Xavier @ Marquette Game Thread (December 27, 2017)

[American X]

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2752.png&h=150&w=150http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/269.png&h=150&w=150

#6 Xavier Musketeers (12-1, 0-0) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (9-3, 0-0)

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Bradley Center | Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: FS1

Radio: 700 WLW Listen Live (https://www.iheart.com/live/700wlw-1713/?autoplay=true&pname=15400&campid=header&cid=index.html)

Live Chat (http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=XavierHoops)

Live Stats (http://www.sidearmstats.com/xavier/mbball/)
(http://www.sidearmstats.com/xavier/mbball/)

GoXavier Preview (http://goxavier.com/news/2017/12/26/mens-basketball-no-6-xavier-opens-big-east-play-at-marquette-on-wednesday.aspx)

Full Game Notes (https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/goxavier.com/documents/2017/12/24/Xavier_Game_Notes_at_Marquette_game_14.pdf)

Enquirer Preview (https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/2017/12/26/no-6-xavier-kicks-off-big-east-conference-play-marquette/947197001/)

Fox Sports Preview (https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/boxscore?id=95801&type=5)

*check back for more links and articles

[paulxu]

Bring it.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41YbQWNFa5L._SY355_.jpg

[Emp]

Eagles can shoot. Don't think the 1-3-1 is going to help much tonight. With an o/u at 161, this could be a track meet.

[X Factor]

If X keeps turnovers below 10, should come out of there with a win. Need to contain Rowsey and Howard. If those two go off, they will probably pull off the upset.

[Caf]

Eagles can shoot. Don't think the 1-3-1 is going to help much tonight. With an o/u at 161, this could be a track meet.

Yeah I'm sure they'll be depending on the 3 heavily. They don't have the size to contest us inside.

I haven't seen a preview from Banners yet but the Marquette contingent, "The Anonymous Eagle", has a solid write up: Link (https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2017/12/26/16803228/marquette-golden-eagles-basketball-preview-primer-xavier-musketeers)

[BandDad]

If X keeps turnovers below 10, should come out of there with a win. Need to contain Rowsey and Howard. If those two go off, they will probably pull off the upset.

Actually believe they don't need to worry about Rowsey and Howard as they will get their points anyway. Just need to make sure Hauser and the rest of the gang are held in check. In MU's three losses this year, Rowsey and Howard have combined for 49 against Purdue, 51 and the Shockers and 44 against Georgia and they still lost. Hauser and Heldt scored a combined 25 points in the three losses for an average of four points per game each. We hold them in check and we come away with the win.

[xu82]

Yeah I'm sure they'll be depending on the 3 heavily. They don't have the size to contest us inside.

I haven't seen a preview from Banners yet but the Marquette contingent, "The Anonymous Eagle", has a solid write up: Link (https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2017/12/26/16803228/marquette-golden-eagles-basketball-preview-primer-xavier-musketeers)

My favorite part:

J.P. Macura is a white guy who pisses people off. You might think it’s because he takes charges and shoots threes, but no. He’s best at driving the ball, shooting 59% from inside the arc, but also hits threes at a respectable 35% rate. Shoutout to NBC’s Rob Dauster for pointing out that if J.P. No-Sleeves played for Duke, he’d be the most hated player in America.

[Cheesehead]

My favorite part:

J.P. Macura is a white guy who pisses people off. You might think it’s because he takes charges and shoots threes, but no. He’s best at driving the ball, shooting 59% from inside the arc, but also hits threes at a respectable 35% rate. Shoutout to NBC’s Rob Dauster for pointing out that if J.P. No-Sleeves played for Duke, he’d be the most hated player in America.

Probably true.

[pokin]

Anyone have a streaming link??? Fox Sports Go app doesn’t work in the Dominican Republic sadly.

[X-ceptional]

Anyone have a streaming link??? Fox Sports Go app doesn’t work in the Dominican Republic sadly.

