XAVIER vs PROVIDENCE

[blobfan]

Had to bail on the game cause every time I went back to watch we'd turn the ball over or something else stupid but when I stopped we got close. It's a loss but considering how far behind we got I'm ok with the results, assuming we can build on them. We HAVE to beat DePaul at home. HAVE TO!!!

[Masterofreality]

Why we do not play a zone in this game is mind boggling.


Hey they listened! ZONE!

Yeah, about 20 minutes too late.

WTF was so freaking complicated about that? My Gawd. What a missed opportunity.

By the way, "The Dunk" is not an intimidating place. Most of the game I thought I was sitting in a library.

I am severely disappointed. This was an eminently winnable game. F$&@k

[GoMuskies]

I hate when Xavier loses.

[xsteve1]

I hate when Xavier loses.

It was a moral victory for some though.

[XUFan09]

One last thing before I hit the hay.

A team whose senior PG has two less total fouls than points (2) and assists (4) isn't going to win many BE games anywhere. That has to be fixed.

"Has to be fixed" usually implies a negative trend or a recurring issue. That's not true for Dee; it was simply a bad game. The only negative trend for Dee lately is that he is not shooting well from three-point range in conference.

[XUFan09]

Yeah, about 20 minutes too late.

WTF was so freaking complicated about that? My Gawd. What a missed opportunity.


It's not like they severely cut down on Providence's points in the second half by switching to zone. They scored 32 points in the first half in man-to-man and 28 in the second in zone. What was really 20 minutes too late was Xavier being able to consistently make buckets. It's not often you see a team's final regulation score triple that of its first-half score.

[waggy]

It's not like they severely cut down on Providence's points in the second half by switching to zone. They scored 32 points in the first half in man-to-man and 28 in the second in zone. What was really 20 minutes too late was Xavier being able to consistently make buckets. It's not often you see a team's final regulation score triple that of its first-half score.


I think this is a case where stats lie or aren't being looked at closely enough, because Providence noticably struggled with the zone.

I don't think it's a panacea either. I'm sure they and any other team we play can go to school on it.

[nasdadjr]

Had to work tonight so I won't be able to watch the game until the midnight replay but from what I can tell it just seems like another typical performance but with a little fight this time. I'm not gonna beat a dead horse about Mack you all know my thoughts on him but I just wish this team would play the first 30 minutes like the last 10 and they are a top 25 team. Ive never been so bummed to keep a betting streak alive I was really hoping I wouldn't hit five in a row and lost by having Xavier win tonight. I still think Xavier can go to Georgetown and pull out a win. Hell maybe Seton Hall if they get their head out of their ass in the first half of games.

[nasdadjr]

I'll say this though I didn't think Xavier would be close at all and they played much closer than I expected. Of course I'll save my full opinion until after watching the game tonight.

[Juice]

I think this is a case where stats lie or aren't being looked at closely enough, because Providence noticably struggled with the zone.

I don't think it's a panacea either. I'm sure they and any other team we play can go to school on it.

XUFan09 posted this on the other board but it's not as clear as you think. They scored 32 points in the first half and 28 in the second half. The difference is that X actually made some shots in the 2nd half.

[GoMuskies]

Xavier also generated two fast break layups out of the zone vs none out of the man to man. That makes the nominal difference between the two defenses 8 points. That's a 25 percent improvement. Hardly negligible.

[waggy]

And zone wasn't played for a full half. More like half a half if I remember correctly.

[xudash]

Had to work tonight so I won't be able to watch the game until the midnight replay but from what I can tell it just seems like another typical performance but with a little fight this time. I'm not gonna beat a dead horse about Mack you all know my thoughts on him but I just wish this team would play the first 30 minutes like the last 10 and they are a top 25 team. Ive never been so bummed to keep a betting streak alive I was really hoping I wouldn't hit five in a row and lost by having Xavier win tonight. I still think Xavier can go to Georgetown and pull out a win. Hell maybe Seton Hall if they get their head out of their ass in the first half of games.

I thought they played consistently hard throughout the game, but couldn't make shots or FTs to save their lives.

Frankly, and I don't believe in moral victories, I came away from this loss hoping that:

1. Mack has now seen the light when it comes to having defensive options.
2. The team hopefully learned that they could fight their way back into a contest on the road. They were inept at shooting and Providence wasn't putting on a clinic, but the game became close mostly due to Xavier's effort towards the end. Call a foul when it should have been called and it's Stainbrook on the line, not Henton doing is old fashioned three to virtually seal it.
3. They're mad. That they're simply pissed, and a little bloodied. I truly hope they're saying "enough of this sh!t" in mid-air right now.

[XUFan09]

1. Mack has now seen the light when it comes to having defensive options.


I don't know how much we will see extended periods of zone for the rest of the season, other than maybe against Providence again at home. They are easily the worst shooting team we face this season. Maybe against St. John's Mack will use it? They don't have any good shooters, but they have a few mediocre shooters, the type that can often look good against zone defense and make it a risky move. Luckily, the man-to-man defense looked good too, particularly when you take into account that they were trying to stop (IMO) two of the best players in the conference.

