We're good, BUT

[Always Learning]

We are only halfway thru to the first game in the dance. The "pre" seedings by Jerry, and others, that have us 1 or 2 I think are pretty accurate, and I like going to St Louis of the options for the first two games (for us). I think the BE record of 3-1 thus far is ecactly where we should be. We have beaten the teams we need to beat.

Now comes a road test Saturday against a team we should beat and that would give us two road wins. They (road wins) are precious in conference play. Marquette is not a roll over, and they have beaten a few really good teams already. But like Villanova showed last night, the need to shown they are not at our level. Championship teams like 'Nova and us have to stomp the wannabe's.

We have perhaps the best coach we have ever had. He is easily the best recruiter we have ever had, and I know he has had the best facility and the best conference any XU coach has ever had. A couple of years back he said we had to get "BE players" that some scoffed at. Now when they see Trevon, JP, Ed, Jalen, Remy, James, et al, and the bench plus the incoming recruits, it is now understood. In the real world, Cris is out-recruiting everyone in the BE, and 90% of the country's elite. Without one and done's Thad, Mike, John, Sean!

On the bench he is out-coaching opponents with out of bounds plays, utilizing the zone, substitutions, halftime adjustments, in otherwords, the whole package. Outside of 'Cuse, I haven't see any team play the zone defense better than we are doing. To me its funny how many of our "nation" think playing a zone is to give the team a breather. If they aren't playing it hard and all out, it won't work Check the absolute all out of JP in the zone and tell me playing is gives the team a breather. Also ck out sometime when we are in it how often we have break-aways or 3 on 2 out of it when they miss.

I like the way our team passes the ball, and gets to the boards. I had a basketball guru and NBA scout tell me at Christmas, we do the best job in the country at sharing the ball.

And I like how players responded to Chris' criticism. I liked the other day when Chris called out James. Betcha James responed 125% come Saturday. He's called out Jalen too, and Jalen has responded, ditto Myles and JP.

BUT, we have to stay focused, 100% of the time and play one game at a time, one possession at a time, and good things await.

[Muncie]

I agree with one exception , I'm not sure we are out recruiting Nova.

[UCGRAD4X]

also agree for the most part

my exception would be that I do not recall much scoffing at the notion that we would need to recruit BE type players - I think that was/is pretty much a given

we needed to recruit better, period, but more specifically, to match the style of play of our opponents (they say it's all about match-ups)

[MADXSTER]

Xavier was already recruiting at the BE level. The problem is that Xavier was losing out on a number of players or couldn't get the door open enough due to the A10 conference. Dez, DSR etc. are and were BE recruits. Mack, Sean, Thad recruited at a level above the A10.

[UCGRAD4X]

Xavier was already recruiting at the BE level. The problem is that Xavier was losing out on a number of players or couldn't get the door open enough due to the A10 conference. Dez, DSR etc. are and were BE recruits. Mack, Sean, Thad recruited at a level above the A10.

So, count you among the scoffers?

[gladdenguy]

Like GoMuskies said in another thread. This is a road game that will be tough, but with the talent on the Xavier roster (and they want to win a conference title) they have to find a way to win this game.

Come on X!!!!!!!!!!

[Muskie1000]

I think you are misinterpreting what people mean when they say playing zone gives you a breather. Of course when Xavier plays the 1-3-1 they are still giving their all but it is much easier on the legs when you are basically staying in one area. One on one and you are running all over the court and you have to be concerned for that one player. In zone if you are the person at top and the ball is in the corner you get a "breather" of sorts.

[nuts4xu]

we have to stay focused, 100% of the time and play one game at a time, one possession at a time, and good things await.

"We're good, BUT" BUT? BUT? BUT nothing!... There is no "BUT". We are one of the best teams in the country, don't ask me, ask the Associated Press!


RANK SCHOOL
1 Kansas (63)
2 Oklahoma (1)
3 Maryland
4 Michigan State (1)
5 North Carolina
6 Villanova
7 Xavier
8 Miami (Fla.)
9 Duke
10 SMU

With all due respect to AlwaysLearning, posts like this are complete and utter bullshit! We are fans and we are going to blow through this league like a pint of ripe prunes through the colon of an old man!!

This is the wussification of America.

One game at a time my ass! We are going to give the "Warriors" a golden shower of excellence when we hit the floor on Saturday, then face f**k Georgetown and Seton Hall into submission on our home floor next week.

