Women's team moves to 1-6 in Big East play

[HomerCecil]

The team has been more competitive in league games, including two close losses on the road (one in OT, and another by four points), but is still only 1-6 in the league so far.

Neal's record in Big East play dating back to the beginning of the 2017-18 season is now 8-35. Again, I understand he inherited a total mess, but this is year six. I also understand the team is very young, but, again, this is year six.

League RPI ranks and standings (league record, then overall record) below.

15 Marquette 7-0 16-3
21 Butler 6-1 16-2
43 DePaul 4-3 13-6
58 Villanova 2-5 11-7
67 Creighton 4-4 10-9
73 Seton Hall 4-3 12-6
83 Georgetown 3-4 9-9
87 Providence 4-4 12-8
105 St. John's 1-6 8-10
175 Xavier 1-6 10-8

[Masterofreality]

The team has been more competitive in league games, including two close losses on the road (one in OT, and another by four points), but is still only 1-6 in the league so far.

Neal's record in Big East play dating back to the beginning of the 2017-18 season is now 8-35. Again, I understand he inherited a total mess, but this is year six. I also understand the team is very young, but, again, this is year six.

League RPI ranks and standings (league record, then overall record) below.

15 Marquette 7-0 16-3
21 Butler 6-1 16-2
43 DePaul 4-3 13-6
58 Villanova 2-5 11-7
67 Creighton 4-4 10-9
73 Seton Hall 4-3 12-6
83 Georgetown 3-4 9-9
87 Providence 4-4 12-8
105 St. John's 1-6 8-10
175 Xavier 1-6 10-8

Hate to say it, but going from what was a Final Four competitive program under two coaches in a row- Melanie Balcomb and McGuff to this mess, in what should be a better recruiting situation is really unacceptable. I'm getting concerned that Greg Christopher, who personally I like very much, is taking the path of least resistance when it comes to hiring coaches. He promoted Neal from being an assistant, he promoted Billy O'Conner who was an assistant baseball coach, he replaced (don't get me started) Doug Steiner as Golf Coach, despite Steiner having XU nationally ranked in golf and him producing PGA Tour players, replaced him with Brian McCants and promoted Steele from assistant. Neal has been Meh, the jury is still out on O'Conner, McCants and Steele, but Greg didn't exactly go outside the box here. Certainly he's been no Mike Bobinski in who he's hired.

[Muskie]

Hate to say it, but going from what was a Final Four competitive program under two coaches in a row- Melanie Balcomb and McGuff to this mess, in what should be a better recruiting situation is really unacceptable. I'm getting concerned that Greg Christopher, who personally I like very much, is taking the path of least resistance when it comes to hiring coaches. He promoted Neal from being an assistant, he promoted Billy O'Conner who was an assistant baseball coach, he replaced (don't get me started) Doug Steiner as Golf Coach, despite Steiner having XU nationally ranked in golf and him producing PGA Tour players, replaced him with Brian McCants and promoted Steele from assistant. Neal has been Meh, the jury is still out on O'Conner, McCants and Steele, but Greg didn't exactly go outside the box here. Certainly he's been no Mike Bobinski in who he's hired.

Brian Neal was 171 - 31 as Head Coach at Thomas More. For the Abruptness of the hire, I can't say I fault the decision at the time. Clearly, the team has struggled since. But I don't think the X job was as hot of a job in the first place, otherwise, I don't think Waugh would have been hired by Bobinski.

[scoscox]

It’s crazy to me that he still has a job. He probably can’t believe it either

[XU 87]

Wasn't McGuff a Balcomb assistant?

[X-band '01]

No - McGuff came from Notre Dame.

[Masterofreality]

Brian Neal was 171 - 31 as Head Coach at Thomas More. For the Abruptness of the hire, I can't say I fault the decision at the time. Clearly, the team has struggled since. But I don't think the X job was as hot of a job in the first place, otherwise, I don't think Waugh would have been hired by Bobinski.

True, but he was an assistant at XU for 2 years before Greg got here, and Neal was brought in by Bobinski- ostensibly as an assistant to help Amy, who unfortunately was in over her head, and Brian didn't help her much. Not for sure that Bobo would have kept Neal as HC.
Greg just promoted him as Coach without much of a search. Amy resigned in October 2013. Greg was hired as AD in May, 2013. Neal is on Greg's watch.

[WCWIII]

And the next two are vs league leaders Marquette and DePaul. Hope to see some of you Friday night and Sunday early afternoon. Go X!

[GoMuskies]

Maybe Neal shouldn't still be around, but Christopher didn't really have a choice other than to hire Neal in the first place when Waugh quit in October.

[Masterofreality]

Maybe Neal shouldn't still be around, but Christopher didn't really have a choice other than to hire Neal in the first place when Waugh quit in October.

True, but Brian Neal was named Interim Coach, like the guy at Louisewer was when Pitino got run. He was out after a year. Neal could have stayed interim and Greg go on a real search after the year was over, but he punted and took the easy way. Now we're 5 years into this with zero progress.

[cinskyline]

Brian Neal was 171 - 31 as Head Coach at Thomas More. For the Abruptness of the hire, I can't say I fault the decision at the time. Clearly, the team has struggled since. But I don't think the X job was as hot of a job in the first place, otherwise, I don't think Waugh would have been hired by Bobinski.I love what Bobinski did while he was here, but he absolutely bombed on the Waugh hire. Supposedly, Mike Neighbors and Jonathan Tsipis were the other candidates. Both have done far better. I think Bobinski had visions that Waugh would be the next Chris Mack, and that clearly didn't happen.

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[scoscox]

I loved Amy Waugh when she played. I really wanted her to succeed.

