HOF Class - Lionel Chalmers

[Cheesehead]

Chalmers had one of the most productive careers of any Xavier guard in school history, and he saved his best for last. The 2004 Atlantic 10 Championship MVP led the Musketeers to a historic four-game sweep of the tournament, which included a blowout of then-No. 1 and undefeated Saint Joseph’s and a win over host Dayton in the title game. The senior point guard led XU to wins over Louisville, Mississippi State and Texas en route to the school’s first-ever NCAA tournament Elite Eight appearance.

Chalmers was named to the five-member All-NCAA Atlanta Regional Team after averaging a team-high 21.8 points and with 3.8 assists for XU’s four NCAA tournament games.

Xavier won two Atlantic 10 Conference regular season championships and two A-10 tournament championships during his four-year career. The team made the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, advancing to the 2004 Elite Eight and the NCAA second round twice. Chalmers remains 16th on Xavier’s all-time scoring list with 1,556 career points and ninth in assists with 405.

Chalmers was selected in the second round of the NBA draft and played three seasons for three teams before going overseas. He has completed 11 seasons in his pro career.

[Emp]

It's hard to remember how frustrated fans were with Chalmers before The Run. If it hadn't been for The Call, he could have been a Final four Legend.

[kyxu]

It's hard to remember how frustrated fans were with Chalmers before The Run. If it hadn't been for The Call, he could have been a Final four Legend.

Chalmers is a good example of a strong finish completely changing a player's legacy. I remember him being half-heartedly booed at Cintas early in his senior year.

But I'm not sure we will ever see again a mid-season transformation like his. He went from being maybe not even the best guard on the team to being one of the most explosive and dynamic backcourt players in the country.

[D-West & PO-Z]

It's hard to remember how frustrated fans were with Chalmers before The Run. If it hadn't been for The Call, he could have been a Final four Legend.

Yeah he essentially had a half of season out of 4 years that completely changed the narrative on him and people's memories of him. It is why I always laugh when fans write off any player on our team before the end of their career.

[XU 87]

Chalmers is a good example of a strong finish completely changing a player's legacy.

See also, Dee Davis.

[kyxu]

See also, Dee Davis.

Not to derail this thread from Chalmers, but I disagree.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Dee didnt do it to the extent that Chalmers did but Dee definitely has an element of that to his story. His legacy took a lesser change after the UC game.

[X-Fan]

Dee didnt do it to the extent that Chalmers did but Dee definitely has an element of that to his story. His legacy took a lesser change after the UC game.

I think you can say that both maximized their potential in the second half of their Senior seasons.

Really fantastic to see Chalmers recognized. He was a BIG part of one of the most influential seasons in Xavier Basketball history.

[Cheesehead]

I think you can say that both maximized their potential in the second half of their Senior seasons.

Really fantastic to see Chalmers recognized. He was a BIG part of one of the most influential seasons in Xavier Basketball history.

agreed and the reason I have a cool "The Run" DVD which I still watch on occasion

[bleedXblue]

Chalmers is a good example of a strong finish completely changing a player's legacy. I remember him being half-heartedly booed at Cintas early in his senior year.

But I'm not sure we will ever see again a mid-season transformation like his. He went from being maybe not even the best guard on the team to being one of the most explosive and dynamic backcourt players in the country.


I remember leaving the Cintas being more pissed off at him than any player I can remember. I think we lost to Richmond that night......

[XUMIOH12]

congratulations to Lionel on the achievement

[sirthought]

Chalmers is a good example of a strong finish completely changing a player's legacy. I remember him being half-heartedly booed at Cintas early in his senior year.

But I'm not sure we will ever see again a mid-season transformation like his. He went from being maybe not even the best guard on the team to being one of the most explosive and dynamic backcourt players in the country.

I think we can thank Sean Miller for that. I think the dog house may have been an understatement for a couple weeks there. He worked Chalmers hard and eventually the performance started to turn around.

I can remember thinking when Miller was hired as head coach that if he could be that effective with development always then players could really achieve under his guidance.

[Xavier]

Wasn't Thad the coach...? Or you saying he was in Millers dog house as the assistant coach?


Never mind, read that post again. Continue on

[kyxu]

I think we can thank Sean Miller for that. I think the dog house may have been an understatement for a couple weeks there. He worked Chalmers hard and eventually the performance started to turn around.