Let's do THIS!!

[xu82]

"We're good, BUT" BUT? BUT? BUT nothing!... There is no "BUT". We are one of the best teams in the country, don't ask me, ask the Associated Press!


RANK SCHOOL
1 Kansas (63)
2 Oklahoma (1)
3 Maryland
4 Michigan State (1)
5 North Carolina
6 Villanova
7 Xavier
8 Miami (Fla.)
9 Duke
10 SMU

With all due respect to AlwaysLearning, posts like this are complete and utter bullshit! We are fans and we are going to blow through this league like a pint of ripe prunes through the colon of an old man!!

This is the wussification of America.

One game at a time my ass! We are going to give the "Warriors" a golden shower of excellence when we hit the floor on Saturday, then face f**k Georgetown and Seton Hall into submission on our home floor next week.

Let's do THIS!!

Any time you hear "with all due respect", you know what's about to happen....

[nasdadjr]

"We're good, BUT" BUT? BUT? BUT nothing!... There is no "BUT". We are one of the best teams in the country, don't ask me, ask the Associated Press!


RANK SCHOOL
1 Kansas (63)
2 Oklahoma (1)
3 Maryland
4 Michigan State (1)
5 North Carolina
6 Villanova
7 Xavier
8 Miami (Fla.)
9 Duke
10 SMU

With all due respect to AlwaysLearning, posts like this are complete and utter bullshit! We are fans and we are going to blow through this league like a pint of ripe prunes through the colon of an old man!!

This is the wussification of America.

One game at a time my ass! We are going to give the "Warriors" a golden shower of excellence when we hit the floor on Saturday, then face f**k Georgetown and Seton Hall into submission on our home floor next week.

Let's do THIS!!

Epic fail!!! How could you say all that and not end it with giggity?

[GIMMFD]

I have full faith in our team, this is the most complete team we've seen in a while, with elite level athletes. I think they get the job done Saturday, and we finish Big East play with 2-3 losses. We're in the conversation as a 1-2 seed which would be our highest seeding ever right? We just gotta go out there, play the way we've been playing and bring it all together. Let's go X.

[nuts4xu]

We're in the conversation as a 1-2 seed which would be our highest seeding ever right?

You are correct.

[scoscox]

I think our highest rating ever was a 3 seed in '03. I saw someone's bracketology today saying we're currently the 2nd overall seed which is pretty crazy.

[X-band '01]

Xavier was also a 3 seed in 2008.

[xufan2434]

I have full faith in our team, this is the most complete team we've seen in a while, with elite level athletes. I think they get the job done Saturday, and we finish Big East play with 2-3 losses. We're in the conversation as a 1-2 seed which would be our highest seeding ever right? We just gotta go out there, play the way we've been playing and bring it all together. Let's go X.

I'm going to hold out on that until we see more of the conference road games played out. Already got smacked at Nova (granted a lot of reasons why) and played like crap at St. John's. I agree this team is different and have a different feel but most games are going to be a grind. At Providence, Butler, Creighton, Marquette, and Seton Hall are all going to be close IMO. Might be different with Ed back but there's going to be at least a couple more games where X doesn't show up with their best like the St Johns game

[GIMMFD]

I'm going to hold out on that until we see more of the conference road games played out. Already got smacked at Nova (granted a lot of reasons why) and played like crap at St. John's. I agree this team is different and have a different feel but most games are going to be a grind. At Providence, Butler, Creighton, Marquette, and Seton Hall are all going to be close IMO. Might be different with Ed back but there's going to be at least a couple more games where X doesn't show up with their best like the St Johns game

I definitely agree with that, there's going to be the games where we look uninterested and bored, but for some reason, something in me says we have the team that'll still grind it out and get the wins, one that just can rise against adversity, doesn't have to be a blowout, just another W in the column you know?

[xukeith]

I have watched tons of BE teams play early this 2016. Most lok very very competitive.

I hope X beats BE teams @Marquette, @Butler, @Creighton, @Georgetown, @St Johns.

But in this crazy world, every team has their day.
I am not sure if X is HEADS and SHOULDERS above Providence and Georgetown to easily win.

I hope for a 17-1 record but anticipate 3 more losses which still will be good for a 2 or 3 seed at worst.
Best case scenario, 1 seed, worst case: 5 seed. Middle of road: 3 seed.