It's heartening to see the team hold an opponent to under a point per possession while on the road (0.96 points per possession). They haven't done that since Mizzou (0.89 PPP). It's a familiar story, but a lot of it is not the defense itself but just translating defense at home to defense on the road. The only home opponents to score a point per possession or more were Alabama and LBSU, who both lost by double digits as the Xavier offense destroyed them.

[drudy23]

Trevon 0-3...unacceptable....three shots? He should be shooting 15 times a game. 3 fucking shots?

[GoMuskies]

Even if this was not directed at me, I have changed my mind and decided to accept your challenge. $100 is the stakes, 2 is the line, and I get Xavier +2 while you have Provi -2. The loser goes to this site (https://curestartsnow.z2systems.com/np/clients/curestartsnow/donation.jsp?campaign=96&) and makes a $100 donation to The Cure Starts Now Foundation. Agree?

Thank you for your donation!

January 23, 2015


Thank you for your donation of $ 100.00 to The Cure Starts Now Foundation on 01/23/2015. If you donated in honor of a person, a card acknowledgement of your generous gift will be sent to the family at the address you provided. 100% of this donation after credit card processing fees goes directly to research to find the homerun cure for cancer starting with pediatric brain cancer research. Your generosity enables us to continue in this mission and fund innovative and groundbreaking research that is truly making a difference in these kids’ lives. With your donation we are celebrating these smallest of heroes with the gift of hope. Please continue to check our website to hear the stories of our heroes battling cancer and other ways to help at www.thecurestartsnow.org .

From all of the families at The Cure Starts Now, thank you for your generosity!

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[Muskeagle]

Nice job, Go!

The refs owe you at least $50 of that though!!

[bleedXblue]

Trevon 0-3...unacceptable....three shots? He should be shooting 15 times a game. 3 fucking shots?


Trevon 0-3...unacceptable....three shots? He should be shooting 15 times a game. 3 fucking shots?

And really, this offense can't find and create open shooters. Its incredible. Its pass it around the perimeter and either dump in into Stain or Dee tries to beat someone off the dribble and drive. We have a plethora of guys who simply can't create their own shots. Myles makes a point of trying to get to the rim but he's limited by speed and size. This is as unathletic as I've seen a Xavier team in 20 years. Add to that our sit back, bend don't break defense that we played for 32 minutes...that doesn't create turnovers or almost any fast break points at all. Its incredible we came back and made a game of it. It's also f'in mind blowing that it takes our coach 19 games to figure out that a change in defensive style/scheme is needed..... Remy plays great one game and is almost a non factor the next? Is Myles going to play 8 minutes or 25 minutes? Is Macura going to sit the bench the entire second half or be part of the rotation? I'm sure some of that has to do with match up's, but it must be really difficult playing under these circumstances for a lot of the guys because they don't know what to expect.

[sgarcia]

I don't want to be pessimistic but we held Providence to under 40% for the game and 3/21 from 3 and we still lost. That type of defensive performance on the road is probably not going to happen again this season. I thought we had them when we got to OT but we came up with nothing on the first 3 possessions when we needed to jump out in front. I'm still upset we didn't call timeout and go 2 for 1 in the last minute of regulation but other than that I'm happy coach Mack finally caved and played a different defense for an extended period of time. I'm not happy about moral victories. The season is already 2/3 over and we still have only 1 true road win against an awful awful awful team. We'll win tomorrow but then we have 2 more road games. The offense has started to sputter as well and that is another bad sign. Our "luck" factor may be terrible this year but we don't do ourselves any favors when presented opportunities to help ourselves in a big way.

[xsteve1]

I don't want to be pessimistic but we held Providence to under 40% for the game and 3/21 from 3 and we still lost. That type of defensive performance on the road is probably not going to happen again this season. I thought we had them when we got to OT but we came up with nothing on the first 3 possessions when we needed to jump out in front. I'm still upset we didn't call timeout and go 2 for 1 in the last minute of regulation but other than that I'm happy coach Mack finally caved and played a different defense for an extended period of time. I'm not happy about moral victories. The season is already 2/3 over and we still have only 1 true road win against an awful awful awful team. We'll win tomorrow but then we have 2 more road games. The offense has started to sputter as well and that is another bad sign. Our "luck" factor may be terrible this year but we don't do ourselves any favors when presented opportunities to help ourselves in a big way.

Yes it is very worrisome. The offense is sputtering lately. Way too much dribbling and not enough ball movement. The first few possessions in OT were terrible and we only scored 6 points. The other thing is MOR said it was like a library at the Dunk. The road losses have piled up and the environments on the road in the BE haven't really been difficult. X probably played in tougher road environments in the A10 because X was everybody's big game. The team just has to get tougher and play a full game.