Check https://www.reddit.com/r/ncaaBBallStreams/ closer to game time. Make sure you're running adblock, noscript, etc.

[pokin]

Check https://www.reddit.com/r/ncaaBBallStreams/ closer to game time. Make sure you're running adblock, noscript, etc.

Thank you!

[paulxu]

Butler messing up our start time.

[Grizzx12]

Looks like we're on pace for another 10+ turnover half

[mistabeecee41]

so what you're trying to tell me is when we move the ball we get easy buckets but when tre and JP play 1 on 1 hero ball things go poorly? hmmmmm

[Grizzx12]

How are they complaining about that call? After he fumbled he ran through Trevon

[MHettel]

What the fuck Fox ! Stop talking and show me my game!

[scoscox]

We have been getting hammered going to the basket without getting any calls

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Tre is missing many 3ptr. As usual, our turnovers are high.

[Grizzx12]

We look so sluggish to start this half

[Grizzx12]

Does it seem to anyone else like JP is more interested in going at it with Rowsey in this game?

[paulxu]

JP is much fun!

[scoscox]

Please more Naji

[X Factor]

JP is much fun!

He needs to stop turning it over.

X needs to rebound the damn ball.

[mistabeecee41]

Does it seem to anyone else like JP is more interested in going at it with Rowsey in this game?

He’s trying to go at him every time and failing every time. Should get sat

[scoscox]

In JP's defense, Rowsey is just fouling the mess out of him, but I want to see Naji in there

[X Factor]

He needs to stop turning it over.

X needs to rebound the damn ball.

And my obligatory I wish Q could make an open three, not that's he's even attempted one tonight. Scruggs can't shoot either. Next year :shocked:

[scoscox]

It's frustrating how badly we've rebounded. we can't seem to grab the ball

[X Factor]

Is anyone even trying to rebound for X?

[Grizzx12]

Naji is going to be good. Maybe he can spark a little fire because we are getting out hustled so hard its disgusting

[X Factor]

Thank you Naji...

[X Factor]

Marquette can't play any better than they've played tonight.

[Grizzx12]

They should give Marquette ball screeners scooters so they can move around a little more

[scoscox]

Absolutely monstrous travel by Froling

[Xupergirl]

It’s a war and they are either going to win by two, or lose by two.... expect a big three from number 5. Let’s win this musketeers

[Grizzx12]

Let's go Paul!!!

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Scruggs finally scored!

[X Factor]

Get a couple more stops, execute on offense and get of there with a win!

[X Factor]

It’s a war and they are either going to win by two, or lose by two.... expect a big three from number 5. Let’s win this musketeers

Welcome aboard!

[Xupergirl]

That John guy looks like he’s been smoking a pack of kools for 10 years. Freshman??

[Blue Blooded-05]

LeJP with the block!

[paulxu]

Get this one Muskies. Just get it.

[scoscox]

put in Naji please

[Xupergirl]

Rowsey must be stopped. One of those 3’s could kill us

[GreatWhiteNorth]

This game is causing my blood pressure to jump through the roof!

[Grizzx12]

Great shot by Kaiser but how does Tyrique not get that board!!

[X Factor]

Rebound!!!

[X Factor]

As bad as Q shoots from outside, he is money from the FT line!

[Blue Blooded-05]

Atta boy Q! How valuable have his fresh legs been late in this game. Quality minutes by Scruggs tonight

[Grizzx12]

Let's GO!!!!

[X Factor]

If we could rebound tonight, this game would over...

[Grizzx12]

YES!! Wow, what a start for league play

[BandAid]

Hey Marquette: we’re better than you

[X Factor]

Marquette at home, plays lights out. Gets career high from a kid averaging less than 5 points.

X made plays in the second half to come out with the win! Team is so clutch from the FT line.

[whopper]

It is nice to see Scruggs contribute as he is the quickest guard on the team and bothered Howard. His plus /minus was probably pretty good

[paulxu]

Thank you Muskies. Makers is very happy tonight.

