Xavier-Duke

[X-band '01]

I know, I know, how dare ESPN or CBS College not televise a game between two of the top 4 teams in the country for Tuesday night? That will happen when:

1)gamblers have a useless bowl game on the mother ship (Louisville and Southern Miss play in the Beef O'Charley's St. Petersburg Bowl)

2)UConn is about to notch win #89 in a row at home against Florida State.

3)North Carolina has a home game on ESPNU lest the public think the network is pro-Duke.

Say what you will about Xavier having a schedule with lots of BCS opponents, but they have not played a ranked opponent yet. Only Louisville and Southern Cal are even getting votes in the polls at this point.

There is a PPV video stream at GoDuke.com for tomorrow night. There is a 1-month video subscription for 9.95/mo; I don't see any option for one game only.

[cinskyline]

X-band, part of the problem is that there simply aren't very many women's basketball games being broadcast period. And when they do show a game, it's usually between the most established powers of women's hoops. Like it or not, X is a relative newcomer.

Having said that, this game definitely should have been on TV, as well as the Stanford game.

[X-band '01]

Pregame writeup from the Durham Herald-Sun:

12/21/10 - Duke Hosts 2nd Top 10 Team This Season (http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/10734338/article-Duke-hosts-second-top-10-team-this-season?instance=main_article)

[Firehose]

Disregard that - I used the internet!

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Get pumped!

[XU-PA]

Pumped up!
Listening to one of the finest play by play broadcasts out there!

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Pumped up!
Listening to one of the finest play by play broadcasts out there!

Website?

[xuwin]

Website?

Goxavier.com

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Goxavier.com

gracias

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Stream isn't working for me. How do we look?

[xuwin]

Stream isn't working for me. How do we look?

It's audio only. Duke leading 12-9.

[XU-PA]

This is going to be a battle!

[XU-PA]

Mike Schmaltz gives me chills!

Let's Go X!! Let's Go X!!

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Harris 8 points, 6 rebounds already

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Crap. Harris hurt.

EDIT: She's ok...Took a tumble. Phew

[WCWIII]

23-22 Duke

Audio is good from goxavier.com

mms://wbbstream.xavier.edu/live

[XU-PA]

Not hurt enough though. That is one tough baller!

[Firehose]

28-25 X with 49 seconds left.

[XU-PA]

These two are amazing. It reminds me so much of the UK "twin towers" Bowie and Turpin.

from Harris and Phillips in a low scoring half, 8-13 shooting, 16 points and 15 rebounds. and a little blood.

28-25 Xavier at the half!

[Titanxman04]

I too am having trouble lisening to the game. I clicked on the "listen live" link on the game page and it doesn't work. Am I clicking o the wrong link?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

I too am having trouble lisening to the game. I clicked on the "listen live" link on the game page and it doesn't work. Am I clicking o the wrong link?

It didn't work for me either. You gotta use internet explorer. I was using Chrome

[STL_XUfan]

I too am having trouble lisening to the game. I clicked on the "listen live" link on the game page and it doesn't work. Am I clicking o the wrong link?

They killed the audio during half time, so it might have just been during that time. Up and running now for me

[XU-PA]

Ever since I switched to firefox I've had great luck with the XU link. Works great tonight.

XU 7 point lead, 3 minutes into the 2nd half

But the stats link is making me gag, it's from the Duke site. I just can't stomach reading "goduke.com" everytime I want stats. It also quit running ever since XU took the lead

[BBC 08]

And now for somereason the espn Gamecast is no longer working.

[XU-PA]

Schmaltzy and XU radio working great!
XU continues to lead, 37-32 with 12+ to go

[X-band '01]

X leads 37-34; Duke now on a 5-1 run.

[XU-PA]

11:37 to go,,,, 37-34
X has hit a little lull, turning the ball over, and letting duke get a good number of offensive boards. Duke failing for the most part to capitalize

[XU-PA]

Harris really on her game.16 points 10 boards and six blocks

[WCWIII]

Need some more help for Amber. Need some others to step up! Go X!

40-38 X 9:52

[XU-PA]

Just going on what I'm hearing, but it really sounds like XU is at the top of their defensive game. Really making it tough for Duke to score.

[X-band '01]

5:34 left - X up 42-40.

[X-band '01]

Xavier's FT shooting scares the crap out of me - 63% on the season is not good.

Not good at all.

