From the Pulpit - Tennessee

[MADXSTER]

Tennessee has missed the NCAA tournament the last two years.

Due to injuries last season, the Vols went to a four guard lineup and surprised themselves as they finished 9-2.

Tennessee likes to play outside-in. Their three point shooting threats are Thompson, McRae and Hubbs. Antonio Barton, another three point specialist hopefully is out of commission for now.

McRae was the SEC runner-up POY. Sr 6' 5" SF
Hubbs is a 5 star FR 6' 6" 205 SG. Ranked the #2 SG in the nation.
Thompson is a solid 6' 5" Fr PG
Josh Richardson 6' 6" SG combo guard
Barton is a 6' 2" Sr PG


Jeronne Maymon, a 6' 7" 265 SR PF was out last season due to a knee injury. In 17 min in the first exh game he had 8pts, 7rbs and 4 asst. In 2011 he had 32 pts and 20 rbs against #8 Memphis.

Jarnell Stokes, a 6' 8" 260 JR PF is a beast. An All American candidate.

Rawane Ndiaye 6' 10" 275 Jr Junior College transfer.

Tennessee will like to get out and run just like Xavier. At this point in the season, it will be interesting to see which team is in the best shape, cardiovascular wise. That may be the difference.

[Backyard Champ]

I do like that this is Tennessee's first game of the year, and it's on the road. That should help. Hopefully the crowd shows up for the game, it is a 9:00 start time, so I'm hoping that means people will actually be at their seats by the start of the game.

[xudash]

Did you know that the Cintas Center is small? And that we sell inexpensive seats?

Tennessee averages about 16,000 and change per home game, but we are small at 10,250.

All this according to one of their fans on the Tennessee messageboard.

[BlueGuy]

I do like that this is Tennessee's first game of the year, and it's on the road. That should help. Hopefully the crowd shows up for the game, it is a 9:00 start time, so I'm hoping that means people will actually be at their seats by the start of the game.

9pm starts usually leads to a rowdy crowd. Everyone will be drunk.


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[X-band '01]

Did you know that the Cintas Center is small? And that we sell inexpensive seats?

Tennessee averages about 16,000 and change per home game, but we are small at 10,250.

All this according to one of their fans on the Tennessee messageboard.

At least we don't get PA messages begging fans to move down to the lower seats like they once did at Tennessee (even if it was in the pre-Pearl era).

[XUOHTX]

Did you know that the Cintas Center is small? And that we sell inexpensive seats?

Tennessee averages about 16,000 and change per home game, but we are small at 10,250.

All this according to one of their fans on the Tennessee messageboard.
The Cintas Center is too small. Finish the bowl.

[LadyMuskie]

The last time we played Tennessee at home, there was a sea of orange in the po' folk seats where we were sitting. It was awful. The rednecks from dayton are rivaled only by their brethren from Knoxville. We've got to win this one. No excuses. No prisoners!

[GoMuskies]

I went to the game in Knoxville last year. Those are two hours I can never get back. That was some horrific basketball on both sides.

[blobfan]

The last time we played Tennessee at home, there was a sea of orange in the po' folk seats where we were sitting. It was awful. The rednecks from dayton are rivaled only by their brethren from Knoxville. We've got to win this one. No excuses. No prisoners!

Gives me shivers thinking about it. It sounded like a Tennessee home game. Ugh. I plan to be there for the first part. With a 9 pm start and work the next morning, I can't promise to stay if the score gets uneven at the end.

[GIMMFD]

Let's put Semaj on Hubbs... I wanna see that match up.

[surfxu]

Just started drinking..... got to win this one..... LET'S GO X!!!!!!

[Titanxman04]

Just started drinking..... got to win this one..... LET'S GO X!!!!!!

Just started now? Man up.

[xavierj]

Tennessee will be a tough game. With the injuries it is not looking good. They are picked third in the SEC, behind Florida and UK, and actually picked up a 1st place vote. They have a pretty loaded team.

[Masterofreality]

Gary Parrish has Tennessee ranked 22 this week in his Top 25 & 1.

This will be an early gauge as to how good we are. Hope that Myles Davis, Dee Davis and JMart are on board.A couple of Jimmy Farr 3's would be nice to see too.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

I'm really concerned about our back-court for this game. Dee is most assuredly out, and it doesn't sound promising for Marty and Myles. That would mean only two guards on the roster in shorts: Randolph (a freshman, although he played well Friday) and Semaj. If you have to start Big Stain, Philmore, and Stenger, that leaves only Farr, Jalen, and Kamall off the bench.