[sgarcia]

Are there any hostile arenas in the BE that we play in? I don't think so. Nova has a tiny gym that's only 6500. DePaul doesn't get any fans. Apparently Providence is like playing in a library. Gtown, Marquette and St John's play in NBA arenas that are never close to being full. Seton Hall has no fan base to fill the hockey arena they play in. Butler plays in a shithole and Creighton would be the only hostile one if they were good which they aren't. Is there anything I'm missing?

[GoMuskies]

Nova's tiny 6500 gym is quite hostile.

[sgarcia]

I was there for the game the last 2 years. It's a dump. It wasn't very loud. That might also be because they clobbered us both times so the crowd never had to get into the game after the first 5 minutes.

[Classof1985]

Hard fought game on the road against a good team. Providence got just enough home court advantage to pull it out in overtime.

Defense was good enough to win. X held Providence to 39% from the field and 15% from beyond the arc. But the offense continues to struggle away from Cintas - 40.7% isn't going to get it done. As some others have noted, ball movement away from home just doesn't seem to be as crisp. A lot of standing around and not enough movement off the ball.

It's getting late - someone needs to step up and get it done. The seniors need to play with more urgency.

[Lamont Sanford]

And really, this offense can't find and create open shooters. Its incredible. Its pass it around the perimeter and either dump in into Stain or Dee tries to beat someone off the dribble and drive. We have a plethora of guys who simply can't create their own shots. Myles makes a point of trying to get to the rim but he's limited by speed and size. This is as unathletic as I've seen a Xavier team in 20 years. Add to that our sit back, bend don't break defense that we played for 32 minutes...that doesn't create turnovers or almost any fast break points at all. Its incredible we came back and made a game of it. It's also f'in mind blowing that it takes our coach 19 games to figure out that a change in defensive style/scheme is needed..... Remy plays great one game and is almost a non factor the next? Is Myles going to play 8 minutes or 25 minutes? Is Macura going to sit the bench the entire second half or be part of the rotation? I'm sure some of that has to do with match up's, but it must be really difficult playing under these circumstances for a lot of the guys because they don't know what to expect.

This team needs a new offensive coordinator. The offense is similar to the Mo McAfee days when he would just dribble around for 28 seconds and then force something. These guys don't help each other get better looks at the basket.

[boozehound]

This team needs a new offensive coordinator. The offense is similar to the Mo McAfee days when he would just dribble around for 28 seconds and then force something. These guys don't help each other get better looks at the basket.

Agree. This team is athletic enough, with enough shooters, that we should be able to get good shots. Honestly I don't think Mack knows what to do with guys that can't create their own shot off the dribble. Other teams that are far less athletic find ways to run plays to get guys like Trevon and Myles shots on a consistent basis. Mack's offenses seem to involve a lot of standing around before relying on an invidual player to make a play. The problem with it this year is we don't have a Mark Lyons, Tu Holloway, or Semaj Christon to score double figures every game by creating shots off the dribble.

[xuwin]

Hard fought game on the road against a good team. Providence got just enough home court advantage to pull it out in overtime.

Defense was good enough to win. X held Providence to 39% from the field and 15% from beyond the arc. But the offense continues to struggle away from Cintas - 40.7% isn't going to get it done. As some others have noted, ball movement away from home just doesn't seem to be as crisp. A lot of standing around and not enough movement off the ball.

It's getting late - someone needs to step up and get it done. The seniors need to play with more urgency.

I thought the ball movement was fine except for the 10 minutes of the first half when both Matt and Jalen were sitting on the bench with 2 fouls. It's tough to run your offense when your 2 best big men are sitting on the bench. I'm not a big proponent of sitting your best players for long periods in the first half with 2 fouls. Matt finished the game last night with 3 fouls and could have really helped in the first half when Providence was building up the 11 point lead. Back in the day teams typically played their best players until they picked up the 3rd foul before pulling them. The whole philosophy has changed and I'm not sure why. why not maximize the potential playing time of your best players?

[XUFan09]

What are people talking about with the offense? Seriously, this team is #15 in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency. I get that the first halfs of the past two games have been rough (0.71 points per possession vs. Marquette and 0.65 points per possession at Providence). The offense in general has been good though. Let's look at conference play:

- Last night, they balanced out that atrocious first half with 1.12 points per possession the rest of the way vs. a solid defense (#72) on its home court.
- This is only the second time this season they've scored less than a point per possession.
- Versus Marquette (#55), they belanced out that atrocious half with 1.29 points per possession in the second half
- They actually notched that same 1.12 points per possession for the entire games vs. Villanova and Butler, two top 25 defenses on their home courts.
- They scored 1.17 points per possession at home vs. Seton Hall, a good defense ranked 60th.
- They scored 1.11 points per possession at home vs. Georgetown, a top 50 defense
- Against Depaul, they scored 1.06 points per possession, but against a bad defense.

My complaint with the offense isn't its general performance, which has proven to be good. It's that sometimes it takes too long to adjust to a new defense that it might be facing. Seton Hall likes to switch up their defenses a lot over the course of the game, but what was key in that game was that Xavier didn't care what they were running and just went out and scored.

