Game Thread: Xavier v. Providence (February 15, 2017 ) Big East Conference

[Muskie]

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2752.png&h=150&w=150v.http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2507.png&h=150&w=150

Xavier Musketeers vs. Providence Friars
February 15, 2017
Game Time: 6:30pm ET
Dunkin' Doughnuts Center | Providence, RI
TV: FS1
Radio:55KRC (https://www.iheart.com/live/55krc-1709/)
Live Stats (http://www.friars.com/multimedia/prov-live-stats.html)
Live Chat (http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=XavierHoops)

[XUMIOH12]

would be nice to start off a 3 game road stretch with a win

[xufan2434]

Question becomes, can they win this one on the road at the Dunk without Trevon? Butler just took a L there Saturday. I'm just going to assume Tre is out with best case being back for Marquette.

I think Stainbrook might get 5 minutes or so if he's not able to go. Also think there will be a lot more 2 big lineups on the floor. Pray to God Tyrique is ready to go or this could be serious trouble

[bleedXblue]

Question becomes, can they win this one on the road at the Dunk without Trevon? Butler just took a L there Saturday. I'm just going to assume Tre is out with best case being back for Marquette.

I think Stainbrook might get 5 minutes or so if he's not able to go. Also think there will be a lot more 2 big lineups on the floor. Pray to God Tyrique is ready to go or this could be serious trouble

No we cant win without Tre........simple as that.

[GoMuskies]

Given that we looked past Villanova to this one, I'm expecting a big performance from the boys at the Dunk on Wednesday!

[phriar10]

Trevon Bluett is great might be a good idea to hold him out one more game to make sure he is 100 %.:biggrin:

[GoMuskies]

Trevon Bluett is great might be a good idea to hold him out one more game to make sure he is 100 %.:biggrin:

I suspect you'll get your wish.

[bleedXblue]

I suspect you'll get your wish.

I don't think Trevon is going to be 100% for the rest of the year. Ankles are a pain in the ass and need several weeks to heal if he does in fact have a sprain.

[XfansinKy]

Providence will be scrappy with a loud crowd early. Q never looks panicked so he's got a big opportunity to be a big time floor general. He doesn't have to score much to do that. Layups, open shots, and free throws.

[casualfan]

I don't think Trevon is going to be 100% for the rest of the year. Ankles are a pain in the ass and need several weeks to heal if he does in fact have a sprain.

Agreed, but that is also why I think it makes sense to sit him for at least the Providence game to get him better for the stretch run.

We saw in the 2nd half against Nova that is not effective at whatever percentage he was at during that game.

He's not going to be 100% the rest of the year, but if you can sit him for a game or two and get him closer than he is now it will be better in the long run.

[XfansinKy]

Also an opportunity for Kaiser to have a nice scoring game. The way Providence closes out hard on shooters will give him a chance to put the ball on the floor to the rim or dish. I thought he would be one of the more solid players in the Big East and he still may be as he's shown flashes.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Layups, open shots, and free throws.

What are the top 3 things Q has struggled with for $600, Alex?

[casualfan]

Joe Danneman ‏@FOX19Joe 6m6 minutes ago
More
Chris Mack on Bluiett: "He's day-to-day. When he's able to be effective enough for us on both ends of the floor, we'll put him out there."

[GIMMFD]

Joe Danneman ‏@FOX19Joe 6m6 minutes ago
More
Chris Mack on Bluiett: "He's day-to-day. When he's able to be effective enough for us on both ends of the floor, we'll put him out there."

I think that's pretty much implying he's not going to be of much help tomorrow, which makes this a miserable thing. It's pretty damn hard to win when your 2 best players are injured.

[Emp]

Vegas cant even make a line on this game. It may well be OFF without knowing if Bluiett is playing.

[xu82]

I think that's pretty much implying he's not going to be of much help tomorrow, which makes this a miserable thing. It's pretty damn hard to win when your 2 best players are injured.

And a third isn't even on the team. For a snake bit year, we're still pretty darn good. How much worse could it be? Wait, i don't want to know.....

[Muskie]

I feel oddly confident about this one.

[XMuskieFTW]

Providence -3

[xufan2434]

I feel oddly confident about this one.

I'll have what you're having

[D-West & PO-Z]

No further update on Trevon other than day to day right?

[xudash]

I think that's pretty much implying he's not going to be of much help tomorrow, which makes this a miserable thing. It's pretty damn hard to win when your 2 best players are injured.

And how is Jones doing - - while we're at it with all this good news and all?

