Game Thread: Xavier v. DePaul (February 8, 2017) Big East Game #11

[Muskie]

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2752.png&h=150&w=150 v.http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/305.png&h=150&w=150
Xavier Musketeers vs. DePaul Blue Demons

February 8, 2017
Game Time: 6:30pm ET
Cintas Center | Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: FS1
Radio:55KRC (https://www.iheart.com/live/55krc-1709/)
Live Stats (http://www.sidearmstats.com/xavier/mbball/)
Live Chat (http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=XavierHoops)

[American X]

I see the fanbase is laser-focused on DePaul.

Cruising on a three-game winning streak, #2 Villanova coming to town Saturday for game on Fox, what could possibly go wrong tonight?

[blueblob06]

Sounds like Bluiett's ankle is getting better but sure would love to see X get out to a comfortable lead and rest him a bit tonight.

I'm sure Mack has the guys focused on the task at hand. One game at a time!

[American X]

I am sure we would all love a relaxed, decisive victory.

But I suspect we will throw our shoes out there because DePaul and the arena will be dead because the game tips an entire half hour earlier (and because DePaul).

That being said, I cannot fault anyone for throwing their shoes out there because DePaul (and Villanova looms). Just assign an assistant coach to shake the team awake in the second half to make sure we win.

[SemajParlor]

X opened at -16

[GoMuskies]

X opened at -16

If I were going to bet this one (I won't), I'd take X in the first half (probably around -10). Xavier should overwhelm DePaul early, but with lines that big the possibility of a back-door cover with a somewhat disinterested favorite late always concerns me.

[xufan2434]

X opened at -16

The only year I've trusted X to cover a huge spread was last year because that's simply what they do. I don't think they'll exactly come out flat, but I wouldn't be surprised either. Total trap game. Depaul sucks, but for the most part they've played everyone in the conference pretty tough for majority of the games. And as AmericanX said, Nova's on the doorstep. I'll give Mack credit that his teams have been pretty good at the 1 game at a time mentality...

But I mean c'mon. That Nova game last year was unreal. And they got blown out again @ Nova this year... It's human nature to be thinking about it

[SemajParlor]

2 notes regarding the -16 line.

With the O/U being 144, Xavier must be in the 80s in order to cover and hit the over. X doesn't seem to have a problem doing this and DePaul doesn't seem to have a problem allowing this.

FWIW RealTimeRPI has us winning by 25.

[pimpinthebox]

I am sure we would all love a relaxed, decisive victory.

But I suspect we will throw our shoes out there because DePaul and the arena will be dead because the game tips an entire half hour earlier (and because DePaul).

That being said, I cannot fault anyone for throwing their shoes out there because DePaul (and Villanova looms). Just assign an assistant coach to shake the team awake in the second half to make sure we win.

Am I alone in not being familiar with the term "throwing our shoes out there"?

[blueblob06]

Am I alone in not being familiar with the term "throwing our shoes out there"?

I'm with you on this. But maybe as in the Arab culture, we are showing our disrespect of DePaul by throwing our shoes at them.

"Showing the sole of your shoe has long been an insult in Arab culture. To hit someone with that shoe – as Muntadar al-Zeidi tried with President George W Bush – is seen as even worse. The shoe is considered dirty because it is on the ground and associated with the foot, the lowest part of the body."

DePaul is also on the ground and associated with the lowest part of the Big East.

[muskiefan82]

2150

Is DePaul the Dayton of Illinois or are they not even that high?

[American X]

CBS Sports Preview (http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/gametracker/preview/NCAAB_20170208_DEPAUL@XAVIER)



"It's a Big East game. It's the next game on our schedule." - Chris Mack

You cannot argue with that.



Over the past five years, Xavier is 227-32 at Cintas giving it the fifth-best home winning percentage among Division I schools.

I need to cut back on the sauce. Apparently, I missed several hundred home games the last five years.

[muskiefan82]

I need to cut back on the sauce. Apparently, I missed several hundred home games the last five years.

That's a lot of home games even if we were Syracuse!

[American X]

2150

Is DePaul the Dayton of Illinois or are they not even that high?

DePaul does fight like a woman. DePaul is more like LaSalle, had some success an eon ago but now is a drag on the conference playing in a ridiculous venue.

[muskiefan82]

Perhaps we could convince DePaul to join the WAC and be Chicago State's travel partner.

[GIMMFD]

Perhaps we could convince DePaul to join the WAC and be Chicago State's travel partner.

I'd trade DePaul for Grand Canyon University, who wouldn't want to visit Arizona from time to time?

[GoMuskies]

I'd trade DePaul for Grand Canyon University, who wouldn't want to visit Arizona from time to time?

They have a better arena and a much stronger fan base. Also, sadly, a better basketball team.

[bobbiemcgee]

They have a better arena and a much stronger fan base. Also, sadly, a better basketball team.

and it's only 4 hours from the Grand Canyon.

