XAVIER vs DEPAUL

[boozehound]

It's so maddening to realize that we held sizable leads -- and led at the half -- in each of our four losses. Feck.

That's just how close we are to putting it together. It also shows how far away we are. The fact that it has happened 4 times this season is troubling. You used to be able to count on Xavier to close out games. This team doesn't have a closer that we can give the ball to when we absolutely need points. We have had some very poor end-of-game play this year. Hopefully somebody will emerge. Dee Davis seems to be trying to be that guy, but he isn't, and it hurts us when he tries. He isn't a good enough outside shooter, is too small to reliably take the ball to the rack, and isn't a great finisher. We need to let Dee run the offense, and rely on someone else when we need a bucket. It's looking like Abell or Blueitt are the best candidates. Abell has the edge in experience, but Blueitt is a better scorer.

[LA Muskie]

If a timeout is called earlier in the game to prevent a large lead (and confidence and momentum) from evaporating, extra timeouts are less likely needed at the end. Wouldn't you agree?

Is it a coincidence that every non-home game X lost, they had large leads and those leads quickly disappeared without Mack trying to stop it with a timeout? Or is it just reasonable to think that using a timeout to preserve a large lead might actually have lead to more wins - if not wins in all of those games. Something I hope Mack is now thinking about.

I agree that your hypothesis is plausible. I just don't know if it's accurate. It may be. It may not be. I don't know. And frankly I don't know if anyone does. Would be interesting research...

[XU 87]

If a timeout is called earlier in the game to prevent a large lead (and confidence and momentum) from evaporating, extra timeouts are less likely needed at the end. Wouldn't you agree?

Is it a coincidence that every non-home game X lost, they had large leads and those leads quickly disappeared without Mack trying to stop it with a timeout? Or is it just reasonable to think that using a timeout to preserve a large lead might actually have lead to more wins - if not wins in all of those games. Something I hope Mack is now thinking about.

It seems to me that Mack should re-consider how uses timeouts on the road in the second half. The minute he smells trouble, call a TO and calm everyone down. He obviously can only do that so much and you have to save one or two for the end of the game. But not calling the quick TO certainly hasn't worked on the road.

[Lamont Sanford]

It seems to me that Mack should re-consider how uses timeouts on the road in the second half. The minute he smells trouble, call a TO and calm everyone down. He obviously can only do that so much and you have to save one or two for the end of the game. But not calling the quick TO certainly hasn't worked on the road.

What he said.

[Mrs. Garrett]

My biggest problem with the DePaul game was not using the advantage X had in the post. DePaul had one true post player healthy in Thomas Hamilton and he didn't even start. Forrest Robinson is 6'11, but he would rather shoot threes. Myke Henry was at the 4, but at 6'6 is really a 3 forced into the post due to injury. DePaul even used a walk-on (Joe Hanel) for significant minutes in the post. X never found a way to get the ball down low and Reynolds could have easily dominated.

There's too many trigger happy guards on this team, but in the end the game plan is on the coaches.

[bleedXblue]

My biggest problem with the DePaul game was not using the advantage X had in the post. DePaul had one true post player healthy in Thomas Hamilton and he didn't even start. Forrest Robinson is 6'11, but he would rather shoot threes. Myke Henry was at the 4, but at 6'6 is really a 3 forced into the post due to injury. DePaul even used a walk-on (Joe Hanel) for significant minutes in the post. X never found a way to get the ball down low and Reynolds could have easily dominated.

There's too many trigger happy guards on this team, but in the end the game plan is on the coaches.

I thought the same thing. 7 total shots from Stain and Reynolds is baffling. We should have forced the issue more and we didn't. Stain would get doubled up and immediately pass the ball back out. Agreed the staff has to see that and adjust.

[Masterofreality]

I thought the same thing. 7 total shots from Stain and Reynolds is baffling. We should have forced the issue more and we didn't. Stain would get doubled up and immediately pass the ball back out. Agreed the staff has to see that and adjust.

On the call in show on Monday, CMack was saying that Stain had to do a better job establishing position closer to the basket- that he couldn't just set up 10 feet away and he should have been on the block more. CMack also said that Stain wasn't doubled much in the second half.

I'm out of town and haven't been able to review the tape, but I'm not sure that's the case, but Coach has reviewed tape. I recalled lots of doubles, but not any on Jalen.

[casualfan]

On the call in show on Monday, CMack was saying that Stain had to do a better job establishing position closer to the basket- that he couldn't just set up 10 feet away and he should have been on the block more. CMack also said that Stain wasn't doubled much in the second half.

I'm out of town and haven't been able to review the tape, but I'm not sure that's the case, but Coach has reviewed tape. I recalled lots of doubles, but not any on Jalen.

Speaking of reviewing the tape, does anyone know where I can find a replay of our games online?