[xu82]

Marquette at home, plays lights out. Gets career high from a kid averaging less than 5 points.

X made plays in the second half to come out with the win! Team is so clutch from the FT line.

Just leave that 3 pointer in your head for a while....

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Our 92% FT shooting won this game for us. Marquette has always been trouble for us. I am so glad we get a W from here and looking forward to beating them again at Cintas.

[GoMuskies]

Sweet win. Nerve wracking but fun win. Love the Big East!

[bobbiemcgee]

LeJP with the block!

Game over after JP's play of the game and the ensuing fast break! Man. that game was a "war' and this was the late knockout punch.

[whopper]

scruggs 4 assists, zero turnover and good defense(and a good drive). Q may have some relief that he has not had the past year.

[SkyWalker]

Two words... GREAT GAME!

[xu82]

scruggs 4 assists, zero turnover and good defense(and a good drive). Q may have some relief that he has not had the past year.

Love him and he did some great stuff, but be bruised their backboards a couple times. Long term he will be AWESOME!!!

[X-ceptional]

LeJP with the block!

Get some!

https://i.imgur.com/kU6Mnlx.gif

[mohr5150]

This team is TOUGH. They fight and scrap and claw and mouth and go toe to toe with every competitor. There is no backing down, even after one gut punch after another. It has been something to watch.

[X-ceptional]

Also, Tre's having his relative struggles, but... good Lord:

https://i.imgur.com/jpKkE52.gif

[X-ceptional]

This team is TOUGH. They fight and scrap and claw and mouth and go toe to toe with every competitor. There is no backing down, even after one gut punch after another. It has been something to watch.

Couldn't agree more. These guys just find a way to win. I'll take four point wins all the way to the national championship.

[stammina0721]

I know this... we do not win this game tonight unless we played ASU. If we see those guys again in the tournament we will beat them

[XUMIOH12]

nerve wracking back and forth game. The refs were absolutely pathetic throughout, ignoring clear fouls the entire game.
Tough win!

[OTRMUSKIE]

Well we do win this game no matter of w play ASU or not. However, we do not win this game if any prior coach is our head coach. This was a win that tells me X has made it. Now we have to beat The Suit. 1 vs 2 is coming soon.

[UCGRAD4X]

Didn't get to watch (or even listen to Byron and Joe). Working the late shift.

There was a good bit of talk about the rebounding in this game. Does anyone have the stat on the differential here and some analysis on why they has so much trouble?

[MuskieXU]

Xavier outrebounded them 37 to 34. My personal opinion would be that the rebounding seemed a little worse because Marquette shot so many 3s and giving up rebounds on 3s feels more painful. Xavier also played a good amount of 1-3-1 and the rebounding tends to be worse there. Marquette did get a coulple big rebounds that cost X though. Overall I thought they did a fine job rebounding. It didn’t stick out to me as a negative from the game, but maybe others feel differently.

[XMuskieFTW]

Didn't get to watch (or even listen to Byron and Joe). Working the late shift.

There was a good bit of talk about the rebounding in this game. Does anyone have the stat on the differential here and some analysis on why they has so much trouble?

I'd say it was 50% bad bounces/bad positioning that goes along with the 1-3-1 and 50% effort. The effort to rebound was poor early on, but it started to pick up when the game went along. There was a moment early in the second half where Marquette missed a shot and we had 3 guys near the ball just staring at it waiting for another guy to grab it. Luckily there weren't any Marquette players around during that specific instance, but we definitely need to be more aggressive.

[RoseyMuskie]

Didn't get to watch (or even listen to Byron and Joe). Working the late shift.

There was a good bit of talk about the rebounding in this game. Does anyone have the stat on the differential here and some analysis on why they has so much trouble?

Don’t have any stats in front of me, but MU’s style - heavy three point shooting team - led to a lot of long, crazy bounces. One of those performances where I put little stock in the numbers.

