Louisville Game Thread

[coasterville95]

Camped out in front of the Tas. The Louisville team bus and two charter buses have arrived so far.

[coasterville95]

Early crowd, am I at cintas center or yum center. :(

[coasterville95]

What's wrong with this picture?

[xu_fan]

It's still early Coaster.... I think Xavier is going to show up and represent well today. Whether they have more fans than us or not, we need to bring more passion!!!

I'm confident in our ladies. They're seniors and want to go all the way...

Bring on the Cards!!!

:logo:

[bjf123]

I see more red than blue. Gotta get more X fans in here!

[bjf123]

Coach Mack is in the house!

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Game not on TV?

[xavierj]

Standard definition espn.

[HomerCecil]

Decent start, but settling for a lot of 3s. I know they're all over the post, but we need to get the ball inside!

[coasterville95]

Very energetic crowd in here on both dudes. Lower bowl almost full. Some fans who preferred centers are about 7 rows deep in 212

9-10 bad girls 15:38 1st

[rhyno2110]

Standard definition espn.

Is it possible get that channel with a hd directv reciever?

[STL_XUfan]

Is it possible get that channel with a hd directv reciever?

Try espn3.com

[coasterville95]

19-23 them 11:27 but we have an and 1. Three pointers raining all around.

Electric tourney atmosphere

[bjf123]

Gotta defend the 3 and get the ball inside on offense.

[X-band '01]

23-22 Cards; not exactly playing to Xavier's strengths with the speed of this game.

[X-band '01]

This is definitely not like last year's 2nd round game where X couldn't buy any outside shots.

Now 27-23 X (9:11 in the 1st half)

[X-band '01]

How to stop a 13-0 run - set a nasty screen that doesn't get called by your teammates. Special Jennings is shaken up.

30-26 X

[coasterville95]

30-26 7:32 left

The lower level whine and cheese seats have never seen this level of standing and yelling and going crazy midway through the first half

[HomerCecil]

Crap. I would not be surprised if we don't see Special again tonight. I'm not sure she knows what planet she's on. I hope Hawkes is ready.

[Muskieblue]

Is it possible get that channel with a hd directv reciever?

channel 732

and wow that pick was rough lol

[American X]

Special Jennings is like a piece of iron.

[rhyno2110]

Sorry, but I'm not paying 16 bucks for a f'in womens game. I don't care how important it is. I will just have to deal with the broadcast.

[X-band '01]

Amber about to get a 6-minute break; she picks up her 2nd foul.

32-26 X (6:18)

[Muskieblue]

Sorry, but I'm not paying 16 bucks for a f'in womens game. I don't care how important it is. I will just have to deal with the broadcast.


oh i guess i get it with my package, only thing extra i have is the sports package, that it was a normal channel just not hd

[X-band '01]

I'm amazed that Louisville isn't more aggressive towards Amber in the post; the points in the paint are about even. There were a few close calls in terms of potentially picking up her 3rd foul.

Such is the peril of a 6-man rotation.

[SixFig]

I haven't watched a ton of women's games this year, but it appears Katie Rutan is the Dante Jackson of the team.

[HomerCecil]

Yeah, I'm a little worried about Amber picking up a 3rd. I'd love to sit her, but you saw what happened when we took her out...

[X-band '01]

Makeup call on the moving screen results in a T for Coach Walz for Louisville. This could be nice - Xavier now has the arrow to start the 2nd half to boot.

[X-band '01]

Xavier goes into the half with a 40-37 lead.

[American X]

Does Rutan ever, you know, make a shot? She has to lead the team in shot attempts, doubt she is leading in FG%.

Don't understand her jacking all those shots with Moss on fire and Harris & Philips in the post.

[bjf123]

Both teams 50% or better from the floor and from behind the arc.

They can't stop Amber or TaShia when we get the ball inside. We're just having trouble getting it there.

[cinskyline]

Entertaining game! We need to do a better job on defense -- especially on Schimmel.

Megan and Katie are killing me with their missed shots.

[coasterville95]

We have an instant classic brewing here. Only thing missing is papal assistance.

Cintas center is off the hook tonight.

Time for second half.

[X-band '01]

Trey Wingo - "last year was Xavier's first Sweet 16 appearance"

Kara Lawson would beg to differ - her Tennessee team lost to Xavier back in 2001.