[HomerCecil]

Omg stop turning the ball over.

[X-band '01]

3:47 left - X leads 43-40.

[Firehose]

Askew with 4 fouls, Harris with 3.

43-40 X and Ta'shia has 17 rebounds. She's a better cleaner than Leon.

[X-band '01]

Rebound #19 for Ta'Shia - the next made FG will be big for whoever gets it first at this rate.

[XU-PA]

It's been a week since anyone scored. Timeout by the crime dog, get them shooting!

2:46, 43-40

[WCWIII]

From the Duke "Live Blog"

So Ta'Shia Phillips has 19 rebounds...Yes, 19. The opponent rebound record for Cameron Indoor Stadium is 20.

45-42 X

[X-band '01]

FINALLY, a made FG!

[X-band '01]

Wow - 28 TOs and a 3-point lead?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

29 turnovers....It's mind boggling X is still in the game let alone winning

[XU-PA]

crap, 1 point lead, and another turnover, just 50 seconds to go

[HomerCecil]

Two more turnovers with a 5-point lead, and now Duke is down 1 with the ball.

[Tu 4 MVP]

Did I just hear Duke has 20 steals. How is that possible?

[X-band '01]

They've gotten numerous stops, but none will be more important than this upcoming possession. Duke has scored on 2 straight possessions.

[Firehose]

Duke at the free throw line with around 30 seconds.

Made the first, missed the second. 45-45

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Tied

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Alright. Lets do this X! NO TURNOVERS

[X-band '01]

Tie game - Xavier has the ball with about a 1-second differential.

No TOs, please!

[XU 87]

X with the final shot. Just don't give the ball away.

[X-band '01]

Amber has 3 fouls; Ta'Shia has 4.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

You gotta be F'IN KIDDING ME

[Firehose]

I could vomit. I'm so furious.

[X-band '01]

Unbelievable. How do you foul in that situation?

[gladdenguy]

wha happened?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Unbelievable. How do you foul in that situation?

How do you turn it over?!?!? Again???

[HomerCecil]

Turned it over with 3 seconds left, then fouled with 2 seconds left in a tie game to send Duke to the line. How is that even possible?

[X-band '01]

1st FT missed; Xavier calls a TO to freeze Thomas at the FT line.

[xavierj]

When Kevin McGuff is coaching no lead is safe. You saw what happened against Stanford. This outcome should not be a surprise. He is a very good recruiter but a very questionable game coach in my opinion. He has a ton of talent on his roster.

[Tu 4 MVP]

Well, that sucks.

[X-band '01]

This is curious - will time go back on the clock and will Xavier get one last shot?

[Firehose]

The refs are doing a hackjob on behalf of Duke.

[WCWIII]

Stolen

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

30 turnovers. 21 steals. 21.

I am shocked X was still in the game at the #3 team in the country's place until the final second.

[BBC 08]

Hope we stay at 4 in the country after this lost, just like Baylor stayed at 2 after losing to UConn.

[Retire33]

DUKE steals another victory from X....8 on 5 again.

[XU 87]

When Kevin McGuff is coaching no lead is safe. You saw what happened against Stanford.

I don't watch them enough to comment on his coaching. But as for Stanford, he designed a play at the end of the game and his player missed a point blank layup. That said, they sure did fall apart at the end of this game today.

[X-band '01]

Who am I kidding - this is Duke we're talking about.

Even then, 30 turnovers is just too many to overcome in a low-scoring game like this.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

I wish I could see the Moss foul. Regardless, why put yourself in a situation for the ref to call one with 1 second left?

Then again, all that was brought upon by a turnover.

[xavierj]

I don't watch them enough to comment on his coaching. But as for Stanford, he designed a play at the end of the game and his player missed a point blank layup. That said, they sure did fall apart at the end of this game today.

Yeah and then he had a timeout and they let the Stanford guard drive the length of the floor for a layup to win it. Stop the ball, it's that simple.

[moepvc04]

God bless the female gender, but they're brand of basketball is just brutal to watch.

[X-band '01]

I don't watch them enough to comment on his coaching. But as for Stanford, he designed a play at the end of the game and his player missed a point blank layup. That said, they sure did fall apart at the end of this game today.

Jernigan missed TWO point blank layups in that sequence.

But just like tonight, Xavier could have used a few more made FTs to give themselves some more breathing room. Defense was awesome tonight, but they could have used 1 or 2 more fruitful possessions on offense to pull out a win.

