Xavier vs. Texas Southern Game Thread (March 16, 2018) NCAA Tournament First Round

[American X]

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2752.png&h=150&w=150https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/nonciclopedia/images/1/17/Hobbes_balla.gif/revision/latest?cb=20100815154543

#1 Xavier Musketeers (28-5) vs. #16 Texas Southern Generic Mascots (16-19)

NCAA Tournament West Regional First Round

March 16, 2018

Game Time: 7:20 p.m. ET

Bridgestone Arena | Nashville, Tennessee

TV: TBS

Live Stream (http://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/watch)

Radio: 700 WLW (https://www.iheart.com/live/700wlw-1713/?autoplay=true&pname=1209&campid=header&cid=index.html) & Westwood One

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

Live Stats (http://www.ncaa.com/game/basketball-men/d1/2017/03/23/xavier-arizona)

GoXavier Preview (http://goxavier.com/news/2018/3/13/mens-basketball-no-1-seed-xavier-awaits-the-winner-of-wednesday-nights-first-four-action.aspx)

Full Game Notes (https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/goxavier.com/documents/2018/3/13/2018_NCAA_FIRST_ROUND_NOTES_.pdf)

Cincinnati Enquirer (https://www.cincinnati.com/sports/xavier/)

CBS Sports Preview (https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/preview/NCAAB_20180316_TEXSO@XAVIER/)

Line: Xavier -19.5

*check back for more links and articles

[94GRAD]

I'm going with X and hoping it moves to -22 or -23 so I can play the middle.

[GIMMFD]

Let's stomp on their throats tomorrow, really hope they have more of a killer mentality than against Providence. It'd be nice to see us winning by a big score.

[American X]

So you are saying 30 point lead and 4 point win?

[Xuperman]

Throat stomp? No doubt.... Sunday is when it matters......#1 seed is as nice as it gets!!!

[xu koop scoop]

Would enjoy seeing Harden & our walk ons in the final minute. Mack seldom does that no matter how big the lead. 20 plus lead with 1 minute to go. Pull them all. Sick with double vision at times,etc... Yes, I winter in Fla. Home for tourney. Surgery in Fla 1st week of April. Surgery go easier if we are playing in April. Less than 24 hours to kickoff. I know. Wrong sport. If I can have double vision, I can have double sports. Go Muskies !!!!

[GIMMFD]

Would enjoy seeing Harden & our walk ons in the final minute. Mack seldom does that no matter how big the lead. 20 plus lead with 1 minute to go. Pull them all. Sick with double vision at times,etc... Yes, I winter in Fla. Home for tourney. Surgery in Fla 1st week of April. Surgery go easier if we are playing in April. Less than 24 hours to kickoff. I know. Wrong sport. If I can have double vision, I can have double sports. Go Muskies !!!!

I wish you a successful and safe surgery koop scoop. Hopefully we can put our walk ons in like Buffalo did against Arizona, wow. I really am getting a bit nervous for some reason, I feel like the parity in college basketball grows with each year and more and more wild upsets are happening. I don't want to be the first 1 seed to lose to a 16, that in itself is pressure. Really hope we see the killer mentality we saw last year, I expect it with a senior leading team.

[AviatorX]

JP is going to have a huge game and regain his rhythm in a serious way at the right time. 20+ easy.

[muethibp]

So you are saying 30 point lead and 4 point win?

He wants to bet X -19 and Texas Whomever +23 so that when X wins by 21 he wins both bets.

[GIMMFD]

Is it game time yet??? I'm getting antsy!