[UCGRAD4X]

Also, Tre's having his relative struggles, but... good Lord:

https://i.imgur.com/jpKkE52.gif

Two pretty obvious fouls here. First is O'Mara getting knocked to the floor. Scruggs got fouled more than once time on his way to the basket.

Like I said, missed the game - wondering if the lack of calls went both ways...

BTW: What a move by numero uno! [also, would not have been shocked for them to call a travel - more whistle swallowing?]

[UCGRAD4X]

Don’t have any stats in front of me, but MU’s style - heavy three point shooting team - led to a lot of long, crazy bounces. One of those performances where I put little stock in the numbers.

That is frustrating.

Also would wonder about second chance points too.

I know all these numbers are somewhere. I would like to know the best place to get game stats like this.

[MuskieXU]

There were a lot of no calls. Marquette came out pretty agressive and got some early fouls which seemed to scare the refs into swallowing their whistles to prevent certain players from having to sit. That said I thought it was called relatively evenly. Fouls were pretty much even up until Marquette was forced to start fouling.

[throwbackmuskie]

Like said above, lots of long rebounds off the rim, if the bounce didn't go out of the paint, our boys were in position to get the board. There were also a few we out hustled ourselves and missed on.

Personally I think it was a very sloppy night for the refs, both ways. The technical was great acting by JP. Fun game to watch for the most part. Tre struggled shooting, but had 8 assists.

Also Scruggs and Marshall are going to be a very good tandem, they are different from Tre and JP, but will be a fun hopefully 4 years watching them together.

[American X]

Tough quality conference road win. Our guys could have easily let that one slip away but showed some GRIT. Tied 80-80 late, put the hammer down, ice it with FTs.

Marquette is a respectable opponent. They look like a 9-9 in conference tournament team.

Roadkill. It's delicious.

[UCGRAD4X]

Xavier outrebounded them 37 to 34. My personal opinion would be that the rebounding seemed a little worse because Marquette shot so many 3s and giving up rebounds on 3s feels more painful. Xavier also played a good amount of 1-3-1 and the rebounding tends to be worse there. Marquette did get a coulple big rebounds that cost X though. Overall I thought they did a fine job rebounding. It didn’t stick out to me as a negative from the game, but maybe others feel differently.

Makes sense.


I'd say it was 50% bad bounces/bad positioning that goes along with the 1-3-1 and 50% effort. The effort to rebound was poor early on, but it started to pick up when the game went along. There was a moment early in the second half where Marquette missed a shot and we had 3 guys near the ball just staring at it waiting for another guy to grab it. Luckily there weren't any Marquette players around during that specific instance, but we definitely need to be more aggressive.

This is the most concerning part to me - that has got to improve to make a decent run.


There were a lot of no calls. Marquette came out pretty agressive and got some early fouls which seemed to scare the refs into swallowing their whistles to prevent certain players from having to sit. That said I thought it was called relatively evenly. Fouls were pretty much even up until Marquette was forced to start fouling.

That's all you can really aszk for - once we are able to adjust to the way it is being called - which it sounds as if they did.

[xu82]

I just hope we get a similar “home court advantage” from the refs. That was maddening at times.

[BandAid]

The no-foul on JP's drive to the end the first half was a bit perturbing. But I felt the officiating was par for a college basketball game. I'd rather have a crew let them play than call every touch.

[throwbackmuskie]

My biggest issues were a couple of blatant push offs on drive by Marquette guys that were not called.

[Muskeagle]

I just hope we get a similar “home court advantage” from the refs. That was maddening at times.

In the "for what it's worth" column...I read some comments on their board about the game....and a number of people there felt it was was the worst "homer" job they'd ever seen for a VISITING team. They thought the refs were SOOOO bad in favor of X. I'm not taking sides (although I was routinely frustrated by what seemed like poor calls in the moment), just noticing how easy it is to notice the calls or non calls that go against your team and forget about the rest. If both sides are saying the refs favored the other team...it was probably about even.

