XAVIER vs ST JOHN'S

[MADXSTER]

1942 vs 1943

#5 Xavier University Musketeers (19-2) RPI 4, SOS 26, KENPOM 11
W Miami(OH) 81-72
W Missouri 78-66
W Michigan 86-70
W NKU 78-66
W Alabama 64-45
W USC 87-77
W _ayton 90-61
W Western Kentucky 95-64
W Wright State 90-55
W Cincinnati 65-55
W Auburn 85-61
W Wake Forest 78-70
L Villanova 95-64
W Butler 88-69
W St Johns 74-66
W DePaul 84-64
W Marquette 74-66
L Georgetown 81-72
W Seton Hall 84-76
W Providence 75-68
W DePaul 86-65

vs St John's RedStorm (6-15) RPI 208, SOS 54, KENPOM 255
W Wagner 55-57
W UMBC 75-53
W Rutgers 61-59
L Vanderbilt 92-55
L Indiana 83-73
L Fordham 73-57
W St Francis 63-56
W Niagra 48-44
W Syracuse 84-72
L Incarnate Word 73-51
L NJIT 83-74
L South Carolina 75-61
L Creighton 80-70
L Providence 83-65
L Xavier 74-66
L Marquette 81-75
L Georgetown 93-73
L Butler 78-58
L Marquette 78-73
L Seton Hall 79-60
L Villanova 68-53

Location: Cintas Center
Wednesday Feb 3rd 2016 at 6:30pm EST
Television: FS1
Radio: 700WLW-AM with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer and former Musketeer standout Joe Sunderman ('79). Analysis will be provided by Xavier Hall of Famer and XU all-time leading scorer Byron Larkin ('88).

[XUMIOH12]

Man they have lost 12 in a row, and most haven't really been all that close.

[GoMuskies]

Man they have lost 12 in a row


When's the last time someone beat Syracuse and then subsequently lost their next 13+ games (we're not losing Wednesday)?

[XUFan09]

When's the last time someone beat Syracuse and then subsequently lost their next 13+ games (we're not losing Wednesday)?
Go, we can't have that attitude. It's how Xavier loses games.

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[Xville]

Go, we can't have that attitude. It's how Xavier loses games.

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I didn't know we were playing saturday...that's awesome. I'm about 5'7...I'll take the center spot.

In all seriousness we can have that attitude all we want, doesn't effect the way the team plays. There is zero reason for us not to believe we will be 21-2 in the nexterm week.

[XUMIOH12]

When's the last time someone beat Syracuse and then subsequently lost their next 13+ games (we're not losing Wednesday)?

especially when the two games following that win are Incarnate Word and NJIT

[GoMuskies]

Go, we can't have that attitude. It's how Xavier loses games.


I think if we rested our starting five for the game we'd still win by double digits. How's that for escalating the attitude?

[XUFan09]

I think if we rested our starting five for the game we'd still win by double digits. How's that for escalating the attitude?
Ha, I love it! It might not have been clear, Xville, but my post was mocking those who make such claims.

But really, wouldn't it be great to see Xavier start a lineup of Austin, Macura, Gates, London, and O'Mara? I'm pretty confident that they would beat that slop from SJU.

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[Xville]

Ha, I love it! It might not have been clear, Xville, but my post was mocking those who make such claims.

But really, wouldn't it be great to see Xavier start a lineup of Austin, Macura, Gates, London, and O'Mara? I'm pretty confident that they would beat that slop from SJU.

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Ha my bad! I couldn't detect the sarcasm :biggrin::biggrin:

[XUFan09]

Ha my bad! I couldn't detect the sarcasm :biggrin::biggrin:

Nah, that's on me. I looked back at my post and realized that it was way too easily interpreted as serious. :-P

[Drew]

SJU gave us a very tight game at their place, so I wouldn't take this W for granted. Remember, as a top 5 team, we are going to get the best game from every team every time.

[GoMuskies]

I wouldn't take this W for granted.


You should.

[XUFan09]

SJU gave us a very tight game at their place, so I wouldn't take this W for granted. Remember, as a top 5 team, we are going to get the best game from every team every time.
That only happened because Xavier started playing it like a pickup game after it was so laughably easy to score and defend in the early minutes. Even then, it took multiple heat check threes from Mussini near the end to make it a close game. The Xavier players learned their lesson, and I doubt it will be repeated in round 2.