I can remember thinking when Miller was hired as head coach that if he could be that effective with development always then players could really achieve under his guidance.

Maybe, maybe not.

I also recall Chalmers' oft-discussed tirade in the visitors' locker room after the road loss at GW, which seemed to coincide with his metamorphosis. Maybe Miller had a hand in that, I don't know. But I think he was just of the attitude where he was tired of losing and refused to let his 5-year Xavier career continue on that trajectory. Then his play began to follow his attitude, which is typically the case.

[X-band '01]

FWIW, Jason Kokrak is also part of the Hall of Fame class this year. He should be starting his 3rd season on the PGA Tour this weekend as the fall portion of the 2015-16 season kicks off with the Frys.com Open.

[Emp]

FWIW, Jason Kokrak is also part of the Hall of Fame class this year. He should be starting his 3rd season on the PGA Tour this weekend as the fall portion of the 2015-16 season kicks off with the Frys.com Open.

Psssst.......You're supposed to let MOR do the golf stuff.

[MuskieXU]

Changing the subject for a second, I have a bit of a random question. Xavier has 4 retired numbers in its history, Larkin/Hill/Grant/West. I wasnt around to see the first 3 and West is a no brainer, but how do some of the players today in recent history compare to those in terms of getting their jerseys retired? As a younger fan who really started following Xavier around 2000, I've seen a handful of players who have single handedly elevated the program over my lifetime. Posey, Sato, and Tu come to mind. Do any of them deserve to have their numbers retired? Sato had 4 fantastic years and was the first player to lead his team to an E8, on what I would consider the best Xavier team of all time (at their peak). Does he deserve any consideration here? If not, what would it take for you to think a player is deserving of this recognition?

[D-West & PO-Z]

Changing the subject for a second, I have a bit of a random question. Xavier has 4 retired numbers in its history, Larkin/Hill/Grant/West. I wasnt around to see the first 3 and West is a no brainer, but how do some of the players today in recent history compare to those in terms of getting their jerseys retired? As a younger fan who really started following Xavier around 2000, I've seen a handful of players who have single handedly elevated the program over my lifetime. Posey, Sato, and Tu come to mind. Do any of them deserve to have their numbers retired? Sato had 4 fantastic years and was the first player to lead his team to an E8, on what I would consider the best Xavier team of all time (at their peak). Does he deserve any consideration here? If not, what would it take for you to think a player is deserving of this recognition?

Sato would be a good candidate in my mind. I believe he is 3rd in all time scoring and 8th in rebounding and first in 3 pointers made. Those are pretty great numbers.

[Muskie]

Sato would be a good candidate in my mind. I believe he is 3rd in all time scoring and 8th in rebounding and first in 3 pointers made. Those are pretty great numbers.

Sato I could see. But there are quite a few fans that think Steve Thomas (also #10) should have his jersey retired as well. So there's a conundrum. Both I think belong up there. But I don't know how you do it and make it look right.

[Muskie]

Changing the subject for a second, I have a bit of a random question. Xavier has 4 retired numbers in its history, Larkin/Hill/Grant/West. I wasnt around to see the first 3 and West is a no brainer, but how do some of the players today in recent history compare to those in terms of getting their jerseys retired? As a younger fan who really started following Xavier around 2000, I've seen a handful of players who have single handedly elevated the program over my lifetime. Posey, Sato, and Tu come to mind. Do any of them deserve to have their numbers retired? Sato had 4 fantastic years and was the first player to lead his team to an E8, on what I would consider the best Xavier team of all time (at their peak). Does he deserve any consideration here? If not, what would it take for you to think a player is deserving of this recognition?

Tu despite all his accomplishments also has the Brawl on his resume. I don't see him having jersey retired for a long time.
Posey is a HOF caliber player (maybe's he's already in, I'd need to look), but maybe just outside the jersey retirement echelon?

[Cheesehead]

Steve Thomas was before my time but Sato absolutely should have number retired. He was a fantastic player and strong in scoring, rebounding, assists, 3 pointers, blocks shots. Helluva defender too. He did it all.