[Joel]

Banners preview (https://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2018/3/16/17127958/2018-ncaa-tournament-first-round-xavier-v-texas-southern-preview-basketball), for those interested in such things

[American X]

Time To March (https://twitter.com/XavierMBB/status/974748485139361792)

[KabeX]

Well this is Kabe1K - yes my 1000th post. Pales in comparison to many of you. But it is a milestone nonetheless. I could get sentimental and opine on how far we've come over the years. How I chose my MBA program largely because of the better hoops program (OK not really but sounded good). All the underdog W's. Being #1 in this city and relegating the #1 ranked team in the country to #2 in their own city. The pure joy and excitement I felt when we beat mighty Georgetown in 1990 to get to our 1st Sweet 16 (my how time has changed things). Taking #1 UMass with Marcus Camby and Lou Roe to OT at the no longer standing Gardens. Seeing DFW's game winning shot over Creighton New Year's Eve 2002 with my future wife (sitting in the student section no less). Finally beating #1 Nova and seeing it in person with my boy. Multiple A10 Championships and now a BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP. Yeah, I could get all sentimental but

WE GOT SOME BIZNIS TO ATTEND TO. THE RIDE STARTS NOW! LET'S FREAKIN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[stammina0721]

One hour and counting to the start of our final four run. Let's hope a championship is enough to keep Mack

[GoMuskies]

When's the game starting?

[Lloyd Braun]

745

[Jesuit4Life]

https://twitter.com/CBBonFOX/status/974788042329276416

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[Blue Blooded-05]

These officials reviews are getting out of control

[HenryMuto]

Should be up double digits by now what is going on.

[HenryMuto]

How do you give up 16 straight points to a 16 seed ???????????????

[kellernr]

Bring the starters back in. Our bench is trash

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[DexterBailey84]

Ugh-gly

[bjf123]

Not liking this.


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[Lloyd Braun]

I’m glad we aren't up 15.

[Blue Blooded-05]

Sooner or later they have to miss

[X Factor]

Sooner or later they have to miss

We've said that a lot this year.

[kellernr]

Sooner or later they have to missArizona thought that too

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[mistabeecee41]

Kanter, Naji and Scruggs all playing like it’s their first tournament game

[Xville]

How do you give up 16 straight points to a 16 seed ???????????????

Because they don't play defense..its been a common theme this year even against mediocre teams.

[kellernr]

Still 0 could for Texas southern

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[kellernr]

Still 0 could for Texas southern

Sent from my SM-N920V using TapatalkFouls.

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[Xville]

Because they don't play defense..its been a common theme this year even against mediocre teams.

I like that since I said this, they haven't given up a bucket :)

[DexterBailey84]

I’m glad we aren't up 15.

JP said "nah baby nah"

[coasterville95]

Where can I join the JP fan club?

[HenryMuto]

JP has been insane the last 5 minutes of game time.

[Jesuit4Life]

https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/974803444803387392?s=19

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[KFX]

What radio station. Can’t find joe and Byron. Thanks.

[stammina0721]

Hey I've seen 5 slips minimum. Can we get the Nashville predators ice out of here so noone blows a damn ACL

[DexterBailey84]

What radio station. Can’t find joe and Byron. Thanks.

I've got em on 700WLW right now

[GreatWhiteNorth]

I was worry about JP since Shannon reported that he got elbowed during practice and has a black eye. The dual of JP and Tre is killing it.

[Muskie]

What’s with all the fouls at the end of the half here ?


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[X Factor]

Terrible end to the half

[Lloyd Braun]

Those aren’t fouls. But whatever.

[mistabeecee41]

This fucking team man. How many inexcusable lazy meltdowns can they have before correcting it?

[stammina0721]

Sucks... I just can't believe how this team refuses to stomp on someone's throat. Let's hope the killer instinct comes out this half to set the tone for Sunday

[BMoreX]

Not a foul but come the fuck on gentlemen

[HenryMuto]

That last 3 pts they got sucked

[X Factor]

How do you let Texas Southern go on separate runs of 16-0 and 8-0?

[BandAid]

Refs giving Texas Southern free points. Nice.

[bjf123]

Sloppy play to end the half.