They'll get a 2nd chance at Stanford next week - they'll need to cash that one in if they're going to get a Top 2 seed for the tournament (and a berth at Dayton to boot).

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Yeah and then he had a timeout and they let the Stanford guard drive the length of the floor for a layup to win it. Stop the ball, it's that simple.

He had to be held back by security from what all the tweets say

[Firehose]

Jernigan missed TWO point blank layups in that sequence.

I was hurt more then than I am now. I hate getting screwed over by refs, especially when they don't have the decency to keep what had been a fair game fair to the end, but honestly, watching Dee Dee miss those layups was like watching the ball roll between Buckner's legs or Steve Bartman catching the ball in front of Moises Alou.

Now before anyone gets on my case too much, I will freely admit that under those circumstances, I could not have made a layup. Couldn't have done it. I also don't play basketball. It may be harsh or unkind for me to say, but when someone in that position with the time and effort that Dee Dee put into training to play in that game (given the fact that she was deemed to be the appropriate player to handle the ball for that sequence) misses consecutive shots that have an extremely high percentage when uncontested, it hurts. A lot. Tonight hurts. That hurt more.

[cinskyline]

Anyone know why we turned it over such an excessive number of times?

Duke stole the ball 21 times! 21! Is that even possible?

Anyway, this is why you play the tough games now. To find out your weaknesses. Nothing really matters until March anyway.

[xu_fan]

Anyone know why we turned it over such an excessive number of times?

Duke stole the ball 21 times! 21! Is that even possible?

Anyway, this is why you play the tough games now. To find out your weaknesses. Nothing really matters until March anyway.

All most all of the steals I saw were guards trying to pass the ball inside to normall Ta'Shia and sometimes Amber. They really need to learn if it's not there than it is just not there...

Mossy, Katie, and Megan really all had awful games though. Don't think that'll happen too many times again this year. Give Duke credit they fought all the way til the end. As a matter of fact they never led the entire 2nd half until that free throw with 2.5 seconds left. CRAZY:mad:

[MuskieFN]

Yeah, McGuff did not look too happy about the last foul...

http://www.daylife.com/photo/04Nz3lL5aEeQi?q=duke

[anXUfan]

sucks that they lost another close one. this X team is due.

[BBC 08]

Xavier is going to end UConn's streak in the NCAA tournament. I am calling it now.

[Firehose]

Yeah, McGuff did not look too happy about the last foul...

http://www.daylife.com/photo/04Nz3lL5aEeQi?q=duke

That right there is why Kevin McGuff is a great coach. He's not in the same caliber as a Summitt or an Auriemma, but this will not be the last trip to the top ten under Kevin McGuff.

[xu_fan]

That right there is why Kevin McGuff is a great coach. He's not in the same caliber as a Summitt or an Auriemma, but this will not be the last trip to the top ten under Kevin McGuff.

Could not agree more Firehose... My first thought was like "wow he is mad" but the passion he has is undeniable. Xavier may have a couple "down" years (and when I say down I mean not quite at this level) but believe me he is not going anywhere and Xavier will be a power for a long time....

[CinciX12]

While the refs were awful, you cannot ever under any circumstances expect to win a game turning the ball over that much. Didn't deserve to win.

Have to keep our heads up or Stanford will do the same to us.

[spongebob]

When Kevin McGuff is coaching no lead is safe. You saw what happened against Stanford. This outcome should not be a surprise. He is a very good recruiter but a very questionable game coach in my opinion. He has a ton of talent on his roster.

Yeah, You're right. I was there, right behind the bench and heard the Coaching staff exclaim, right before they broke the huddle, " just run it down to 3 or 4 seconds, throw it to the team in white, then go ahead and commit a shady foul" Or was that you in the midst of that huddle????

Good lord dude are you for real??? The lead's been safe 40+ times or so over the last 14 or so months which is about as good as anyone this side of Storrs, Connecticut. Would I stoop to your level in asking how many times you've actually seen the ladies over the years to make such observations??

[spongebob]

While the refs were awful, you cannot ever under any circumstances expect to win a game turning the ball over that much. Didn't deserve to win.

Have to keep our heads up or Stanford will do the same to us.

