Some Thoughts after seeing X practice

[XUBob]

I was able to attend practice yesterday, thought I’d post some observations for people to chew on.

First thing that stood out was Trevon Bluitt, he has completely reshaped his body. I saw him before the Brazil trip and he looks like a different kid. Talked to Byron and said that Trevon has lost 25 lbs. since Brazil. No more baby fat and his upper body was chiseled. Thinking this has to bode well for the season,

This group has better overall size than in the past few years, I’m not talking just about height, X has some thick wide bodies that can play. Reminded me of the Matta and Miller teams that made the floor look small and crowed. Defensively I think they have a chance to be much better. Overall team quickness is better. I have not been a big fan of hedging screens out front in recent years. That might have been because we had Philmore and Stainbrook on the floor at the same time trying to accomplish this. Reynolds, Farr and even O”Mara did a nice job of this yesterday.

I know that many reports have talked about improved shooting, wasn’t there early yesterday but shooting improved as the practice progressed.

The biggest take away was that Chris will be afforded the luxury of playing different lineups that can be effective. I could even see times when we go semi-Villanova, one big and four guards. I think that this will be an interesting year this group has promise. A good mix of veterans and youth. As always I can’t wait for the season to start.

[XUGRAD80]

thanks for the insight!

[bleedXblue]

Great stuff. Thanks. I think Mack's most difficult challenge will be finding time for all and getting the right mix of players on the court. Competition is a really, really good thing.

[casualfan]

Thanks for the update.

I know a lot of people are hoping that Bluiett can provide big minutes at the 4 and in an ideal world I agree, but I find it hard to believe that'll be possible if he just dropped 25 lbs.

[PMI]

Thanks for the update.

I know a lot of people are hoping that Bluiett can provide big minutes at the 4 and in an ideal world I agree, but I find it hard to believe that'll be possible if he just dropped 25 lbs.

He is still really big and all indications point to him being able to play the 4. It might actually be a better defensive position for him, at least initially. I think he will start at the 3 because Jalen is the obvious starter at the 4. But I also think Blueitt will see time at the 4. Usually when you talk about what position a player plays it refers more to who he defends than what he does offensively. Blueitt is not the most athletic guy in the world and I don't think he's anything special when it comes to lateral quickness you would want in defending a talented wing. He is still a big, wide guy with an excellent knack for knowing how to use his body. Losing weight was a good thing, because he turned some fat into muscle, and if anything, it should help him play stronger.

[casualfan]

He is still really big and all indications point to him being able to play the 4. It might actually be a better defensive position for him, at least initially. I think he will start at the 3 because Jalen is the obvious starter at the 4. But I also think Blueitt will see time at the 4. Usually when you talk about what position a player plays it refers more to who he defends than what he does offensively. Blueitt is not the most athletic guy in the world and I don't think he's anything special when it comes to lateral quickness you would want in defending a talented wing. He is still a big, wide guy with an excellent knack for knowing how to use his body. Losing weight was a good thing, because he turned some fat into muscle, and if anything, it should help him play stronger.

I agree that the position you play is more dictated by who you can guard than anything else and ironically enough that's one of the reasons I don't think he'll see all that much time at the 4, at least not once we hit the Big East portion of the schedule.

I'd love it if he proves me wrong, but I just don't see him being able to contain guys like Jayvauhgn Pinkston, Mikael Hopkins, God's Gift Achuwa, Ladaontae Henton, etc.

This reminds me a lot of last year when people were saying before the year that J-Mart would log minutes at the 4 because it put our best offensive team on the floor.

Like I said I'd be ecstatic if he's able to log time at the 4 and I think you may see that early in the year during our soft OOC schedule, but once we start playing the big boys I just don't think he'll be able to keep those guys in check.

It's very rare that a guy comes straight from high school and logs minutes on the block. It's even more rare for a guy who was a perimeter player in high school to come in and log minutes on the block.

We shall see.

[sirthought]

Curious how people pronounce Blueitt phonetically? I've never heard his name spoken.

[X-man]

Curious how people pronounce Blueitt phonetically? I've never heard his name spoken.

See the bottom of p. 2 of this link from GoXavier.com: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/xavi/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/prospectus/prospectus.pdf.

[PMI]

I agree that the position you play is more dictated by who you can guard than anything else and ironically enough that's one of the reasons I don't think he'll see all that much time at the 4, at least not once we hit the Big East portion of the schedule.

I'd love it if he proves me wrong, but I just don't see him being able to contain guys like Jayvauhgn Pinkston, Mikael Hopkins, God's Gift Achuwa, Ladaontae Henton, etc.

