Madness! Madness I Say!!!

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

"Mel" will be there.

Bright blue Xavier wind sweater.

[Muskie]

I look forward to the reports.

[IM4X]

Oh I wish I could be there.

I look forward to the reports as well (and the videos). Wondering if Steele and the team have something fun planned for their entrance.

[Muskie]

Oh I wish I could be there.

I look forward to the reports as well (and the videos). Wondering if Steele and the team have something fun planned for their entrance.

My guess is no rapping?

[bleedXblue]

We will be there.

Haven't missed one since the Cintas opened!!

[bjf123]

I’ll be there for the first time.


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[bjf123]

And now I won’t be. The furnace is on the fritz and tomorrow evening is the soonest they can be here.


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[noteggs]

And now I won’t be. The furnace is on the fritz and tomorrow evening is the soonest they can be here.


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Pictured you as a fair weather fan?

[IM4X]

My guess is no rapping?

Here’s hoping your guess is right. I said “something fun” but I should have added “and original.”

[bjf123]

Made it!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181019/708365cb2010e18f95a880f0d460cbbb.jpg


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[Muskie in dayton]

Five observations from tonight (based on 10 minutes of practice basketball so they mean little):
1) Scruggs developed a shot. Look out!
2) Hankins and Tyrique will give this team the best post game we’ve seen in years.
3) James will see significant minutes.
4) Harden and Kennedy will not see significant minutes.
5) Naji is a stud. We already knew that.

[Xville]

Five observations from tonight (based on 10 minutes of practice basketball so they mean little):
1) Scruggs developed a shot. Look out!
2) Hankins and Tyrique will give this team the best post game we’ve seen in years.
3) James will see significant minutes.
4) Harden and Kennedy will not see significant minutes.
5) Naji is a stud. We already knew that.

If your assessment of harden and kennedy are accurate, we are beyond razor thin at guard. Anything on castlin? It will be very interesting to see who starts outside of Jones, naji and scruggs

[Xuperman]

IMO the overwhelming take away tonight was DONTARIUS JAMES! His physique is on par with Naji and his game is similar to his. This guy was impressive! Scored at least 10 points on 2 3's and 2 2's. Made at least 2 nifty assists off the dribble with precision passes. We got another good one here folks!! Blue jumped out to a big lead, 14-2 I think. Paul and Tyrique were having their way early, White was struggling with their shot at first but Naji got it going and Zach showed flashes of coming attractions. Welage hit a NBA 3 late for White to help close the scoring gap. He has an odd release on his ball and it is somewhat slow but it looks good coming off his hand.

[Xville]

IMO the overwhelming take away tonight was DONTARIUS JAMES! His physique is on par with Naji and his games is similar to his. This guy was impressive! Scored at least 10 points on 2 3's and 2 2's. Made at least 2 nifty assists off the dribble with precision passes. We got another good one here folks!!

Great to hear!

[xukeith]

That picture looks cool and sad. There are so many empty seats.
I'd guess 3,000-3,500 fans.

It is football season but where are the fanatics?


Also, any solid defense seen? It was a silly scrimmage but I hope Scruggs, Castlin, Harden, Marshall all looked rock solid on DEFENSE.
Who won 1 on 1 battles with Hankins vs Jones?

[Xuperman]

Saw a lot of missed shots early for White but not due to good D. Naji made several nifty moves to the rack but they weren't going down.Tyrique was a beast on the boards and did alter some shots. He clearly out played Zach in this small sample size.

[Muskie in dayton]

That picture looks cool and sad. There are so many empty seats.
I'd guess 3,000-3,500 fans.

It is football season but where are the fanatics?


Also, any solid defense seen? It was a silly scrimmage but I hope Scruggs, Castlin, Harden, Marshall all looked rock solid on DEFENSE.
Who won 1 on 1 battles with Hankins vs Jones?

The crowd was actually pretty strong I thought. We arrived about 15 minutes late (middle of the women’s scrimmage) and had to sit half way up in the upper deck.

Defense was not the emphasis, but your question about Hankins and Jones is a great one. There were some tough battles down low. Seemed to be good comradely too. Hankins jokingly pushed Tyrique our of the opening tip position.

[Xuperman]

If your assessment of harden and kennedy are accurate, we are beyond razor thin at guard. Anything on castlin? It will be very interesting to see who starts outside of Jones, naji and scruggs

The assessment is accurate. Kennedy had a real hard time in the 3 pt contest and I think it effected him in the scrimmage. Surprised that he was put in that position. He looks quick and athletic and looks physically ahead of Hardin. Castlin will be just fine where ever he is needed. He kept everything in front of him defensively and can play the 2 when Q or Paul need a blow or get early foul trouble.

[Muskie in dayton]

If your assessment of harden and kennedy are accurate, we are beyond razor thin at guard. Anything on castlin? It will be very interesting to see who starts outside of Jones, naji and scruggs

Keep in mind its a very small sample size, and Kennedy should develop a lot as he learns the system. Castlin was descent and will log some time. We’ll be fine.

[Xuperman]

Oddly, tonight was remarkable in the fact Q was unable to participate. His energy was noticeably missing. However, he did get the most resounding crowd response in the introductions and it is obvious this is his team now. Talked to him briefly after the autograph session and he indicated he'll be fine. It gets ugly without him healthy!

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Welage? Was he decent?


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[Frambo]

Welage? Was he decent?


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Hit a long three, but got stripped by James leading to a run out layup for Dontarius.