I didn't DVR any of our games because I assumed that like watchespn foxsportsgo wold archive the replays, but from what i can tell that isn't the case.

I was hoping to watch the Georgtown game to help wash the taste of Saturday out of my mouth.

[paulxu]

On the call in show on Monday, CMack was saying that Stain had to do a better job establishing position closer to the basket- that he couldn't just set up 10 feet away and he should have been on the block more.

It's a long way back and forth for a big guy that is setting ball screens north of the arc.

[Masterofreality]

It's a long way back and forth for a big guy that is setting ball screens north of the arc.

Yes.....Yes it is, but the idea behind that is to draw a defender out too. The fault with the idea is that, unless the ball screener shows a knack for taking and making 10-15 footers, which Stain and Jalen can do but have only done 2-3 times each this year so far, the defender will be coached to stay home low, which stops Stain or Jalen from getting that low post position.

Maybe the answer is to let those guys take a couple of 15 footers. I saw Stain make them in High School and he's made them here. Jalen showed he can make them in summer league and here. Jalen's biggest games come when he shows a 15 foot shot. Let 'em chuck a couple?

[xufan2434]

Yes.....Yes it is, but the idea behind that is to draw a defender out too. The fault with the idea is that, unless the ball screener shows a knack for taking and making 10-15 footers, which Stain and Jalen can do but have only done 2-3 times each this year so far, the defender will be coached to stay home low, which stops Stain or Jalen from getting that low post position.

Maybe the answer is to let those guys take a couple of 15 footers. I saw Stain make them in High School and he's made them here. Jalen showed he can make them in summer league and here. Jalen's biggest games come when he shows a 15 foot shot. Let 'em chuck a couple?

Agreed.. I thought when he went on a tear last year towards the end of the season that his mid range game was what opened it up. I was at this game and have stayed away for a couple days outta sheer frustration. But X's offense is way too predictable. The slow motion set plays they run with tentative bounce passes has always been the only thing I've hated about Mack's coaching style.

They need to do something to mix it up. Stainbrook also played absolutely terrible. He was looking for the pass first every time and could never find the open guy off the double team, especially in the 2nd half. I was confused why they kept playing offense and defense with Jalen and Matt every time down the floor. I thought Jalen was at least playing hard and was into the game. It was just one of those games where Matt looked slower than everyone else.

[paulxu]

A confusing thing to me was watching Stainbrook get doubled (it almost seemed every time he got it inside the foul line) and having difficulty in finding the open man (there has to be at least one guy open).

It was confusing because at the beginning of the year, all the commentators were going on about how good he is in exactly that situation, and praising his ability to find the guy and hit him with a good pass.

Guess where I'm going is that he can only do, in those situations, what his teammates help him to do. It's up to them to cut into the basket area, or slide into an open spot so he can hit them. At least one guy should be open (more if it's off a screen being run at the same time) and maybe part of the breakdown is on his fellow players to help him in those situations.

[IM4X]

A confusing thing to me was watching Stainbrook get doubled (it almost seemed every time he got it inside the foul line) and having difficulty in finding the open man (there has to be at least one guy open).

It was confusing because at the beginning of the year, all the commentators were going on about how good he is in exactly that situation, and praising his ability to find the guy and hit him with a good pass.

Guess where I'm going is that he can only do, in those situations, what his teammates help him to do. It's up to them to cut into the basket area, or slide into an open spot so he can hit them. At least one guy should be open (more if it's off a screen being run at the same time) and maybe part of the breakdown is on his fellow players to help him in those situations.

If you do get a chance to go back and watch the DePaul game, you will indeed see stretches where guards are standing around and not moving or cutting- something we didn't witness much in the Georgetown game.

[xuwin]

Agreed.. I thought when he went on a tear last year towards the end of the season that his mid range game was what opened it up. I was at this game and have stayed away for a couple days outta sheer frustration. But X's offense is way too predictable. The slow motion set plays they run with tentative bounce passes has always been the only thing I've hated about Mack's coaching style.

They need to do something to mix it up. Stainbrook also played absolutely terrible. He was looking for the pass first every time and could never find the open guy off the double team, especially in the 2nd half. I was confused why they kept playing offense and defense with Jalen and Matt every time down the floor. I thought Jalen was at least playing hard and was into the game. It was just one of those games where Matt looked slower than everyone else.

Obviously Matt is slower than everybody else but he is also the best passing big man on the team by far and everybody around him gets better shots when he is in the game.

[xufan2434]

Obviously Matt is slower than everybody else but he is also the best passing big man on the team by far and everybody around him gets better shots when he is in the game.

Sorry, what I meant by that wasn't necessarily his speed up and down the court.. But more about his decision making. He's usually quick about reading the defense and making the right play. Trust me, I usually love it when he gets doubled. It's the best thing for this offense. But it was a combination of guys not getting open and him reacting slower that combined it