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[XUMIOH12]

That only happened because Xavier started playing it like a pickup game after it was so laughably easy to score and defend in the early minutes. Even then, it took multiple heat check threes from Mussini near the end to make it a close game. The Xavier players learned their lesson, and I doubt it will be repeated in round 2.

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right, the first 16 points or so were unbelievable easy and then xavier sort of slowly let up on them. I dont think they will let st. john's hang around at all tomorrow.

[XUFan09]

right, the first 16 points or so were unbelievable easy and then xavier sort of slowly let up on them. I dont think they will let st. john's hang around at all tomorrow.
Yeah, they started chucking up threes early in the shot clock rather than actually run an offense and only half paid attention on defense. I mean, St. John's was airballing layups. It's hard to take a team seriously then.

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[paulxu]

Are you saying we are their Super Bowl?

[BMoreX]

6:30 game vs. St Johns...MUST SEE TV!

[Drew]

Are you saying we are their Super Bowl?

Apart from the Syracuse game (which they somehow won), I would guess so. You saw how Providence was vs Xavier. That was unbelievably loud. I think the opposing teams/fanbases respect Xavier and get up for these games.

[GoMuskies]

St. John's is too shitty to get a Super Bowl this year.

[XUFan09]

I still can't figure out how they beat Syracuse this year, even if Syracuse is nothing special right now. St. John's is just terrible. I wonder where they would finish in the A10. Heck, I wonder where they'd finish in the MAAC.

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[bobbiemcgee]

Shannon Russell ‏@slrussell 4h4 hours ago

#Xavier's @JFarr2 left the DePaul game early to ice his left knee/hamstring and had yesterday off. Is back practicing today.
3 retweets 6 likes
Shannon Russell ‏@slrussell 7h7 hours ago

Joe Davis and Bill Raftery are calling tomorrow's @XavierMBB game v. St. John's.
1 retweet 4 likes

Anybody else have trouble hearing Raf or is it just my old age?

[MADXSTER]

From the GOXAVIER.COM

CINCINNATI - No. 6/5 Xavier, 19-2 overall and 7-2 in the BIG EAST Conference, enters Wednesday's game vs. St. John's one win shy of its third straight 20-win season, its 10th in 11 years and its 18th in 20 years. Xavier's fastest team to 20 wins to date was the 2008-09 NCAA Sweet 16 team, which secured win number 20 on Feb. 5, 2009. Last season's NCAA Sweet 16 team won its 20th game on March 12 with an overtime BIG EAST Tournament win over Butler

[GIMMFD]

I'm really not worried about this game, and I hope I don't have to be. I hope we blow them out of the water, and cruise to a comfortable victory.

[letskeepitreal]

Its the Big East and we need to take care of the business at hand. Look at what happened with Georgetown at the Cintas and look at what happened to Providence last night at DePaul. That's why games are still played rather than just handing out victories. We better bring it. I expect it but we need to take care of business.

[GoMuskies]

Its the Big East


Being in the Big East doesn't prevent a team from being shitty.

[bigdiggins]

I'm not sure if it has been mentioned, or anyone has noticed, but St. Johns F*cking Sucks.

Considering the team was pretty much able to sleep walk through the first game @ St. Johns without Sumner and still win, it would take a monumental shit down your leg effort to lose at home tonight. They may actually have to try to lose, St. Johns is that bad.

[XUMIOH12]

keep in mind that St. John's is coming off a game against Villanova on Sunday and will only have about 76 hours of rest.... (insert sarcasm font?)

[D-West & PO-Z]

keep in mind that St. John's is coming off a game against Villanova on Sunday and will only have about 76 hours of rest.... (insert sarcasm font?)

That seems to be over the 52.465 hr threshold though so they should be sufficiently rested.

[muskiefan82]

That seems to be over the 52.465 hr threshold though so they should be sufficiently rested.

Yes, yes. When you compute the muscle hours rest to muscle minutes played ratio necessary to effect "sufficient" rest, the number is below the 52.465 HR recognized threshold.

[Muskie1000]

Has anyone else noticed we keep seeming to get to play teams after they play Nova? Its happened quite a few times so far.