[gladdenguy]

Line just came out. Providence -3. I would give Chris Mack and the team major credit if they even cover tonight.

Providence -3 seems like big money.

[pimpinthebox]

I would give Chris Mack and the team major credit if they even cover tonight.

Maybe we can begin discussing the Chris Mack coach of the year talk after tonight.

[xufan2434]

Rothstein just reported that Tre is doubtful for tonight -- which I think was expected by many. Praying to God JP has his legs under him and Q can start finishing at the rim

Kaiser/Gaston/Malcolm are gonna have to play almost as best as they have all year to get a W

[blueblob06]

Line has already moved up to Prov -4 and in some books as high as Prov -5.5 Not a good sign. Hope X pulls out an upset road victory tonight!!

[XUMIOH12]

I'll have what you're having

pass it to me, i need some of that too

[gladdenguy]

Maybe we can begin discussing the Chris Mack coach of the year talk after tonight.

Lets hold off for 3 weeks. If he has greater than 10 Wins in conference I definitely think he should be in that conversation with McDermott and Jay Wright.

[D-West & PO-Z]

http://www.fanragsports.com/news/xavier-junior-trevon-bluiett-doubtful-play-game/

Tre doubtful per this. I didnt see it anywhere else.

[xufan2434]

http://www.fanragsports.com/news/xavier-junior-trevon-bluiett-doubtful-play-game/

Tre doubtful per this. I didnt see it anywhere else.

Lol, that's Rothstein

[D-West & PO-Z]

Lol, that's Rothstein

Meaning? Did someone say somewhere else he said that? Or you are implying he doesnt know what hes talking about?

[GoMuskies]

Meaning? Did someone say somewhere else he said that? Or you are implying he doesnt know what hes talking about?

Post #24. This thread.

[bobbiemcgee]

Ed and Tre combined for 35 pts. last time against Friars.

[muskieindent]

Byron said Tre is out tonight .Will require a super effort from the 7 scholarship players left to win this.

[RealDeal]

I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.

[GIMMFD]

Byron said Tre is out tonight .Will require a super effort from the 7 scholarship players left to win this.

Well, it's definitely a right time to start drinking.

[xu82]

Well, it's definitely a right time to start drinking.

You're late!

[XfansinKy]

Hoping for Kaiser to have a big game.

[GoMuskies]

I do not have warm fuzzies about this one.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I do not have warm fuzzies about this one.

Me neither. Hope we are wrong. Took a very small wager on X ML at +190. Don't plan to cash but will be ecstatic if I do.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Post #24. This thread.

Ah thank you, yes I completely missed that.

[xu82]

I do not have warm fuzzies about this one.

No kidding, I honestly can't remember a game I looked forward to LESS.

[X Factor]

Less than 3 minutes in and we've missed 3 point blank layups.

[Olsingledigit]

Missed three bunnies already

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Gates with two quickies, great game to do that.

[BMoreX]

This lineup is a trip.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

PC is playing worse than we are.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Let's hope they never got hot from the 3 line.

[AviatorX]

Chris Mack literally drew up the 1-3-1 on a napkin in an airplane in 5 minutes...and Ed Cooley has spent the last 3 years trying to crack it like it's the Da Vinci code.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Sheed killing it!

[xufan2434]

Shid playing like a beast.. May payoff to have him playing like this when Tre comes back

[X Factor]

Gates with 2 missed layups in the first half. Gaston was a beast.

Can this team come out and play a solid 20 minutes and find a way to win. We have absolutely no outside shooting. Gonna be tough.

[xufan2434]

Bad end to the half there. Need to make some adjustments to stop their momentum. Get Kaiser back though

[BMoreX]

Aside from the last 2 mins, you have to be pretty happy there. Just hope Prov's anemic shooting continues.

[kellernr]

Gates needs to stick to rebounding and 3s. It amazes me how bad he us at finishing around the rim.

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[xavierj]

I like the big lineup. O'mara playing well. Gates needs to get tougher. If Xavier can hit a few outside shots and keep crushing them on the glass they should win.

[kellernr]

Gates with 2 missed layups in the first half. Gaston was a beast.

Can this team come out and play a solid 20 minutes and find a way to win. We have absolutely no outside shooting. Gonna be tough.
Maybe the 3s will fall in the 2nd half. I'll go out on a limb and say we hit 6 threes this half. JP with 2, Gates with 2 and Bernard and Q with 1 each.

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[xuwin]

Xavier looked tired at the end of the half.