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[X Factor]

Sucks... I just can't believe how this team refuses to stomp on someone's throat. Let's hope the killer instinct comes out this half to set the tone for Sunday

That's what happens when you play at a break neck pace like Xavier. Guys get out of control at times and play becomes really sloppy. I wish we would slow it down some when we get up 20 points.

[whopper]

I love Omara but it seems that his help is very slow. I don't get the last 2 minutes...and Goodin has got to be better protecting the ball..the long pass to blueitt and the last steal are largely on him. We will regroup but that hurt

[kellernr]

I k ow we were blowing them out, but why do we rarely bring 2 guys back on an inbounds play? Always seems like goodin is the only one back while the other 3 guys stand at the other end of the court.

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[JTG]

Why in the he'll can't these guys concentrate for 20 minutes at a time.

[X Factor]

They scored 6 points in the last 6 seconds...

[XUBob]

I know we will probably win, Texas Southern doesn’t have enough, but this team is getting harder and harder to watch. I know rag me call me fair weather etc., but this effort equals an early exit. Value the damn basketball please.

[stammina0721]

WTF Creighton and Providence are perennial disappointments to this conference every year in the tournament. 48 pts for Creighton in 38 minutes is a joke

[XUOWNSUC]

What was that ref looking at? Nagi didn't touch him on that last play. That crap pisses me off.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

They scored 6 points in the last 6 seconds...

It is tough to watch!

[Blue Blooded-05]

What was that ref looking at? Nagi didn't touch him on that last play. That crap pisses me off.

I know, right... the refs go to the monitor 35 times in the last 2 minutes of each game, but not to see whether a shooter was actually touched

[stammina0721]

What was that ref looking at? Nagi didn't touch him on that last play. That crap pisses me off.

Naji had a horrible half... One that is bench worthy... obviously we will all chalk it up to freshman gitters. I'm cool with that but that cant happen past this round

[Masterofreality]

This team drives me nuts sometimes. Stop with the mental lapses and take care of the damn ball!!!!

[xavierj]

I know we will probably win, Texas Southern doesn’t have enough, but this team is getting harder and harder to watch. I know rag me call me fair weather etc., but this effort equals an early exit. Value the damn basketball please.

You should stop watching I guess.

[XUOWNSUC]

Naji had a horrible half... One that is bench worthy... obviously we will all chalk it up to freshman gitters. I'm cool with that but that cant happen past this round

What game are you watching? Nagi's defense and rebounding were great.

[bjf123]

What was that ref looking at? Nagi didn't touch him on that last play. That crap pisses me off.

Yep, but it will get called almost every time.


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[stammina0721]

What game are you watching? Nagi's defense and rebounding were great.
Just seems like lots of unforced turnovers... foot slides OB not handling passes cleanly stuff like that... like i said nothing serious now that we can chalk up to jitters. After this round though it cant happen

[stammina0721]

But I think he has a good second half. Not liking the missed free throws

[KFX]

Thanks dexter. For some reason I’m getting the bill c show on iHeartRadio and from the stations website. Sucks

[Grizzx12]

The little dude on TSU needs to chill out

[DexterBailey84]

did that dude just squeeze his nuts?

[Lloyd Braun]

Q just got tugged

[X Factor]

Nut grab...flagrant 1

[stammina0721]

Can we at least not have dick grabbing

[X Factor]

So sloppy

[X Factor]

That dude just walked across the lane

[mistabeecee41]

Can’t run these scrubs out of the gym? Disappointingg

[Lloyd Braun]

Survive and advance. “Survive” includes retaining your junk.

[X Factor]

Kaiser 2 points, 4 fouls

[DexterBailey84]

there's still almost 12 min left in this game lol

[stammina0721]

there's still almost 12 min left in this game lol

Just said this too. So damn ugly cause of the Johnson tuggers

[BandAid]

Can’t run these scrubs out of the gym? Disappointingg

I'm pretty sure the refs aren't going to let anyone go more quickly than a brisk jog right now

[GoMuskies]

We kinda sucking. Luckily these guys are awful.