[GIMMFD]

I'll start the petition boys.

[bobbiemcgee]

Shannon's update:


Shannon Russell
Yesterday at 1:54pm ·
Wedged between Xavier's signature win at then-No. 22 Creighton and Saturday's clash against league leader and No. 2 Villanova lies an opponent that won't draw much fanfare.
That's exactly why the No. 24 Musketeers can't afford a letdown.
DePaul (8-15, 1-9 Big East) rolls into town for Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. game against XU (17-6, 7-3) at Cintas Center. The Blue Demons have lost six straight games, and 11 of their last 12, and they remain winless in road outings this season.
That doesn't mean they haven't come close to some big wins. Dave Leitao's club led Butler for most of a Jan. 21 contest before falling in overtime. The Blue Demons also put a major scare into Villanova in December, nearly pulling an upset in what became a 68-65 defeat.
"We have to definitely stay locked in and focused for these guys. Their record doesn’t really reflect the talent level that they have and how hard they truly play," XU senior RaShid Gaston said Tuesday.
Billy Garrett Jr. is now a senior. The guard's style features a lot of driving and free-throw conversions. He's No. 3 in the Big East in free throw percentage (90.8), which pads his 15.7 points per game.
DePaul's scoring leader is sophomore guard Eli Cain (16.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg). Tre'Darious McCallum makes another big impact (10.3 ppg, 7 rpg). McCallum, a 6-foot-7 junior, is in his first year with DePaul after spending last season at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa.
"He’s a guy that can do a little bit of everything," XU coach Chris Mack said. "When he shoots the ball well, he gives them a third scorer that has really, really kept them in close games that quite honestly they could have easily won. You look at the Butler game, the Villanova game, games that were one-possession games. A large part of that is because he played well."
McCallum averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds against Nova and Butler.
Xavier enters the game on a three-game winning streak - a trend that seems improbable considering the loss of Edmond Sumner (ACL) and greater roles for freshmen Quentin Goodin and Tyrique Jones. Factor in Trevon Bluiett's recent right ankle injury.
Still, the Musketeers have persevered. To fall to a DePaul team ranked last in the Big East - a team ranked 231st in the RPI - would be a major setback for a group that has overcome so much adversity.
SPEAKING OF ANKLES: Defending two-time Big East player of the week Bluiett is slowly but surely healing from the ailment he suffered against Seton Hall.
Said Mack: "It doesn’t help that you have game after game after game. It would be nice to have a bye week. But our schedule doesn’t allow that. We had an off day on Sunday. We’re also pretty smart with him in practice. He’s doing reps where the ankle isn’t really at risk, if you will. It is getting better. Where it is today on a Tuesday versus five or six days ago is a lot better."
Bluiett seemed to be moving fine Tuesday. His right ankle was taped.
SHOT SELECTION: Goodin is playing more minutes than ever, and taking shots accordingly. After the Seton Hall game, in which he went 2-for-11, he attributed some of his misses to the fatigue of playing a then-career-high 35 minutes.
He played even more minutes (38) at Creighton. He also missed 12 of his 17 field goal attempts.
Asked to assess Goodin's shot selection, Mack said the rookie has "got to finish."
"He’s doing a terrific job of getting in the lane, and getting deep in the lane, and using his body. He’s strong. That’s one of the reasons we recruited him because that’s what we saw in high school. Now it’s a little bit of a different challenge to finish at this level certainly than where he was a year ago," Mack said.
"But no, I like those shots. His shot attempts are a little high but I think that’s more to do with uncertainty sometimes, rather than having the experience that he’ll gain through these games. But he’s also missed several lay-ups that we need him to make and without putting any added pressure on him, if he makes those, we become an even different team."

[GoMuskies]

Damn, I didn't even realize Goodin took 17 shots against Creighton. That made him 1-10 inside the three-point arc? Less shooting, more passing please Q!.

[letskeepitreal]

Man, what is with JP and turnovers?

[skyking]

Probably not going to cover the 17 points.

[xudash]

"His Blue Deamons leading DePaul."

[IM4X]

What does it say that we are struggling against such a bad team...and this is a REALLY bad team.
Not hustling, Not crashing the boards well. Poor ball movement and passing. X has been playing so lazy. Come on Mack get your team together.

[xuwin]

Man, what is with JP and turnovers?

2 turnovers & 5 assists not bad.

[XMuskieFTW]

2151

[bigdiggins]

I hope the Viking magic kids get bullied at school.

[AviatorX]

Steve Physioc is by far the worst play by play guy FS1 has. Hard to listen to really.

[bigdiggins]

Steve Physioc is by far the worst play by play guy FS1 has. Hard to listen to really.

I believe he performed with Viking magic when he was younger.

[xuinmd]

He sounds like he is reading a fairy tale to a 3 yr old. I turned the sound off.