[nasdadjr]

Go muskie very honorable you definitely have my respect and I'm glad the money went to such a good cause. If I feel the need to bet against x again I hope to return the favor so xavier wins and they get more money.

[xuwin]

There is a flaw in the rep system. It doesn't allow you to follow a neg rep with a good rep when it is also deserving.

[LadyMuskie]

I'd just like to see us put together a total game for 40 minutes. That's what I find so frustrating. Our defense improves, and our offense is anemic. Our defense sucks, but we're knocking down buckets. I don't even care if we win at this point. I'd just like to see us play hard, play smart, and play well for both halves.

[gladdenguy]

Turn the season around?


Child please.

Do you think this has been a good season?
Yes it was absolutely a chance to turn the season around. Instead it is just the 5th straight road loss and a team heading for the NIT.

Lets do a comparison

BAD
1.) Losing every close game besides Marquette
2.) Losing to a terrible Auburn team
3.) Losing to a terrible Long Beach St. team
4.) getting ass raped at Nova and Butler
5.) Losing to a UTEP team who is not good

As opposed to GOOD
1.) One good win against Georgetown (at home of course)
2.) One decent win against Seton Hall (at home of course)
3.) Rest of the wins are average to poor

Road losses still coming against - Marquette, Creighton, UC, St. Johns, Georgetown, and Seton Hall......that equals 13 losses. Even if they won all the home games (which they won't).....that will not be good enough for the tourney.

In summary......this season needs a turnaround. Otherwise, it sucks.

[gladdenguy]

It was a moral victory for some though.

Its so sad that it has come to that. Pathetic is more like it. I text a buddy who was just happy they were "fighting" in the second half. Embarrassing.
Dayton and sUCks fans have to be loving how bad Xavier is.

[XU 87]

If the season ends today, X is in with probably a 10- 11 seed. I doubt even a play in game. The RPI is at 37.

[GoMuskies]

There's no way Xavier would get in today with a road/neutral record of 2-7 given who those two wins are against.

[muskieindent]

There's no way Xavier would get in today with a road/neutral record of 2-7 given who those two wins are against.

Agree.We have to win a few road games.The road woes will hurt us with the committee.

[XU 87]

There's no way Xavier would get in today with a road/neutral record of 2-7 given who those two wins are against.

I think there is no way a team with a top 40 RPI in the second ranked conference doesn't get in. It may hurt with seeding though.

[Juice]

Do you think this has been a good season?
Yes it was absolutely a chance to turn the season around. Instead it is just the 5th straight road loss and a team heading for the NIT.

Lets do a comparison

BAD
1.) Losing every close game besides Marquette
2.) Losing to a terrible Auburn team
3.) Losing to a terrible Long Beach St. team
4.) getting ass raped at Nova and Butler
5.) Losing to a UTEP team who is not good

As opposed to GOOD
1.) One good win against Georgetown (at home of course)
2.) One decent win against Seton Hall (at home of course)
3.) Rest of the wins are average to poor

Road losses still coming against - Marquette, Creighton, UC, St. Johns, Georgetown, and Seton Hall......that equals 13 losses. Even if they won all the home games (which they won't).....that will not be good enough for the tourney.

In summary......this season needs a turnaround. Otherwise, it sucks.

UTEP is 72 in the KenPom ratings. They're aren't good but they certainly are not "not good". And Stephen F. Austin is 52 so that's a nice win.

[GoMuskies]

Where's Murray State? They've won 14 in a row and had a nice win at Eastern Illinois last night. They have to be top 100 at least.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Where's Murray State? They've won 14 in a row and had a nice win at Eastern Illinois last night. They have to be top 100 at least.

I see 89 in RPI for them

[D-West & PO-Z]

Of our 7 lossess:

3 are top 20 RPI losses
2 are Top 100 lossess
2 are sub 100 losses

[XUFan09]

I see 89 in RPI for them

Yup, with a projected RPI of 69. Kenpom rank is 63.

UTEP's projected RPI is 67, while Stephen F. Austin's is the same as their Kenpom rank, 52. For one win and one loss, LBSU's projected RPI is 83.

[Juice]

Where's Murray State? They've won 14 in a row and had a nice win at Eastern Illinois last night. They have to be top 100 at least.

63 in KenPom. Good call, I forgot about them.

Whether people believe or not, KenPom has X's strength of schedule currently at 9.

[waggy]

Do you think this has been a good season?
Yes it was absolutely a chance to turn the season around. Instead it is just the 5th straight road loss and a team heading for the NIT.

Lets do a comparison

BAD
1.) Losing every close game besides Marquette
2.) Losing to a terrible Auburn team
3.) Losing to a terrible Long Beach St. team
4.) getting ass raped at Nova and Butler
5.) Losing to a UTEP team who is not good

As opposed to GOOD
1.) One good win against Georgetown (at home of course)
2.) One decent win against Seton Hall (at home of course)
3.) Rest of the wins are average to poor

Road losses still coming against - Marquette, Creighton, UC, St. Johns, Georgetown, and Seton Hall......that equals 13 losses. Even if they won all the home games (which they won't).....that will not be good enough for the tourney.