[X-band '01]

Amber playing like she really wants a rubber game with Gonzaga right about now.

[HomerCecil]

Askew has thrown some pretty poor passes tonight.

[cinskyline]

Askew has thrown some pretty poor passes tonight.

Megan is playing about as badly as you can play.

[cinskyline]

Schimmel has about half of Louisville's points. We don't have a clue as to how to guard her.

[X-band '01]

That's why AmX.

Back-to-back 3s for Rutan; X now up 56-52 (13:20 left).

Now 56-55 after a UofL 3.

[coasterville95]

We have an all new game - 56 all. 12:03

[X-band '01]

And Xavier blows it back to 6 with back-to-back 3s from Rutan and Moss.

[coasterville95]

62-56 Xavier with 10:59

They just put up a stat. Combined the two teams made 19 treys thus far.

[danaandvictory]

Louisville's coach needs a slap.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Exciting game!

[X-band '01]

Juwan Staten transferred to the Louisville women? Rutan broke her ankles like Tu did to Staten last month.

[coasterville95]

67-60 x 6:38

[XU 87]

Amber Harris should touch the ball on every offensive possession.

[coasterville95]

70-67 X 4:40

Is there a live chat going.

[X-band '01]

A pair of Schimmel FTs coming up; X leads by 3 at the final media timeout. Ooh boy.

[X-band '01]

Nope Coaster; you're looking at it on this thread.

[cinskyline]

A charge? Really?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

These refs are horrifically horrific for both sides

[X-band '01]

70-70 tie; 2 min to go.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Ugh. Turnovers killing us

[xsteve1]

Wow just too may turnovers.

[X-band '01]

Will they call the elbow on Gibbs? This could be a huge swing with Xavier now down 3.

[mistabeecee41]

And I thought the men's team was frustrating.

[xavierj]

Man one thing is for sure this team has to be up by more than 10 under 3 minutes or it will get interesting. I try to watch them but it seems that no lead is safe.

[HomerCecil]

Ugh. Well, if Louisville wins this, they've earned it. COME ON X!

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Oh wow it looks like an intentional or flagrant!

[xsteve1]

X women look to be getting a break. No way was that intentional.

[X-band '01]

1-and-1 on Rutan's foul; Gibbs gets a flagrant foul. Xavier will have the ball I believe after Xavier's FTs.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

BIG possession here. NO TURNOVERS

[X-band '01]

Louisville leads 75-71 after the FTs; Xavier gets the ball.

[Titanxman04]

ANOTHER turn over. This is painful to watch.

[xsteve1]

Turnover again.

[xavierj]

Chocking it away. It's a shame that all of that talent, 2 top 10 WNBA picks and they can't get over the hump.

[XU 87]

Geez. How many turnovers in the last 5 minutes?

My son tells me that X has had 7 turnovers in their last 7 possessions. Is that true?

X has 23 turnovers. They have scored 6 points in the last 10 minutes.

A 20-2 run in the last 5 minutes.

Wow.

[xsteve1]

This one's over. Just too many unforced errors.

[Titanxman04]

That may be game. Quite a disappointment to see this result tonight.

[X-band '01]

Big trouble. UofL now up 77-71 with a minute to play. Harris with 4 fouls.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

What is with all the turnovers? I am not a women's fan by any stretch but I really tried to watch this game and both sides look like total crap. Is XU really a #2 seed? Were they overrated? Is the women's game in general overrated? Not hating, but this just is not interesting to watch.

Honestly I really tried.

[Titanxman04]

Just prolonging the inevitable.

[X-band '01]

What was the last possession Xavier even got off a shot?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

From the 5:17 mark on:

-Moss Turnover
-Moss missed 3
-Moss Turnover
-Harris Turnover
-Jennings Turnover
-Harris Turnover
-Rutan missed 3
-Rutan Turnover

Self destruction. Kudos to UL for never giving up, but they were helped immensely

[mistabeecee41]

This might be the worst 10 possessions of basketball I have ever watched... at any level.

[rhyno2110]

I'm stunned. Not the outlook I had on the season for the women.

[X-band '01]

And up goes the white flag from the Xavier bench - seniors coming out.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Tough to end the year this way....20-2 run in the last 5 minutes

[Titanxman04]

I'm stunned. Not the outlook I had on the season for the women.