[DexterBailey84]

longest half ever

[Grizzx12]

Can we just hold thee fucking ball for 30 seconds every possession and get this f*cking thing over with

[mistabeecee41]

Our guards literally can’t even start our offense.

[X Factor]

Goodin and Scruggs are so loose with their ballhandling.

[X Factor]

This is painful to watch

[mistabeecee41]

The Tre and JP missed layups the last two games are a microcosm if this teams identity

[stammina0721]

My God can the refs please choke the whistle for a few minutes

[GreatWhiteNorth]

It is so uncharacteristic to see Tre and Q missing those FTs.

[whopper]

Goodin and Scruggs are so loose with their ballhandling.It almost seems like the want to challenge the little crud and that is playing into their hands. Texas Southern could make anybody look bad. Thank God for Kanter and I almost think O'Mara and Jones have regressed on offense. Let's get out of here and let Mack ream our team in private

[Lloyd Braun]

This is tough to watch. I can’t imagine the general public tuning in for this.

[Blue Blooded-05]

Goodin and Scruggs are so loose with their ballhandling.

Demontre Jefferson has been the one ball handling (da-dum ching!)

[Muskie]

This constantly going to the monitors is AWFUL.


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[paulxu]

It's the REF show, coming soon to a theater near you.

[GoMuskies]

This is brutal. This Tournament has been a joke with the refs living at the scorer's table.

[Section 200]

This is tough to watch. I can’t imagine the general public tuning in for this.

Only Xavier fans are watching this game, the public is safe

[GoMuskies]

Please run out the clock on this traveshamockery.

[X Factor]

Lazy passes

[Muskie]

So Gates and Goodin both fouled out. There’s something new.


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[X Factor]

Kaiser fouled out...didn't know he played, but he somehow fouled 5 times.

[DexterBailey84]

nice game tonight Kaiser, thanks for your contributions

[Muskie]

Is Naji hurt?


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[X Factor]

Missing free throws is just a complete lack of concentration

[GoMuskies]

It's going to be almost 11 by the time Mizzou/FSU tip.

[X Factor]

X better play A LOT better Sunday or it'll be curtains.

[bjf123]

Tweets from Shannon say Naji was in the locker rom for awhile, came out, and went back in. No reason given.


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[stammina0721]

Only Xavier fans are watching this game, the public is safe

Bullshit the spread is too close

[stammina0721]

X better play A LOT better Sunday or it'll be curtains.

X will win Sunday

[paulxu]

I'm going to miss JP.
The team has 5 steals in this game...all of them by JP.

[Section 200]

Bullshit the spread is too close

Never place a wager on a 1-16 match up

[xuinmd]

not on wow

[X Factor]

Texas Southern has an offensive effiency rating ranked #181 and they're going to put up close to 90 points...

[Jesuit4Life]

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/974827623229485057?s=19

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[paulxu]

Pep band!

[Section 200]

Hardin scores!

[stammina0721]

Only team to hit 3 digits

[Lloyd Braun]

Tweets from Shannon say Naji was in the locker rom for awhile, came out, and went back in. No reason given.


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Back spasms I heard

[xufan2020]

Yeah any update on Naji’s back..
Ok spasms apparently

[DexterBailey84]

Only team to hit 3 digits

well there's that.

also, Senior pride.

[X Factor]

I think the line was -19.5 and X won by 19.

X gave up 46 points in the second half to those guys.

[Lloyd Braun]

I think the line was -19.5 and X won by 19.

X gave up 46 points in the second half to those guys.

They gave up 53

[BandAid]

Well, it's over. Thank God it's over.

[X Factor]

They gave up 53

They suck.

[XUBob]

I’ll take the win not impressed. Too often this team loses focus, they can play defense when they want to but it seems that the effort comes and goes. Play like this on Sunday and the go home.

[Lloyd Braun]

Tough crowd.

[stammina0721]

Okay this was the genius of Chris Mack. He had to pay the officials to be horrible so both these next teams play till 1 am right?

