is it time to channel Malcolm Bernard?

[whopper]

I live for college hoops and have 2 girls at X. I have watched every game on fox sports since Xav v NC State play in and even went to Providence this weekend(live in Conn). I see about 5% more effort from other big east teams and it is mostly on defense and 50/50 balls. They need to remember that every team wants to win and has good players. A 6 point game will be a rout going forward. Sometimes extra hustle does not look good and can be embarrassing if no immediate results but in the long run helps in every sport
Mal Bernard quote
“We’re being selfish,” he said. “And I’m tired of it.

At the end of his speech, Malcolm made a promise and a request.

“I’m willing to sacrifice everything for this team,” he said.

“I’m going to dive for every loose ball, close out harder on every shot, block out for every rebound. I’m going to play harder than I’ve ever played. And I need you all to follow me.”

Here was a guy who hadn’t even been here for a year — and he was calling us out.

[xavierj]

I live for college hoops and have 2 girls at X. I have watched every game on fox sports since Xav v NC State play in and even went to Providence this weekend(live in Conn). I see about 5% more effort from other big east teams and it is mostly on defense and 50/50 balls. They need to remember that every team wants to win and has good players. A 6 point game will be a rout going forward. Sometimes extra hustle does not look good and can be embarrassing if no immediate results but in the long run helps in every sport
Mal Bernard quote
“We’re being selfish,” he said. “And I’m tired of it.

At the end of his speech, Malcolm made a promise and a request.

“I’m willing to sacrifice everything for this team,” he said.

“I’m going to dive for every loose ball, close out harder on every shot, block out for every rebound. I’m going to play harder than I’ve ever played. And I need you all to follow me.”

Here was a guy who hadn’t even been here for a year — and he was calling us out.

No it’s not time. They just had a 10 game winning streak snapped and are 15-2. They are going to get everyone’s best shot. I am sure the coaches will correct the mistakes and they will get better.

[AviatorX]

No it’s not time. They just had a 10 game winning streak snapped and are 15-2. They are going to get everyone’s best shot. I am sure the coaches will correct the mistakes and they will get better.

I honestly am starting to think people need to google Xavier's record. There are less than 10 teams (if that) having a better season than Xavier right now.

[X Factor]

I think some people are just worried since we got down 20 points to ETSU, and got down 16 points to DePaul. Both of these were home games where X was not sharp and lacked focus for the majority of the game. X also struggled to beat UNI, a team who is now 0-3 in the MVC.

X hasn't been playing up to their potential lately, and although a loss on the road at Providence is nothing to sound the alarm over, the recent trend of sloppy play and carelessness contributed to the loss.

Every BE game has the potential to be a nice win or a tough loss. St. John's is 0-4, but they're a team that could give Xavier fits and block a million shots doing it if Xavier doesn't come ready to play.

Trevon is shooting less than 40% from the field over the past 5-6 games.

None of us want to see these things continue to happen.

[bjf123]

I think some people are just worried since we got down 20 points to ETSU, and got down 16 points to DePaul. Both of these were home games where X was not sharp and lacked focus for the majority of the game.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! That kind of play won’t cut it against most of the Big East.


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[UCGRAD4X]

I honestly am starting to think people need to google Xavier's record. There are less than 10 teams (if that) having a better season than Xavier right now.

Yes, their record is impressive, and we all want it to stay that way.

It is going to take a more concerted effort to keep having a top 10 season. As we get deeper into the grind of conference play, the level of play needed is just going to increase. Xavier has not displayed a trend in that direction in recent games.

[nuts4xu]

I live for college hoops and have 2 girls at X. I have watched every game on fox sports since Xav v NC State play in and even went to Providence this weekend(live in Conn). I see about 5% more effort from other big east teams and it is mostly on defense and 50/50 balls. They need to remember that every team wants to win and has good players. A 6 point game will be a rout going forward. Sometimes extra hustle does not look good and can be embarrassing if no immediate results but in the long run helps in every sport
Mal Bernard quote
“We’re being selfish,” he said. “And I’m tired of it.

At the end of his speech, Malcolm made a promise and a request.

“I’m willing to sacrifice everything for this team,” he said.

“I’m going to dive for every loose ball, close out harder on every shot, block out for every rebound. I’m going to play harder than I’ve ever played. And I need you all to follow me.”

Here was a guy who hadn’t even been here for a year — and he was calling us out.

You see “about 5% more effort from other Big East teams”? What does that even look like?

Bernard was great down the stretch, but we have plenty of leaders and talent on this year’s team without digging up a speech from last year.

News Flash: X will likely lose a few more games this season. We don’t need speeches and inspiration after each one, it’s all part of a college basketball season. You think Duke or Mich State are seeking the right speech from former players to change course on their season?

Good grief. Take it down a notch young fella. The season is a lifetime....a marathon not a sprint...we lost the battle this weekend, but are still winning the war.

[Muskie]

You see “about 5% more effort from other Big East teams”? What does that even look like?

Bernard was great down the stretch, but we have plenty of leaders and talent on this year’s team without digging up a speech from last year.

News Flash: X will likely lose a few more games this season. We don’t need speeches and inspiration after each one, it’s all part of a college basketball season. You think Duke or Mich State are seeking the right speech from former players to change course on their season?

Good grief. Take it down a notch young fella. The season is a lifetime....a marathon not a sprint...we lost the battle this weekend, but are still winning the war.

