Still a fan, and still behind the team.

[Kahns Krazy]

Our season, which included a return to the NCAA tournament which many would have dismissed in a season where we stepped into a new conference, has ended. I'm bummed, but I'm already looking forward to building on the positives from this year. Go Muskies.

[XUGRAD80]

Hell Heah......+1

[Caveat]

Still a fan.

Still wish we'd see some progress on the issues that have plagued this program for years now.

[drudy23]

Nobody is going to throw in their fan card because we lost.

[XfansinKy]

Can't give up. ..+2

[Kahns Krazy]

Still a fan.

Still wish we'd see some progress on the issues that have plagued this program for years now.

Don't know about the "years now" part, but agree on that I would have liked to have seen more progress. Still, not many picked us for a 3rd place tie in the conference and a NCAA berth.

That last game was crap, but it does not wipe out the whole year of effort.

[Xavier]

Still a fan, don't consider this really a tournament game. If UC was in same shoe id be saying this was proof they didn't belong.

[Masterofreality]

Agree. I cannot wait for next year and see these new recruits. I hope they can put the ball in the basket from outside of 10 feet.

The only guy of significance that we lose is Zeke. Gotta believe that Semaj is coming back. No way that he is ready to go pro. Has to get stronger, has to develop a shot and has to improve his decision making. Long way to go.

[waggy]

And if it's true Semaj is complaining about teammates missing shots, then he better get to work, because his lack of an outside game is costing his team and potentially his bank account.

[SemajParlor]

And if it's true Semaj is complaining about teammates missing shots, then he better get to work, because his lack of an outside game is costing his team and potentially his bank account.

Where did this come from?

[xu82]

Absolutely! We came in third in a new conference where the top two teams spent much of the year in the top 10-15. We have five great freshman coming in plus a stud transfer. Freshman take a while, but that's a serious infusion of talent. We'll have more shooting ability and the existing gang has a year to get better. The guys who played tonight are capable of more than they showed this evening. We all know that. Jalen's upside and emotion are amazing. Sure, we have a lot to improve upon, but the future is bright.

[waggy]

Where did this come from?

Someone posted it in the game thread.

[Retire FiftyTu]

Not bad for the projected 7th best team in the Big East.

[BandAid]

And if it's true Semaj is complaining about teammates missing shots, then he better get to work, because his lack of an outside game is costing his team and potentially his bank account.

Shades of Lyons, who by all accounts I've heard was pretty much a dick. Hard to be a peer leader if you're a dick. Semaj, please don't be a dick.

Anyways, go X! With nearly everyone coming back - learn from this. Come back leaner, meaner, and smarter!

[sirthought]

This season has flown by for me. I can't believe it's over already. :bleh:

[The_Mack_Pack]

Just look at how decimated the team was at the beginning of last season to where it is now. We still don't have the talent, which is coming, but these guys really did improve over the past year. Just making the tournament surpassed my expectations and we'll start seeing some truly competitive teams starting next season.

[xavierj]

And if it's true Semaj is complaining about teammates missing shots, then he better get to work, because his lack of an outside game is costing his team and potentially his bank account.

Semaj improved in almost every area this year. He made 11 more threes and improved his % by 13%. He was very efficient scoring 17 points on only 12 shots a game. For this team this year he probably should have taken more mid range jumpers, shot the ball more and cut down on his all out drives to the basket. Semaj with another year could be great if he improves his shooting, decision making and using his athleticism more to his advantage. I think if he plays smarter he could average 2 or 3 more assists a game. He has to realize that the refs are not going to give him the calls when he goes all out toward the rim. He needs to learn to dish the ball off when the defense sends three guys at him.

[The_Mack_Pack]

I think Semaj just got sick of passing the ball out of the lane to someone on the perimeter who couldn't shoot the ball. Having more weapons around him next season will only help Semaj's game grow.

[waggy]

Shades of Lyons, who by all accounts I've heard was pretty much a dick. Hard to be a peer leader if you're a dick. Semaj, please don't be a dick.