[THill42]

I logged on here just to see if he was bothering anybody else. Him pronouncing "Gast-on" was getting to me. Is he Spanish?

[xavierj]

Steve Physioc is by far the worst play by play guy FS1 has. Hard to listen to really.

He sounds bored. He worked in Cincinnati for a while back in the 80's.

[American X]

Any game that ends with the White Death Lineup is a good game.

[xu82]

Any game that ends with the White Death Lineup is a good game.

A thing of beauty.

(Sort of.)

[XUGRAD80]

Xavier did what they needed to do, and not a bit more. Just happy they won and now they can prepare for the next game.

[X Factor]

Goodin 8 asissts 2 turnovers.

Way too sloppy with 19 turnovers.

Trevon still shooting good from three.

Gates still rebounding at a high level.

[xu82]

Our board is kinda quiet. Just win....

[D-West & PO-Z]

Our board is kinda quiet. Just win....

Always quieter with a win!

[xumuskies08]

Steve Physioc is by far the worst play by play guy FS1 has. Hard to listen to really.

He's great on FSKC for the Royals. Especially considering he has to deal with Rex Hudler every game.

But no, he's not great for basketball. Much better suited to the pace of baseball.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GIMMFD]

Always quieter with a win!

Nothing really to complain about, didn't play the best game in the world but we won. Let's get some rest, and gear up a good game plan for Villanova, I'd love to beat them at Cintas again. Hot damn was it loud there last year.

[GoMuskies]

Well that was....a game that we won. Not much else to say about that one.

[bobbiemcgee]

Chris Mack: "Well, it wasn’t pretty. Way too many turnovers, a sign of a little bit of a tired team." #Xavier

[D-West & PO-Z]

I am very afraid was a Nova press will do to us. Cant imagine they wont press early and often.

[nasdadjr]

What!!! Only five pages of comments

[XUGRAD80]

I am very afraid was a Nova press will do to us. Cant imagine they wont press early and often.


Count on it. From what I've seen they do it mainly to limit the other teams time with the ball in the forecourt, but I think against X they are going to be even more aggressive and try for more steals. I really think that turnovers may well be the key to the game.

As far as the players being tired....if I was coaching X I would have them doing film study only today, followed by a walk through and shooting tomorrow. I would try to keep them off their feet as much as possible over the next 48 hours.

[xukeith]

Chris Mack: "Well, it wasn’t pretty. Way too many turnovers, a sign of a little bit of a tired team." #Xavier

Tired team after 2 days rest.

Now only today and Friday to "rst" for Villanova.

Tired again?

I remember the UC game and 3-4 players at the 4 minute mark in 2nd half looked completely gassed.

Last nigh Trevon looked good but 36 minutes against DePaul??? C'mon! Rest him!

[bleedXblue]

Nova got an extra night of rest.

Something tells me the boys will be ready to go on Saturday.......

[X-band '01]

Tired team after 2 days rest.

Now only today and Friday to "rst" for Villanova.

Tired again?

I remember the UC game and 3-4 players at the 4 minute mark in 2nd half looked completely gassed.

Last nigh Trevon looked good but 36 minutes against DePaul??? C'mon! Rest him!

There's no more byes in the Big East schedule - every week from here on out will have a midweek and a weekend game.

[Xville]

Our board is kinda quiet. Just win....

It's depaul..nothing to really talk about. The team won as they should have.

[GoMuskies]

The Creighton thread went 23 pages. Villanova will go 40 win or lose.

[THRILLHOUSE]

What!!! Only five pages of comments

Only 2 if you change your settings to display 40 comments per page.

[XUFan09]

It was a ho-hum game. One could complain about letting DePaul come back in the first half and then letting them hang somewhat near in the second half, but really, I never felt like the final outcome was really in doubt. I bet the players felt the same.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[xufan2434]

I'm thinking they got today off, with maybe a film session thrown in there and treatment for those that needed it. Short bench is going to start to take it's toll on them, especially with 3 straight road games after Nova. I think the adrenaline of Nova and the excitement around the game will have the guys ready to go whether they're tired or not.

I too am worried about their press though come Saturday. They've been doing it to everyone, and Bridges at the top is not a welcoming sight. I do think X will put up points, but I'm extremely nervous about them defensively. Cannot have lapses against them or else they'll bury 3's. Not so much Creighton, but they gave up a lot of open shots to SH and Depaul. And JP has gotten burned multiple times chasing his man. His minutes noticeably affect his lateral quickness on defense

[XfansinKy]

If Q can get a couple minutes rest before TV timeouts and stay out of foul trouble, I like JP handling the ball during those brief breaks for Q. After they get it across court Bernard or Tre can be effective point forwards. If JP will just concentrate more and cut those TOs down. He's so talented and plays with heart. He's a good little athlete too or he wouldn't be able to jump high enough to make those layups in traffic. I've been a little too critical of Tre, but I believe his future making money playing ball somewhere will be as a point forward.