I agree with both sentiments. We've had a great season so far. But I do have concerns that sometimes (for stretches) this team plays to the level of the other team on the floor. I've felt that since DePaul/Butler. When this team clockes 40 consistent minutes, they are a top 5 team. When they don't, they're the team we saw against ETSU and Providence. Against most teams that will still make us competitive (this team is that good talent wise) and result in a W. But that's not what we have become accustomed too. From my view, when Trevon and JP don't score we need a consistent third option (which is no secret to our opponents). As we sit in the second week of February, we don't have it.

[Caf]

They need to remember that every team wants to win and has good players.

Undefeated seasons are rare for a reason. We are a top-10 team. We get every team's best shot every single game. This isn't 'every team wants to win'. This is every team wants to beat you specifically so they can get a resume win and get into the tournament. It's very different. We go on the road, the arena is sold out, every fan is amped up, the student section is nuts, and all of these aspects just feed one another and the home team.

You can split hairs, make a lazy argument about how the team needs to wake up, get into it, fight for 50/50 balls blah blah blah, etc etc etc. OR you can go look at last years record (remember our 6 game losing streak?), look at Nova's record the year they won the national championship (they lost 3 big east games) and take a deep breath. Prepare yourself for the likely event that we will lose another game that we're favored in, since you're clearly not ready for it. How we've gone from an A10 team who was excited to be ranked to having 'look yourself in the mirror' talk after snapping a 10-game win streak is beyond me. Remember that year we lost to Oral Roberts and made the Sweet 16?

Nuts says it every year and he is always right. A season is a lifetime.

[boozehound]

I think some people are just worried since we got down 20 points to ETSU, and got down 16 points to DePaul. Both of these were home games where X was not sharp and lacked focus for the majority of the game. X also struggled to beat UNI, a team who is now 0-3 in the MVC.

X hasn't been playing up to their potential lately, and although a loss on the road at Providence is nothing to sound the alarm over, the recent trend of sloppy play and carelessness contributed to the loss.

Every BE game has the potential to be a nice win or a tough loss. St. John's is 0-4, but they're a team that could give Xavier fits and block a million shots doing it if Xavier doesn't come ready to play.

Trevon is shooting less than 40% from the field over the past 5-6 games.

None of us want to see these things continue to happen.

This sums how how I feel very well. Hopefully this is the wake up call the team needs right now that they can't keep getting down by double digits and coming back to win.

[xu koop scoop]

Team arrives in Philly at 9pm nite before game. Lucky to get there cause of blizzards. Had to be at arena by 9 or 10 am. Other team at home gets a good night rest not having to slosh in ice or snow. We lose. If we hit FTs at normal clip and they hit FTs at their norm, we win.

[X-band '01]

Weather ain't going to be a factor as far as travel tomorrow night and damn sure would not be used as an excuse.

[GIMMFD]

Man there's a lot of doom and gloom around here for a team that's 15-2..

[nuts4xu]

Man there's a lot of doom and gloom around here for a team that's 15-2..

New to the message board world? Welcome and enjoy the posts from the classy folks here on Xavierhoops!

[Grizzx12]

Man there's a lot of doom and gloom around here for a team that's 15-2..

I can only speak for myself but this team is a weird mix to me but in the end 15-2 is awesome with the schedule we've had. Optimistic Bob thinks that if we didn't fall asleep against ASU and weren't so sloppy last Saturday we'd be 17-0 and I sure do believe this team is good enough to be there. But this last stretch of games could be considered concerning with ever being down 22 to ETSU or 16 to DePaul or letting Marshall get interesting at the end and mostly on the sloppy play.

Depaul seemed to get lucky with all the long rebounds and loose balls going their direction but their guys were flying to them and we weren't. Plus we average 13 turnovers a game but also seem to have a half in each contest where one half is 9-12 of them and then we go cold when shots are getting forced. So all of my nervousness about this season/March is around believing this team is deep and talented enough to go to the final four and being good enough to not need a miracle run to get there. Just concerned that the biggest obstacle to get there is themselves.

But we are also 15-2 and seemingly getting the best shot everyone we play has to offer. Watched Marquette the other day and the shots Rowsey was hitting against us off screens 5' behind the arc were barely hitting iron and Depaul looked like hell against Georgetown. Plus, not many teams can erase a 15+ point deficit in just a few minutes like we can. So I have faith Mack will get us squared away but damn every game being tight is starting to wear on my brain!! So let's run Nova out of thee gym and hope Q can keep hitting those 3's!!!

[X-band '01]

Given how the past week went, Xavier should also be fortunate that Markus Howard didn't go off in the matchup in Milwaukee.

[bobbiemcgee]

I think we've been channeling some Kerem lately.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Isn’t it Kerem?


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[nuts4xu]

Isn’t it Kerem?



Why yes...yes it is.

[xukeith]

I wonder how much Catholic faith Kareem absorbs in classes at X. Don't each class start with 1 Our Father at beginning and ends with 1 Hail Mary before dismissal?

[nuts4xu]

I wonder how much Catholic faith Kareem absorbs in classes at X. Don't each class start with 1 Our Father at beginning and ends with 1 Hail Mary before dismissal?

Is this sarcasm?

I went through 12 years of catholic education before my 4 yearsat Xavier. And I never Once witnessed prayers at the start and end of class.

[AviatorX]

I wonder how much Catholic faith Kareem absorbs in classes at X. Don't each class start with 1 Our Father at beginning and ends with 1 Hail Mary before dismissal?

You are a sneaky bad poster in game threads where X loses. Glad to see you're expanding the brand.

[SemajParlor]

I wonder how much Catholic faith Kareem absorbs in classes at X. Don't each class start with 1 Our Father at beginning and ends with 1 Hail Mary before dismissal?

Stop

[GoMuskies]

I understand Kerem does a Divine Mercy chaplet at the beginning and end of each class.