In summary......this season needs a turnaround. Otherwise, it sucks.


The road/neutral performance has not been good enough. Certainly not up to X standards. But there is a flip side.. The SOS is excellent. And the teams you call terrible are not.

So no, in the here and now, I wouldn't say the season needs a turnaround. I'd say they've played a tough schedule and done OK against it. They just need to do a little better.

I think the team is top 40 on their worst day, with a much higher ceiling. And I think they are improving.

Your posts always come off as it's over, it's ending, doom, gloom, we should all go jump off a cliff. Get over your fucking self. Go jump. And I say that with all the christian love I can muster.

Child please.

[RoseyMuskie]

Do you think this has been a good season?
Yes it was absolutely a chance to turn the season around. Instead it is just the 5th straight road loss and a team heading for the NIT.

Lets do a comparison

BAD
1.) Losing every close game besides Marquette
2.) Losing to a terrible Auburn team
3.) Losing to a terrible Long Beach St. team
4.) getting ass raped at Nova and Butler
5.) Losing to a UTEP team who is not good

As opposed to GOOD
1.) One good win against Georgetown (at home of course)
2.) One decent win against Seton Hall (at home of course)
3.) Rest of the wins are average to poor

Road losses still coming against - Marquette, Creighton, UC, St. Johns, Georgetown, and Seton Hall......that equals 13 losses. Even if they won all the home games (which they won't).....that will not be good enough for the tourney.

In summary......this season needs a turnaround. Otherwise, it sucks.

This post is wrong and written in poor taste. Your act has grown old. Cue some other poster to defend your fanhood for the umpteenth time in 3...2...

[drudy23]

Whoa whoa whoa...there's still time remember.

It's been said for a month now, and we are still on the roller coaster ride to average. Pretty sure we can expect the same through the final month (why wouldn't we?). But wait, theres still time, because everyone says so.

We do need a turn in the season...theres no way this trajectory gets us in the tourney...no way.

[waggy]

Whoa whoa whoa...there's still time remember.

It's been said for a month now, and we are still on the roller coaster ride to average. Pretty sure we can expect the same through the final month (why wouldn't we?). But wait, theres still time, because everyone says so.

We do need a turn in the season...theres no way this trajectory gets us in the tourney...no way.

I hear you, but I refuse to wallow in projected misery.

I have enough of that in life.

[drudy23]

I hear you, but I refuse to wallow in projected misery.

I have enough of that in life.

Yet projected success is OK? At least those "projections" are based on what we've seen with our eyes and not "hopes".

[Xavier]

I still think X can get turn things around and have a great end of the season. But top 40 at their worst? I don't see that at all.

[waggy]

Yet projected success is OK?


I think there is reason to hope, but it is hard to say. The thing is though that there are zero road gimme's in this conference. So you can be a good team and still not win on the road. And that's not the same thing as saying we are not good enough to win on the road.

So I'm not so much projecting success, as I'm refusing to concede at this point that they can't or won't.

[waggy]

At least those "projections" are based on what we've seen with our eyes and not "hopes".


Statistical projections as of today have X winning a couple road games the rest of the way. So there is some disagreement in regard to the projection.

[drudy23]

And the question I never get an answer to...when does that concession point come? How many crappy road games does it take?

It's almost February...we're putting ourselves in a situation where we'll need like a 5 or 6 game winning streak...that's just not gonna happen.

[waggy]

And the question I never get an answer to...when does that concession point come? How many crappy road games does it take?


A concession is important to you? Another person who needs to get the fuck over themselves.

I concede when they don't make the tourney. Until then it's still on like donkey kong.

[drudy23]

Not conceeding to me, but to yourself and actually accepting reality.

I'm not 100% there yet, but I'm damn close, as would most realistic people that watch this team on a regular basis.

[waggy]

You used concession.

The crosstown hasn't even been played.

There are a half dozen road game opportunities.

There is the BE tournament.

There is a shit ton of basketball to be played.

And your personal "reality" is that it's over.

Child please.

[drudy23]

You used concession.

The crosstown hasn't even been played.

There are a half dozen road game opportunities.

There is the BE tournament.

There is a shit ton of basketball to be played.

And your personal "reality" is that it's over.

Child please.

My personal reality hasn't made this team average...actual reality has. It's FAR MORE likely that they will continue to play like they have than to have some drastic turnaround. You know that...we all know that. Possible? Yes...but FAR LESS likely.

Yet, my perceptions are not realistic? If we're talking reality, I have a much stronger case than to "hope" for a change.

[casualfan]

This all sounds very familiar. I remember a lot of similar comments at this time last year.

Unfortunately I see this season ending much the same way.

Either missing the tournament or a disappointing trip to Dayton for a play-in game.