[GoMuskies]

I see that Marquette nipped the ladies 90-44 at Cintas yesterday.

[cinskyline]

I see that Marquette nipped the ladies 90-44 at Cintas yesterday.

I knew it would be bad (Marquette is #10 nationally), but yeah it was bad.

We were out rebounded 60-26. That is not a typo. -34.

No size on the team right now. We really have only one post player, and she is injured. Everyone else is 6 ft or less. That's not going to cut it in the Big East.

Help is coming next year with a couple new players who are 6'4" and one who is 6'2", but its frustrating to be in this position.

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[Masterofreality]

I knew it would be bad (Marquette is #10 nationally), but yeah it was bad.

We were out rebounded 60-26. That is not a typo. -34.

No size on the team right now. We really have only one post player, and she is injured. Everyone else is 6 ft or less. That's not going to cut it in the Big East.

Help is coming next year with a couple new players who are 6'4" and one who is 6'2", but its frustrating to be in this position.

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This is abjectly embarrassing. This is Neal's 6th year, not his first.

[Muskie]

This is abjectly embarrassing. This is Neal's 6th year, not his first.

And my guess is that it is his last.

[Muskie]

Women drop a heartbreaker at home in OT against DePaul. Ladies had a late lead in the 4th Quarter.

[GoMuskies]

The ladies actually had a shocking win at Seton Hall to get to 2-8 and force a "Battle for the Basement" at fellow 2-8 squad St. John's. Unfortunately, the ladies lost 70-41 to the Johnnies. Not a particularly inspiring effort. They're likely to get drilled at Butler tonight.

[HomerCecil]

They actually swept Seton Hall, but are 0-fer against the rest of the league so far. Must be a bad matchup for the Pirates.

[GoMuskies]

Wow, that's pretty crazy. If they could beat Xavier, the Hall would be 8-3. Those two losses to Xavier will probably be what keeps them out of the NCAA Tournament (or at least away from being in serious consideration).

[X-band '01]

According to Charlie Creme of ESPN's Bracketology, it's actually Butler in the First 4 Out, not Seton Hall. Butler is a team that was worse than Xavier two seasons ago and they've completely turned things around since that time period.

Xavier has actually won three straight games at Butler, but it's a longshot to make it 4 straight.

[GoMuskies]

Yeah, SH can't be near the bubble with their two losses to Xavier. But I bet they'd be right there if those two horrible losses were wins instead.

[GoMuskies]

10 point lead heading to the fourth today at home against Creighton. Lost by one. 2-12 now. 0-12 against teams not named Seton Hall.

[X-band '01]

I see that Marquette nipped the ladies 90-44 at Cintas yesterday.

It might even be worse this time around - Butler won at Marquette last night to strengthen their possible NCAA Tournament hopes. Marquette is going to be in a bad mood.

[HomerCecil]

The team dropped road contests at DePaul (81-48) and Marquette (79-53) over the weekend, and is now 11-16 overall, 2-14 in league play. They close the regular season with home games against Villanova (8-8 Big East) and Georgetown (7-9) this weekend and will be the No. 10 seed in the conference tournament the following weekend.

[Muskie]

What's the attendance for the Women's games? Anyone have any idea? I know a few with season tickets. But I'm not sure how often they go.

[WCWIII]

What's the attendance for the Women's games? Anyone have any idea? I know a few with season tickets. But I'm not sure how often they go.

I am a proud WBB season ticket holder - Muskie knows I'm from Chi town. I'll see them half a dozen times a year. It's great when both the MBB and WBB play on the same weekend at Cintas. Love the players and efforts and all things Xavier. (not at all happy that they can't seem to win BE games, but it's usually not for lack of effort). I've supported the team since Amber and Ta'shia and will continue to do so. The lower middle sections look about 30% full on both sides for a typical game. It's not a ghost town ... there are enough people ... I'd estimate 500-1000 as a typical attendance figure. Sometimes, there are groups ... typically the girls basketball team of a local school or two. Also, there are cheerleaders and professionalism with staff and promotions. I'd have no hesitation recommending someone especially taking a young girl just out for the event. Heck, a boys coach could probably find more to instruct with at a WBB than a men's game outing.

You meet some nice people. I had fun in part at the MBB Nova game because I got to tell the Women's soccer team selling 50:50 raffles that I was cheering on their teammate, OJ, when she scored her first WBB points (she's the goalie for W soccer, but is recently filling in due to injuries on the WBB team). I was cheering them on at DePaul last weekend hoping they'd be in it like the game at Cintas which went to OT. It wasn't the case. Remember these are hardworking students, doing their best, and it can be fun to get to know some of them.

With that said, Greg Christopher will do what he is to do. His job is to put people in place to work towards a program that competes for BE championships. No excuses. While recent recruiting is up, the results have not been there. We do have the youngest team in the league. We were competitive (but did not win) a number of games this year. Marquette is now there ... they've risen rapidly when they went to a new coach just a few short years ago. It's up to Greg to judge when to say when. If I hire a coach, and s/he is putting forth solid effort, you assume you keep them for 4-5 years minimum to get a couple years under their belt and then to take ownership of the teams that they've recruited. Well, those 4-5 years are up and it's totally Greg's call to determine whether there should be a 1-3 more years or not. If there is not substantial improvements in 1-3 years, then the problem is one that Greg will have to take ownership.

[usfldan]

The season ends with a 70-62 loss to Providence in the first round of the Big East Tournament. 2-16 in the Big East and 11-19 overall, which is also their average for the past three seasons (12-18 two years ago, 10-20 last year).

https://goxavier.com/news/2019/3/9/womens-basketball-xavier-wbb-vs-providence-big-east-recap.aspx