Holy bad match-ups, Batman. I'm still optimistic, but wow, this is basically going to be 2 guards, an inexperienced wing, and 5 bigs.

[OTRMUSKIE]

We won some big games last year with two walk ons and a depleted bench. If this game was on the road I be concerned but I think X wins this one as long as they hit free throws.

[Masterofreality]

We won some big games last year with two walk ons and a depleted bench. If this game was on the road I be concerned but I think X wins this one as long as Semaj hits free throws.

Fixed that for you.

[Titanxman04]

Yea. I'm not too worried about our guard play. I'm impressed with Randolph and the kid seems ready to take on the new challenges. He had some nice work controlling tempo and making things happen. With the new rules, I'm more concerned with our bigs staying out of foul trouble and Semaj hitting from the charity line.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Yea. I'm not too worried about our guard play. I'm impressed with Randolph and the kid seems ready to take on the new challenges. He had some nice work controlling tempo and making things happen. With the new rules, I'm more concerned with our bigs staying out of foul trouble and Semaj hitting from the charity line.

We absolutely need Myles Davis in the lineup and hopefully JMart as well. Why do you guys say they are most definitely out. They are just day-to-day. Dee Davis I understand is probably out.

[Titanxman04]

We absolutely need Myles Davis in the lineup and hopefully JMart as well. Why do you guys say they are most definitely out. They are just day-to-day. Dee Davis I understand is probably out.

One game does not a season make. Better to be cautious as opposed to risky and having it bite you in the ass. We should have another shot at Tenn, with everyone hopefully back and healthy.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

One game does not a season make. Better to be cautious as opposed to risky and having it bite you in the ass. We should have another shot at Tenn, with everyone hopefully back and healthy.

I am not saying for them to play hurt, I am saying that both are day-to-day. Unless something happens in practice I would expect Martin/Myles to at least make a go of it in pre-game. I might have missed something though.

[Titanxman04]

I am not saying for them to play hurt, I am saying that both are day-to-day. Unless something happens in practice I would expect Martin/Myles to at least make a go of it in pre-game. I might have missed something though.

My best guess (which bears no means to attempt any sort of inside intelligence...or just personal intelligence at that) would be gamesmanship. Make Tenn. think they have to prepare for guys who might not play.

[casualfan]

I could be wrong, but i'd be shocked if Myles plays.

Whether they rushed him back or not, him reinjuring the knee would seemingly cause them to be extra cautious this time around.

To get where this team wants to go we'll need him healthy for the long haul.

Judging by how he looked on the bench post-injury I'd be shocked if we saw him.

[Milhouse]

I'll be very surprised if we see Dee, Myles, or Martin.

Gotta imagine all 3 are out.

[GIMMFD]

That really worries me, I think we need Justin's defense and rebounding, sure he makes very uhh... interesting plays at times, but he's a good lengthy defender, I wouldn't mind Myles 3 ball either.. who do you think can knock down that shot with those two gone? Farr needs to step up and play big like he did last game. Hopefully Semaj nails free throws... One thing we have going for us is playing at Cintas, the Hubbs kid's first game is going to be in a pretty hostile environment, so let's just see how this goes for him!! I think if we neutralize him, and just play tight defense, we will be fine.

[Titanxman04]

That really worries me, I think we need Justin's defense and rebounding, sure he makes very uhh... interesting plays at times, but he's a good lengthy defender, I wouldn't mind Myles 3 ball either.. who do you think can knock down that shot with those two gone? Farr needs to step up and play big like he did last game. Hopefully Semaj nails free throws... One thing we have going for us is playing at Cintas, the Hubbs kid's first game is going to be in a pretty hostile environment, so let's just see how this goes for him!! I think if we neutralize him, and just play tight defense, we will be fine.

Don't be worried for our guys.

If we lose this one, that'll suck. I'll be frustrated for some small amount of time, and will move on. Injuries happen, but rarely will a team have a second chance to play an OOC opponent so early in the year. We have that chance. If we come out and lose with a depleted roster, and then turn around with everyone healthy and win, that'll show nicely for us come March I would think.

Then again, it'll show better if we just whoop the hell out of them twice.

[SixFig]

Would you rather win this game or a potential future matchup with the Vols in the Battle 4 Atlantis?

[GIMMFD]

Would you rather win this game or a potential future matchup with the Vols in the Battle 4 Atlantis?

Battle 4 Atlantis, I want to win that whole damn tournament. I want to play Kansas and see how we stack up with them. Tournaments are for winning.

[STL_XUfan]

Would you rather win this game or a potential future matchup with the Vols in the Battle 4 Atlantis?
RPI hit is worse when you lose a home game rather than a neutral site game (unless they changed the home/away formula recently).