[AviatorX]

Maybe the 3s will fall in the 2nd half. I'll go out on a limb and say we hit 6 threes this half. JP with 2, Gates with 2 and Bernard and Q with 1 each.

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Could see that. We should get some good looks because Cooley has to squeeze the paint a little bit, especially with a really weak shooting lineup on paper for X.

[muskieindent]

Hope the last 2 minutes aren't a precursor of the second half. We're going to our strength which is inside but need to hit a few 3's and make foul shots .

[GreatWhiteNorth]

We only made 4 3pt attempts.......made none. It is good we do not have foul trouble since we are short-handed. I think Mack has to play more zone to conserve energy.

[xavierj]

Need to get gates out of there he is giving them nothing.

[X Factor]

Disappointing Gates has been awful.

[X Factor]

Afraid we're not gonna have enough offense to pull this out. We're playing like it's 1970 and no three point shot. Tough to win without making any threes.

[X Factor]

I think Mack chewed Gates ass that last time out and woke him up...

[X Factor]

6 point deficit feels more like 10-12

[kellernr]

Gotta get out of the 1 3 1. Go to a match up zone. They are getting the ball into the middle with ease everytime down the floor.

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[xavierj]

6 point deficit feels more like 10-12

They have out scored Xavier by 15 last 10 minutes

[kellernr]

There's a three by bernard

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[AviatorX]

PC made 7 straight shots there. 3 point game. Rebound some of the misses that will come over the next 4 minute war and jam the ball inside.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Yeah we are in a good spot here. Providence wont keep this shooting up.

[XU 23]

Don't know why we used that second to last timeout. Could really use it now.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Yeah we are in a good spot here. Providence wont keep this shooting up.

Or not

[PattyMac1021]

Yeah we are in a good spot here. Providence wont keep this shooting up.


In no universe is being down on the road against a decent opponent without your two most important players a good spot.

[Xavier]

Gates is killing us

[BMoreX]

Feel like this is over. Tough set of circumstances. Hope thye prove me wrong.

[skyking]

How many follow up tip ins by Providence?

[kellernr]

Gates is pathetic out there

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[BMoreX]

And here come the turnovers.

[X Factor]

Just don't have enough offense without Trevon. No one has really stepped up and had a big game other than Gaston. Every one is still just giving what they have throughout the year.

[X Factor]

It's amazing how other teams finish shots around the rim that we can't.

[X Factor]

And it's a blowout...

[paulxu]

16 TO's; 8 assists. Yuck

[sgarcia]

This game was over at halftime when we were dominating and only up 2.

[Xville]

There comes a point where you just can't take another injury. Xavier was at that point before tre went down. This team is way too thin at this point.

[X Factor]

2-11 from three and 4-9 FT's...

16 TO's.

[X Factor]

PC has torched us in the second half...

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Again, the poor FT shooting 44% is just so horrible.

[Xville]

Yeah we are in a good spot here. Providence wont keep this shooting up.

Good call

[X Factor]

40% from the line...worst FT shooting team in how long at X? Especially in conference play.

[Muskie]

This doesn't seem to be where I parked my car.


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[X Factor]

Embarrassing. This shouldn't happen even without Trevon.

[Xavier]

Yeah injuries cause such a tough spot- our zone continues to get torched but we don't have the legs to keep playing man to man.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Good call

Yeah I quickly followed up in the next few possessions that I was wrong.

And the good spot was relatively speaking. But still wrong.

[X Factor]

Someone other than Gaston or Macura was going to have to step up and have a career day. No one rose to the occassion. I know it's tough, but that's the reality.

Needed Gates to go for 15+ points. Bernard to go for 10-12. Goodin to go for 10-15.

But everyone just stayed the same and we took Trevon's 18 points out of the lineup.

[Xville]

When will Tre be back?

[Wheelhouse]

Well, that didn't go well.

I think we're still ok. Get Tre back, survive the rest of the regular season (2 more wins? head tip to DWESTPOZ), win a game in the BE Tourney, get a good draw in the NCAAs and make a run.

It's pretty simple!

[THRILLHOUSE]

This game was over at halftime when we were dominating and only up 2.

Yeah, knew it wasn't going to go our way when it was only a 2 point halftime lead. Didn't think the 2nd half would go that bad though. Sigh...

[Xville]

Well, that didn't go well.

I think we're still ok. Get Tre back, survive the rest of the regular season (2 more wins? head tip to DWESTPOZ), win a game in the BE Tourney, get a good draw in the NCAAs and make a run.