And the flipside is maybe it's sometimes a necessary part of being a leader. So I should probably lay off that aspect. If he's frustrated I'm sure it's just because he wants to win. He doesn't come across as being slack in the least.

[LadyMuskie]

From birth to earth, I'll be a Xavier fan. But, that doesn't mean I think Xavier has no flaws. Tonight was embarrassing. We must get better.

[OH.X.MI]

And the flipside is maybe it's sometimes a necessary part of being a leader. So I should probably lay off that aspect. If he's frustrated I'm sure it's just because he wants to win. He doesn't come across as being slack in the least.

Never want to hear about a player dogging teammates without reason. That being said, sometimes a leader has to light a fire. Lyons knew how to do that. Everyone has their opinion about Lyons, but I think his passion/aggressiveness brought out the best in some of his teammates.

EDIT: I am agreeing with you Waggy, sorry if it didn't read like that.

[LadyMuskie]

I loved Lyons. I think he took a lot of the fallout from the fight and other issues. Lyons was a grittier Burrell. We have no one like that now - not even Semaj.

[xsteve1]

I loved Lyons. I think he took a lot of the fallout from the fight and other issues. Lyons was a grittier Burrell. We have no one like that now - not even Semaj.

LadyMuskie knows her shit.

[Snipe]

I love the Muskies. I love being in the Big East. I think next year could be special.

Tonight really was a downer, but the season on the whole was a positive step.

Our guys have to get better in every facet of the game. If they want next year to be special, they need to bust their ass in the off-season. Hopefully tonight gives them some desire and drive to get better.

[xufan2434]

The guys need to play aggressive but smart. Maybe it was just me, but the lack of urgency with the dumb turnovers everytime X made a run is troubling. Because it seems to be the same guys that are doing it and the same nonchalant attitude about it.

[Filthy Conservative]

I can remember when we lost at Princeton -skip's last year?- and David west chewing out chalmers in the huddle. I'll take that over the seeming nonchalance.

Sent from my M886 using Tapatalk 2

[TUclutch]

First of all, is someone really throwing semaj under the bus and spreading rumors of him complaining? Even if true it really shouldn't be a big deal. Semaj could benefit by getting a little Tu/Lyons attitude in him. Not a ton, but enough. I had zero issue with almost everything Tu and Lyons did

[james notsirhc 0]

Lyons was a very talented basketball player and a game changer when controlled. In saying that, Mack could not control his personality. I know for a fact he was walking out of practice and disrespecting Mack in front of the team, which is why Mack benched him for a whole game. No matter how you slice it, this is cancerous behavior that is detremental to the team. His fire was undeniable and I agree we could use that, but expect a lot of properly directed fire from the Stain train next year. Mark my words, we will be very dangerous next year with the addition of some outside shooting.

[kyxu]

I loved Lyons. I think he took a lot of the fallout from the fight and other issues. Lyons was a grittier Burrell. We have no one like that now - not even Semaj.

Other than the "grittier" Burrell part, I agree completely. Maybe "edgier" is the appropriate term.

Don't forget who some of Lyons' teammates were who needed to hear it from time to time -- Kenny Frease, Jeff Robinson, Travis Taylor (junior edition), Justin Martin. Some of these guys did not give maximum effort all the time, but the teams Lyons played on were pretty successful.

[vee4xu]

I don't think that any of us who live too much of our lives on this board don't love X and stand behind them. The fact is we love them so much that the pain of frustration can be as much or more of a feeling than the exhilaration of winning. We will all revert back to our more rational mean, but I think we need a bit of time to vent. But in doing so we must keep the venting on the high road.

As always I look forward to next year and another successful season. But for a bit longer I will throw some roses on the grave of this season.

[Kahns Krazy]

I'm frustrated too. I'm not used to seeing Xavier teams vanish in March. I'm not used to seeing a team come out and grind one out, only to seem to not care the next outing. I just don't think I would describe this season as "sub par" or "not good enough", which is why I started this thread.

Stain came ready to play. We need a couple more of that guy.