Not much else to report

[Xuperman]

He finished 2nd to Scruggs in the 3 point contest, but nothing special. 14/25 I think. (2 of the girls made more than the guys!). He hit a deep 3 in the scrimmage but not much else. He is very frail looking but runs the court well. A lot of us were hoping he could start at the 4 and be a major contributer but after seeing him tonight I don't know. Based on tonight, DJ will take minutes from Welage, maybe significant minutes.

[scoscox]

Best news in my opinion was that Quentin’s left arm was in the sling and not his right. Much less likely to get reaggrevated or cause problems

[X-man]

Five observations from tonight (based on 10 minutes of practice basketball so they mean little):
1) Scruggs developed a shot. Look out!
2) Hankins and Tyrique will give this team the best post game we’ve seen in years.
3) James will see significant minutes.
4) Harden and Kennedy will not see significant minutes.
5) Naji is a stud. We already knew that.
This is totally consistent with what I saw in practice. I would add that Castlin can give us minutes, but Welage is a spot role player at best. I see Naji, Q, Tyrique, Hankins, Scruggs, and James as minutes guys, with Castlin as seventh man.

[XUOWNSUC]

I wouldn’t read too much into the scrimmage last night. Years ago, Jeff Robinson looked like a Wooden Award candidate at Musketeer Madness. Needless to say, that didn’t happen.

[whopper]

I liked the chemistry with the new players and certainly James looked good and would probably be the third "big" in case of foul trouble or God forbid injury. Q being out put Schrand as the point guard which caused Naj to be the major facilitator (he is scrappy and has hops..look at the photo of him attempting to contest Tyrique a the rim..he could get a little run from time to time). Tyrique looked very strong and fit and he outplayed Hankins who still looked good. Very enjoyable and I liked Welage's confidence and think he will be a contributor. The returning core 4 will be a handful

[Xville]

Sounds like we are looking at a 7 man rotation for the most part. I like that a lot better then 9-10 guys as long as we avoid the injury bug. Nova has had no issues with a 6-7 man rotation in the past.

[XUGRAD80]

Thanks for the updates guys.

Would guess that the rotation will take some time to be set and will remain fluid during the initial part of the season.

[xukeith]

Be careful. This team already practiced yesterday and it was a fun hype moment.
Remember all the predictions after Adrion Graves was Deverous MVP? He did not play at all that following year.

3 more weeks and we will see a game. All of December and January then we will see a 8 man rotation. They core 4 will start. Hankins, Welage and Castlin will get minutes. The rest will get spot minutes. Hope the hype on James is real but it is all about defense this year...remember?

[bleedXblue]

I don't take anything away from a pre-season scrimmage other than positives.......to say that Kennedy and Harden wont get minutes is just ridiculous at this point. Harden made a couple of nice passes and had a shot almost go down.........geesh.

[Xuperman]

Anyone spot Tandy or Gardner?

[Muskie in dayton]

I don't take anything away from a pre-season scrimmage other than positives.......to say that Kennedy and Harden wont get minutes is just ridiculous at this point. Harden made a couple of nice passes and had a shot almost go down.........geesh.

Look, no one said the next 10 minutes of practice or the next 10 days or 10 games won’t change things. As I stated, it’s my observations based on a 10 minute scrimmage. I thought others who couldn’t attend would appreciate it. Sorry if you found it “ridiculous”. Great if you saw something else and thanks for sharing.

[bjf123]

That picture looks cool and sad. There are so many empty seats.
I'd guess 3,000-3,500 fans.

This photo any better? The lower bowl was relatively full.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181020/c53e9c61b4a5d94910124b9ca6151ff1.jpg



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[Xuperman]

I would say roughly 6K, but there was no Q...thus a bit less energized....he IS the MAN....:ok:

[scoscox]

Anyone spot Tandy or Gardner?

Saw Tandy a few rows behind the home bench. Didn't see Gardner

[XUGRAD80]

After seeing a walk on playing the point, Tandy has got to realize there will be playing time available to him.

[xu82]

After seeing a walk on playing the point, Tandy has got to realize there will be playing time available to him.

Can’t hurt, for sure!

[GenerationX]

Saw a lot of missed shots early for White but not due to good D. Naji made several nifty moves to the rack but they weren't going down.Tyrique was a beast on the boards and did alter some shots. He clearly out played Zach in this small sample size.

I’m pretty sure Tyrique had 8 pts, 4 rbs while Hankins had 8 pts 6 rbs. Although I think Tyrique blocked one of Hankin’s shots, too. I thought it was a pretty good battle.

[GIMMFD]

Be careful. This team already practiced yesterday and it was a fun hype moment.
Remember all the predictions after Adrion Graves was Deverous MVP? He did not play at all that following year.

3 more weeks and we will see a game. All of December and January then we will see a 8 man rotation. They core 4 will start. Hankins, Welage and Castlin will get minutes. The rest will get spot minutes. Hope the hype on James is real but it is all about defense this year...remember?

Yeah you never read too much into scrimmages, but it's a first look at a team, and fun to get conversation going as we get closer to basketball season. I'm really really hoping that Scruggs' shot is improved like everyone says it's looked, he'll be an absolute unit to go up against if he's consistently making 3's as well.

[Cincypunk.org]

Anyone spot Tandy or Gardner?

I saw An XU coach (I think Growe) at Maplewood on Sunday AM with what looked like a player and his parents.

No word on how he liked his eggs.