[BandAid]

I’ll take the win not impressed. Too often this team loses focus, they can play defense when they want to but it seems that the effort comes and goes. Play like this on Sunday and the go home.

The 16-0 run and the end of the first half are what is frustrating about this game. I'm tossing the entire second half out the window. A coach harassing a random media guy, a weiner pull, both point guards with four fouls, sitting back in a casual zone the last 10 minutes - that second half was an anomaly.

[stammina0721]

I’ll take the win not impressed. Too often this team loses focus, they can play defense when they want to but it seems that the effort comes and goes. Play like this on Sunday and the go home.

If we go home scoring 102 then kudos to the other team. We are the only team to hit triple digits

[Section 200]

Tough crowd.

Agree - we just won an NCAA tourney game by 19, Tre scored 26, JP 29 and Kanter 20. I'm happy!

[GoMuskies]

That second half was an affront to basketball.

[X-band '01]

I think Chris Mack was right in one respect - the silver lining of going late was that Missouri/Florida State won't finish until a very late hour themselves. That said, it was good to get a root canal like that out of the system. Gotta be much sharper on Sunday to avoid being on the wrong side of history.

[chico]

Survive and advance, that's the name of the game this time of year. Of course, the bastards didn't cover, though.

[Jesuit4Life]

https://twitter.com/XavierMBB/status/974833104400592896?s=19

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[GIMMFD]

Well other than being the longest tournament game on God's green earth, that was a lot of fun huh? Karem Kanter channeling his inner Rajon Rondo, March JP and Tre were activated, and we put up the highest score in the tournament so far. I'd love to see that momentum continue on into Sunday. One game at a time, but must say, we were in control once JP went on his "steel balls" run and never looked back. Good to see us stomping on their throats and not letting them back in. Defense was a little porous at times, but overall, how can you really complain about putting up 102???

[American X]

Defense was a little porous at times, but overall, how can you really complain about putting up 102???

We will find a way.

The insanely efficient scoring lines of Macura and Kanter are astonishing.

[GIMMFD]

We will find a way.

The insanely efficient scoring lines of Macura and Kanter are astonishing.

Yeah this board loves to go into meltdown mode, but it's not style points anymore. We were definitely looking ahead to game two, and it show'd with how nonchalant we were, but at the end of the day we won by 19 and are moving on. It's good to see Trevon and JP lighting it up, and Kanter's second half was absolutely ridiculous, that behind the back fake was so "Rondo-esque", just beautiful. Nothing to see here, it's over, Mack will get in their grills and get them ready for Mizzou or Florida State. I don't think we'll see a concentration broken Xavier for the rest of the tournament, and hell, if that's the worst we play and still put up 102, I'm okay with it.

[stammina0721]

Better time in... 1 seed Virginia will lose

[bjf123]

Better time in... 1 seed Virginia will lose

Unfortunately, that would make UC’s trip to the Final Four much easier.


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[GoMuskies]

Unfortunately, that would make UC’s trip to the Final Four much easier.


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Who cares. Go UMBC!!!

[X-band '01]

Unfortunately, that would make UC’s trip to the Final Four much easier.


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It'll also make a UC-Kentucky regional final even more inevitable.

[X Factor]

Unfortunately, that would make UC’s trip to the Final Four much easier.


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But it will make our path to the NC Game easier.

[Section 200]

It wasn't us! Poor Virginia!

[X-band '01]

Meanwhile, Florida State is doing a demolition job of Missouri in the nightcap.

[atljar]

A coach harassing a random media guy, a weiner pull, both point guards with four fouls, sitting back in a casual zone the last 10 minutes - that second half was an anomaly.
You forgot about the wedgie. Can't ever forget the wedgie

[JTG]

How will they ever live this down?

[X-ceptional]

You forgot about the wedgie. Can't ever forget the wedgie

A WEAK SIDE wedgie at that!

