square Garden,” said Neal, who tied for the team lead with 19 points against UConn, and scored 13 against St. John’s. “It was kind of a surreal feeling. You hear it’s the best arena in the world, and you feel it when you go in.”
The Bluejays took a hit eight games into the season when junior guard Pop Isaacs underwent season-ending hip surgery. Isaacs scored 27 points in the Bluejays’ home win over top-ranked Kansas.
“We were still trying to figure out our identity and we were just finding our groove,” Neal said. “We beat Kansas, then we had to figure it out again. Everybody had to step up and do different things. Everybody had a role to step into and they were prepared to do it; they were capable of doing it. I think that’s why we’ve been so successful.”
Jamiya Neal, a Toledo native, helped Rogers’ boys basketball team reach the regional semifinals in 2020. He spent his freshman and sophomore years at St. Francis de Sales High School, then transferred to Rogers for his junior season. (Courtesy Photo)
Neal, who is majoring in business leadership, is averaging 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds entering the NCAA Tournament. His 150 assists is second on the team, and he is shooting 44 percent from the field.
“He’s exceeded my expectations,” McDermott said. “He came into a very difficult situation. When Pop Isaacs went down with the injury, his role changed again and he had to play a bigger role on the team than what he was earlier in the season. He’s handled that with a lot of maturity.”