It's pretty simple!

I don't see how anyone could see this team making a run. They have so many deficiencies even if healthy.

[XfansinKy]

Embarrassing. This shouldn't happen even without Trevon.

This is not unusual. Good coaches always adjust to Mack' gameplan.

[scoscox]

I don't know how you can be a D1 basketball team and shoot less than 50% from the free-throw line. TO JP reared his ugly head again as well and unfortunately TO Q as well.

we really fell off a cliff without about 5 minutes left in the first half and never found a foot hold for the rest of the game

[Wheelhouse]

I don't see how anyone could see this team making a run. They have so many deficiencies even if healthy.

Ya gotta believe!

Actually, I don't blame you. I'm not saying it's going to happen but I think we have enough potential that's it's possible. We definitely need the right draw to make a tourney run. I think it's more likely that we are a 7-10 seed and out in round one.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

I didn't expect this pounding by PC, but then, I shouldn't be surprised or mad. X is a heavily depleted team. We cannot protect the ball or shoot from outside or inside, esp. not from the foul line. One thing we still do well is rebounding. If TB does not come back quickly, I do not think we will make the Dance.

[xavierj]

I didn't expect this pounding by PC, but then, I shouldn't be surprised or mad. X is a heavily depleted team. We cannot protect the ball or shoot from outside or inside, esp. not from the foul line. One thing we still do well is rebounding. If TB does not come back quickly, I do not think we will make the Dance.

So you don't think they will win another game?

[sgarcia]

Need to back cut more on offense. Too many telegraphed passes around the top of the key that get stolen because teams jump the pass. Effort was there for most of the game but Providence caught fire. Hopefully Tre can play Saturday. This was probably the most winnable game but hopefully we can pull out a W in one of the next 2 roadies.

[X Factor]

I think JP has 10 turnovers the past 2 games.

[AviatorX]

At this point, the only game before the NCAAs that will really cause me to panic is @DePaul. Can't lose that one.

Other than that, get to the tournament, try to win that first game and then who knows. Bummer that the team is so depleted.

[xavierj]

Losing to Providence on the road is not the end of the world, especially without Trevon. They did just beat a full strength Butler team and have a good shot at making the tourney.

[AviatorX]

This is not unusual. Good coaches always adjust to Mack' gameplan.

Cmon man. Mack over Cooley any day of the week. Great game plan by Cooley to make 9 shots in a row though, I agree.

[X Factor]

Losing to Providence on the road is not the end of the world, especially without Trevon. They did just beat a full strength Butler team and have a good shot at making the tourney.

No but it's frustrating to watch us shoot less than 50% from the FT line and turn it over upwards of 20 times. Also, NO ONE stepped up in the absence of Trevon.

[AviatorX]

No but it's frustrating to watch us shoot less than 50% from the FT line and turn it over upwards of 20 times. Also, NO ONE stepped up in the absence of Trevon.

Frustrating I agree. But X already has guys stepping up 2 spots to fill in vacancies. How much can we ask?

Is anyone besides Gaston in the role they anticipated at this point?

[mirabilelectu]

So you don't think they will win another game?

Tre needs to hurry back. Just curious, having just lost one of the more winnable games left, what games do you feel confident we will win?

[sgarcia]

Tre needs to hurry back. Just curious, having just lost one of the more winnable games left, what games do you feel confident we will win?

Xavier will win their last 3 regular season games.

[xavierj]

Tre needs to hurry back. Just curious, having just lost one of the more winnable games left, what games do you feel confident we will win?

The home games, at Depaul and possibly at Marquette. They are not that good and Xavier should abuse them inside. Anyway, I think Trevon is back Saturday.

[Juice]

No but it's frustrating to watch us shoot less than 50% from the FT line and turn it over upwards of 20 times. Also, NO ONE stepped up in the absence of Trevon.

Rashid did. No one else really did. JP tried to do too much but it kind of makes sense considering the circumstances. But games like these are where we need Kaiser and Malcolm to step up and produce more than their averages.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Frustrating I agree. But X already has guys stepping up 2 spots to fill in vacancies. How much can we ask?

Is anyone besides Gaston in the role they anticipated at this point?

Exactly, I am not sure why it is a surprise guys who were supposed to be bench role players arent filling in for the 18-20 point a night scorer in Trevon.

[GoMuskies]

Well, we're shitty right now.

[Strange Brew]

Well, we're shitty right now.

