Defending Warren

[BandAid]

He's ACC POY. He's posted over 40 twice.

So who do you think we put on TJ Warren...Rec League Champ?

Do we try anything in particular on defense against him?

Why does his nickname have to be Tony Buckets? I'm sick of that ish. I'm looking at you McDermott.

[mistabeecee41]

eek. Throw J-Mart at him and pray he doesn't get him into foul trouble. Footspeed isn't RLC's best asset - TJ Warren is a drive first player.

[The_Mack_Pack]

He seems like a McDermott without the pure jump shot. This is a poor three point shooting team which works into our favor really well.

[flagship]

Sounds like a zone type situation to me. Though knowing our luck NC State will go 15/25 from 3 point land.

[Retire33]

If I was Mack and staff, I would put the NC State/Virginia game on repeat. Virginia is a true packline team and CRUSHED them 76-45

[XUFan09]

Sounds like a zone type situation to me. Though knowing our luck NC State will go 15/25 from 3 point land.

A lot of guys shooting around 25%. Seems like a recipe for exactly that, for some reason.

[GoMuskies]

Warren is McDermott Lite without the good players around him that McDermott has. Certainly a team capable of beating Xavier, but Creighton is a much, much better team than the Wolfpack.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Might have to throw Reynolds on him for some minutes. A couple of shots blocked back in his face would be nice.

[X-Fan]

Uh, shouldn't X have a VERY good idea how to defend Warren? Semaj & Jalen both played with him in Prep school & I'd think the coaching staff would also know his game well. Not saying that equals stopping him, but it should help in their prep.

Go X!!!!

[The_Mack_Pack]

Uh, shouldn't X have a VERY good idea how to defend Warren? Semaj & Jalen both played with him in Prep school & I'd think the coaching staff would also know his game well. Not saying that equals stopping him, but it should help in their prep.

Go X!!!!

That's a great point! And holy crap that team must've been stacked since JaKarr Sampson played with them too.

Reynolds sure put the beat-down on Sampson so hopefully he can have a big game on Tuesday.

[redterrors123]

Congrats to you guys for making the tournament. NC State is a hungry team that has bounced back from some very tough losses that ended in extreme controversy. NC State relies on TJ Warren. For those of you claiming that he is not a jump shooter you have obviously not watched TJ Warren play. Teams have ran gimmick defenses on him all year to include the box and one. Ralston Turner is NC State's three point shooter. Should be a good game.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Congrats to you guys for making the tournament. NC State is a hungry team that has bounced back from some very tough losses that ended in extreme controversy. NC State relies on TJ Warren. For those of you claiming that he is not a jump shooter you have obviously not watched TJ Warren play. Teams have ran gimmick defenses on him all year to include the box and one. Ralston Turner is NC State's three point shooter. Should be a good game.

Congrats to you guys as well. I'm sure Warren is a fine jump shooter but when you see Creighton play you'll see why we're not going to be overly impressed with the 3pt % Warren puts up currently. I can't say I've seen much NC State this season but who should we look out for besides Warren? Is there anyone who has stepped up big lately?

[redterrors123]

Congrats to you guys as well. I'm sure Warren is a fine jump shooter but when you see Creighton play you'll see why we're not going to be overly impressed with the 3pt % Warren puts up currently. I can't say I've seen much NC State this season but who should we look out for besides Warren? Is there anyone who has stepped up big lately?

That is a good point, I am sure it is frustrating going up against Creighton. The difference for NC State has been the emergence of Jordan Vandenberg, a 7'1" center that had a really good ACC tournament. TJ Warren does carry the team, but when Ralston Turner is on from the three point line, they rarely lose. So do you guys really expect Dayton fans to come to support NC State? lol

[x_man11]

That is a good point, I am sure it is frustrating going up against Creighton. The difference for NC State has been the emergence of Jordan Vandenberg, a 7'1" center that had a really good ACC tournament. TJ Warren does carry the team, but when Ralston Turner is on from the three point line, they rarely lose. So do you guys really expect Dayton fans to come to support NC State? lol

I fully expect UD fans to come support NC State. They would support any team that plays opposite of us. I also expect them to boo Chris Mack, verbally assault his wife and probably spit on a few of us. They hate us with a burning passion.

--update for clarity--I hope their fans don't do any of the above, but they're not exactly "nice" to us. At the very least I expect some boo birds and hope our team takes NC State out of the game early...

[Milhouse]

We really don't mean any disrespect to NC State or TJ Warren.

You have to understand Xavier is a team that has had to play Doug McDermott 3 times this year. TJ is a great player but is no where near as frustrating to play as Doug McBuckets. McDermott literally can do anything any everything...while averaging more points and the same # of rebounds as Warren.

That said we will respect his game. How can we not? But it's nice that he doesn't have the same supporting cast as Doug. I expect a very good game. You guys got a lot more than you bargained for with a built in fan base at UD arena.

UD Fans can boo us all they want. We're still miles ahead of them as a program. They're still in the A10 end of the day.

[x_man11]

We really don't mean any disrespect to NC State or TJ Warren.

You have to understand Xavier is a team that has had to play Doug McDermott 3 times this year. TJ is a great player but is no where near as frustrating to play as Doug McBuckets. McDermott literally can do anything any everything...while averaging more points and the same # of rebounds as Warren.

That said we will respect his game. How can we not? But it's nice that he doesn't have the same supporting cast as Doug. I expect a very good game. You guys got a lot more than you bargained for with a built in fan base at UD arena.

UD Fans can boo us all they want. We're still miles ahead of them as a program. They're still in the A10 end of the day.

True statement on all accounts. That game vs. Creighton the other night was painful to watch because they would not miss. Unless that happens again tomorrow night, I'm thinking we will hold our own. I have confidence Mack will have a game plan that works and we'll be ready to rock and roll!