[MuskieXU]

In the "for what it's worth" column...I read some comments on their board about the game....and a number of people there felt it was was the worst "homer" job they'd ever seen for a VISITING team. They thought the refs were SOOOO bad in favor of X. I'm not taking sides (although I was routinely frustrated by what seemed like poor calls in the moment), just noticing how easy it is to notice the calls or non calls that go against your team and forget about the rest. If both sides are saying the refs favored the other team...it was probably about even.

If I was a Marquette fan I would be upset with the officiating. The refs missed a few big calls that favored X down the stretch, and when refs miss calls in a loss it’s easy to point the finger. That said, they also missed a few obvious calls that would’ve put Rowsey and Howard on the bench earlier. In the end the refs let them play and it came out about even. I think there’s a difference between saying the officials missed calls and blaming a loss on them. They missed calls this game. That is not why Xavier won or Marquette lost.

[scoscox]

The refs missed PLENTY of calls that should've gone against Marquette, most egregiously giving them a massive gift not giving rowsey his fourth. Crazy how much the Macura factor obscures objectivity.

[XU 87]

It seems to me that when you win, refs aren't really discussed. When you lose, the refs sucked and blew a ton of calls.

P.S. RPI is at 2, and with a fairly comfortable margin ahead of #3.

[Blue Blooded-05]

I can’t believe people still blame the refs for a loss. I’m not talking about an in-the-moment complaint about a charge/block that went against you or a travel that was/wasn’t called (we all do that). I’m talking about going back after the game and concluding that the only reason your team lost was because of systematic bias, incompetence or collusion on the part of the refs.

Fouls: X had 13 M had 19. This can look like X was advantaged, except M shot 38 three pointers vs X’s 22. Logic would suggest you’re going to draw more fouls near the rim rather than behind the arc.

M’s best player had a 4th foul retracted and given to someone else early in the 2nd half.

M’s big man scored a critical bucket after utilizing 2 separate pivot feet late in the 2nd half.

X had a starter foul out. M did not.

If X lost last night, there is no way I would be pointing at the refs as the cause. I hope everyone on here feels the same way.

[MuskieXU]

Yup. It’s pretty simple. Marquette has 3 players which average 70% of their points. Those players shot 21 of 49 for 43% from the field today. That’s why they lost.

[scoscox]

Considering how much more we attack the rim than Marquette, the FT discrepancy should have been even bigger than it was.

[XUFan09]

Considering how much more we attack the rim than Marquette, the FT discrepancy should have been even bigger than it was.Seriously. Once you account for the end-of-game intentional fouls, the FT discrepancy was only 18-14 in Xavier's favor. Kenpom has a helpful stat FT rate, which is the ratio of free throw attempts to field goal attempts. By this measure, Xavier is #22 in the country at getting to the line, while Marquette is #222 at preventing opponents from getting to the line. On the other end, Xavier is #55 at preventing opponents from getting to the line, while Marquette is #219 at getting to the line. It's not hard to figure out that Xavier should have more free throw attempts than Marquette. Frankly, the disparity should be wider than it was, but that's just part of a poorly officiated game. The refs didn't call A LOT.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[throwbackmuskie]

Bottom line, never put yourself in position to let the refs be in deciding factor.

[usfldan]

That is frustrating.

Also would wonder about second chance points too.

I know all these numbers are somewhere. I would like to know the best place to get game stats like this.

Second chance points were 18-7 in favor of Marquette. That's what made the rebounding stand out to me, especially since Marquette would kick it back out for a 3 instead of going back up for 2. I remember one possession where they got three different 3-pointers off, finally making the third.

Box scores from every game are on the men's basketball schedule page of GoXavier.com:
http://goxavier.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

You can also find them towards the back of the game notes they post online for every game (under More Links). You don't want to have to click back and forth that way, but the writing is small.

[bobbiemcgee]

FT's pretty good this year:

https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/free-throw-pct

[Masterofreality]

I don't think anybody on here has mentioned how good Naji's defense was against Rowsey when he was on him one on one and NOT in the 1-3-1. His length bothered that guy... A LOT.