If we don't make it to the first weekend of the tourney this year it will be the third year in a row that weekend has come and gone without us participating.

You can argue about SOS and RPI and all the other crap all you want, but if that comes to fruition it will be a sad day IMHO.

[waggy]

My personal reality hasn't made this team average...actual reality has. It's FAR MORE likely that they will continue to play like they have than to have some drastic turnaround. You know that...we all know that. Possible? Yes...but FAR LESS likely.

Yet, my perceptions are not realistic? If we're talking reality, I have a much stronger case than to "hope" for a change.


Statistically speaking, the team is projected to win a couple more road games.

The team is not average. That's "your reality".

[drudy23]

Statistically speaking, the team is projected to win a couple more road games.

The team is not average. That's "your reality".

I disagree...and games aren't played in the lab.

[mistabeecee41]

I like that starting lineup moving forward. When Tre was on, having him and Remy shoot 40-45% from 3 was crucial. With Tre in a slump and Dee shooting 30%, Remy and Myles are the only 2 I feel confident with.

[XU 87]

I disagree.

You're usually pretty level headed. The team is not average. This team has some very good home wins against some very good teams. They don't have a 37 RPI by being average.

If you believe in Kenpom, there is also a bad luck factor involved. This team has lost two close games on the road in overtime.

[xsteve1]

And the question I never get an answer to...when does that concession point come? How many crappy road games does it take?

It's almost February...we're putting ourselves in a situation where we'll need like a 5 or 6 game winning streak...that's just not gonna happen.

Yeah unfortunately from how this season has gone and how last season played out should give us any hope X is going to put it all together and go on a run. This team is just too inconsistent and just for some reason can't play well for extended periods on the road.
I felt X getting to overtime was going to be a turning point last night but the first few possessions of OT were awful and X just couldn't execute when they needed to in OT against a Providence team that was basically beaten.

[drudy23]

You're usually pretty level headed. The team is not average. This team has some very good home wins against some very good teams. They don't have a 37 RPI by being average.

So if that's the case, how can they be considered better than average if they can't do the same thing on the road? Very good plus very bad = average.

Do you people even watch the games? We are tremendously inconsistent, can't depend on guys to show up every night, and not very smart. Even if we look outstanding at home, if we go on the road and look 100% different, that means we're not good. Consistency matters and its predictive.

[waggy]

I think the inconsistency comes from too much turnover in the roster. Too few 4 year players. Too many 2 year guys.

But that doesn't mean the team is average. They are very far from average.

[drudy23]

Good teams make the tournament...we're not going to make the tournament....use your deductive reasoning for the rest.

[waggy]

...we're not going to make the tournament.....


Got it.

[drudy23]

So now you have your ammo if we do just like you say we're all looking for the "i told you so" if we don't. You're all the same.

[Xville]

5-20....this is our record away from cintas this season and last season I believe....that is unacceptable, and something that needs to change quickly.still not acceptab

actually sorry it is 7-18....still not acceptable

[waggy]

So now you have your ammo if we do just like you say we're all looking for the "i told you so" if we don't. You're all the same.


WTF? You want me to concede that it's over? You need help. Go see a therapist.

[drudy23]

And yet again...my analysis of this team's future chances are based on actual results, current trends, and future probability, and you're leaning on "hope"...but I need the therapist? You're all the same.

[chico]

So if that's the case, how can they be considered better than average if they can't do the same thing on the road? Very good plus very bad = average.

Do you people even watch the games? We are tremendously inconsistent, can't depend on guys to show up every night, and not very smart. Even if we look outstanding at home, if we go on the road and look 100% different, that means we're not good. Consistency matters and its predictive.

You can't even out home and away, because it's much harder to win on the road than at home. It's not a 50/50 proposition.

Many, many teams are inconsistent. Many, many teams can't win on the road. If the road woes continue then we'll be in trouble, but there are two ways to look at the next month. One way is to look at past games and think that will continue. The other way is to think that the team will keep improving and the wins will start to come. I agree that we're starting to run out of time, but as many have mentioned there is still ample time to get the needed wins.

It's only about being good enough to make the tourney.

[drudy23]

Are we improving on the road? Based on what? You don't get points for close losses.

[drudy23]

I don't like thinking about this team not being in the tournament either...but all signs point that way right now. We need a steep re-direct of this team's trajectory to make me feel different. I don't understand why that is so controversial to so many people. It's pretty obvious to me.

We're in some trouble.

[waggy]

And yet again...my analysis of this team's future chances are based on actual results, current trends, and future probability, and you're leaning on "hope"...but I need the therapist? You're all the same.


This is getting kinda circular. Last time.. Probability is that X wins a couple road games to close out the season. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but that is the actual probability. So you are wrong.

As far as the basic element of being a fan.. Ie, supporting the team in the midst of the season... I guess I'm guilty. I certainly think the team is still very capable of winning on the road, and getting into the tournament. No question.

[chico]

Teams typically improve during the year.

