Xavier @ Villanova (February 3, 2014) Game Thread

[mohr5150]

In the last three games, Dee Davis has gone 3-18 from the field, has had 14 assists, and 8 turnovers, all the while getting torched on defense. We better hope the young ones coming in next year can step in right away and play. We must have a better point guard than him in order to succeed in this league, and unless there is a major transformation from this year to next, Brandon Randolph isn't it.

[XU 87]

He said the starting front court should be Farr, Reynolds, and, I'm guessing, Stainbrook. I would guess he wants Martin benched and start Christon and another guard. I've seen nothing out of Reynolds that would earn him more than five minutes a game at this point. I still don't get how playing Farr more is a plus. He may score more, but he gives up so much more on defense.

Who wants that lineup? What has Reynolds done to earn a starting spot?

[XU2011]

Of course he makes in game adjustments. He made a big one against Seton Hall when he had Semaj playing the interior post on offense. But there's really only so much he can do adjustment wise. These guys spend hours practicing and running a certain offense(s) and a certain defenses(s). It's not like he can draw up a whole new offense at half time.

Now maybe he could have gone zone today, but Villanova is a very good three point shooting team, so I doubt that would have helped today.

That wasn't an in-game adjustment. When Byron tried to give him credit for that on the post-game... Mack actually pushed back and it wasn't an adjustment. Just a variation of Xavier's zone offense.

Mack actually takes pride in not making adjustment based on who they are playing or their personnel. Again, not bashing... just starting a fact.

[DfinnsDog10]

In the last three games, Dee Davis has gone 3-18 from the field, has had 14 assists, and 8 turnovers, all the while getting torched on defense. We better hope the young ones coming in next year can step in right away and play. We must have a better point guard than him in order to succeed in this league, and unless there is a major transformation from this year to next, Brandon Randolph isn't it.

We get it. You don't like him. However, he is the best ball handler on the team and we have to live with it.

[XU 87]

In the last three games, Dee Davis has gone 3-18 from the field, has had 14 assists, and 8 turnovers, all the while getting torched on defense. We better hope the young ones coming in next year can step in right away and play. We must have a better point guard than him in order to succeed in this league, and unless there is a major transformation from this year to next, Brandon Randolph isn't it.

I think Brandon has shown some flashes. I just think he's playing with no confidence right now. He's just standing around.

On the other hand, I don't ever remember seeing "flashes" from Dee his freshman year. As I said above, Dee is a nice role player who can come off the bench to run the offense for a few minutes, but he is too small and doesn't shoot well enough to be effective against these bigger and quicker guards. On the other hand, it appears that Dee is as good as we have right now.

[LA Muskie]

That wasn't an in-game adjustment. When Byron tried to give him credit for that on the radio show... Mack actually pushed back and it wasn't an adjustment. Just a variation of Xavier's zone offense.

Mack actually takes pride in not making adjustment based on who they are playing or their personnel. Again, not bashing... just starting a fact.
I think you are taking those statements out of context. Mack makes a ton of adjustments. Every substitution, every play call, is an "adjustment." If you are suggesting that he's not making an "adjustment" if we don't play zone defense then...well...I'm not going to bother.

In typical XU fandom fashion, Chris Mack makes "no adjustments" until we roar back for a 2nd half comeback. Then he has "outcoached" the other team.

[mohr5150]

We get it. You don't like him. However, he is the best ball handler on the team and we have to live with it.

It has nothing to do with like or dislike. I don't know the kid to determine if I like him. He just isn't good enough to play at a high level of D1 basketball and I'm just sharing facts.

[mohr5150]

Who wants that lineup? What has Reynolds done to earn a starting spot?

Obviously not his school work. Ha!

[XU 87]

That wasn't an in-game adjustment. When Byron tried to give him credit for that on the radio show... Mack actually pushed back and it wasn't an adjustment. Just a variation of Xavier's zone offense.

Mack actually takes pride in not making adjustment based on who they are playing or their personnel. Again, not bashing... just starting a fact.

I remember Mack explaining why he changed the offense by moving Semaj to the post. He had his guard essentially playing the center spot. I'm not sure what you mean by an adjustment. Do you define "adjustment" as doing something that the team hasn't practiced?

Was it an in game adjustment when X changed their entire way of playing defense after halftime against SLU two years ago and then again last year, again at halftime?