[X-band '01]

I hope Xavier doesn't have to win at St. John's again.

[Hoophead2001]

you guys are worthy of a 1 seed so far imo. Number 1 in RPIS and RPISP poll. www.rpistats.com

[scoscox]

If Georgetown gets it together they could be a problem. They have a lot of talent, but for some reason don't seem to play with that much intensity or urgency. I see Xavier as the best team in the conference, but I think Nova and Georgetown can give us problems. Nova concerns me purely because they lose their minds from deep most of the time, but I think Xavier is a better team, especially with Sumner on the floor (and when we're playing man-to-man defense). Seriously, why did we play any 1-3-1 against them?

[UCGRAD4X]

I'm going to hold out on that until we see more of the conference road games played out. Already got smacked at Nova (granted a lot of reasons why) and played like crap at St. John's. I agree this team is different and have a different feel but most games are going to be a grind. At Providence, Butler, Creighton, Marquette, and Seton Hall are all going to be close IMO. Might be different with Ed back but there's going to be at least a couple more games where X doesn't show up with their best like the St Johns game

...and won!

[LA Muskie]

Nova is 5-0 with two road wins. To me that computes to the best team in the conference. I think we can catch them, and I hope we do, but we've got to win road games like tomorrow's to do so.

As for GTown, they are an enigma. Extreme swings in the OOC but 4-1 in conference and 2 road scalps, albeit with just about the easiest possible schedule to date.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[X-band '01]

They beat Marquette (which is nice), but didn't look good at all at Creighton.

I'd forgive Georgetown for losing to Monmouth, but not Radford and UNC-Asheville.

[scoscox]

I just meant from an eye test talent perspective, I think Xavier is the most dynamic, deep, and talented team in the league. We can hurt teams in ways that nobody else can in the conference and frankly the country as well. Nova may have a better record in conference, but I think Xavier is still the better team. Still, of the teams in the Big East, they and Georgetown have the best shot at beating us. Providence, Marquette and Creighton will be tough games as well.

[LA Muskie]

I have no idea who is better. We both look pretty damn good to me. But before I'm willing to definitively crown us, we'll have to (finally) beat them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xdude]

There is no 'but' in Xavier's best team ever. Never had this record. Never been ranked this high. Never been pre-seeded this high for the Dance. Never seen a Xavier team as talented or plays like this one. Somebody's always ready to step up. Woohoo!!! I mean enjoy...

[UCGRAD4X]

There is no 'but' in Xavier's best team ever. Never had this record. Never been ranked this high. Never been pre-seeded this high for the Dance. Never seen a Xavier team as talented or plays like this one. Somebody's always ready to step up. Woohoo!!! I mean enjoy...


There is no 'but' in Xavier's best team ever. Never had this record. Never been ranked this high. Never been pre-seeded this high for the Dance. Never seen a Xavier team as talented or plays like this one. Somebody's always ready to step up. Woohoo!!! I mean enjoy...

...never been 15-1 with this tough of a schedule...

I don't think there is much of an argument to be made about the GOOD

the BUT is Nova, for sure.

Until we beat them, there will still be a legitimate argument that "We're good, but not even the best in our own conference."

Interestingly, there has traditionally been less of an argument for 'best in conference' - the old mid-major arguments raged even as we dominated league play.

The other 'but' is - if we don't beat the Warriors today, (Geoorgetown, Seton Hall, Providence...) while Nova continues to win, there won't be enough blue fabric in the All-for-One shop to cover all of the big buts.

[Emp]

I love this team, but....... 3 shooting on the road lately is worrisome. Esp second half. They all seem to be working so hard on D, esp Myles and Trevon, and to a lesser degree JP, shooting form suffering?

I'm saying this from the perspective of making the breakthrough in March we are all hoping for.

[XU-PA]

"We're good, BUT"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yfJQUoxN3U

[Xavier]

There is no 'but' in Xavier's best team ever. Never had this record. Never been ranked this high. Never been pre-seeded this high for the Dance. Never seen a Xavier team as talented or plays like this one. Somebody's always ready to step up. Woohoo!!! I mean enjoy...

Well, the '08 team had Xhoops talking 1seed and it was possible for sure....at least until that one game. Man I hope this team is more successful than the 08 team come March.