Game Thread: Abilene Christian vs. Xavier (November 25, 2013)

[paulxu]

http://blogs.acu.edu/acutoday/files/2013/02/Willie-in-Parade1.jpgVS.http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/MinifiguresBios/images/pic773F455B41A27FB44B60F2397BAA49D7.jpg



Abilene Christian Wildcats (0-5) vs. Xavier University Musketeers (4-0)
Monday, November 25, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

Live Chat (http://www.chatzy.com/32573582761803)

Television: Fox Sports 1
Radio: WLW 700 Joe Sunderman ('79) and Byron Larkin ('88)

[paulxu]

Blobfan, after you continue the streak with this scrimmage, I hope you are ready for back-to-back-to-back to cover Atlantis.

[Titanxman04]

Whats the line in this thing?

[GoMuskies]

There won't be a line.

[blueblob06]

Anybody know, what's the biggest win margin in Cintas Center history?

I wouldn't be shocked if we get as many rebounds as they get points Monday.

[ballyhoohoo]

Anybody know, what's the biggest win margin in Cintas Center history?

I wouldn't be shocked if we get as many rebounds as they get points Monday.

It's got to be pushing 50

[GoMuskies]

What's up with the Southland going religious anyway? They've recently added Incarnate Word, Abiliene Christian, Oral Roberts, and Houston Baptist. Prior to adding those four the Southland had zero religiously affiliated schools.

[Xaveriana]

In fairness the games were against top talent teams and were close...

Duquesne University (94-75)
St. Bonaventure University (75-47)
University of Maryland (67-44)
University of Iowa (103-41)
Texas Christian University (71-64)

:whack:

[blobfan]

Blobfan, after you continue the streak with this scrimmage, I hope you are ready for back-to-back-to-back to cover Atlantis.

I have the first couple rounds in the queue so I should be able to handle your order. I know I still have Miami up but the new one should be up tonight or tomorrow. I've learned it's better to create several at once so I'm not scrambling.

[paulxu]

Is there a basketball game tonight?

[Snipe]

I smell victory.

[coasterville95]

I'm at Cintas center. I predict a small crowd. The vibe just isn't there in the arena. Some weather guys are threatening white death tonight, perceived low value opponent, Monday night.

[GoMuskies]

I'm at Cintas center. I predict a small crowd. The vibe just isn't there in the arena. Some weather guys are threatening white death tonight, perceived low value opponent, Monday night.

We'll give up our lead to UC in the attendance race with a poor crowd tonight. The last time UC outdrew Xavier on average for an entire season: 2005.

[The_Mack_Pack]

We'll give up our lead to UC in the attendance race with a poor crowd tonight. The last time UC outdrew Xavier on average for an entire season: 2005.

Where are you getting attendance numbers? From what I've heard UC struggles to get even 7000 in that thing they call an arena whereas Xavier usually gets around 9500-10000 so far.

[BMoreX]

Student section is a little over half full.

[paulxu]

I can't imagine this game will draw a lot of eyeballs to Fox Sports 1.
On the other hand, never before could I watch Xavier play Abilene Christian on TV.
There do not seem to be a lot of people there and we already look sloppy starting the game.

[GoMuskies]

Where are you getting attendance numbers? From what I've heard UC struggles to get even 7000 in that thing they call an arena whereas Xavier usually gets around 9500-10000 so far.

Nevermind. I was looking at last year's numbers. Closer than expected.

[paulxu]

Semaj is fun to watch.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Funny how a weak Xavier team still outdraws a good UC team.

[xu82]

Semaj a blast to watch, except at FT line. Someone has mentioned the lack of knee bend. I now watch it and feel like it's Sergio Garcia gripping, and re-gripping, and re-gripping..... I just look away now. It's hard to watch. Nice stroke but he just goes up on his toes a bit.

[xu82]

Reverse jinx, you're welcome

[coasterville95]

Whoever predicted a cake walk...

Sloppy play, ill advised shots, poor defense. Up 7 36-29 with 1:36 In 1st half

And they are already doing the ball toss.

[coasterville95]

Does the ball toss cannon barrel not look like a beer keg? Now there will be nothing to keep people here if they build a lead.