Not the outlook any had. This was our most talented team ever, and it fell apart.

Honestly, I just don't see this team ever being this talented again. Harris and Phillips kind of fell in the lap of Mcguff from my understanding. I am not complaining and I am certainly not complaining that we got them. But I think we won't ever has as good of a chance to get to a Final Four in the women's game as we did these past two years. Disappointment City. Population, Xavier nation

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Not the outlook any had. This was our most talented team ever, and it fell apart.

Honestly, I just don't see this team ever being this talented again. Harris and Phillips kind of fell in the lap of Mcguff from my understanding. I am not complaining and I am certainly not complaining that we got them. But I think we won't ever has as good of a chance to get to a Final Four in the women's game as we did these past two years. Disappointment City. Population, Xavier nation

Men and women Xavier teams, although they have achieved some great success, have gone through some real emotional losses and heartbreaks the last decade.

[X-band '01]

And we have to be reminded again of last year's loss - this is far more worse.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

No parity right now in women's basketball. Book it for their final 4.

Baylor - because they have that massive girl
UConn
Stanford
Tennessee

Only Baylor crashes the party but the same players year in year out. What exactly is going on here?

[HomerCecil]

This team fell apart against Duke late, too. I'm not quite sure what to make of it.

Terrible, terrible ending for the ladies. Congratulations to all the seniors for everything they've put into this program. Hate to say it, but I hope this wasn't McGuff's last game as well. He'll certainly be on the short list for some big jobs.

[Xman95]

Admittedly I haven't seen many women's games. But it seems like the recent teams don't deal well with pressure situations. I could be wrong. Again, the sample size on which I'm judging is very small. But it seems they don't stay calm and start making quick - and usually bad - decisions. Is that the case or is it just something that's happened a few times and those are some of the times I've watched? (If so, maybe I need to stop watching the women play because I'm a jinx. Hey, I'm willing to take the heat for the loss on Friday, so lump this one on me too!)

[Titanxman04]

Men and women Xavier teams, although they have achieved some great success, have gone through some real emotional losses and heartbreaks the last decade.

How many programs have had as many emotional losses come tourney play as we have had in the last ten years?

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

No parity right now in women's basketball. Book it for their final 4.

Baylor - because they have that massive girl
UConn
Stanford
Tennessee

Only Baylor crashes the party but the same players year in year out. What exactly is going on here?

Ya, anyone can pretty much pick the final four every year. Stanford, UConn, Tenn, *Insert new short lived great team of the year here*

[xumuskies08]

The horrid last 5 minutes did them in. Can't turn the ball over 24 times and win an NCAA game. This was supposed to be their year too. Bad way to end the season.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

How many programs have had as many emotional losses come tourney play as we have had in the last ten years?

Now that is an interesting way to think of it....I never thought of it that way. Very philosophical

[XU 87]

Not the outlook any had. This was our most talented team ever, and it fell apart.

Honestly, I just don't see this team ever being this talented again.

I tend to agree.

I don't follow the team too closely- but was he able to use the past few teams to build on recruiting to getter higher ranked players?

[xsteve1]

No parity right now in women's basketball. Book it for their final 4.

Baylor - because they have that massive girl
UConn
Stanford
Tennessee

Only Baylor crashes the party but the same players year in year out. What exactly is going on here?

The X women really had no chance to get to the Final 4 with the group you listed anyway. Oh well, back to concentrate on the men's team for next year.

[Xman95]

How many programs have had as many emotional losses come tourney play as we have had in the last ten years?

Of course there are many, many schools that would love to be in position to have that many emotional losses. Even with the heartbreakers, it's still good to be an X fan.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Just popped on ESPN and they are getting a 91 and 90 rated players. Not exactly going to fill the shoes of those two seniors. I heard they are sure draft picks.

Short answer looks to me that no he is not getting bigger players.

[xumuskies08]

I mean I'm trying to think of some positives to take away from this game but there really aren't any. This was the most talented team ever, they were playing on their home floor, they had everything going for them and they just threw the game away. They scored a total of 6 points in the final 6 minutes of play while Louisville scored like 25. Just really bad basketball down the stretch.

/rant.

[HomerCecil]

Just popped on ESPN and they are getting a 91 and 90 rated players. Not exactly going to fill the shoes of those two seniors. I heard they are sure draft picks.