[XU2011]

I think you are taking those statements out of context. Mack makes a ton of adjustments. Every substitution, every play call, is an "adjustment." If you are suggesting that he's not making an "adjustment" if we don't play zone defense then...well...I'm not going to bother.

In typical XU fandom fashion, Chris Mack makes "no adjustments" until we roar back for a 2nd half comeback. Then he has "outcoached" the other team.

Haha, well we will never agree if you believe making adjustments is making a substitution or every play call.

Making an adjustment is the willingness to change your game plan you had going into the game when facts and circumstances dictate you do that. When what you planned is not working. When, as Mack has said the last 3 games, your opponent is playing in a style that you had not seen them play on film.

Mack simply won't do that. He has stated Xavier will not change defenses based on their opponent or their personnel. When someone tried to give him credit for making an adjustment to the offense and moving Semaj to the high post on zone offense, he pushed back and said that was not an adjustment, just a version of their offense.

Mack takes great pride in not adjusting his game plan and playing his/the Xavier way regardless of circumstance. That really isn't much of a secret. I'm just pointing it out... saying maybe that isn't the best approach.

[XU 87]

I think you are taking those statements out of context. Mack makes a ton of adjustments. Every substitution, every play call, is an "adjustment." If you are suggesting that he's not making an "adjustment" if we don't play zone defense then...well...I'm not going to bother.

In typical XU fandom fashion, Chris Mack makes "no adjustments" until we roar back for a 2nd half comeback. Then he has "outcoached" the other team.

You make good points. Mack is as good a coach as I've seen at X who can "draw up" plays during timeouts. I doubt he has a clipboard that says "We will run Play Y at the 4 minute mark in the first half."

[waggy]

I'm sure Mack isn't perfect, but what I'm seeing doesn't look like a stradegy problem.

[XU 87]

I'm sure Mack isn't perfect, but what I'm seeing doesn't look like a stradegy problem.

If this team could shoot better and had some bigger and better athletes, Mack's strategy would look much better.

[bleedXblue]

This team played over its head for about a 10 game stretch. We were getting production from 7-8 players and things were looking good. The last 3 games, everyone for the most part with the exception of Stain and Semaj have gone south. Horrible time to play your worst ball of the year. Goal now should be to win 20 games and hope like hell we can be playing much better by seasons end.

[waggy]

So that's how you spell strategy.

[xudash]

If this team could shoot better and had some bigger and better athletes, Mack's strategy would look much better.

We have a winner.

This is our first year in this conference, right?

I'm not giving up on this team this year, but there is a marked difference in athleticism and (guard) size between Xavier and some of these C7 teams.

[Charlesbt4]

Sorry, XU2011, I was looking at the idea of the other misled individual on this board when it came to your idea of starters.

Do you struggle with basic English? I said nothing of starting Farr and Reynolds. I said that either one or the other should be playing alongside a more traditional post player, such as Stainbrook, Philmore, or Stenger, but that none of those three should be playing together at the same time.

[XU 87]

Do you struggle with basic English? I said nothing of starting Farr and Reynolds. I said that either one or the other should be playing alongside a more traditional post player, such as Stainbrook, Philmore, or Stenger, but that none of those three should be playing together at the same time.

I doubt I've seen those three playing together at the same time all year.

[Charlesbt4]

I doubt I've seen those three playing together at the same time all year.

The implication isn't that all three ever play together. It is that two of those three often are playing together, but shouldn't be.

[XU 87]

The implication isn't that all three ever play together. It is that two of those three often are playing together, but shouldn't be.

With Reynolds out, that means you want Farr to play all 40 minutes.

[waggy]

Thought I saw Mark Lyons behind the X bench tonight? Is he playing anywhere?

[RoseyMuskie]

It isn't Chris Mack bashing... just starting a fact. Chris Mack either refuses or has an inability to make in-game adjustments. That really isn't that controversial of a statement. He's pretty much come out and said it himself.

Xavier does what Xavier does. If it isn't working, Xavier does what Xavier does. I think he made a comment after the Providence game, "we don't change our defense based on who we are playing or their personnel." What???

That he did. Can't deny that.

Frankly (and I think this is a generality regarding a lot of coaches, not just Mack), coaches are flat out stubborn. They have this macho mentality to "impose their will" instead of taking what is given, and adjusting to your opponent. I never quite get it..I don't think Mack is the biggest offender, but that comment concerned me.