We've run into an Oroville dam's worth of poo this season but GaSTONES was great tonight and Tre will heal. Limp into the tourney and roll the dice from there! LETS GO X!

[xufan2434]

I don't understand the ignorant disappointment. Just from last years' team they're playing without Farr, Remy, Jalen, Myles, Ed, Tre, LAJ. That's SEVEN players and seven that put up majority of their numbers. I know most of those guys have been gone the whole year, but then you take away 2 all conference players and I mean c'mon. For example in the past, you take away:
1. Tu & JC
2. Tu & Lyons
3. DBrown & BJ etc etc

Take those guys off their respected teams 2009-2011 and what do you have? You really going to tell me those good teams would have been able to compete? JP made some bad turnovers I agree, but you're asking the guy to play 36 minutes and play PG at times. He shouldn't be anywhere near playing PG. He forced some things because he felt he had to, don't blame him one bit. He still made plays. And anyone calling Cooley better than Mack clearly hasn't paid attention to this conference the last 3 years. It was a matter of time they figured the zone out, but what was Mack going to do? Go man and run the guys ragged? They didn't have the bodies to be doing that. At least Gaston is showing up. That could be huge when Tre comes back

[Xville]

I don't understand the ignorant disappointment. Just from last years' team they're playing without Farr, Remy, Jalen, Myles, Ed, Tre, LAJ. That's SEVEN players and seven that put up majority of their numbers. I know most of those guys have been gone the whole year, but then you take away 2 all conference players and I mean c'mon. For example in the past, you take away:
1. Tu & JC
2. Tu & Lyons
3. DBrown & BJ etc etc

Take those guys off their respected teams 2009-2011 and what do you have? You really going to tell me those good teams would have been able to compete? JP made some bad turnovers I agree, but you're asking the guy to play 36 minutes and play PG at times. He shouldn't be anywhere near playing PG. He forced some things because he felt he had to, don't blame him one bit. He still made plays. And anyone calling Cooley better than Mack clearly hasn't paid attention to this conference the last 3 years. It was a matter of time they figured the zone out, but what was Mack going to do? Go man and run the guys ragged? They didn't have the bodies to be doing that. At least Gaston is showing up. That could be huge when Tre comes back

Agreed. I don't know what some people expect. As I said earlier in the thread, there comes a point where a team just can't handle another injury, and with xavier, it was before tre got injured. This team had deficiencies with everyone healthy, so those deficiencies are even more magnified now.

[GoMuskies]

Agreed. I don't know what some people expect.

Speaking for myself, I kind of expect us to be shitty with the current state of the roster. Expectations are being met.

[casualfan]

I don't understand the ignorant disappointment. Just from last years' team they're playing without Farr, Remy, Jalen, Myles, Ed, Tre, LAJ.

Welcome to college basketball where turnover happens.

Only 3 of those 7 guys were expected to contribute this year.

And if you can't understand why people are disappointed in an effort that resulted in an awful Providence offense scoring 75 points I'm not sure what to tell you.

The defense was atrocious last night, particularly in the second half.

Q is a better defender than Ed is and Trevon isn't exactly a lockdown guy so the dropoff has been surprising to me.

I know the shortened bench causes some issues and forces them to play zone, but last night was way worse than I ever thought it'd be defensively.

I fully expected the offense to really struggle without Tre. I didn't expect the defense to struggle that bad.

[Caf]

Exactly, I am not sure why it is a surprise guys who were supposed to be bench role players arent filling in for the 18-20 point a night scorer in Trevon.

Yup, we lost that game by a Trevon Bluiett.

[Xville]

Speaking for myself, I kind of expect us to be shitty with the current state of the roster. Expectations are being met.

Agreed. The roster already had issues, then the best two scorers are taken off the roster and this is what we are left with.

[Xville]

Welcome to college basketball where turnover happens.

Only 3 of those 7 guys were expected to contribute this year.

And if you can't understand why people are disappointed in an effort that resulted in an awful Providence offense scoring 75 points I'm not sure what to tell you.

The defense was atrocious last night, particularly in the second half.

Q is a better defender than Ed is and Trevon isn't exactly a lockdown guy so the dropoff has been surprising to me.

I know the shortened bench causes some issues and forces them to play zone, but last night was way worse than I ever thought it'd be defensively.

I fully expected the offense to really struggle without Tre. I didn't expect the defense to struggle that bad.

This is a little bit different than just turnover. Come on.

Without Tre, there is no one that can spell our guards...even an 18-22 year old needs a break and when you are exhausted, that is where mental breakdowns happen which is what happened in the second half last night.