Short answer looks to me that no he is not getting bigger players.

I follow the team as closely as I follow the men. McGuff is getting some decent recruits but nothing like the level of Harris and Phillips. Also, the young players we do have don't play. This team was 6 deep, and four of them were seniors.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I mean I'm trying to think of some positives to take away from this game but there really aren't any. This was the most talented team ever, they were playing on their home floor, they had everything going for them and they just threw the game away. They scored a total of 6 points in the final 6 minutes of play while Louisville scored like 25. Just really bad basketball down the stretch.

/rant.

Someone posted earlier that McGuff would get interest from bigger programs. With those type of turnovers ? :confused:

[coasterville95]

Okay they won now they are getting obnoxious still chanting cards like crazy in the concourse. The singing of my old Kentucky home was great, give them that, and could be heard from thr concourse.

That level of self destruction was pure agony.

Great job fans though, both students and alumns were awesome tonigt

[cinskyline]

I follow the team as closely as I follow the men. McGuff is getting some decent recruits but nothing like the level of Harris and Phillips. Also, the young players we do have don't play. This team was 6 deep, and four of them were seniors.

McGuff made a serious error this year in opting to win as many games as he could with 6 players instead of forming a deep bench and maybe taking a loss or two more. In the end, winning all those games didn't matter anyway. The 2 seed turned out to be a punishment more than a reward.

[Xman95]

Someone posted earlier that McGuff would get interest from bigger programs. With those type of turnovers ? :confused:

I have actually seen some people rip McGuff. Not great down the stretch, poor game coach, etc. I don't see enough of him/women's team to know for sure, but I haven't been overly impressed with what I have seen.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

If UL does happen to make it to the Elite 8, they aren't getting by the Cardinal

[HomerCecil]

I have actually seen some people rip McGuff. Not great down the stretch, poor game coach, etc. I don't see enough of him/women's team to know for sure, but I haven't been overly impressed with what I have seen.

Sure, they've had some tough losses, but he's certainly a valuable coach. They haven't lost an A10 game — regular season or tournament — since 2009. His numbers are really good. If he's going to jump, this would be the year to do it. I hope he sticks around, but we'll see.

[Xman95]

If UL does happen to make it to the Elite 8, they aren't getting by the Cardinal

I don't think X would have either.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

ESPN doesn't track total turnovers for women's teams. I wonder what our yearly total was and what the per game total was. I get that there are some down right miserable teams in the women's game but I bet that average is ~18 after what I saw.

[LadyMuskie]

Just got home from the game. My husband and I have no voices left we were screaming so hard. I for one hate when people say the refs were terrible in a game, but that was one of the worst officiated games I've ever seen in basketball - college, pro or high school. I think at least two of the three officials were legally blind. We were very close to the floor and you could just see the wind go out of the girls' sails when they were getting manhandled under the basket with no calls, but being called for fouls on the other end. Louisville had some questionable calls against them too, just not as many. The momentum shift was visible on the court. Its like Derrick Finn said when we lost to Duke in Atlanta - you can't beat the other team and the officials too.

Anyway, it was a great game and a great season for the ladies. We had a lot of fun. I haven't cheered that hard throughout an entire game since the Richmond game last season when the guys took it to 3 OTs. I really thought that this was the year the ladies would break through to the Final Four, but it wasn't to be. We'll definitely miss Amber and Ta'Shia next year.

[CinciX12]

That was the best Xavier team that will ever set foot on a basketball court. Makes today even sadder knowing they will never most likely be back to this level. Extremely disappointing.

[GoMuskies]

That freshman from Louisville was just ridiculous. They're gonna be in the top 5 next year.

[SixFig]

The worst part is that we are on the front of ESPN.com for choking.

Make it go away...when is Musketeer Madness?

[GoMuskies]

Good to see Tom Jackson in the house. Wonder what he was doing in Cincinnati?

[AviatorX]

Good to see Tom Jackson in the house. Wonder what he was doing in Cincinnati?

He's a resident.

[GoMuskies]

Did not know.

[XU-PA]

Good to see Tom Jackson in the house. Wonder what he was doing in Cincinnati?

He has lived in Cincinnati for a long time. Was wearing UofL red though, He's an alum.