At this point I can't criticize too much, as I don't have an answer for what's going on. The team desperately needs a 4 that is quick, long, and solid defensively. It doesn't have it. So what now?

As I said previously, the personnel X has isn't conducive for the style of defense the teams runs. Not saying a zone is the solution, but I'm not opposed to giving it a chance. We are also not paid the big bucks to find the solution.

[Charlesbt4]

With Reynolds out, that means you want Farr to play all 40 minutes.

No. Justin Martin can just as easily slide over to the 4, while Xavier plays three guards.

And I never said that, given Reynolds' suspension, this system would be perfect. Or, that even with Reynolds back, it would be perfect. Instead, I'm saying that we need to avoid playing two traditional, less than athletic post players at the same time as much as possible. The reason: It's killing us primarily on defense, but also on offense. The only way to do that is to play Farr and Reynolds more and/or slide Martin to the power forward position.

[LadyMuskie]

I think it's fairly common that a team, be it Xavier or some other team, doesn't recreate the entire defensive playbook before each and every game or even during the game to fit the opponent. The thing we have to ask ourselves if we're going to criticize Chris Mack about failing to change strategies during a game is this: is the defense failing because the players aren't executing it properly even though they can and have before, or is the defense failing in spite of great play from our players?

Take the Georgetown game. For a while there, DSR and half the Georgetown team couldn't miss a shot even when we were playing good D. We had hands in their faces, and were all but hugging them and they were still hitting nothing but net. Mack made adjustments that game and we started pressing occasionally and switched to zone even to try and stymie the flow.

But, I'm not sure the Seton Hall game or the Villanova game were poor defensive games because we didn't change things up during the game. I just don't think we were executing well, and giving it our best. If we have a style of defense that plays to our talents and abilities, but our guys are out there playing with little to no effort, not following through, not trying hard, then all the in-game adjustments in the world aren't going to matter. We can't create all-stars mid-game, but we sure as heck have seen Xavier teams in the past make up for what they lack in talent with blood, sweat and tears.

Ultimately, I'm not sure what the answer is, but I do think it involves effort and consistency. I think it's fair to question Mack's coaching on some levels as he is the head coach and things trickle down. On the other hand, he can't go out and play the game for them, and more than once this season we seem to be lacking focus, fire and desire. This team isn't the most talented in history, but we're not putting uniforms on traffic cones either.

[XU 87]

I don't think Mack is necessarily being "stubborn". I view it a little differently. X plays the Pac-man defense using hedging on the high ball screen. When hedging, this requires the other players to rotate defensively to stop the pick and roll. That's x's style of defense and you can't go about changing that in the middle of the game (except when they played SLU). They have a style, they work on that style, they try to perfect that style, and to do so they stick to it. Now they have certain variations like "we will go above the ball screen on this guy" but "below the ball screen on this guy". And you can double down on the low post or not double down, depending on the low post player. But X has a certain style of defense and they are going to stick with that style. I think that's what Mack was saying.

On a side note, I remember the Bengals players complaining about Bruce Coslet after he left the team. The biggest complaint? Coslet always tinkered with the offense and always tried to avoid the other defense's strengths instead of just doing what the offense did best. just a thought.

[XU 87]

No. Justin Martin can just as easily slide over to the 4, while Xavier plays three guards.

And I never said that, given Reynolds' suspension, this system would be perfect. Or, that even with Reynolds back, it would be perfect. Instead, I'm saying that we need to avoid playing two traditional, less than athletic post players at the same time as much as possible. The reason: It's killing us primarily on defense, but also on offense. The only way to do that is to play Farr and Reynolds more and/or slide Martin to the power forward position.

Farr isn't very good on defense. Martin is better, but he's not going to be on any "all-defensive" teams this year.

[Charlesbt4]

Farr isn't very good on defense. Martin is better, but he's not going to be on any "all-defensive" teams this year.

I'm not claiming that Farr and/or Martin are tremendous defenders. I am, however, claiming that they would potentially be improvements over Stainbrook and/or Philmore, as it relates to covering perimeter-oriented forwards. The area where this team is getting demolished at the moment. In my mind, you continue to start Stainbrook, because he provides an advantage on offense, in terms of the ability to score inside, rebound, and pass, but you rotate other players (Farr, Reynolds, and Martin) in at the 4.