[Muskie]

This is a little bit different than just turnover. Come on.

Without Tre, there is no one that can spell our guards...even an 18-22 year old needs a break and when you are exhausted, that is where mental breakdowns happen which is what happened in the second half last night. This team is exhausted. Too many injuries mean too many minutes for too little of the roster (that's left). Onward to Milwaukee.

[GoMuskies]

We also started with a thin roster with the scholarship situation in flux this year. This was a team that desperately needed to stay healthy and needed Myles Davis to not be an asshole. 0 for 2 unfortunately.

[Muskie]

We also started with a thin roster with the scholarship situation in flux this year. This was a team that desperately needed to stay healthy and needed Myles Davis to not be an asshole. 0 for 2 unfortunately. This team has looked tired and shorthanded most of the season. When you're tired you're more susceptible to injury and mistakes. It's just a snowball rolling down a large snow covered mountain at this point.

[xuwin]

Cmon man. Mack over Cooley any day of the week. Great game plan by Cooley to make 9 shots in a row though, I agree.

Xavier doesn't have enough athletes left to guard all of the perimeter shooters so when teams are hot from the outside like they were in the 2nd half we have insurmountable problems. Our rebounding advantage in the last 2 losses are a good indication that effort is not a problem. When our only subs are big men teams are wearing us down when they speed up play.

[casualfan]

Xavier doesn't have enough athletes left to guard all of the perimeter shooters so when teams are hot from the outside like they were in the 2nd half we have insurmountable problems. Our rebounding advantage in the last 2 losses are a good indication that effort is not a problem. When our only subs are big men teams are wearing us down when they speed up play.

Conveniently enough we play the #1 3 point shooting team in the country Saturday.

Lovely.

[xuwin]

This team is exhausted. Too many injuries mean too many minutes for too little of the roster (that's left). Onward to Milwaukee.

Exactly. The team played their butts off and ran out of gas by halftime. The only players on the floor last night that are used to playing 35 minutes a game were JP and Malcom. We don't have enough athletes left to play man to man defense when teams spread the floor.

[sgarcia]

The problem IMO lies with the offense. We don't have dribble drive guys who can consistently beat their defender AND finish which is why I'm always yelling at my TV for guys to back cut when teams over play us. JP did this in the first few minutes last night and got a layup. Gates has done this a few times but we need a lot more of it just to keep the defense honest and maybe get some guys open looks at 3's. I told a buddy that I'd be surprised if we scored 60 last night and we got 63. The effort for most of the game was there but we just don't have the horses at this point in time. Hopefully they can give a good showing on Saturday in Milwaukee.

[xavierj]

Goodin has played 79 of the last 80 minutes the last two games. That's scary. Kid is going to be wore out.

[XU 87]

Per Casual Fan- "Welcome to college basketball where turnover happens."


This isn't standard or even large turnover. It is catastrophic turnover. Seven our top eight players from last year were not on the floor last night. It's the equivalent of having your entire starting lineup graduating, and then some.

Yesterday's starting lineup, and the first substitute, included four players who didn't play a minute for X last year.

It's just too much to overcome against good teams on the road. For X to win yesterday, Providence had to play really poorly and X had to play great. It didn't happen.

[xufan2434]

If you don't understand why the defense starts to fall a part eventually like it did last night then you simply have never played competitive basketball. It's all a snow ball affect. You can't play good defense when your legs are worn down and you can't move laterally. And when majority of them are playing 30+ minutes when they're not used it or honestly good enough to be in that situation to begin with, then it's going to break down. Throw in the factor of playing on the road and the fact they have to use more energy on offense since they don't have the pieces then it all adds up.

It's not like any of them while playing all those minutes can take an offensive play off and just let Tre or Ed go to work. That would be one thing. But they simply can't without the bodies. They didn't push the ball basically at all last night and told Q to use the whole shot clock to shorten the game. And they still got tired. What does that tell you

[XU 87]

I thought the other problem defensively in the second half was that X missed shots and had turnovers, which led to fast breaks for Providence. X was also forced to play a lot of zone yesterday, and I don't this team plays zone very well.

Another problem is that X was often playing a five at the 4 spot, which hasn't happened all year.

[muskiefan82]

I am hopeful that I will look back on this season as the one that steeled the freshmen and younger guys for the next 2-3 seasons. The season that gave these guys lessons in defense, offense, and what it is like to not have enough to win so that the effort becomes ridiculous the next few years WITH enough talent to really do damage for an entire season. This is the injury year that creates a multi-year, title contending team with that "We WILL win" attitude.