And guys - can you make a free throw??

[coasterville95]

Halftime score 39-31 X

[The_Mack_Pack]

Pathetic first half defense but still up 8.

[coasterville95]

I have a theory about the free throws. The team heard we hate that sword sound effect for a made free throw.

So they thought, if we miss the free throws , they won't play the sword sound effect, and the posters on Xavier hoops will be happier.

[xubrew]

This team is really bad. They won twelve games last year......in div2.

[coasterville95]

This second half start is bad.

[coasterville95]

46-37 15:49 remains.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Great spurt there, finally using that speed and athleticism advantage..

[Charlesbt4]

James Farr continues to impress.

[SixFig]

Farr and Reynold together are going to be a double barrel of awesome rebounding for years to come. Be afraid, future opponents

[coasterville95]

Starting to pull it together. 62-45 with 11 Min left.

[coasterville95]

Paul has to love the new fox sports 1 and 2 tv package.

[DC Muskie]

Blad is a really good shooter. 4 3's already. Nice.

[coasterville95]

I hope you all enjoyed that dunk in glorious high def TV

[bourbonman]

Good to see we're pulling away from a team that Iowa beat by 62 points.

[DC Muskie]

blad!

[paulxu]

Paul has to love the new fox sports 1 and 2 tv package.

Yes I do !

[coasterville95]

And that dunk too

[paulxu]

The thing I like about Semaj the most (because most of the time the opposite is one of my biggest pet peeves) is that he does not feel the need for personal histrionics.

When he scores on a breakaway, or some dunk, or whatever...he's not busy pounding his chest, pointing at the sky, flexing his muscles, or some other high school nonsense. He just quietly goes about his business and heads back down court.

[coasterville95]

86-61 with 3:18. Arena is emptying. Interesting those in purple have remained seated.

[sirthought]

Rebound city

[sirthought]

Shooting tonight was pretty darn good (58%in the end), but we still had great rebounding, which makes me pretty happy.

I think it's getting harder to keep Farr off the floor. His energy is infectious.

[paulxu]

With 2:41 left, Cleveland State is tied with Kentucky...at Kentucky.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Cleveland State was up 10 with 5 to go.. Now down 6 with 1 minute left.

[xudash]

The thing I like about Semaj the most (because most of the time the opposite is one of my biggest pet peeves) is that he does not feel the need for personal histrionics.

When he scores on a breakaway, or some dunk, or whatever...he's not busy pounding his chest, pointing at the sky, flexing his muscles, or some other high school nonsense. He just quietly goes about his business and heads back down court.

Agreed. He's just knocking out important work at the office.

[SemajParlor]

Farr and Reynolds are the new Fulton and Portman.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

I'm really impressed with Farr, how he finishes at the rim and the hustle. Happy to see J. Reynolds improving at each game and M. Davis hitting five 3s.

[paulxu]

With that win, our RPI dropped like a stone from 16th to 43rd.

[xavierj]

Farr and Reynolds. 7 for 7 from the field, 11 for 12 from the line and 15 rebounds. Not bad....

[GIMMFD]

Didn't watch this one, looking at the box score, Myles had himself a day behind the arc huh?

[SkyWalker]

I was at the game tonight and didn't hear why Stenger didn't play/dress. Don't see anything posted here. Any info?

[Xavierblobforce400]

I was at the game tonight and didn't hear why Stenger didn't play/dress. Don't see anything posted here. Any info?

Per Shannon: He is getting tests and bloodwork-- Coach Mack says he has been looking lethargic the past few days and they want to get to the bottom of it.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/xavier/2013/11/25/erik-stenger-may-miss-battle-4-atlantis/

[SemajParlor]

Not a knock on Stenger, but I honestly didn't even realize he didn't play until now. The same thing happened with Philmore until late in the game last time. Geez we are deep.

[Cincypunk.org]

Farr and Reynolds are the new Fulton and Portman.

YES! THEY ARE THE BASH BROTHERS!

Love watching these guys play and grow together. Like someone else said, their energy IS infectious, they both look beastly. They grab boards, get stickbacks, and got stretch armstrong limbs. I get a kick out of their hi-fives and chest bumps.