[XU 87]

I'm not claiming that Farr and/or Martin are tremendous defenders. I am, however, claiming that they would potentially be improvements over Stainbrook and/or Philmore, as it relates to covering perimeter-oriented forwards. The area where this team is getting demolished at the moment. In my mind, you continue to start Stainbrook, because he provides an advantage on offense, in terms of the ability to score inside, rebound, and pass, but you rotate other players (Farr, Reynolds, and Martin) in at the 4.

If Martin plays 4, then you have to go to a three guard offense. You then have poor interior defense and poor rebounding. Farr was terrible today playing perimeter defense.

[Charlesbt4]

If Martin plays 4, then you have to go to a three guard offense. You then have poor interior defense and poor rebounding. Farr was terrible today playing perimeter defense.

(A) Guards are allowed to rebound the basketball. Villanova out rebounded Xavier with a starting lineup that included three guards and one undersized power forward.

(B) Interior defense is really not at issue, if the opposing team is spreading you out on the wing.

Furthermore, the issue with Farr's perimeter defense is a matter of not executing on defensive principles. He's physically capable of doing it, however. Philmore on the other hand, no matter his execution, will never physically be capable of defending an athletic forward on the wing.

You seem to have a lot of trouble understanding the basics.

[XU 87]

(A) .

You seem to have a lot of trouble understanding the basics.

I really don't care what you have to say. I actually just wanted to see how long you could go without hurling some insult my way. Answer- not long.

As I said earlier- you should try to be a little nicer to people.

[TUclutch]

(A) Guards are allowed to rebound the basketball. Villanova out rebounded Xavier with a starting lineup that included three guards and one undersized power forward.

(B) Interior defense is really not at issue, if the opposing team is spreading you out on the wing.

Furthermore, the issue with Farr's perimeter defense is a matter of not executing on defensive principles. He's physically capable of doing it, however. Philmore on the other hand, no matter his execution, will never physically be capable of defending an athletic forward on the wing.

You seem to have a lot of trouble understanding the basics.

No he isn't. He has two left feet. It showed tonight when he got burned several times. Farr should not be getting anymore minutes than he is now.

[xavierj]

Big East talent??? Villanova and Creighton. That's about it. The A-10 has 6 teams in top 50 RPI, Big East has 4 including Xavier.

This isn't the old Big East. Not having Big East talent is such a weak excuse.

If you do not think St. John's and Georgetown do not have talent you may need to rethink things. They may not be great teams but they have talent. As for the A10 they may only get three teams in. They actually have 5 top 50 RPI teams and are 2-8 against the Big East, with UMASS beating Providence by 2.

[vee4xu]

It occurred to me that until this year the C7 was used to playing Pitt,UConn, UC, Louisville and Syracuse annually. More importantly they've been recruiting players to compete against those teams. So the C7 playing X, Butler and Creighton is no big deal to them. Creighton has an All American and lots of seniors this year, but absent that they would struggle too. X is going to be playing bigger, stronger teams on a bigger stage and only a couple of years of recruiting the right players and getting used to higher level competition each night will address it.

[kyxu]

It occurred to me that until this year the C7 was used to playing Pitt,UConn, UC, Louisville and Syracuse annually. More importantly they've been recruiting players to compete against those teams. So the C7 playing X, Butler and Creighton is no big deal to them. Creighton has an All American and lots of seniors this year, but absent that they would struggle too. X is going to be playing bigger, stronger teams on a bigger stage and only a couple of years of recruiting the right players and getting used to higher level competition each night will address it.

Well, well. So I guess it was never the "Big Least", was it?

[vee4xu]

Well, well. So I guess it was never the "Big Least", was it?

That is a term that's been used over the years. For the record I've never used it.

[casualfan]

It occurred to me that until this year the C7 was used to playing Pitt,UConn, UC, Louisville and Syracuse annually. More importantly they've been recruiting players to compete against those teams. So the C7 playing X, Butler and Creighton is no big deal to them. Creighton has an All American and lots of seniors this year, but absent that they would struggle too. X is going to be playing bigger, stronger teams on a bigger stage and only a couple of years of recruiting the right players and getting used to higher level competition each night will address it.

I tried to tell people that the biggest difference wouldn't be the top end competition, but more the fact that there are no off nights.

I remember people laughing at me when I said that if you have an off night you'll get beat by Seton Hall, Providence, or Depaul and also that it is a compounding issue. You drop a game to a team you're not supposed to and then turn around and have another tough game on a quick turnaround.

We have 9 games left. 4 at home and 5 on the road. The thing that scares me is that we get most of the teams we're better than on the road and most teams that are better than us at home.