I have to believe. It also helps that X is 18-8 and we are all so spoiled now that we are unhappy!

[casualfan]

Per Casual Fan- "Welcome to college basketball where turnover happens."


This isn't standard or even large turnover. It is catastrophic turnover. Seven our top eight players from last year were not on the floor last night. It's the equivalent of having your entire starting lineup graduating, and then some.

Yesterday's starting lineup, and the first substitute, included four players who didn't play a minute for X last year.

It's just too much to overcome against good teams on the road. For X to win yesterday, Providence had to play really poorly and X had to play great. It didn't happen.

You're not telling the whole story.

Of the 7 guys that played last night 2 are seniors and 2 are juniors.

More than half the guys we ran out there last night are upperclassmen.

Now Bernard and Gaston weren't here last year but that doesn't make them any less experienced. You can't go out and get multiple 5th year transfers and then cry wolf about not returning a bunch of guys from last year.

[SemajParlor]

We lost 3 out of our 4 best players guys. 2 of them are All Conference level.

[XMuskieFTW]

You're not telling the whole story.

Of the 7 guys that played last night 2 are seniors and 2 are juniors.

More than half the guys we ran out there last night are upperclassmen.

Now Bernard and Gaston weren't here last year but that doesn't make them any less experienced. You can't go out and get multiple 5th year transfers and then cry wolf about not returning a bunch of guys from last year.

When we got Bernard, we weren't even expecting him to contribute this year. He was going to be the 11th man who maybe provided depth and some solid defense in spells. Then we lost Ekiyor, Myles, and Kaiser to start the season. Got Kaiser back, but then lost Ed and lost Tre for a few games. The plan was always from Bernard to be a five to ten minute guy, but due to uncommon events, he's been asked to be something he isn't. Just because he's a 5th year senior doesn't mean he should be expected to be good, especially looking at his prior teams.

[casualfan]

We lost 3 out of our 4 best players guys. 2 of them are All Conference level.

No doubt.

All I'm saying is that the "We barely have any guys left from last year" argument is a kind of a hollow one.

You can't make a habit of taking multiple 5th year guys and then complain when you don't have a deep bench of returning players.

I'm not downplaying the loss of the guys we are missing.

Just that the guys we are playing are not as inexperienced as '87 wants you to believe, even if their experience didn't come here.

[XU 87]

You're not telling the whole story.

Of the 7 guys that played last night 2 are seniors and 2 are juniors.

More than half the guys we ran out there last night are upperclassmen.

Now Bernard and Gaston weren't here last year but that doesn't make them any less experienced. You can't go out and get multiple 5th year transfers and then cry wolf about not returning a bunch of guys from last year.

I am telling the entire story. We have lost the entire starting lineup from last year. We also lost 2 of the first three guys off the bench. We also lost our top three returning players. We have replaced them with two freshman, neither who was expected to contribute much, if anything, this year. A fifth year transfer from Florida A&M, who also was at best expected to be a role player, is now playing over 30 minutes per game.

Yesterday, instead of Bluiett playing, Stainbrook, a walk on, was playing. Are you really arguing, "No problem. Stainbrook is a senior?"

When you lose your top three returning players, it would be nice to be able to say, "We should be just as good. You freshmen, role players and walk-ons need to step up and pick up the slack." But no sport works like. There's a reason some people start, some people play a little, and some people watch the entire game from the bench.

[XU 87]

I'm not downplaying the loss of the guys we are missing.

Just that the guys we are playing are not as inexperienced as '87 wants you to believe, even if their experience didn't come here.

They are inexperienced. Two freshman and a sophomore started yesterday. That said, it's not just about experience, it's about skill level. We lost our three best returning players, one of whom is a likely NBA player and the other was a third team All-American. You just don't replace that type of player and production with "the next man up".

I'll add one more comment. X has done a great job stepping up without Myles and when Ed got hurt. But losing Bluiett, for however how long, has been too much.

[xufan2434]

Welcome to college basketball where turnover happens.

Only 3 of those 7 guys were expected to contribute this year.

And if you can't understand why people are disappointed in an effort that resulted in an awful Providence offense scoring 75 points I'm not sure what to tell you.

The defense was atrocious last night, particularly in the second half.

Q is a better defender than Ed is and Trevon isn't exactly a lockdown guy so the dropoff has been surprising to me.