My two cents, or 20 bucks.
This was a hell of a game, X played their absolute best for 38 minutes, then it went all south. As a fan though, wow.
Fans did a great job, we well outnumbered U of L, I'm guessing probably 3-1 blue over red. The place was absolutely rocking! Any real fan of basketball would have loved this game. We were as loud as can be, all game long, only thing that irked me was fans streaming out at the 1 minute mark, but I understand, I just don't like seeing that.
Phillips, as was the case the last 3 or 4 games, had to carry 2 or 3 defensive players on her shoulders throughout the whole game, she got a few calls, but the refs were certainly in the let them play mode. Amber had a hell of a game, had a few errant passes hit their mark it certainly could have been a different result. Mossy was awesome, the last half of the season for her has been incredible, but I could see her wearing down, couple of way off shots in the second half, she had lost her legs. Rutan certainly picked up anything that mossy left by getting back to the 3 point machine that she really is, Once she hits one or two her confidence is back and she can fill it up. I was very impressed with Askew, on defense she was an absolute whirlwind early, unfortunate part is that she has something in her head the last several games, a severe lack of confidence in her shot and it had a horrible effect tonight.
Special, well, was just Special. She really got clocked on that pick. and I think that if you got a close look you'd see a bit of a push from the defender when contact was made, it rarely gets called in college, but I think that was a bit extra curricular. amazed that she came back, she has impressed me all along with her skils, and this year her spirit has been what held this team together,

As far as depth, XU was not any less deep than Uof L was. Outside of the rush of bench players in the last minute, UofL played 7 players to our six, but one of his starters only went 7 minutes, so the depth was pretty even. His group just had a little bit more at the end. This was really a four point game that ended up at ten because of the free throws and last minute desperation misses and turnovers.

My hat is off to this team, to the seniors, and to the coaching staff. I'm sure there will be talk of members of the staff leaving, I think Coach Neighbors would probably be considered for some jobs, certainly someone will be out there trying to lure away Coach McGuff, Coach Morrow certainly has a big future as does Waugh. I'm hoping this group will stay together another year, it will be interesting to see how they re create the group next year without the huge stars.
As many of you know I am a huge McGuff fan. No brainer to me, he's the best this program has ever had, no one else is even close. He's the best recruiter, and has the best record, you can not argue with success the man knows what he's doing.
Back to Maine tomorrow, 6 fresh inches of snow on the ground and more coming thursday and friday.
Thanks to all the fans, the players and coaches who made this another wonderful season, i could only have been happier with a win, but it's been a fantastic ride!

[bjf123]

That was the best Xavier team that will ever set foot on a basketball court. Makes today even sadder knowing they will never most likely be back to this level. Extremely disappointing.Agreed. I'm not sure we'll ever see another Lady Muskie team where the expectation is legitimately for a Final Four appearance (even though it didn't happen this year). We just made too many poor decisions at the end of the game resulting in too many turnovers which let Louisville back in the game. Have to give credit to the Cards for sticking in there and taking advantage of our miscues.

[xu_fan]

Hard way to end the year. So proud of the seniors..

Coach may not be the best bench coach ever but I wouldn't want anyone else. He has done a ton for this program... Ill sure miss this group...

Excited for how different our team will look next year! I think we will surprise some people..

[xuwin]

That was the best Xavier team that will ever set foot on a basketball court. Makes today even sadder knowing they will never most likely be back to this level. Extremely disappointing.

I think last years team was better because it had April Phillups, more depth and Rutan had a better year.

[XU-PA]

I think last years team was better because it had April Phillups, more depth and Rutan had a better year.


I think you have a point "win"
With both Phillips and Jernigan putting a lot more physicality into the #3 spot there was a missing facet to the team this year. They had the saze to make a drive to the lane a little more frightening for defenses. Won't take anything away from Special, but her size limited her ability to do that. Askew's ability came, especially in the last month, on the defensive side.

Either way, the group last year, this year, will not soon be replicated.

Have been thinking about our lack of depth this year, I think it's obvious that Amber Gray was just not quite ready to throw her body back out there for extended time, and she was probably the most talented of anyone of the group beyond our top 6.
Wondering if the lack of opportunity to start on this team had limited Coach's ability to recruit top players over the past 2 years.
It will certainly be very interesting to watch how the staff rebuilds next year.