We'll learn a lot these next three games starting Saturday. Three games in one week against teams we should beat.

[mohr5150]

(A) Guards are allowed to rebound the basketball. Villanova out rebounded Xavier with a starting lineup that included three guards and one undersized power forward.

(B) Interior defense is really not at issue, if the opposing team is spreading you out on the wing.

Furthermore, the issue with Farr's perimeter defense is a matter of not executing on defensive principles. He's physically capable of doing it, however. Philmore on the other hand, no matter his execution, will never physically be capable of defending an athletic forward on the wing.

You seem to have a lot of trouble understanding the basics.

Villanova's guards are 6'6", 6'6", and 6'3"

Xavier's top three guards are 6', 6'3", and 6'1"

That's a big height advantage that probably led to more rebounding from their guards. Rebounding was no where near the issue in this game. Hell, they only outrebounded us by 2, but if we played a three guard offense, with the players on this roster, we would get torched on the boards.

[XU 87]

Villanova's starting lineup was bigger than X's. Villanova calls their 6"6" guy a guard and Xavier calls Martin a forward.

And I see that Dee Davis is now listed at 6'1". He was about 5'9" when they recruited him.

[casualfan]

Villanova's starting lineup was bigger than X's. Villanova calls their 6"6" guy a guard and Xavier calls Martin a forward.

And I see that Dee Davis is now listed at 6'1". He was about 5'9" when they recruited him.

Meh. Ochefu is taller than Stain by an inch, but Stain outweighs him by 20 lbs. I'd call that a wash.

Also, Justin Martin is virtually the same size as Hilliard and as you mentioned Philmore and Pinkston are on par with each other.

[ammtd34]

There were times last night when Villanova didn't have anyone over 6'6" on the floor. I don't think our height was the problem.

[SM#24]

Well, well. So I guess it was never the "Big Least", was it?
Sure it was, but now that the bad teams have left, it can become the Big East once again.

[BMoreX]

Villanova's starting lineup was bigger than X's. Villanova calls their 6"6" guy a guard and Xavier calls Martin a forward.

And I see that Dee Davis is now listed at 6'1". He was about 5'9" when they recruited him.

He still is.

[XU 87]

Meh. Ochefu is taller than Stain by an inch, but Stain outweighs him by 20 lbs. I'd call that a wash.

Also, Justin Martin is virtually the same size as Hilliard and as you mentioned Philmore and Pinkston are on par with each other.

But then we have a 5'9" point guard and a 6'3" shooting guard. They have a 6'3" point guard and a 6'6" shooting guard. I agree that the 3's, 4's and 5's are basically a wash in terms of size. The 1's and 2's are not.

[xudash]

It occurred to me that until this year the C7 was used to playing Pitt,UConn, UC, Louisville and Syracuse annually. More importantly they've been recruiting players to compete against those teams. So the C7 playing X, Butler and Creighton is no big deal to them. Creighton has an All American and lots of seniors this year, but absent that they would struggle too. X is going to be playing bigger, stronger teams on a bigger stage and only a couple of years of recruiting the right players and getting used to higher level competition each night will address it.

Exactly.

As Billy Crystal said in "Analyze This": "it's a process."

[XU 87]

He still is.

I always find it interesting how some of these guys "grow" a few inches in college. But Dee is the first that I can recall that "grew" 4 inches. Maybe he's wearing platform gym shoes.

[XUOWNSUC]

I don't think our height was the problem.


Xavier lacks players with steel balls.

[Charlesbt4]

I always find it interesting how some of these guys "grow" a few inches in college. But Dee is the first that I can recall that "grew" 4 inches. Maybe he's wearing platform gym shoes.

Matt Stainbrook allegedly grew an inch when he went from St. Edwards (6'8") to Western Michigan (6'9"), and grew another inch when he transferred to Xavier (6'10"). Hell, I've heard people say he's 7'0", which is just hilarious.

[LA Muskie]

My biggest concern in yesterday's game was the body language in the last 10 mins of the game. We looked broken.

[BandAid]

My biggest concern in yesterday's game was the body language in the last 10 mins of the game. We looked broken.

Broken, perhaps - especially after we tried to press and they (namely Bell) knocked down some open threes.

But Semaj had a fire. JMart was pissed after his fourth foul. It's not like they don't care (as others have implied at times).