I know the shortened bench causes some issues and forces them to play zone, but last night was way worse than I ever thought it'd be defensively.

I fully expected the offense to really struggle without Tre. I didn't expect the defense to struggle that bad.

I'm sorry but if you expect Q, JP, Malcolm, and whichever other 2 they throw out there to be able to run around for 40 minutes covering every gap in a zone defense then you don't know what you're talking about. And LMAO at your reasoning that Q is a better defender than Ed so they should simply just shouldn't have a drop off. Q is a good defender yes, but you can't ask a freshmen this deep in the season to be playing top notch defense and run the show on the other end for 39 straight minutes. It just doesn't work that way. I already said in my other post but with that short of bench and limitations they each have (besides Q) athletically, then they're going to get broken down over time. They didn't have any other options. The effort was there, and when they have a guard like Cartwright who is quicker then hell penetrating the zone and distributing it becomes a little difficult

[American X]

Q is a good defender yes, but you can't ask a freshmen this deep in the season to be playing top notch defense and run the show on the other end for 39 straight minutes. It just doesn't work that way. I already said in my other post but with that short of bench and limitations they each have (besides Q) athletically, then they're going to get broken down over time.

I saw Quentin do this move a defense a few times last night:

https://media.giphy.com/media/ZwLM5zkFZxD56/giphy-downsized-large.gif


Actually, everybody else did that move too.

[markchal]

I think Bernard is regressing and that's disappointing. He seemed to be a solid player earlier in the year, but now is just invisible. I remember when Ed went down last year, and Remy put the team on his back and put up 18-20 against Butler. Bernard doesn't seem to have that next gear ability like Remy did. Remy never did too much when we were full strength, but he did seem to raise his level of play when needed.

Thought that might be Kaiser or Malcolm last night, but no such luck.

[Xville]

I think Bernard is regressing and that's disappointing. He seemed to be a solid player earlier in the year, but now is just invisible. I remember when Ed went down last year, and Remy put the team on his back and put up 18-20 against Butler. Bernard doesn't seem to have that next gear ability like Remy did. Remy never did too much when we were full strength, but he did seem to raise his level of play when needed.

Thought that might be Kaiser or Malcolm last night, but no such luck.

I'm not sure if it's regressing or just that he isn't talented enough to be playing as much as he does for a big east team. I could be wrong, but don't think bernard was in the plans to even be playing 20 mpg this year let alone 35 plus. Remy wasn't what I would call a big time recruit but he was a 3 star and good enough to be on Indiana, so he had a great deal of talent.

Gates is the one who I am really disappointed with this season. I know the injury obviously set him back, and he has shown some flashes here and there but my goodness he was flat out awful last night.

[XU 87]

I'm not sure if it's regressing or just that he isn't talented enough to be playing as much as he does for a big east team. I could be wrong, but don't think bernard was in the plans to even be playing 20 mpg this year let alone 35 plus. Remy wasn't what I would call a big time recruit but he was a 3 star and good enough to be on Indiana, so he had a great deal of talent.



I anticipated that Bernard would play 8-10 minutes per game. Then Myles was suspended and Bernard's role got much larger. And it got even larger with the most recent injuries.

But I agree- he was meant to be a role player this year, not a guy playing 30 plus minutes per game.

[xufan2434]

I'm not sure if it's regressing or just that he isn't talented enough to be playing as much as he does for a big east team. I could be wrong, but don't think bernard was in the plans to even be playing 20 mpg this year let alone 35 plus. Remy wasn't what I would call a big time recruit but he was a 3 star and good enough to be on Indiana, so he had a great deal of talent.

Gates is the one who I am really disappointed with this season. I know the injury obviously set him back, and he has shown some flashes here and there but my goodness he was flat out awful last night.

He had that nice drive to the basket in what I believe was the 1st half. But to be honest he does not look comfortable putting the ball on the floor and driving. So it kind of makes him 1 dimensional. And I agree, his frame and ability is perfect for today's 4 spot. He's been rebounding well but even last night got stuffed at the rim. Being able to finish at the rim would do wonders for this team

[AviatorX]

Not sure if anyone will remember this, but that horizontal jump stop Bullock used to get a 15 footer when PC was really struggling to probe the 1-3-1 was a really filthy move. Could see the staff circling that one on film for Ed in the future.

[bleedXblue]

Geesh we are so short handed you cant pull anything from last night. Get Trevon back and we have at least a chance to get 20+ wins........get into the tourney and try to win a game. Thats about as good as it is going to get this year.