[XUMIOH12]

Has anyone else noticed we keep seeming to get to play teams after they play Nova? Its happened quite a few times so far.

sucks for those teams ha

[paulxu]

If I'm looking for people who might jinx this game, there's a lot of candidates on this page.

[XMuskieFTW]

If I'm looking for people who might jinx this game, there's a lot of candidates on this page.

This one is in the bag.

[GoMuskies]

If I'm looking for people who might jinx this game, there's a lot of candidates on this page.

Paul, we don't believe in superstitious bullshit like jinxes. We're a Catholic university.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Paul, we don't believe in superstitious bullshit like jinxes. We're a Catholic university.

Ha, tell that to the next person pissed the announcer for mentioning Myles is a top FT shooter in the country right before he misses one.

[Muskie1000]

Ha, tell that to the next person pissed the announcer for mentioning Myles is a top FT shooter in the country right before he misses one.

I do that all the time!!! Whenever the announcer says about their FT's, I swear they don't go in.

[xu82]

This one is in the bag.

That's the same phrase my son always uses right before things go in the toilet.

[BMoreX]

Live chat?

[XMuskieFTW]

Good lord Jalen.

[xu82]

Jalen with 2 fouls in the first 40 seconds. Wow.

[BMoreX]

Forgot Abell could dunk.

[Jesuit4Life]

https://twitter.com/XavierGameday/status/695029061031215104

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[RoseyMuskie]

These 6:30 starts are awful, especially for those not in the Eastern time zone.

Jalen will never learn, but when he gets a quick foul, he needs to dial back his offensive rebounding aggressiveness. Going after balls where he has about a two percent chance is just foolish.

[XMuskieFTW]

Welp another frustrating start. Can we get another 23-1 run please?

[GoMuskies]

Larkin isn't very good at hiding his disgust when Xavier doesn't play well.

[MauriceX]

Davis looks about 20 years younger without the beard. He actually looks like a college kid now.

[XMuskieFTW]

Sumner has really been struggling out there lately.

[mistabeecee41]

If we get off to these starts against any team in March, we'll be the new Georgetown.

[XMuskieFTW]

What an embarrassing half. Our man defense looks horrible. Too many dumb turnovers. Just an abysmal half.

[bjf123]

Very uninspired half of basketball. Mack needs to chew them a new one at halftime. Keep this effort up and we can lose this game.


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[drudy23]

Coach Mack ain't gonna be happy at halftime.

And FYI, the pretzels they switched to at Cintas suck balls.

[xumuskies08]

Well that was a fairly terrible 20 minutes of basketball.

Worst since the first half at Villanova?

[Wheelhouse]

St. John's is really, really terrible because outside of the Nova game that was probably our worst half of basketball this year...and we're still winning. I expect us to blow the doors off these clowns in the 2nd half.

[bjf123]

Coach Mack ain't gonna be happy at halftime.

And FYI, the pretzels they switched to at Cintas suck balls.

Agree on both counts.


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[xu82]

Well that was a fairly terrible 20 minutes of basketball.

Worst since the first half at Villanova?

Well, if no trips to the hospital can be a highlight.... That may be it so far.

[xu82]

Trevon is on his game with 11/8. Where's the rest of the gang?

[XMuskieFTW]

Is this real life?

[kellernr]

Jalen back to being unless again.

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[Jesuit4Life]

https://twitter.com/FS1/status/695046164723269633

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[GreatWhiteNorth]

The turnovers are just unreal !

[letskeepitreal]

This game has a lousy vibe. We'd better put them away to prevent bad things from happening

[D-West & PO-Z]

Havent read the thread might be in here but I got a chuckle when towards the end of the first half you could see JP mouth "Thats fucking terrible" on that foul call.

[D-West & PO-Z]

You guys think jumping off one foot is a big deal lets talk about Ed only ever dunking with two hands. He is clearly not athletic/has issues since he clearly can't dunk one handed.

[XfansinKy]

Reynold's is playing his heart out though. Give him that since he can't make a FT,

[RoseyMuskie]

You guys think jumping off one foot is a big deal lets talk about Ed only ever dunking with two hands. He is clearly not athletic/has issues since he clearly can't dunk one handed.