By the way, the 1-3-1 does not work against Marquette. Too many good shooters although I'm sure that CMack and Luke didn't figure on Cain torching the nets like that.

He's the new Hanif Cheathem. The guy off the bench who flamethrows against us.

[bobbiemcgee]

If Naji was a stock - I'm buying for the long term.

[RoseyMuskie]

I don't think anybody on here has mentioned how good Naji's defense was against Rowsey when he was on him one on one and NOT in the 1-3-1. His length bothered that guy... A LOT.

By the way, the 1-3-1 does not work against Marquette. Too many good shooters although I'm sure that CMack and Luke didn't figure on Cain torching the nets like that.

He's the new Hanif Cheathem. The guy off the bench who flamethrows against us.

Couldn’t you argue that by making Cain shoot - as opposed to Rowsey, Howard, or Hauser - the 1-3-1’s design was successful? The design didn’t pan out last night, but if XU played MU ten times, I’d imagine the results would be more favorable.

[xu82]

The 1-3-1 can be great, but when you face a team that can torch you with 3’s from the corner.... it can be painful! I’m just glad to start with a road win against a good team in the BE. It would be better if Rhonda left with two black eyes, but I guess he’s their JP.

[Lloyd Braun]

Rowsey shot 17 threes.

[Xavier]

Couldn’t you argue that by making Cain shoot - as opposed to Rowsey, Howard, or Hauser - the 1-3-1’s design was successful? The design didn’t pan out last night, but if XU played MU ten times, I’d imagine the results would be more favorable.

If the design didn’t pan out then I’d say it wasn’t successful.

[RoseyMuskie]

Rowsey shot 17 threes.

A good portion of his looks weren’t clean. Some of that had to do with the 1-3-1. More my point with the 1-3-1.

I’m not saying it was a great defense yesterday, but I’m okay with a defense if it causes a team to rely on it’s number 4 option to shoot lights out to even stay in the game. Man was the better option, but I don’t consider the zone a bust either.

[MuskieXU]

The 1-3-1 held Marquette’s best 3 players to 9-30 from behind the arc, so I’d call that a success. The rest of the team shot 6-9, which is a risk you take. There’s no foolproof gameplan. We forced the studs to take tougher shots by giving up easier ones to the guys who average under 6 points a game. If they go out and torch you you tip your cap and take a loss, that’s big east basketball. A good gameplan puts you in the best position to win, it doesn’t guarantee a win, and I thought the 1-3-1 did that.

[Grizzx12]

The 1-3-1 held Marquette’s best 3 players to 9-30 from behind the arc, so I’d call that a success. The rest of the team shot 6-9, which is a risk you take. There’s no foolproof gameplan. We forced the studs to take tougher shots by giving up easier ones to the guys who average under 6 points a game. If they go out and torch you you tip your cap and take a loss, that’s big east basketball. A good gameplan puts you in the best position to win, it doesn’t guarantee a win, and I thought the 1-3-1 did that.

I remember early on in the game the announcers mentioned they talked to Mack before the game and he had said the plan was to focus on closing out their main three guys and force the Marquette bench to beat us. Kudos to some of their role players for making it more interesting.

[Xupergirl]

Such an amazing game, and great win. From here on out all games will be nail biters.

[RoseyMuskie]

The 1-3-1 held Marquette’s best 3 players to 9-30 from behind the arc, so I’d call that a success. The rest of the team shot 6-9, which is a risk you take. There’s no foolproof gameplan. We forced the studs to take tougher shots by giving up easier ones to the guys who average under 6 points a game. If they go out and torch you you tip your cap and take a loss, that’s big east basketball. A good gameplan puts you in the best position to win, it doesn’t guarantee a win, and I thought the 1-3-1 did that.

Bingo.

[GoMuskies]

Such an amazing game, and great win. From here on out all games will be nail biters.

Good Lord, I sure as hell hope Saturday won't be a nailbiter!