2017-2018 Xavier Regular Season BB

[paulxu]

Hah! Someone got me an Air Jesuit tee shirt.
I'm jacked.
Season's almost here and I'm looking forward to a great ride.
Get some Muskies. (UC still sucks)

[GoMuskies]

Thank you calendar for getting us close.

[paulxu]

#17 in preseason poll.
#3 pick in BE
Bluiett on Julius Erving watch list.

Madness tonight!

We're getting closer by the minute.

[bobbiemcgee]

https://twitter.com/XavierMBB

[paulxu]

Almost ready to get started.
Despite our recruiting woes, I am pumped for this season.
With so much of our starting line-up/point production returning, we should gel much more quickly as the OOC progresses.
Time to challenge for the BE title. I've been waiting to post a flagship.

[GIMMFD]

Almost ready to get started.
Despite our recruiting woes, I am pumped for this season.
With so much of our starting line-up/point production returning, we should gel much more quickly as the OOC progresses.
Time to challenge for the BE title. I've been waiting to post a flagship.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, WVU football has gotten me through the off-season, and now it's X basketball's time to shine. Really looking forward to a great season, and for Mack to become all time winningest X coach in history!!

[American X]

I just received an invitation to a conference March 15-16. That is a firm NO.

[GIMMFD]

I just received an invitation to a conference March 15-16. That is a firm NO.

Duh, we have to get the band back together during the game chats..

[muskiefan82]

Is it near a first (second) round site?

[Muskeagle]

As I get older, I have stopped hoping for future events to get here.

The "next" Xavier basketball excepted! Bring it on. I can't wait!

[Smooth]

I've never had the "Hurry up and start" jitters before an exhibition game. Until now. Maybe the OSU game will calm them a little.

[paulxu]

Snipe is back from his summer hibernation, ergo the season is upon us.

Let the games begin!

[American X]

I just received an invitation to a conference March 15-16. That is a firm NO.

I looked up an alternate conference to attend. It is March 22-23. Do you want to guess my response?

[GoMuskies]

I looked up an alternate conference to attend. It is March 22-23. Do you want to guess my response?

Hard maybe?

[American X]

GAMEDAY

No sleep until.........................wherever the Final Four is!!!

[Muskie]

GAMEDAY

No sleep until.........................wherever the Final Four is!!!

San Antonio

[American X]

First big test of the season tomorrow - true road game against a legitimate opponent. Top seed resumes are made in such ways.

[GIMMFD]

First big test of the season tomorrow - true road game against a legitimate opponent. Top seed resumes are made in such ways.

I hope we curb stomp their ass in revenge from that tournament game, I'm still so upset at what could have been that year.

[paulxu]

Meaningless (at this point) but so much fun.

BE #1 conference RPI
Nova #1, X #6 RPI's

[paulxu]

From Dick Vitale (??)


Team of the week: Xavier Musketeers
The Musketeers knocked off Baylor and rival Cincinnati.

[SemajParlor]

This is the most optimistic I've ever been about an X team. We're really good.

[Xavier]

This team has great potential, I still think the 2016 and 2008 team were more complete and therefore more optimistic with them.

[xu82]

This is the most optimistic I've ever been about an X team. We're really good.

I think we are far more well rounded than the Semaj or Sumner teams. Never any guarantees, but this will be fun to watch as the new guys come along.

[Grizzx12]

This is the most optimistic I've ever been about an X team. We're really good.

There aren't too many X fans here in upstate NY now that Chalmers and Cheeks are long gone so I do my part to fill everyone in each year. Two years ago I thought there was a great chance to do some special things but this team I think can bee just as good or better. Been telling everyone up this way to watch out because Tre does his thing then there is JP, Kaiser, Tyrique, and Co. but if Q can be more consistent (or develop any sort of shot) and the frosh can start getting comfortable then I think the sky is the limit.

[bobbiemcgee]

I keep reading Q this, Q that, He is doing exactly what Mack needs/wants him to do. Drive the ball and get the easy mismatch, get the ball to scorers and get fouled and go to the line. I could take a few less TO's, and I think Mack will encourage him to develop his shot in the less important games, but right now he's flipped the role he had in HS as a scorer, to one of getting assists for a talented bunch of shooters.