UC Dunk

[D-West & PO-Z]

UC Dunk

Shit so much for that becoming the next jump off one foot debate.

[Jesuit4Life]

https://twitter.com/XavierGameday/status/695055396130566145

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[XfansinKy]

UC Dunk

Yes not very athletic and awkward too. :-)

[RoseyMuskie]

Shit so much for that becoming the next jump off one foot debate.

Respect the effort, though!

[LA Muskie]

Jalen just got damn lucky. Again. I can't believe they didn't T him up for pulling himself up on that dunk...

[RoseyMuskie]

Jalen just got luck. Again. I can't believe they didn't T him up for pulling himself up on that dunk...

I was yelling get down as opposed to excitement for the jam.

[coasterville95]

Is the coaching staff not showing Jalen how to shoot free throws.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

I think Reynolds has lost his confidence in free throwing shooting.

[XMuskieFTW]

This is not fun. But I will forgive as long as we finish them off.

[Blue Blobs Bro]

Is the coaching staff not showing Jalen how to shoot free throws.

His form is great, just right off the back of the rim, more unlucky than lack of skill, sometimes you just have those nights where very ball that's 50/50 doesn't go your way.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Jalen just got damn lucky. Again. I can't believe they didn't T him up for pulling himself up on that dunk...

No he clearly went over a guy when he did that, not even close to a T.

[Blue Blooded-05]

Jalen just got damn lucky. Again. I can't believe they didn't T him up for pulling himself up on that dunk...

I thought the same thing. I'm getting pretty tired of his shtick

[LA Muskie]

No he clearly went over a guy when he did that, not even close to a T.

It wasn't the hanging that I had an issue with. It's the pull-up. Refs no likey that.

[coasterville95]

Who thought we'd be sweating the final 30 seconds.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Look at it again he would have come down on St. Johns player.

This is why they should get rid of it as a T anyway, too difficult to tell sometimes. The refs were right there they didnt even think about it, there was nothing wrong with it.

[XfansinKy]

What concerns me about Reynolds is he has zero basketball IQ. He's light years away from a sniff of the NBA. Don't know if he evens gets an NBA summer league invite. His best move would be to play his senior year at Xavier. He won't though. He plays hard but it takes much more than that.

[D-West & PO-Z]

It wasn't the hanging that I had an issue with. It's the pull-up. Refs no likey that.

Huh? You have to do that when you go up for a dunk like he did to hold yourself up when trying not to come down on someone.

Seriously wasnt even close to a T. Refs right there. They had no issue.

[LA Muskie]

Huh? You have to do that when you go up for a dunk like he did to hold yourself up when trying not to come down on someone.
I'll take your word for it. I've never even remotely been in that position.

[GoMuskies]

We suck against St. John's, but we're 2-0, so who cares.

[waggy]

We suck against St. John's, but we're 2-0, so who cares.

Played alot of man.

[xu82]

Huh? You have to do that when you go up for a dunk like he did to hold yourself up when trying not to come down on someone.

Seriously wasnt even close to a T. Refs right there. They had no issue.

He had another one later where he kind of swung around while lifting his legs. It will get called on occasion. It is not unavoidable. It's Jalen being Jalen. No need to even make it questionable. Glad it all worked out tonight. He looked pretty pouty on the bench at the end of the game. Hope they can get his head in the proper state.

[XMuskieFTW]

Those missed free throws are 100% on lack of confidence. He's been lacking that for some time. That's the real issue for him.

[xu82]

It did seem like a night where we made a point of practicing our man defense. We'll need to be better at that at some point. This was time to work on it.

[paulxu]

We were out tonight, so did not get to watch. Maybe a good thing?

Anyway, driving home and decide to see if I can get the 50,000 watt clear channel voice of the Red, Bengals and Muskies on the car radio.

Scratchy, static filled, faint...but there. What's the first thing I hear?

Joe says "that's the third block for Yawke; he's leading the A10 in blocks this year."

Must have been a rough night all the way around.

[xumuskies08]

Picked a good time to have a shitty game I guess

[Roach]

Picked a good time to have a shitty game I guess

St. John's also played out of their young minds, with the exception of Balamou, who played out of his senior mind.