[kyxu]

JMart was pissed after his fourth foul. It's not like they don't care (as others have implied at times).

Not like that made things better, but the camera actually cut to J-Mart screaming at the floor on the bench after he picked up his fourth foul of the game, which came just seconds after he buried a three to cut our deficit to three. It was a fire and frustration I had never seen in him. It was nice.

It was also frustrating that the foul call was made by an official across the gym, while the official standing next to the play made no call. As it stood, J-Mart exited the game, Villanova buried a three on that play to make it a two-possession game again, and we never got any closer.

[The_Mack_Pack]

In all honesty, this Xavier squad has three BE type players. Semaj, Jmart, and Stainbrook. I like what Dee and Philmore contribute to the team but they are not BE starter caliber type players. Neither is anyone off the bench at this point. The bench is very young and has some very good talent that just needs to be developed but that isn't going to help this season. Luckily, this team has the talent to compete in this years BE, thanks to suspensions and injuries from a lot of the other teams. I still think we make the dance but it could be a couple of years before X finds their feet and starts to take the BE by storm. Next season's recruiting class obviously helps a lot to expedite that process.

[Juice]

If you do not think St. John's and Georgetown do not have talent you may need to rethink things. They may not be great teams but they have talent. As for the A10 they may only get three teams in. They actually have 5 top 50 RPI teams and are 2-8 against the Big East, with UMASS beating Providence by 2.

In the words of Ken Pomeroy, St. John's has athleticism, it doesn't have talent. Huge difference.

[LA Muskie]

Broken, perhaps - especially after we tried to press and they (namely Bell) knocked down some open threes.

But Semaj had a fire. JMart was pissed after his fourth foul. It's not like they don't care (as others have implied at times).

To be clear, my message was not code for "they don't care." The fire is still clearly there. But there was a point at about the 10 min mark where they seemed to recognize it just wasn't going to happen -- they just couldn't seem to find the answer. Despite being down big in other games this season, that was the first time I've seen it.

[BandAid]

To be clear, my message was not code for "they don't care." The fire is still clearly there. But there was a point at about the 10 min mark where they seemed to recognize it just wasn't going to happen -- they just couldn't seem to find the answer. Despite being down big in other games this season, that was the first time I've seen it.

Oh, I know. I wasn't trying to imply as such.

But there has been a lot of chatter on this board in the past about some of our players, most notably JMart, stating that he didn't care. I thought last night clearly showed that he does, and that it should be pointed out.

[RP_Gambit]

Seriously? They got pounded on the road by Syracuse, who's is now the #1 team in the country, and lost at home to a hot-shooting Creighton team who happens to have arguably the best player in the country. Two losses. They've beaten everybody else. The Big East is between Nova and Creighton and both of those teams should get to the Sweet 16 and can go further than that. Who knows how things might shake out?

Villanova was down 3 with 6 minutes to go. They did NOT get pounded. Stupid Technical found at the end blew out the score. They should have lost by about 8.

[SlimKibbles]

Villanova was down 3 with 6 minutes to go. They did NOT get pounded. Stupid Technical found at the end blew out the score. They should have lost by about 8.

They blew an 18-point lead and lost by 16. Might have been close at one point in the 2nd half like you said. I didn't watch. Regardless of that, my point should have just been that they lost to Syracuse at their place.

[XUFan09]

Villanova's guards are 6'6", 6'6", and 6'3"

Xavier's top three guards are 6', 6'3", and 6'1"

That's a big height advantage that probably led to more rebounding from their guards. Rebounding was no where near the issue in this game. Hell, they only outrebounded us by 2, but if we played a three guard offense, with the players on this roster, we would get torched on the boards.

Just to further your point, I double-checked the rebounding rates, and their guards are easily better rebounders on the season than our guards. A three-guard lineup would have taken away the edge Xavier has at the 3 with Martin and further exposed the disadvantage at the guard positions.

[coasterville95]

The Nova loss, while horrible, didn't bother me as much as the Seton Hall Loss.

Consider: Nova - we were only down what 6, to the #6 team, on the road, at half, and had a real shot late in the game, then the wheels fell off the cart.

Seton Hall - while at home, and not, on the scoreboard as bad a loss - felt much worse. Home game, and absolutely no energy, no will.

I want the team that played Georgetown back, I want the team that vowed "No Retreat, No Surrender", "Never say Die!", fight to the bitter end back. I haven;t really seen that the last game or two.