[GIMMFD]

There aren't too many X fans here in upstate NY now that Chalmers and Cheeks are long gone so I do my part to fill everyone in each year. Two years ago I thought there was a great chance to do some special things but this team I think can bee just as good or better. Been telling everyone up this way to watch out because Tre does his thing then there is JP, Kaiser, Tyrique, and Co. but if Q can be more consistent (or develop any sort of shot) and the frosh can start getting comfortable then I think the sky is the limit.

Welcome to my life being abroad, I will say, I've had buddies catch a beer with me to watch a few games, and they came away impressed. We have an incredibly good team this year, with so many different weapons, it's hard to stop them all. It's exactly what you want, and if Kanter can come along like he has been, we aren't as weak at the big as I thought we were.

[xuwin]

I keep reading Q this, Q that, He is doing exactly what Mack needs/wants him to do. Drive the ball and get the easy mismatch, get the ball to scorers and get fouled and go to the line. I could take a few less TO's, and I think Mack will encourage him to develop his shot in the less important games, but right now he's flipped the role he had in HS as a scorer, to one of getting assists for a talented bunch of shooters.

I think Q is doing a great job and Xavier can go a long way with him running the show. My biggest concern is depth at the point guard position. Our backup looks very shaky on offense so far and the offense bogs down big time when Q has to go out of the game. It's the only position that X doesn't have an experienced backup.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Scruggs will be fine, he has shown flashes of what we can expect. We didn’t just get a top 30 guy to sit him on the bench.


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[MuskieXU]

Scruggs is playing like a freshman PG. Backup PG is probably our biggest area of weakness right now but I dont think it'll be that way by year end.

As others have said, I think this is the best Xavier team I've ever seen but obviously we're only through 8 games. It's basically the 2016 team with more experience. Sumner was probably more skilled and athletic than Q, but Q is more of a field general which is what this team needs. I think our big men should be a little more consistent than 16. I also think defensively were a little better with Gates and Q rather than Myles, Remy, and Sumner. I think this team has a chance to do something really special.

[markchal]

Very talented team with the chance to do something special, but let's hold off with some of the "best team we've ever had" talk, this team has a long way to go. I agree with others citing the '16 and '08 teams as the bar to clear, and we could get there certainly, but we're gonna have to deal with a pretty tough Big East slate. We have a very talented team offensively, but I do think we're gonna struggle defending teams with quick, athletic guards.

[MuskieXU]

Very talented team with the chance to do something special, but let's hold off with some of the "best team we've ever had" talk, this team has a long way to go. I agree with others citing the '16 and '08 teams as the bar to clear, and we could get there certainly, but we're gonna have to deal with a pretty tough Big East slate. We have a very talented team offensively, but I do think we're gonna struggle defending teams with quick, athletic guards.

To be clear, this is the most impressed I've been with a team at this point in the season. 2004 and 2008 were both better at the end of the season that this team is currently, but I think this team has the highest upside. Luckily we have a coach that I trust to continue fulfilling that upside.

Its incredible how much talent this team has. All 5 starters were top 150 recruits. Out of the 10 players getting minutes, 9 were top 156 recruits, 6 were top 105 recruits, and 4 were top 80 recruits. Of Xaviers 28 best recruits since 2002 9 are on this team, of their 18 best recruits 6 are on this team, and of their 7 best recruits 4 are on this team. This team is absolutely stacked and Mack deserves a ton of credit for that.

[UCGRAD4X]

Very talented team with the chance to do something special, but let's hold off with some of the "best team we've ever had" talk, this team has a long way to go. I agree with others citing the '16 and '08 teams as the bar to clear, and we could get there certainly, but we're gonna have to deal with a pretty tough Big East slate. We have a very talented team offensively, but I do think we're gonna struggle defending teams with quick, athletic guards.

I agree that this team could be special but there does seem to be a little post-beating-UC euphoria, understandably.

We have a long way to go (a season is a lifetime?).

Health is always a factor (how bad or lingering is Tyrique's tendinitis?)

And, as mentioned, back-up at point guard is a concern. My guess is that Scruggs will get a lot more practice and be better by conference play and further improve into BE and NCAA's and no longer play like a freshman. Sure having a ready-out-of-the-box player at the point would be nice, but look what Q did a freshman after Sumner went down.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

It’s early and we look good but still have a long way to go on defense. This team has a high ceiling and I think could do great things in March. Matchups and such help a lot come tournament time.