[gladdenguy]

Lets stop the Semaj complaining thing right now. Even if he did that is just based on emotion and frustration from his only tournament game. They just need more shooters. Period. If Martin's 3 goes down to go up 1 I think it might have been a different outcome....at least a closer game. Just need to make shots. I'm proud of this team. I don't want Semaj to leave. He can be real good next year with some shooters and another year of experience from all the guys. Tough loss. I need a break. Muskies forever.

[vee4xu]

I agree KK that the season was not sub par. Many programs would kill for a season like X just finished. For me the fact that it ended this soon and in this way leaves a bad taste in my mouth. We all hope for more. Xavier has been so successful for so long that they've set a very high expectations bar. In short, were spoiled. They've even spoiled an old coot like me who watched really bad basketball in Schmidt. I'm with you and how you feel about this season and the prospects for next season and beyond. It's just a little raw at the moment. However, that will soon dissipate and I'll be full bore back on the optimism bandwagon.

[chico]

I love this program, but the current team lacks toughness. But more than that (and I know this term is a cliche) this team lacks gamers. This program is littered with guys whom stepped it up when needed to push the program forward. Not stars like Larkin, West and Grant, but guys like Jamal Walker, Lenny Brown, Love, Cage, Burrell, Raymond. Guys who played ball, worked their asses off and were ready when the moment called for them to perform. Guys who did whatever was needed to win.

Maybe this group of players will get there, and I know this program's taken some pretty bad hits the past couple years, but I just don't see what I've been used to seeing the past 20 years. I don't know if it's because we're not getting the type of kid we used to get, or they're not developing because of coaching, but something's missing.

[Kahns Krazy]

Agreed. I think what gets me the most frustrated is when guys like Martin have a great all around game one week, then vanish the next. I don't get that, and I'm not smart enough about coaching to know if that is on Mack or on the player. If that continues to repeat next year, I think the evidence points to one guy. I hope it doesn't.

There were some real low points in the year, and last night was one of them. Terrible time for it. There were some great moments too, and overall, I think those edged out the low points.

A couple wins this week would have wiped out everything bad that happened. Laying an egg in the play in puts a magnifying glass on all of it.

Also, those refs last night sucked. They certainly didn't cost us the game, but there were some really bad calls that made it difficult for us to establish any rhythm, and we certainly aren't good enough to make those on-the-fly adjustments. I hate inconsistent refs.

[throwbackmuskie]

Agreed. I think what gets me the most frustrated is when guys like Martin have a great all around game one week, then vanish the next. I don't get that, and I'm not smart enough about coaching to know if that is on Mack or on the player. If that continues to repeat next year, I think the evidence points to one guy. I hope it doesn't.

There were some real low points in the year, and last night was one of them. Terrible time for it. There were some great moments too, and overall, I think those edged out the low points.

A couple wins this week would have wiped out everything bad that happened. Laying an egg in the play in puts a magnifying glass on all of it.

Also, those refs last night sucked. They certainly didn't cost us the game, but there were some really bad calls that made it difficult for us to establish any rhythm, and we certainly aren't good enough to make those on-the-fly adjustments. I hate inconsistent refs.

I agree about the refs, they really sucked the flow out of the game in the first half at times.

I know some love Martin and some do not, but he really seems out of it at times, too many times. He has so much talent, just no fire or desire at times, very frustrating. I also agree with someone saying Myles seems off, IMO it is his knee, next year will really be his year to show and should be full strenght. The lack of a real outside shooter hurt alot this year, think Raymond and guys like that in the past. Hopefully between Myles being 100%, Bluiett and Macura we will get the outside threat we need. I also think Reynolds playing more will add toughness big time. The Future is bright, predicted 7 and finished 3rd.

[UCGRAD4X]

Also, those refs last night sucked. They certainly didn't cost us the game, but there were some really bad calls that made it difficult for us to establish any rhythm, and we certainly aren't good enough to make those on-the-fly adjustments. I hate inconsistent refs.

I HATE going all "REF" on any game, especially one that they were so embarrassed….

But I agree that they (those waskily wefs) established very early that they were not going to let X penetrate and it took away a big part of their game plan.

NCSt had 6 fouls, two on each of three players (Xavier had five, on on each of five). We were on the verge of really putting them in a bad situation with the fouls.