[letskeepitreal]

However we played, we're the first team to 20 wins. Has that ever happened? Just win baby! Everyone is going to bring their best against us.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I'll take your word for it. I've never even remotely been in that position.

Obviously I have not either, seemed like a momentum thing and there was a guy under him and ref right there so I just dont think it was all that close to being bad.

Again I think its stupid in the first place that they are policing dunks when the rule was clearly written for a different reason.

[XUGRAD80]

Mama said there would be days like this...mama said. Whew!

[GreatWhiteNorth]

I was very uncomfortable following the game tonight, even sweating at times. The FT misses (mostly by JR) were most frustrating. Had he made those FTs, we would have won by double digits, and no sweating. Still, it's a W and on to the next game.

[paulxu]

I hate when we win and our RPI drops.

[xumuskies08]

I hate when we win and our RPI drops.

Reminds me of the A10...

[Xville]

Man to man defense just has to get better for x to go far in march. The 1-3-1 will work in spurts but good teams will figure it out eventually.

[sgarcia]

Man to man defense just has to get better for x to go far in march. The 1-3-1 will work in spurts but good teams will figure it out eventually.

I think that's why Mack waited so long to go to it. He probably wanted us to play man all game and practice it but it was good. Myles was getting torched by Balamou. We just don't have enough quick players to play man for long stretches.

[muskiefan82]

Reminds me of the A10...
Are you telling me St. Johns wouldn't win the a-10?

[GoMuskies]

Are you telling me St. Johns wouldn't win the a-10?

They might beat George Mason. Maybe.

[Masterofreality]

Like Peter Gillen once said- "They're not all going to be Picassos". This was certainly no Picasso. Worst defense we've seen all year and St. John's highest scoring output. Thank goodness for Myles and JP Macura. Team was about as dialed in as the crowd...which was pretty silent.
A win, number 20....and, thankfully, we move on.

[Masterofreality]

I hate when we win and our RPI drops.

The last 7 games wil correct that.

[xu82]

The last 7 games wil correct that.

Let's hope we were just saving our good games for the last 7. If nothing else, they shouldn't be too cocky after never running away in this one.

[Musketeer15]

ugh.. Dropped to 17th in Ken Pom and went from 21 to 30 in def efficiency

[GoMuskies]

ugh.. Dropped to 17th in Ken Pom and went from 21 to 30 in def efficiency

Should we be concerned that we are 15th in luck according to KenPom?

[Cheesehead]

Is the coaching staff not showing Jalen how to shoot free throws.

Amusing. Team shoots hundreds of free throws. Hundreds. Do you think a D-1 team doesn't practice free throws? Get a clue. Love ya coaster but get a clue.

[LadyMuskie]

Amusing. Team shoots hundreds of free throws. Hundreds. Do you think a D-1 team doesn't practice free throws? Get a clue. Love ya coaster but get a clue.

I'm guessing Coaster knows that - I mean he's proven to be a pretty big fan of X and college basketball in general and it's not like it's a well-kept secret that teams practice free throws. I'd bet the farm he was being sarcastic and/or facetious. Even Byron and Joe were questioning what was going on with Jalen's free throws tonight. He looked like crap at the line and was something crazy like 1 for 8.

[coasterville95]

Sarcasm/frustration never plays well in text, does it.

[XUMIOH12]

Should we be concerned that we are 15th in luck according to KenPom?

last year we were 317th in luck....so is that is a good thing or a bad thing?

[Milhouse]

I think Luck is due to point spread more than anything - its like games won vs. games loss that are within 5 pts...by my count X has 0 of those games total this year...so I don't know if the algorithm extends itself or what...last year we were 4-6 in games decided by 5 pts or less.

[Cheesehead]

Sarcasm/frustration never plays well in text, does it.

My bad. I think I was channeling my anger for Jalen on you. 2 fouls in first 40 seconds of the game, 1-7 from the line and he almost got into it.... again.

[XUMIOH12]

I think Luck is due to point spread more than anything - its like games won vs. games loss that are within 5 pts...by my count X has 0 of those games total this year...so I don't know if the algorithm extends itself or what...last year we were 4-6 in games decided by 5 pts or less.