This reminds me a lot of last year when people were saying before the year that J-Mart would log minutes at the 4 because it put our best offensive team on the floor.

Like I said I'd be ecstatic if he's able to log time at the 4 and I think you may see that early in the year during our soft OOC schedule, but once we start playing the big boys I just don't think he'll be able to keep those guys in check.

It's very rare that a guy comes straight from high school and logs minutes on the block. It's even more rare for a guy who was a perimeter player in high school to come in and log minutes on the block.

We shall see.

I think the thing with Blueitt is, he's not going to be a great defender (particularly as a frosh) regardless. I think he would probably have a more natural fit clogging some space than he would trying to keep up with an athletic wing, but like you said, we shall see. I think regardless of where he plays on defense, he can create a very frustrating mismatch for defenses on the other end with that natural scoring and shooting ability along with some excellent body control and very high IQ. He will be tough to check. Per Martin, I actually do think he fit better at the 4, and I think it was for similar reasons as I could see Blueitt fitting there, although I think Martin's rebounding on both ends (when his head was in it) was the bigger factor than his defense. Martin could not really defend wings very well and it was a total pipe dream amongst Xavier fans that he could play the 2 in any capacity. He didn't play a lot at the 4, but I actually tended to like it more when he did. I think part of that was that it was a nice change of pace not having Philmore and Stain on the floor at the same time on defense, which is not an issue we should have this year. I really think that had we had the options on the wing, Martin would have seen more time at the 4 and the team would've been better for it. We seem to say this most every year and for one reason or another it proves to be a little optimistic, but we SHOULD have plenty of options with the lineups this year.


Curious how people pronounce Blueitt phonetically? I've never heard his name spoken.

For the correct pronunciation, here's an easy way to remember: "It was just another Saturday in February, as dayton BLEW IT in spectacular fashion once again."

[X-band '01]

More like Butler "Blueitt" everytime they remember they lost this recruit to Xavier. At least he's not part of that dumpster fire.

[sirthought]

Hmmm... In my head I was saying the French pronunciation.

[Masterofreality]

With all of this, no one has mentioned Remy Abel, you know, the guy who was the best player on the court at Musketeer Madness last year.

I love the way no one is saying anything about Xavier. Except that we might be the 38th best team. Not much buzz.

Time to sneak up on people.

[XUBob]

Actually MOR Remy looked very good. He is athletic and can defend, he gives X a physical two guard that can and wants to defend. Even in practice he brings a Dante Jacksom type of energy, with more offensive firepower.

[xudash]

With all of this, no one has mentioned Remy Abel, you know, the guy who was the best player on the court at Musketeer Madness last year.

I love the way no one is saying anything about Xavier. Except that we might be the 38th best team. Not much buzz.

Time to sneak up on people.

Ah yes, and we're back to that. I should fly up to Cincinnati in order to drive around the Cincinnati Gardens a dozen times and otherwise find a place to smell beer on a concrete floor just to reacquaint myself with that whole thing.

[JTG]

Actually MOR Remy looked very good. He is athletic and can defend, he gives X a physical two guard that can and wants to defend. Even in practice he brings a Dante Jacksom type of energy, with more offensive firepower.

With his size and defensive ability wouldn't he be more Stanley Burrell ?

[xu82]

Actually MOR Remy looked very good. He is athletic and can defend, he gives X a physical two guard that can and wants to defend. Even in practice he brings a Dante Jacksom type of energy, with more offensive firepower.

Someone posted some video of Remy a while ago and I was very pleasantly surprised. I loved Dante, but Remy seems to be much better with the ball in his hands. Very athletic. I have to avoid getting too excited about this season.

[Irishdawg]

More like Butler "Blueitt" everytime they remember they lost this recruit to Xavier. At least he's not part of that dumpster fire.

Or like how several of you "blew it" when trying to spell Bluiett's last name. :read:

These thoughts pretty much fall in line with Norlander's preview article. Mack's going to have a lot of toys to play with, will be interesting to see how deep Xavier goes all season.

[Masterofreality]

I didn't see it posted elsewhere, so here's Nordlander's article.http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/24751970/-15-college-basketball-conference-preview-big-east?v=1&vc=1

[Milhouse]

I'll be shocked if Remy doesn't average double figures. Unless Jalen unleashes the monster within Remy should lead the team in scoring.

[muskiefan82]

I didn't see it posted elsewhere, so here's Nordlander's article.http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/24751970/-15-college-basketball-conference-preview-big-east?v=1&vc=1


....Hmmmmm....Stainbrook as an all-conference GUARD?