Think about the 'blocks' for a second. When a team is that aggressive in going after the shooter, fouls generally occur. Sure there are some clean blocks, but more often than not, it's either a block or a foul. In this case, some were even called on the offense (Semaj in particular).

This really set an early tone that made it very difficult for Xavier especially when the outside shots were coming up blank.

And remember, later in the game, Zeke getting HAMMERED to the turf….wow!

[casualfan]

I HATE going all "REF" on any game, especially one that they were so embarrassed….

But I agree that they (those waskily wefs) established very early that they were not going to let X penetrate and it took away a big part of their game plan.

NCSt had 6 fouls, two on each of three players (Xavier had five, on on each of five). We were on the verge of really putting them in a bad situation with the fouls.

Think about the 'blocks' for a second. When a team is that aggressive in going after the shooter, fouls generally occur. Sure there are some clean blocks, but more often than not, it's either a block or a foul. In this case, some were even called on the offense (Semaj in particular).

This really set an early tone that made it very difficult for Xavier especially when the outside shots were coming up blank.

And remember, later in the game, Zeke getting HAMMERED to the turf….wow!

I agree there were some bad calls, but I thought that went both ways and that NC State adjusted much better to the officiating than we did.

As for the blocks, BJ Anya who accounted for three of them and altered many others has 7 foot 9 wingspan (http://sports.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/High-school-basketball-player-s-stunning-wingspa?urn=highschool-wp2931) which is the largest of any basketball player ever measured.

Now I knew that as a guy who watched the game from his couch last night. As soon as Anya came in I turned to my roommate and said "wait until you see this guys arms, he is a freak"

He hasn't been a huge blocked shot guy on the year mostly because he doesn't play much, I'd have thought we might adjust after he started altering shots left and right.

[james notsirhc 0]

It's frustrating to watch at times because of the way this team is built. The lack of 3pt threats allows teams to shut us down by packing the paint, especially if JMart is off. Combine that with our road woes, and you never know which team is coming to play. I remain optimistic because the the outside shooting should be vastly improved next year. Wouldn't you rather lose now and have a team next year that has the potential to make a deep run? If Semaj goes off in the tourney, next year could've been rough.

[Patrick Bateman]

I agree about the refs, they really sucked the flow out of the game in the first half at times.

I know some love Martin and some do not, but he really seems out of it at times, too many times. He has so much talent, just no fire or desire at times, very frustrating. I also agree with someone saying Myles seems off, IMO it is his knee, next year will really be his year to show and should be full strenght. The lack of a real outside shooter hurt alot this year, think Raymond and guys like that in the past. Hopefully between Myles being 100%, Bluiett and Macura we will get the outside threat we need. I also think Reynolds playing more will add toughness big time. The Future is bright, predicted 7 and finished 3rd.

???Warren had 2 fouls in the first four minutes, huge advantage for X. Then he came back in and X didn't go at him. X had opportunities, was not the refs.

[throwbackmuskie]

There were a lot of no calls last night, that shut the flow of X's game down. Many times Maj drove was hit and no calls.

[THRILLHOUSE]

Going into this year I thought we would be a bubble team and that's what ended up happening. So I wouldn't go as far as to call this season sub-par or a disappointment, but last night did suck. All of the common themes showed up: not hitting from outside, too many turnovers and overall just being bad away from Cintas.

If Semaj stays I feel very good about next years team. If Abell and Bluiett are as good as advertised then there will be a lot more options on offense. We shouldn't be so reliant on if Dee Davis has a good game or not.

[The_Mack_Pack]

There were a lot of no calls last night, that shut the flow of X's game down. Many times Maj drove was hit and no calls.

He was driving into the lane with no purpose but to get fouled and the State guys stood their ground well. I wouldn't have given him those calls either.

[throwbackmuskie]

He was driving into the lane with no purpose but to get fouled and the State guys stood their ground well. I wouldn't have given him those calls either.

There were plenty of times he drove and was hit with no calls, and the NC St guys were not standing their ground. Few times when he was hit in the arms trying to go up.