Here is his definition of Luck - A measure of the deviation between a team’s actual winning percentage and what one would expect from its game-by-game efficiencies. It’s a Dean Oliver invention. Essentially, a team involved in a lot of close games should not win (or lose) all of them. Those that do will be viewed as lucky (or unlucky).

[xu82]

Amusing. Team shoots hundreds of free throws. Hundreds. Do you think a D-1 team doesn't practice free throws? Get a clue. Love ya coaster but get a clue.

Of course they practice, but I think free throws are a little like putting (or all of golf!), most of the difference between good and bad is between the ears. Hard to correct that, especially with Jalen.

[Mack Attack]

Is Xavier not having close games really the reason X is 18th? I don't know how his whole formula works but the rankings make no sense to me. Xavier has as many KenPom top 50 wins as anyone in the country with 7 and no team has fewer losses, yet we sit at 18th. Meanwhile sitting at 9-11,

- Louisville has 3 top 50 wins
- Maryland has 2 top 50 wins
- Witchita State has 1 top 50 win and 5 losses

I know its a meaningless ranking but it irritates me.

[xuwin]

I think that's why Mack waited so long to go to it. He probably wanted us to play man all game and practice it but it was good. Myles was getting torched by Balamou. We just don't have enough quick players to play man for long stretches.

We don't really have a shot blocker underneath to protect the basket when the guards get beat. Xavier was getting to the basket all night and getting blocked at the basket. I think London and Gates may be that shot blocker in the future but they still need work. I'm not sure you can blame the uncontested drives to the basket on the guards all the time.

[XUFan09]

Is Xavier not having close games really the reason X is 18th? I don't know how his whole formula works but the rankings make no sense to me. Xavier has as many KenPom top 50 wins as anyone in the country with 7 and no team has fewer losses, yet we sit at 18th. Meanwhile sitting at 9-11,

- Louisville has 3 top 50 wins
- Maryland has 2 top 50 wins
- Witchita State has 1 top 50 win and 5 losses

I know its a meaningless ranking but it irritates me.
Since it's a metric often used by the Selection Committee, it is meaningful. It's simply an issue of victory margin. Xavier is much better than most of the teams they play, so they should beat them by wide margins. They don't always do that. When they don't, they drop in the rankings.

This game was a good example of that. Because St. John's sucks, only beating then by 7 at your own place suggests a team much worse than Xavier won the game. The weight it has on the overall ranking is based on the possessions of the game divided by the total possessions on the season. Not a strong weight, but Xavier won that game like a team outside the Top 100. That's like stringing together A's and B's in a class, but then getting a D on an assignment.

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[Drew]

That was the quietest I have heard Cintas in a long time.

Fanbase better adjust to the 6:30 game times or our home court advantage won't be what it was.

[sgarcia]

That was the quietest I have heard Cintas in a long time.

Fanbase better adjust to the 6:30 game times or our home court advantage won't be what it was.

I don't live in the area so I can't speak about the traffic, etc but is it that hard to leave work 30-45 minutes early a few times a year to make it to a 6:30 game?

[GoMuskies]

I don't live in the area so I can't speak about the traffic, etc but is it that hard to leave work 30-45 minutes early a few times a year to make it to a 6:30 game?

Probably not, but I know I wouldn't waste my "employer goodwill" trying to get to the St. John's game on time. I'd save that up for the more interesting opponents.

[xu82]

That's like stringing together A's and B's in a class, but then getting a D on an assignment.


Ahhh, now you're talking my language. So you're saying it was a late night at Dana's? I can relate to that. Happened many a time.

[Masterofreality]

Is the coaching staff not showing Jalen how to shoot free throws.


Amusing. Team shoots hundreds of free throws. Hundreds. Do you think a D-1 team doesn't practice free throws? Get a clue. Love ya coaster but get a clue.


Of course they practice, but I think free throws are a little like putting (or all of golf!), most of the difference between good and bad is between the ears. Hard to correct that, especially with Jalen.

St. John's Free Throw percentage defense is high up in KenPom - for all you analytics geeks out there. .:rolleyes:

[Masterofreality]

That was the quietest I have heard Cintas in a long time.

Fanbase better adjust to the 6:30 game times or our home court advantage won't be what it was.