[X-band '01]

FSU's lead down to 8 midway through the 2nd half. Seminoles led by as much as 21 in this game.

[GoMuskies]

FSU was up 22 at halftime.

[KabeX]

I wanted FSU then thought "well maybe not". But neither of these teams should be able to hang with us provided we're dialed in for 40 min.

[KabeX]

Wow Mizzou is bad

[OTRMUSKIE]

Did Florida state player get hurt?

[stammina0721]

Both are bad

[xu82]

FSU hold on?

[xu82]

Both are bad

The Missouri fan I sat next to was sure with Michael Porter Jr in the lineup we had no answer. I think he has them in the FF in his mixed up mind.

[GIMMFD]

The Missouri fan I sat next to was sure with Michael Porter Jr in the lineup we had no answer. I think he has them in the FF in his mixed up mind.

Watched this game at the sports bar surrounded by Mizzou fans on vacation and before the game started they were hell bent convinced they were going to stomp us in the second game, instead we have a match up again with a familiar foe. Hope the guys are locked in for 40 minutes and play good basketball to get us to the Sweet 16. It's a familiar team, and a match up which favors us as I would take Mack over Hamilton every day of the week. Just really hope they don't let their guard down and stay focused on the prize. Happy with the outcome, and really hoping we can take advantage.

[xukeith]

I wanted FSU then thought "well maybe not". But neither of these teams should be able to hang with us provided we're dialed in for 40 min.

I agree but X is never dialed in for 40 minutes. Pray FSU is cold and makes mistakes.

[Michigan Muskie]

My perspective is different than the general consensus that appears to be overly critical of Xavier's defense purely based on the points allowed. No, it wasn't stellar D, but given the circumstances, it seemed to me they were forced to essentially survive a very odd game without regard for style points.

Without even looking at the stats, I'd guess this game had about 15-20% more possessions for both teams than their averages. That'll inflate the score total for both teams. And the frequent clock stoppages and befuddling whistles eliminated any possibility of a game rhythm being established, particularly in the second half. The first half was a game of runs. It's March. Underdog teams always come out with energy and desperation before they eventually wear down (exception: UMBC.)

The best way I can describe that game was "weird." I just wanted it to end because I had an ominous feeling something bad was going to happen. Once X answered that early 16-0 run, the game was never in doubt. Never. It was frustrating to watch, but I don't blame X for that. It was just weird. In no way do I project Sunday's game to be anything like round 1, although I would love to see a repeat performance from JP.

[whopper]

What happen to Naj Marshall's back..mentioned in post game but I don't recall it. Watched Florida St -Missouri and then looked at box from last years and I don't believe that returning Florida St players scored more than 4-6 points total last year. Mann had none.

[letskeepitreal]

Was at that FSU Mizzou game last night and Porter really didn’t impress me. FSU can be scary as they are fast and want to play fast. Like us sometimes, they had a big second half lapse but they had a big enough cushion to withstand Mizzou’s run.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Read Mack’s post game and said He wasn’t sure of Marshall’s status Sunday.

I don’t like that.


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[X-band '01]

Part of it may also be a little gamesmanship to keep Florida State guessing as to whether or not he plays.

[xavierj]

Read Mack’s post game and said He wasn’t sure of Marshall’s status Sunday.

I don’t like that.


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Back spasms. Should be able to loosen it up. Need Kaiser to step up like last year against FSU. He 14 and 5 in 30 minutes.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Yeah this board loves to go into meltdown mode....

Yes it does...

[usfldan]

Thanks dexter. For some reason I’m getting the bill c show on iHeartRadio and from the stations website. Sucks

On the UK pre-game they mentioned they are not allowed to stream their broadcast. Westwood One (or whoever it is) owns the online rights to the games, so radio stations can do an over-the-air broadcast, but not an online one.

[bjf123]

I think it’s the same for MLB. You can get Reds games on WLW over the air, but not WLW via the iHeart app.


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