No doubt, the TO's would appear to be the back breaker. I looked briefly at the box score on the Duke site and it appears XU was superior in nearly every other statistical category, other than FT's, which was equal

[xu_fan]

Yeah, You're right. Surely McGuff called for team to turn it over, then instructed them to foul. Judging by the picture in a post above, quite sure that was not the case.

Good lord dude are you for real??? The lead's been safe 40+ times over the last 14 or so months which is about as good as anyone this side of Storrs, Connecticut. Would I stoop to your level in asking how many times you've actually seen the ladies over the years to make such observations??

Ditto

[X-band '01]

Stanford has the last realistic shot until the NCAA Tournament to end UConn's streak - they do host UConn right after they host Xavier next week.

[spongebob]

http://assets.matchbin.com/secure/3e8fd17cab4d8acfda3d221a970e7a40/4d121da5/sites/659/assets/JQ95_16124077_Xavier_Duke_Basketball.jpg


This is a pic of the last play, which appears to be what incensed the staff at the end. Foul, or no foul? Certainly looks like a hack across the arm.

[spongebob]

http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/10746282/article-Thomas-makes-plays-at-both-ends-to-give-Blue-Devils-victory-over-No--4-Xavier?instance=main_article


Here's the article

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

It should have not come down to that last play. This game should have been won comfortably by Xavier which makes it frustrating. Here are the offensive possessions from 10:59 on.

2nd Half:

10:59 - Amber Harris Turnover
10:22 - Tyeasha Moss Turnover
10:11 - Megan Askew Turnover
9:52 - Amber Harris 1/2 from the FT line
9:24 - Ta'Shia Phillips Turnover
8:39 - Amber Harris Layup
7:48 - Katie Rutan Turnover
7:19 - Amber Harris missed 2 point shot
7:17 - Ta'Shia Phillips missed 2 point shot
6:29 - Amber Harris missed 3 point jumper
6:25 - Ta'Shia Phillips Turnover
5:54 - Amber Harris Turnover
5:28 - Tyeasha Moss Turnover
4:53 - Amber Harris 1/2 from FT
4:39 - Tyeasha Moss missed 3 point jumper
4:06 - Amber Harris Turnover
3:29 - Amber Harris missed 2 point jumper
2:42 - Amber Harris made 2 point jumper
1:51 - Megan Askew Turnover
:56 - Tyeasha Moss Turnover
:03 - Special Jennings Turnover

So from the 10:59 mark until the end of the game, Xavier had:
2 Field goals made
6 Total points
7 Attempted Field Goals
12 TURNOVERS

I am shocked the game was even this close. That shows you how well the defense played...

[STL_XUfan]

God bless the female gender, but they're brand of basketball is just brutal to watch.

This was an ugly game for both sides. However, don't let this one game color the pace and style that our women play. They are averaging around 75 points a game. This is was just a grind-it-out-no-one-can-make-a-shot type game (think Xavier v. Butler).

Here is their results on the season, you can see most games have a much better tempo and flow. http://www.goxavier.com/sports/w-baskbl/sched/xavi-w-baskbl-sched.html

[xavierj]

This was an ugly game for both sides. However, don't let this one game color the pace and style that our women play. They are averaging around 75 points a game. This is was just a grind-it-out-no-one-can-make-a-shot type game (think Xavier v. Butler).

Here is their results on the season, you can see most games have a much better tempo and flow. http://www.goxavier.com/sports/w-baskbl/sched/xavi-w-baskbl-sched.html

I don't care how many points they make it's just not pretty basketball. At least during the Xavier v Butler men's game the teams were not bricking point blank uncontested layups. I mean they can't get the ball up the floor, they miss so many easy bunnies and struggle to shoot free throws. They could not beat good high school boys teams.

I have been to a few games and I watch whenever they are on TV but it just does not do much for my excitement. It tends to be a boring brand of basketball and the players seem to struggle with the easiest of shots and that is why no one outside of UCONN & Tennessee can get anyone to show up to womens games and that includes women themselves.

[CinciX12]

It should have not come down to that last play. This game should have been won comfortably by Xavier which makes it frustrating. Here are the offensive possessions from 10:59 on.