Thank Gawd that is our last 6:30 Home game- or any game for that matter. Noon Saturday then 7, 7 and 2:30. I don't think there will be a "crowd problem vs Providence, Villanova and Creighton on Senior day, and doubt there will be a quiet crowd Saturday. Just an off-night across the board.
Damn....only 4 home games left!

[Drew]

I don't live in the area so I can't speak about the traffic, etc but is it that hard to leave work 30-45 minutes early a few times a year to make it to a 6:30 game?

I know in my case I left at 5:15. With traffic didn't get home till 5:45. Switched clothes and drove right back out (eating on the road). After parking and walking to the 'Tas I still missed the tip-off. Not saying we can't adjust, but it really conflicts with rush hour.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Since it's a metric often used by the Selection Committee, it is meaningful. It's simply an issue of victory margin. Xavier is much better than most of the teams they play, so they should beat them by wide margins. They don't always do that. When they don't, they drop in the rankings.

This game was a good example of that. Because St. John's sucks, only beating then by 7 at your own place suggests a team much worse than Xavier won the game. The weight it has on the overall ranking is based on the possessions of the game divided by the total possessions on the season. Not a strong weight, but Xavier won that game like a team outside the Top 100. That's like stringing together A's and B's in a class, but then getting a D on an assignment.

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Is there a link about what metrics the selection committee uses? How did you know they use that? (Not saying that in confrontational way, just curious).

[paulxu]

Is there a link about what metrics the selection committee uses? How did you know they use that? (Not saying that in confrontational way, just curious).

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article28520578.html

[D-West & PO-Z]

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article28520578.html

Thanks.

Forgive me for my ignorance on KenPom but there is a an overall KenPom ranking right then a lot of sub rankings? Do we think the committee looks at the overall rankings only or gets in depth in each sub ranking? How many of those are there? Am I even right?

[bigdiggins]

I know in my case I left at 5:15. With traffic didn't get home till 5:45. Switched clothes and drove right back out (eating on the road). After parking and walking to the 'Tas I still missed the tip-off. Not saying we can't adjust, but it really conflicts with rush hour.

Left Mason @ 5:15, changed in the car while driving down I-71. Grabbed a tray of Tortilla chips with enough nacho cheese for about two of said chips and sat down as they did intros. 6:30 sucks.

[MADXSTER]

I like to get to games about 45 mins early. Got there with about 16 minutes to play in the first half. Just sayin

[Caveat]

That was the quietest I have heard Cintas in a long time.

Fanbase better adjust to the 6:30 game times or our home court advantage won't be what it was.

The noise level was less a factor of the tip time and more the fact that the team looked like hot garbage most of the night and wasn't exactly inspiring anyone to make noise.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Mason

There is your first mistake. :biggrin:

[smileyy]

St. John's Free Throw percentage defense is high up in KenPom - for all you analytics geeks out there. .:rolleyes:

I wonder if anyone has done year to year analysis of that stat. I'd be interested to see teams for which year-to-year ranking *isn't* noise.

[xukeith]

Is Xavier not having close games really the reason X is 18th? I don't know how his whole formula works but the rankings make no sense to me. Xavier has as many KenPom top 50 wins as anyone in the country with 7 and no team has fewer losses, yet we sit at 18th. Meanwhile sitting at 9-11,

- Louisville has 3 top 50 wins
- Maryland has 2 top 50 wins
- Witchita State has 1 top 50 win and 5 losses

I know its a meaningless ranking but it irritates me.

Maybe our SOS hurt X. SJU is not great plus lots of our Opponents lost this week. In the rpi top 10, we have the least amazing SOS.

[MADXSTER]

Maybe our SOS hurt X. SJU is not great plus lots of our Opponents lost this week. In the rpi top 10, we have the least amazing SOS.

I think that will change considerable in our last 7 games.

[bigdiggins]

There is your first mistake. :biggrin:

I sure as heck don't live there, but don't have the power to move the whole office building out. :theking:

[waggy]

You can't mix and match the RPI and KenPom metrics. They are constructed differently. And KenPom SOS rankings is likely very different than RPI SOS rankings.

[GoMuskies]

You really shouldn't pay attention to RPI to tell you anything about whether your team is any good or not anyway. We, of course, embraced it this year given that it had us ranked so highly for so long.