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[GIMMFD]

To be clear, this is the most impressed I've been with a team at this point in the season. 2004 and 2008 were both better at the end of the season that this team is currently, but I think this team has the highest upside. Luckily we have a coach that I trust to continue fulfilling that upside.

Its incredible how much talent this team has. All 5 starters were top 150 recruits. Out of the 9 players getting minutes, 8 were top 156 recruits, 6 were top 105 recruits, and 4 were top 80 recruits. Of Xaviers 28 best recruits since 2002 8 are on this team, of their 18 best recruits 6 are on this team, and of their 7 best recruits 4 are on this team. This team is absolutely stacked and Mack deserves a ton of credit for that.

Whoa, I didn't even realize this, that is some incredible stuff, gotta give Mack credit for not only killing it on the recruiting trail but his coaching and game management as well, we've been growing in exposure, and it's been paying off getting some high level interest from prospects. We have a beautiful thing brewing here.

[paulxu]

It so nice to open up ESPN's NCAA Men's Basketball page and see Chris Mack and the team.
It's been a long, hard road to where we are. I'm enjoying every minute, win or lose.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21699134/behind-bracket-why-kansas-jayhawks-no-1-seed

[American X]

I appreciate that we scheduled East Tennessee State for the game after finals. Hopefully, the tradition of the pre-Christmas disaster game is long gone. Seems years past we would have scheduled Baylor or Northern Iowa for this Saturday rather than smartly scheduling a buy game.

[XU 87]

I appreciate that we scheduled East Tennessee State for the game after finals. Hopefully, the tradition of the pre-Christmas disaster game is long gone. Seems years past we would have scheduled Baylor or Northern Iowa for this Saturday rather than smartly scheduling a buy game.

I still remember the Duke 30 point loss at the Meadowlands the Saturday after exams.

[xu82]

I still remember the Duke 30 point loss at the Meadowlands the Saturday after exams.

Ugh, I remembered the loss, but not the lousy timing! I guess we were so thrilled to get the almighty Duke (is Puke) to play us, we failed to think too deeply.

[paulxu]

Mack had a great tweet on Thursday. (apologies if already noted)

Bluiett, Macura and OMara have never lost an out of conference game at home.

That must feel really good.

[American X]

Xavier leads the nation in free throw shooting. No big deal. (https://twitter.com/EiserXUSports/status/946448835169214465)

[xudash]

Xavier leads the nation in free throw shooting. No big deal. (https://twitter.com/EiserXUSports/status/946448835169214465)

A key ingredient to making it to the promised land.

[American X]

FS1 - Inside practice with the Musketeers (https://twitter.com/XavierMBB/status/948659547224199168)

"Bend your knees, Sean! Don't be a statue!"

[UCGRAD4X]

A key ingredient to making it to the promised land.

A big reason why they didn't win today.

Providence hits em' - X doesn't.

Game over!

X was never really in it.

[THRILLHOUSE]

X was never really in it.

I wouldn't go that far. X got within 2 with the chance to tie or take the lead about halfway through the 2nd half, but then turned the ball over on consecutive possessions and never got that close again.

[UCGRAD4X]

I wouldn't go that far. X got within 2 with the chance to tie or take the lead about halfway through the 2nd half, but then turned the ball over on consecutive possessions and never got that close again.

Yes I remember that point. I'm usually pretty optimistic - but I just didn't feel like they were really going to sustain that. Just a feeling...that turned out to be true.

But your point is certainly valid.

[American X]

Next four games:

2/6 @ Butler

2/10 @ Creighton

2/14 Seton Hall

2/17 Villanova

Big East championships and #1 seeds are made in such ways. Every opponent is a tournament team, including the #1 team in the country. Welcome to the Big East. Not sure how I am going to concentrate for two weeks.

[bjf123]

I’ll be happy with 2-2 over those 4 games.


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[Cheesehead]

I’ll be happy with 2-2 over those 4 games.


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agreed. Next 4 games are a microcosm of life in the Big East. No rest for the wicked.

[xuwin]

I’ll be happy with 2-2 over those 4 games.


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I'll be happy with 4-0. I'm never happy with loses.