2nd Half:

10:59 - Amber Harris Turnover
10:22 - Tyeasha Moss Turnover
10:11 - Megan Askew Turnover
9:52 - Amber Harris 1/2 from the FT line
9:24 - Ta'Shia Phillips Turnover
8:39 - Amber Harris Layup
7:48 - Katie Rutan Turnover
7:19 - Amber Harris missed 2 point shot
7:17 - Ta'Shia Phillips missed 2 point shot
6:29 - Amber Harris missed 3 point jumper
6:25 - Ta'Shia Phillips Turnover
5:54 - Amber Harris Turnover
5:28 - Tyeasha Moss Turnover
4:53 - Amber Harris 1/2 from FT
4:39 - Tyeasha Moss missed 3 point jumper
4:06 - Amber Harris Turnover
3:29 - Amber Harris missed 2 point jumper
2:42 - Amber Harris made 2 point jumper
1:51 - Megan Askew Turnover
:56 - Tyeasha Moss Turnover
:03 - Special Jennings Turnover

So from the 10:59 mark until the end of the game, Xavier had:
2 Field goals made
6 Total points
7 Attempted Field Goals
12 TURNOVERS

I am shocked the game was even this close. That shows you how well the defense played...

Those are just staggering numbers. Epic failure on the part of the girls.

[X-band '01]

Epic failure is harsh - at the end of the day, it's only a regular season game.

It's not unfair to wonder why the players and coaches didn't adjust to Duke's pressure, but I will gladly take any win no matter how impressive or unimpressive the game looks.

[XU-PA]

look at the loss this way, yes lots of turnovers, way too many. But those were not just boots out of bounds or idiotic passes that were tossed to the wrong player. the most of thosew ere very very good duke players jumping the passing lanes and making steals. They did their job on defense. Xavier on the other hand did their job on defense too, forcing duke into bad shots over and over, and holding a very high scoring team to under 50 points.
This was a battle of 2 titans, two of the top five teams in the country.
Yup, X could have done better at the line, but save a kind of wimpy foul call on a tipped ball at 2.5 seconds we'd have seen an extra 5 minutes of ball.
And had an official made what looks to me like an absolute no brainer call at the buzzer, maybe it would have been a 1 point win for X in regulation.
Play this game again, on a neutral court, maybe it's an entirely different result.
2 very good teams doing their jobs.

what i really hate are people who use a loss like this to stink up this forum with tired old complaints about Coach McGuff. look at the numbers, best coach in the programs history, PERIOD.
and to those using this loss to boast about womens basketballs "inferiority" to mens ball, give it a rest, these are top athletes, playing at the top level in their sport, the rhetoric is tired tired tired.

[xavierj]

The problem is that X just flat blew that game when they were in control and at the end of the day that just cannot afford that to happen. If Xavier wins that game they likely lock up a #1 seed at the end of the year but now they will have an excuse to keep them in the 2-3 range. Opportunity lost.

Xavier has arguably two of the best players in the country that will most likely be first round WNBA draft picks. Chances are you will never be able to say that about a Xavier team again. The women's program may stay competitive but after last year's blown opportunity, this year may be the best chance they will ever have to make a final 4.

[X-band '01]

Maybe not a 1, but there's still a good shot at a 2 (or low 1 depending on what Stanford, Baylor, UConn and Duke do) should they beat Stanford. With the A-10 not being a deep conference, Xavier has less margin for error.

I'd like to think that Stanford might overlook Xavier with their pending date with UConn, but that's just not going to happen.

[cinskyline]

It's not unfair to wonder why the players and coaches didn't adjust to Duke's pressure, but I will gladly take any win no matter how impressive or unimpressive the game looks.

This is what bugs me most. It seemed like no adjustment was made in the 2nd half to stop the bleeding. Every time down was turnover, turnover, turnover..... 20 of them in the 2nd half.

Also, the guards simply MUST show up in a game like this with a least a couple of shots. We can't have no-shows from Moss, Rutan, Askew, etc.. Harris and Phillips cannot do it all. We will not get to the Final Four unless we have a better team effort--- Inside and outside.

[diehardfan]

This is what bugs me most. It seemed like no adjustment was made in the 2nd half to stop the bleeding. Every time down was turnover, turnover, turnover..... 20 of them in the 2nd half.

Also, the guards simply MUST show up in a game like this with a least a couple of shots. We can't have no-shows from Moss, Rutan, Askew, etc.. Harris and Phillips cannot do it all. We will not get to the Final Four unless we have a better team effort--- Inside and outside.
Poor passing causes no shot opportunities outside plus rutan sat on bench most of 2nd half, kept starting 5 in. The plays were set for the big girls not the guards. I guess they were hoping to be fouled but we were not very good at the foul line either.