Edit* I guess it would actually even out (.67 - 1=-.33 or -1.33 +1= -.33). So I guess it doesn't really matter except that a win in Atlantis would open up the chance for an even better RPI game.

[crolfes12]

I'll be very surprised if we see Dee, Myles, or Martin.

Gotta imagine all 3 are out.

Mack: "The best I can give you is I think there’s probably a 40 percent chance that 75 percent or less of our players will be able to play tomorrow."

That number is regarding the injured players, not the entire team

[XUOHTX]

Mack: "The best I can give you is I think there’s probably a 40 percent chance that 75 percent or less of our players will be able to play tomorrow."

That number is regarding the injured players, not the entire team

I'm pretty good at math and I think that comes out to 69 players.

[xavier513]

So, Mack's saying there's a 60% chance that Dee, Myles, AND Martin play. I'll take that. Amos is obviously out.

[LadyMuskie]

Mack: "The best I can give you is I think there’s probably a 40 percent chance that 75 percent or less of our players will be able to play tomorrow."

That number is regarding the injured players, not the entire team

This sounds like new math.

[vee4xu]

Sounds more like fuzzy math.

[LadyMuskie]

Based on what I've seen of "new math", it is nothing but fuzzy.

[Muskie]

Mack: "The best I can give you is I think there’s probably a 40 percent chance that 75 percent or less of our players will be able to play tomorrow."

That number is regarding the injured players, not the entire team

Sixty percent of the time, it works every time - Brian Fantana

[OTRMUSKIE]

Over at volnation they must not follow basketball very much. Here is a great quote.Don't kid yourself...Xavier is not a very good team. We should have won this game by 15 points. They will not be in the tournament this year. A watered down Big East won't get as many bids as previous years. This isn't a horrible loss but it's pretty bad.

Come on dude it's okay to be upset but anybody that knows basketball knows X is always good. This team is going to be sick by the end of the year. Still very raw. If anything Xavier should have smoked Tenn.

[xumuskies08]

Over at volnation they must not follow basketball very much. Here is a great quote.Don't kid yourself...Xavier is not a very good team. We should have won this game by 15 points. They will not be in the tournament this year. A watered down Big East won't get as many bids as previous years. This isn't a horrible loss but it's pretty bad.

Come on dude it's okay to be upset but anybody that knows basketball knows X is always good. This team is going to be sick by the end of the year. Still very raw. If anything Xavier should have smoked Tenn.

Haha I was just about to post that same quote. He's not alone either. There are several posts over there about how they should've won easily. What game were they watching?

[xudash]

Haha I was just about to post that same quote. He's not alone either. There are several posts over there about how they should've won easily. What game were they watching?

Let's see, would have them winning easily included that prayer banked 3 at the end?

[Snipe]

UT was foolish in scheduling an away game at the Cintas as their first game of the year. Their coach and AD need to take the hit on that. That is crazy talk.

I could not imagine Xavier ever doing that, and I don't recommend it. It is a fools errand. They should have at least played a patsy at home last Friday.

We came out like a box of rocks in our first home exhibition game, then turned the tide. Then in the home opener we didn't have a basket for the first five minutes, and everyone was still standing and clapping for the first basket. We were pathetic in those spurts, but we recovered. We were at home against an inferior road dog.

Tennessee apparently thought it was a good idea to come into the Cintas without even playing a warm up game. This is Xavier. This is The Cintas. We beat great teams here when they have hit their stride for Christ's sake. They are taking a cold team that hasn't even played a game and expecting to win here? That is probably the reason we were favored to win. It is sheer lunacy, and Coach Mack please don't ever do something like that.

Tennessee came out and laid an incredible egg. Will still just barely won the game, but I will take it. I would not be surprised to see us matched up with a much different looking UT team come Thanksgiving, but then again we will be a different team by then as well.

Any coach or AD in America that thinks they should start off their season on the road in The Cintas is a full blown idiot. That loss in not on their players, it is on their administration. What an appalling error for them.

Sucks to be them.

It is good to be the King.

Undefeated and Untied.

SMELL THE GLOVE!

[Nigel Tufnel]

UT was foolish in scheduling an away game at the Cintas as their first game of the year. Their coach and AD need to take the hit on that. That is crazy talk.

I could not imagine Xavier ever doing that, and I don't recommend it. It is a fools errand. They should have at least played a patsy at home last Friday.

We came out like a box of rocks in our first home exhibition game, then turned the tide. Then in the home opener we didn't have a basket for the first five minutes, and everyone was still standing and clapping for the first basket. We were pathetic in those spurts, but we recovered. We were at home against an inferior road dog.