Our Preseason All-Big East Team

G: D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown

G: D'Angelo Harrison, St. John's

F: Darrun Hilliard, Villanova

F: JayVaughn Pinkston, Villanova

G: Matt Stainbrook, Xavier

[Muskie]

I didn't see it posted elsewhere, so here's Nordlander's article.http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/eye-on-college-basketball/24751970/-15-college-basketball-conference-preview-big-east?v=1&vc=1

Jon Rothstein will now be everyone's favorite reporter (he picked us to finish 2 in the BE).

This struck me:

0: The number of Big East players currently projected by DraftExpress.com (http://www.draftexpress.com/) to be taken in the entire 2015 draft and the first round of the 2016 draft. No doubt the Big East will send more than that (I'll go with ... four?) in those three rounds, but it is alarming that right now the outlook isn't fruitfuil. The league has to see its recruiting coups come to glory almost immediately.

---

Really, not one Top 30 pick in the Big East? That is absurd (and reeks of some payola type pushing from DraftExpress).

[OH.X.MI]

Jon Rothstein will now be everyone's favorite reporter (he picked us to finish 2 in the BE).

In my opinion Rothestein is the best college bball reporter out there. One of the few who actually writes about basketball.

[GoMuskies]

The league has to see its recruiting coups come to glory almost immediately.


I don't think this is true. What's the worst that happens? The league has a down year. So long as those recruiting coups eventually pan out, one bad year's not going to hurt the league too bad.

[BMoreX]

In my opinion Rothestein is the best college bball reporter out there. One of the few who actually writes about basketball.

He's too optimistic for me. He says good things about EVERY team. He pretty much adds that any team is a dark horse and possible contender for their conference title.

[xu82]

He's too optimistic for me. He says good things about EVERY team. He pretty much adds that any team is a dark horse and possible contender for their conference title.
But he ranked us higher than the others did... so of course we forgive him. :-)
Gottlieb, on the other hand, has just reinforced my feelings toward him.

[OH.X.MI]

He's too optimistic for me. He says good things about EVERY team. He pretty much adds that any team is a dark horse and possible contender for their conference title.

Haha that's pretty accurate. Still, you have to respect his hustle. Rothestein visits pretty much every team in the country and provides solid, though overly optimistic, information. I like getting info about teams other than the traditional powerhouses and I think he's the best national reporter for that.

[BMoreX]

Haha that's pretty accurate. Still, you have to respect his hustle. Rothestein visits pretty much every team in the country and provides solid, though overly optimistic, information. I like getting info about teams other than the traditional powerhouses and I think he's the best national reporter for that.

That's fair, he definitely follows and reports on teams from CAA, MAAC, etc.

[BandAid]

Gottlieb, on the other hand, has just reinforced my feelings toward him.

He put Butler at 5th...wow

[Olsingledigit]

He put Butler at 5th...wow

What makes that even worse is that he has X as 4th. Oh My!

[Irishdawg]

He's too optimistic for me. He says good things about EVERY team. He pretty much adds that any team is a dark horse and possible contender for their conference title.

99% of the time that's true... but then there's DePaul (Keep in mind these were 2 tweets in a 7 tweet rant on this).

Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein · Oct 10
The first thing DePaul needs to do if it hopes to turn around its program? Stop playing games at All State Arena + move them on campus.

Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein · Oct 10
How is DePaul supposed to sell recruits on playing in a quiet arena 22 miles away from campus? Almost like bringing a knife to a gun fight.

[Chalmers0]

99% of the time that's true... but then there's DePaul (Keep in mind these were 2 tweets in a 7 tweet rant on this).

Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein · Oct 10
The first thing DePaul needs to do if it hopes to turn around its program? Stop playing games at All State Arena + move them on campus.

Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein · Oct 10
How is DePaul supposed to sell recruits on playing in a quiet arena 22 miles away from campus? Almost like bringing a knife to a gun fight.

You KNOW a program is an absolute dumpster fire when Rothstein says bad things about them

[More Cowbell]

You KNOW a program is an absolute dumpster fire when Rothstein says bad things about them

I thought they were "out of this world!"

[casualfan]

I thought they were "out of this world!"

You mean, Off the charts!?

He says it so often he now just posts OTC and everyone knows what he's talking about.

[OH.X.MI]

You mean, Off the charts!?

He says it so often he now just posts OTC and everyone knows what he's talking about.

"Stay hungry, Stay humble," you guys.

[casualfan]

Another good one of his is "Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan" every time Wisconsin wins.