He is third on Xavier's all-time scoring list with 2,005 points and eighth on the all-time rebounding list with 892 rebounds. Sato still holds a number of school records, including most consecutive starts with 130. He holds the school record for career three-point field goals made (307), including the top two single game displays in XU history, including nine in a win over Rhode Island his junior year.

1st Team A-10 2003, 2004
2nd Team A-10 2002
All Defensive Team A-10 2002, 2003, 2004

[MuskieXU]

Steve Thomas was before my time but Sato absolutely should have number retired. He was a fantastic player and strong in scoring, rebounding, assists, 3 pointers, blocks shots. Helluva defender too. He did it all.

He is third on Xavier's all-time scoring list with 2,005 points and eighth on the all-time rebounding list with 892 rebounds. Sato still holds a number of school records, including most consecutive starts with 130. He holds the school record for career three-point field goals made (307), including the top two single game displays in XU history, including nine in a win over Rhode Island his junior year.

1st Team A-10 2003, 2004
2nd Team A-10 2002
All Defensive Team A-10 2002, 2003, 2004

Great points, and as I said earlier he also led XU to their first E8. It seems he has a very strong case, do you think those who have their numbers retired had a better resume or do you think XU is getting more picky as our program grows?

[waggy]

A jersey can be "retired" without retiring the number.

Carry on.

[kyxu]

Sato I could see. But there are quite a few fans that think Steve Thomas (also #10) should have his jersey retired as well. So there's a conundrum. Both I think belong up there. But I don't know how you do it and make it look right.

Just retire #10 with both Thomas and Sato listed, similar to when the Yankees retired #8 for both Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra in 1972.

[Denver Muskie]

Sato I could see. But there are quite a few fans that think Steve Thomas (also #10) should have his jersey retired as well. So there's a conundrum. Both I think belong up there. But I don't know how you do it and make it look right.

I just counted and I believe there's only 37 possible numbers to wear in college basketball. That could be part of the reason retired numbers are limited. Why don't we just have a ring of honor (or something like that), but allow the number to continue to be worn? That way guys like Thomas and Sato go up, but you can add a few more guys like Tu, Posey, Cage, Doellman, Semaj.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I just counted and I believe there's only 37 possible numbers to wear in college basketball. That could be part of the reason retired numbers are limited. Why don't we just have a ring of honor (or something like that), but allow the number to continue to be worn? That way guys like Thomas and Sato go up, but you can add a few more guys like Tu, Posey, Cage, Doellman, Semaj.

That is kind of what the hall of fame is though.

I think they want to be very selective with who's numbers they retire because it has to be a absolute no brainer in order for it to be done and I think that is the way it should be. The only player in my time as an XU fan that I think would deserve it is Sato. Tu, Posey, Cage, Doellman were all great players but none, in my mind, deserve their number retired. I dont think it is just an issue of running out of numbers, I think it is an issue of truly being one of the all time greats. A lot of those guys will probably get into XU hall of fame, but none of them really deserve retired jersey I dont think.

[GoMuskies]

The only player in my time as an XU fan that I think would deserve it is Sato.

You mean other than West, right?

[D-West & PO-Z]

You mean other than West, right?

Of course.

[Denver Muskie]

That is kind of what the hall of fame is though.

I think they want to be very selective with who's numbers they retire because it has to be a absolute no brainer in order for it to be done and I think that is the way it should be. The only player in my time as an XU fan that I think would deserve it is Sato. Tu, Posey, Cage, Doellman were all great players but none, in my mind, deserve their number retired. I dont think it is just an issue of running out of numbers, I think it is an issue of truly being one of the all time greats. A lot of those guys will probably get into XU hall of fame, but none of them really deserve retired jersey I dont think.

I get what you're saying. I think it'd be cool to have to have a few players from each decade recognized inside the arena and visible while sitting in the seats...something more exclusive than the hall of fame, but not quite as exclusive as having your number retired. Probably speaks to the fact that I don't even know where the hall of fame is located.

[Muskie]

I get what you're saying. I think it'd be cool to have to have a few players from each decade recognized inside the arena and visible while sitting in the seats...something more exclusive than the hall of fame, but not quite as exclusive as having your number retired. Probably speaks to the fact that I don't even know where the hall of fame is located.

Its at the end of the concourse that is behind the visitor's bench. Worth a look as they also have a nice display of X memorabilia.