[Cincypunk.org]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ln1g9hNs9K1qglifqo1_400.gif

[BlueGuy]

Farr's improvement is absolutely incredible. He has real talent to go along with that over the top effort. I love watching him. He has a great attitude, and is going to be hard to keep on the bench.


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[XU-PA]

Nevermind. I was looking at last year's numbers. Closer than expected.

Not close, no contest

X through 5 games at home 9688
UC through 4 games at home 6441

[XU-PA]

Bench, 48 points 53% of total scoring.

Wow!

For the season 38% of scoring is coming from the bench, what a massive change from last year!

[BandAid]

Farr's improvement is absolutely incredible. He has real talent to go along with that over the top effort. I love watching him. He has a great attitude, and is going to be hard to keep on the bench.


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Night and day difference. I love it. I love it so much that I am eager for substitutions. Stain is skill, Philmore is pure lunch pail - Farr and Reynolds are energy.

Although I did notice Farr still tends to scramble a bit on defense from time to time.

[Fireball]

I can't tell you how much fun it is to see Farr doing what he's doing this year after playing next to no time last year. That kid has turned himself into some kid of rebounder. At one point he had 6 points and 3 rebounds, which were all put-backs of misses.

I'm so happy for Farr, who had to have been somewhat miserable last year.

[throwbackmuskie]

A stomach virus is what I heard,

[XUFan09]

I think Farr was always supposed to be a great rebounder, but defense and problems with game flow/speed kept him off the floor.

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[Kahns Krazy]

Not close, no contest

X through 5 games at home 9688
UC through 4 games at home 6441

You guys realize that those numbers have very little to do with actual attendance, right? I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get 7,000 through the turnstile last night. Tons of empty seats. I think we are padding our paid attendance number too. Way too many open rows in the upper bowl for these to just be no-shows.

The attendance "race" is just silly, and comparing ourselves to some no-name conference team is kind of lame. We aren't packing the house yet, but we will.

[GoMuskies]

You guys realize that those numbers have very little to do with actual attendance, right? I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get 7,000 through the turnstile last night.

If our 9,000 crowd are really 7,000, I wonder how small UC's 6,500 crowds really are.

[Kahns Krazy]

Tiny. I would guess they have more no-shows than we do on an average night. Access to the arena is more difficult.

[sirthought]

I'd say this team still has a long way to go to be conference contenders, but damn if it isn't the most balanced team I've seen us have in years. There is skill at a fairly high level in most every position.

I think the challenges will really present themselves once we start seeing teams that equal our athleticism. Not that Tennessee wasn't a good test on that, they were. But to face that sort of challenge game after game in league play will be something new for this team. It'll be fun to watch them grow as they learn how to defeat that.

I think they were taking on ACU players too much early in the game with one-on-one, I'm-bigger-than-you, type play, instead of more teamwork. I think coach got them to settle down on that more in the second half.

[casualfan]

If our 9,000 crowd are really 7,000, I wonder how small UC's 6,500 crowds really are.

I don't know how they do bball, but for football they announce the turnstyle numbers.

[Milhouse]

Pretty sure season ticket base is 8000 for X. I know I couldn't make the game last night and seemed like I wasn't the only one with the few shots of the upperbowl.

Also student section wasn't full either. I imagine that has to do with a lot of kids heading home on Monday.

[nuts4xu]

It was an odd crowd for sure. It looked like a Christmas break game, and I was a little surprised to see the students leave so early in Thanksgiving week.

Don't blame anyone for skipping that snoozer last night. Glad we escaped injury free, and are now on to a warmer climate. Just wish I was going to the Bahamas this week too, damnit!

[X-man]

Pretty sure season ticket base is 8000 for X. I know I couldn't make the game last night and seemed like I wasn't the only one with the few shots of the upperbowl.

Also student section wasn't full either. I imagine that has to do with a lot of kids heading home on Monday.

Your guess on the season ticket base is a little high, I believe; probably more like 7000-7500. And I was disappointed to see so many vacant student seats, because classes met today (I have three classes to teach today). My first class was half empty; the second was only a quarter empty. Who knows about my 1:00 class.