Tennessee apparently thought it was a good idea to come into the Cintas without even playing a warm up game. This is Xavier. This is The Cintas. We beat great teams here when they have hit their stride for Christ's sake. They are taking a cold team that hasn't even played a game and expecting to win here? That is probably the reason we were favored to win. It is sheer lunacy, and Coach Mack please don't ever do something like that.

Tennessee came out and laid an incredible egg. Will still just barely won the game, but I will take it. I would not be surprised to see us matched up with a much different looking UT team come Thanksgiving, but then again we will be a different team by then as well.

Any coach or AD in America that thinks they should start off their season on the road in The Cintas is a full blown idiot. That loss in not on their players, it is on their administration. What an appalling error for them.

Sucks to be them.

It is good to be the King.

Undefeated and Untied.

SMELL THE GLOVE!

Public reps...agree with everything you posted. Especially why X was favored by 2. All the Tenn fans I interacted with with very friendly...pre and post game. Was a little bummed by the crowd. Was hoping for a full arena...guess it was the late start.

[Snipe]

Arena Season No.
Rank Team Arena Capacity Opened Yrs W L Pct.
1 Gonzaga McCarthy Athletic Ctr. 6,000 2004 9 122 9 .9313
2 Memphis = FedEXForum 18,300 2004 9 162 18 .9000
3 Pittsburgh Petersen Events Ctr. 12,508 2002 11 180 22 .8911
4 Kentucky Adolph Rupp Arena 24,000 1976 37 490 61 .8893
5 Wisconsin ### Kohl Center 17,142 1997 16 217 30 .8785
6 Louisville )))) YUM! Center 22,000 2010 3 50 7 .8772
7 Michigan St. Breslin Events Center 15,138 1989 24 322 46 .8750
8 Xavier* Cintas Center 10,250 2000 13 173 25 .8737

----------------------------------

I wish I could format the columns correctly, but you get the picture.

Would Tennessee venture to any of these other venues to start a season? I have no idea why they came here right off the bat. What a silly idea for those men to have, and those men get paid lots of money. I don't understand it myself, but I would like to extend them my personal gratitude.

SMELL THE GLOVE!

[muskiefan82]

Arena Season No.
Rank Team Arena Capacity Opened Yrs W L Pct.
1 Gonzaga McCarthy Athletic Ctr. 6,000 2004 9 122 9 .9313
2 Memphis = FedEXForum 18,300 2004 9 162 18 .9000
3 Pittsburgh Petersen Events Ctr. 12,508 2002 11 180 22 .8911
4 Kentucky Adolph Rupp Arena 24,000 1976 37 490 61 .8893
5 Wisconsin ### Kohl Center 17,142 1997 16 217 30 .8785
6 Louisville )))) YUM! Center 22,000 2010 3 50 7 .8772
7 Xavier* Cintas Center 10,250 2000 13 175 25 .875
7 Michigan St. Breslin Events Center 15,138 1989 24 322 46 .8750


----------------------------------

I wish I could format the columns correctly, but you get the picture.

Would Tennessee venture to any of these other venues to start a season? I have no idea why they came here right off the bat. What a silly idea for those men to have, and those men get paid lots of money. I don't understand it myself, but I would like to extend them my personal gratitude.

SMELL THE GLOVE!

Xavier is now 175-25 and tied with Michigan State.

[Titanxman04]

Raferty and the other chuckleead who was announcing did a terrific job, I thought. The game was broadcasted and done quite well with Fox Sports 1. Those guys also complimented Cintas Center continually at the end. They were impressed by the atmosphere.

[ammtd34]

Raferty and the other chuckleead who was announcing did a terrific job, I thought. The game was broadcasted and done quite well with Fox Sports 1. Those guys also complimented Cintas Center continually at the end. They were impressed by the atmosphere.

I thought Raftery was really good. I like that he gets upset at dumb plays and excited about good plays instead of just describing what happened. That keeps it interesting to me. He also LOVED James Farr.

[Titanxman04]

I thought Raftery was really good. I like that he gets upset at dumb plays and excited about good plays instead of just describing what happened. That keeps it interesting to me. He also LOVED James Farr.

He loved Strenger too. Loved his effort. Phillmore got a lot of praise as well.

Him and Gus Johnson are so huge when it comes to the games on tv. I really am starting to enjoy this whole Fox Sports 1 deal.

On top of that, if you go to the Fox Sports website and under college basketball, the Big East has their own tab. No other conference is even highlited in such a manner. Awesome.