As for Dayton fans and booing--Mack mentioned that specifically in his interview: "And you're tell me we're playing in Dayton and fans are going to boo me? Great. Great. My kids boo me when I put them to bed when 'Good Luck Charlie' is on. So let's go." Great attitude!

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/2014/03/16/xavier-musketeers-face-nc-state-first-four/6499777/

[Milhouse]

Creighton is such a hard team to prepare for as you don't know who will show up. That said we really did hang with them the other night. If some of those 3s turn into 2s it is a much different game. hoping for that to be the case on Tuesday.

[mohr5150]

One guy for NC State consistently hits threes. Creighton has at least three if not more. I look forward to the challenge that is NC State, although I will take to my grave that we got the shaft playing in this game. I just hope the team comes out pissed for having to play this game and plays with a fire that will burn the hearts of all NC State players, fans, and Dayton fans.

[muskiefan82]

If Dayton fans want to boo one of the teams that will have a vote someday about whether or not Dayton should be added to the Big East, then fine. It just makes voting no even easier than it was already going to be.

[beatuc]

If Dayton fans want to boo one of the teams that will have a vote someday about whether or not Dayton should be added to the Big East, then fine. It just makes voting no even easier than it was already going to be.

Whether Daytons fans boo or not I think we all know how Xavier would vote if it came to adding UD. Verbally assaulting Christi Mack probably sealed the deal for how Xavier's administration feels about Dayton.

[muskiefan82]

Whether Daytons fans boo or not I think we all know how Xavier would vote if it came to adding UD. Verbally assaulting Christi Mack probably sealed the deal for how Xavier's administration feels about Dayton.

Like I said, it doesn't change the vote, just makes it even easier.

[PACKWOLF]

Congrats to you guys as well. I'm sure Warren is a fine jump shooter but when you see Creighton play you'll see why we're not going to be overly impressed with the 3pt % Warren puts up currently. I can't say I've seen much NC State this season but who should we look out for besides Warren? Is there anyone who has stepped up big lately?

McDermott really is incredible. But, I think you will find that TJW frustrates in an entirely different manner. He is at times utterly unguardable due to his size and different release points and touch on his shots. You will not see another college player with a midrange game on his level. He is also relentless on the offensive boards and in transition.

As mentioned Ralston Turner is our other real scoring threat if he is hitting his 3s. But he is streaky. Other than that, it is help TJW by committee with some really solid but young big men and our 7 footer that has the ability to really change a game but can also disappear or get in foul trouble. PG Tyler Lewis is an excellent game manager but not a scoring threat. Back up PG Cat Barber is the opposite, and he is also one of the best on the ball defenders in the ACC.

Haven't seen Xavier play but from what I read I am a little worried. Sounds like we got a bad match up. I expect a close one, and we have been pretty unlucky in close ones.

[boozehound]

I think this game all depends on which Xavier team shows up. If the good Xavier team shows up I think we will probably win. If the bad Xavier team shows up we will not. Consistency has been a problem all year. We need to play with energy on both ends of the floor and defend as well as we are capable of. I'm not sure I have seen this Xavier team play well and lose this year, except possibly against Villanova on Senior Night.

[PACKWOLF]

I think this game all depends on which Xavier team shows up. If the good Xavier team shows up I think we will probably win. If the bad Xavier team shows up we will not. Consistency has been a problem all year. We need to play with energy on both ends of the floor and defend as well as we are capable of. I'm not sure I have seen this Xavier team play well and lose this year, except possibly against Villanova on Senior Night.

Sounds exactly like us. No wonder we are playing each other in the play-in game!

[XUFan09]

I think this game all depends on which Xavier team shows up. If the good Xavier team shows up I think we will probably win. If the bad Xavier team shows up we will not. Consistency has been a problem all year. We need to play with energy on both ends of the floor and defend as well as we are capable of. I'm not sure I have seen this Xavier team play well and lose this year, except possibly against Villanova on Senior Night.

I thought we generally played well against Creighton, save some points (basically, the inconsistent coverage of Ethan Wragge). They just couldn't seem to miss, especially McDermott, even when they were practically being smothered.

[waggy]

I agree we played well against Creighton. If the team plays that well tonight they almost certainly win.

[drudy23]

March is a different animal...we step up in March. Dante Jackson stepped up in March...Josh Duncan stepped up in March...Deidrich Finn stepped up in March...and you know what, Myles Davis is going to be that guy this week. I can see it now, those wide open threes are dropping tonight. Consider it done.

[xufan2434]

McDermott really is incredible. But, I think you will find that TJW frustrates in an entirely different manner. He is at times utterly unguardable due to his size and different release points and touch on his shots. You will not see another college player with a midrange game on his level. He is also relentless on the offensive boards and in transition.

As mentioned Ralston Turner is our other real scoring threat if he is hitting his 3s. But he is streaky. Other than that, it is help TJW by committee with some really solid but young big men and our 7 footer that has the ability to really change a game but can also disappear or get in foul trouble. PG Tyler Lewis is an excellent game manager but not a scoring threat. Back up PG Cat Barber is the opposite, and he is also one of the best on the ball defenders in the ACC.

Haven't seen Xavier play but from what I read I am a little worried. Sounds like we got a bad match up. I expect a close one, and we have been pretty unlucky in close ones.

Completely agree with this. McDermott is a great scorer but the 2 of them are different animals. McDermott you can't leave open for a second because he'll make you pay. He may cut or post up, but he isn't the slasher that Warren is. I think a better comparison would be Semaj if he happened to be 5 inches taller and a little better of a jumper. Both great at attacking the basket and really athletic. He's going to be able to drive tonight it just depends if the pack line defense is going to be there to stop him.