Also, you talk about future probability. I don't look at all the predictive websites, but others have and have noted that it is predicted that we will win some road games.

Besides, we're all fans here. There has to be some bit of subjectivity and hope that this team will improve. Past teams have, so why not this one?

[drudy23]

I don't like thinking about this team not being in the tournament either...but all signs point that way right now. We need a steep re-direct of this team's trajectory to make me feel different. I don't understand why that is so controversial to so many people. It's pretty obvious to me.

We're in some trouble.

[waggy]

We're in some trouble.


So you stopped conceding?

Just trying to keep up.

[xufan2434]

I don't understand why some people that think the season is over are mad at others who choose not be so negative and actually have some hope.. Is it realistic? Maybe not. The odds are against X. But what's the point in getting so down about it and being depressed about this team all the time?

Let's kick Depaul's ass on Saturday

[waggy]

I don't care if fans want to be down. But if you post inaccurate, flat wrong, or definitive statements that have yet to be decided, then I'm generally going to argue those points.

[drudy23]

You keep saying negative...expecting similar results based on past performance is far from negative. That's called normal.

[XU 87]

I have learned that things can change, for good or bad, during the season. We have 12 games left. We have a 37 RPI. We have 5 top 100 wins and I think 2 top 25 wins. So we have some good wins, some good credentials, and time for things to get better.

I have also learned that it's more enjoyable to be optimistic than to be pessimistic.

[drudy23]

I don't care if fans want to be down. But if you post inaccurate, flat wrong, or definitive statements that have yet to be decided, then I'm generally going to argue those points.

But saying they're going to win two road games because a computer said so is gospel...you people are amazing...simply amazing.

[waggy]

But saying they're going to win two road games because a computer said so is gospel...you people are amazing...simply amazing.

No I did not say that. In fact I said I didn't know. But that is the probability. They have won one road game. They also were really close a couple other times. It can reasonably be accomplished.

Your definitive statements are hogwash.

[XU 87]

But saying they're going to win two road games because a computer said so is gospel...you people are amazing...simply amazing.

C'mon, no one said that.

[drudy23]

And them no making the tournament is just as reasonable.

[drudy23]

I don't like thinking about this team not being in the tournament either...but all signs point that way right now. We need a steep re-direct of this team's trajectory to make me feel different. I don't understand why that is so controversial to so many people. It's pretty obvious to me.

[chico]

But saying they're going to win two road games because a computer said so is gospel...you people are amazing...simply amazing.

If you've been a Xavier fan for as long as you say then you must know that a season can change and teams get better as the season progresses.

You're taking past performance as gospel of future performance. Some could say that's equally amazing.

[Lamont Sanford]

Chico -

Do you truly believe this team is getting better as the season has progressed? We're 2/3 through the season and have won 1 gawddamed road game.

This team is certainly NOT progressing.

[drudy23]

If you've been a Xavier fan for as long as you say then you must know that a season can change and teams get better as the season progresses.

You're taking past performance as gospel of future performance. Some could say that's equally amazing.

The teams we're playing are also getting better...if we can't beat them, it doesn't really matter much does it? You're as good as your record...period.

[Masterofreality]

I have also learned that it's more enjoyable to be optimistic than to be pessimistic.

I think I'm learning that it might be the best to just be brain dead.....which is what some on here think I am already.

[GoMuskies]

I have also learned that it's more enjoyable to be optimistic than to be pessimistic.

I'm always optimistic at tip-off.

[XU 87]

I'm not into moral victories, but at least the defense was pretty good yesterday. X just couldn't make a shot. The defense was also pretty good against Marquette.

[danaandvictory]

If you've been a Xavier fan for as long as you say then you must know that a season can change and teams get better as the season progresses.

Or, you could remember last year, when the team limped down the stretch and went from 28 in the KenPom ratings in mid-January to 55 by March.

[DC Muskie]

I have also learned that it's more enjoyable to be optimistic than to be pessimistic.

Ain't this the truth. I'd rather enjoy Xavier basketball and leave my complaining to the teams of Cleveland.

It's funny, me and friends simply go from bitching about the Nats, to the Skins/Browns, Maryland/OSU foootball, to Xavier, and back to the Nats. To anyone on the outside it would sound like we are miserable. But really we do enjoy the seasons. And it's always more enjoyable to be optimistic.

I really liked our defense in the second half. He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and I don't remember that happening at all. Of course I like the extending zone trapping defense. We'll see if we keep that up, but tomorrow's at least another optimistic day.

[PMI]

Good teams make the tournament...we're not going to make the tournament....use your deductive reasoning for the rest.

Considering you were the guy about 2-3 games in guaranteeing that we were definitely a good team, and that anyone with two eyes could see that, my deductive reasoning concludes that taking your ever-resolute, unwavering statements about ANYTHING as fact, is simply retarded.

[PMI]

Or, you could remember last year, when the team limped down the stretch and went from 28 in the KenPom ratings in mid-January to 55 by March.