[Lamont Sanford]

To be honest, this season has been a rollercoaster that I am glad is finally over. I need a break from how consistently inconsistent we were this year. There is enough blame to go around...from Mack getting outcoached multiple times down to Stenger's abyssmal free throw shooting. I've said it before and I'll say it again...this team lacked the heart to overcome the talent deficiencies we have in the roster.

[bobbiemcgee]

Consistently Inconsistent. What happened to the team that embarrassed UC? I do love my Muskies. At least we picked up a NCAA unit for the BE.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Consistently Inconsistent. What happened to the team that embarrassed UC? I do love my Muskies. At least we picked up a NCAA unit for the BE.

Is that unit less than a 2nd round game?

[nuts4xu]

With more weapons next season, Semaj could actually showcase what how good of a player he is. I think one more year would do wonders for the kid, and I hope he sticks around for one more trip through the league.

This season was much more fun than last year, and I already love playing in the Big East.

We have been to the NCAA's 8 out of the past 9 years, and 12 out of the past 14. Very few programs can say that.

The calvary is on its way, we will reload next season, and will continue towards our goal of winning a National Championship!!

[OTRMUSKIE]

With more weapons next season, Semaj could actually showcase what how good of a player he is. I think one more year would do wonders for the kid, and I hope he sticks around for one more trip through the league.

This season was much more fun than last year, and I already love playing in the Big East.

We have been to the NCAA's 8 out of the past 9 years, and 12 out of the past 14. Very few programs can say that.

The calvary is on its way, we will reload next season, and will continue towards our goal of winning a National Championship!!

That right there is the reason it's great being in the Big East. Look at Virginia, they have done nothing and now all of a sudden they are a threat to win it all. We might not be great every year but being in the Big East will allow us to pursue our main goal of a NC which you really can't say in the A-10. Sure Butler, Mason and Which made it the final four and with all the parity it's easier to make it there not being in a major conference. But to really have the guns to win it all is going to take a lot of lighting or being able to recruit top talent. X is now able to recruit top notch talent, something they just weren't able to do on a consistent basis in the A-10. X got lucky with some huge transfers but now we should be able to grab a 5 star/Mc Donald's player. I can't wait till next year!

[bobbiemcgee]

Is that unit less than a 2nd round game?
No, 1.5 million

[Masterofreality]

No, 1.5 million

From Mötley Fool:

"Participation in each tournament round excluding the championship is worth what's known as a "unit share." For every unit share a team earns, its conference is awarded close to $250,000 a year over the next six years -- $1.5 million total. A team that loses in the first round, for example, has earned one unit share for its conference, worth $1.5 million over the next six years. A team that loses in the second round has earned twice this amount, and so on.

First given to conferences, the money is then distributed to individual teams. As*Forbes*points out, "some conferences equally split the revenue among all conference schools, while some provide a disproportionate share to the teams that were actually responsible for the "unit creation."

Anybody know what the Big East Sharing agreement is? I know that Xavier had to leave all of their units behind with the A10. I hope we're getting some of this jack this year.

Time to research.

[Kahns Krazy]

I agree there were some bad calls, but I thought that went both ways and that NC State adjusted much better to the officiating than we did.

As for the blocks, BJ Anya who accounted for three of them and altered many others has 7 foot 9 wingspan (http://sports.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/High-school-basketball-player-s-stunning-wingspa?urn=highschool-wp2931) which is the largest of any basketball player ever measured.

Now I knew that as a guy who watched the game from his couch last night. As soon as Anya came in I turned to my roommate and said "wait until you see this guys arms, he is a freak"

He hasn't been a huge blocked shot guy on the year mostly because he doesn't play much, I'd have thought we might adjust after he started altering shots left and right.

If you go back and watch Semaj on his first missed shot that got "blocked", the only thing Anya made contact with was Semaj's head and arm. Semaj was holding the ball well behind his body. 8 foot wingspan or not, Anya could not have even reached the ball, much less done so without fouling.

Again, the result is not the ref's fault. We had plenty of chances to play well and we did not, and we did not adjust well to the refs.