I remember that all too well. It brings us back to the same general point though, in that judging a team as a finished product in January is awfully silly. There will be teams currently ranked that fall apart. There will be teams that go on great runs from here out. I hope Xavier can do that. I don't know. It'll be very tough. But the idiots making comments like, "we are obviously not a tournament team" might as well settle down and try to enjoy the ride, whether it takes us to new heights or crashes violently. It's not like we are DePaul and HAVE to win the BE tourney to have a shot.

[DC Muskie]

I remember that all too well. It brings us back to the same general point though, in that judging a team as a finished product in January is awfully silly. There will be teams currently ranked that fall apart. There will be teams that go on great runs from here out. I hope Xavier can do that. I don't know. It'll be very tough. But the idiots making comments like, "we are obviously not a tournament team" might as well settle down and try to enjoy the ride, whether it takes us to new heights or crashes violently. It's not like we are DePaul and HAVE to win the BE tourney to have a shot.

Right now Palm says we are tournament team. I'd rather be a tournament team in March than January. I'd also like to be considered a tournament team in January.

I'm pretty much over the idea that we will ever go undefeated in February. Remember those days? I think we went three years without losing in February. It was great. But the trade off is playing in a more interesting and competitive conference. I can take losing better if we can get back to winning more towards the end of the season. Building towards something. I want to see that.

[LA Muskie]

I will root the hell out of this team. But I am not feeling confident about the tourney. I don't think we've improved that much as the season has progressed. For every step forward, we've taken at least a step backward. For the most part Stain is not handling the added attention as well as we had hoped. Farr has not made up the slack we needed him to make up. Reynolds is mostly an all-or-nothing proposition, and you never know which you're going to get. Trevon has taken several steps backward since the season started (likely because of better competition and the fact that there's now tape on him). JP's accuracy has gone way down, and with the exception of the zone defense yesterday his defense quite possibly may have gotten worse as the season has progressed (or, like with Trevon, he is struggling against the better in-conference competition and the fact that there's now tape on him). We don't have a reliable backup point guard. Which appears to be exhausting our relatively steady (but far from outstanding) starting PG. Even Myles, who started strong, seems to have fallen back to Earth.

There certainly are games -- or, more accurately, parts of games -- where we have seen growth. But even this far into the season, we are having just as many hiccups. If not more.

So yes, I continue to hope and root for a successful tail of the season. And an NCAA birth. But I certainly don't feel I can EXPECT it based on our recent performance.

[drudy23]

So yes, I continue to hope and root for a successful tail of the season. And an NCAA birth. But I certainly don't feel I can EXPECT it based on our recent performance.

How dare you.

[drudy23]

I don't like thinking about this team not being in the tournament either...but all signs point that way right now. We need a steep re-direct of this team's trajectory to make me feel different. I don't understand why that is so controversial to so many people. It's pretty obvious to me.

[xsteve1]

I will root the hell out of this team. But I am not feeling confident about the tourney. I don't think we've improved that much as the season has progressed. For every step forward, we've taken at least a step backward. For the most part Stain is not handling the added attention as well as we had hoped. Farr has not made up the slack we needed him to make up. Reynolds is mostly an all-or-nothing proposition, and you never know which you're going to get. Trevon has taken several steps backward since the season started (likely because of better competition and the fact that there's now tape on him). JP's accuracy has gone way down, and with the exception of the zone defense yesterday his defense quite possibly may have gotten worse as the season has progressed (or, like with Trevon, he is struggling against the better in-conference competition and the fact that there's now tape on him). We don't have a reliable backup point guard. Which appears to be exhausting our relatively steady (but far from outstanding) starting PG. Even Myles, who started strong, seems to have fallen back to Earth.

There certainly are games -- or, more accurately, parts of games -- where we have seen growth. But even this far into the season, we are having just as many hiccups. If not more.

So yes, I continue to hope and root for a successful tail of the season. And an NCAA birth. But I certainly don't feel I can EXPECT it based on our recent performance.

Very good accurate points of how the season has gone. I actually think X was playing better in November (pre Wooden). Obviously the competition was easier but the ball movement and shooting were much better.

[Juice]

I don't like thinking about this team not being in the tournament either...but all signs point that way right now. We need a steep re-direct of this team's trajectory to make me feel different. I don't understand why that is so controversial to so many people. It's pretty obvious to me.

Actually all signs (aka people doing "bracketology") have pointed to X being in the tournament.

[Masterofreality]

Ain't this the truth. I'd rather enjoy Xavier basketball and leave my complaining to the teams of Cleveland.

It's funny, me and friends simply go from bitching about the Nats, to the Skins/Browns, Maryland/OSU foootball, to Xavier, and back to the Nats. To anyone on the outside it would sound like we are miserable. But really we do enjoy the seasons. And it's always more enjoyable to be optimistic.

I really liked our defense in the second half. He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and I don't remember that happening at all. Of course I like the extending zone trapping defense. We'll see if we keep that up, but tomorrow's at least another optimistic day.

I couldn't have said this better Brother.