Game Thread: Xavier vs. Creighton (February 3, 2019)

[paulxu]

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kBAAAOSwqfNXkU44/s-l300.jpg VS. https://www.decalsextremeonline.com/thumbnail.asp?file=assets/images/creightonblue_jaysmascot.jpg&maxx=300&maxy=0

Xavier University Musketeers (11-11, 3-6 BE) vs. Creighton Blue Jays (12-9, 3-5 BE)
Sunday, February 3, 2019, 1:00 PM ET
CHI Health Center Omaha (17,352) in Omaha, Neb

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


Notes and Stats (https://goxavier.com/news/2019/2/1/mens-basketball-travels-to-omaha-for-a-sunday-big-east-clash-with-creighton.aspx?path=mbball)


Television: FSN, including FOX Sports Ohio, with play-by-play from Wayne Randazzo and analysis from Dickey Simpkins.
Xavier Radio: 700 WLW-AM, including via iHeart Radio, TuneIn and via Sirius XM (381) and Internet (972) with play-by-play from XU Hall of Famer and former Musketeer standout Joe Sunderman ('79). Analysis will be provided by Xavier Hall of Famer and XU all-time leading scorer Byron Larkin ('88).

Live Stats: Media stats at Statbroadcast.com. Fan stats at GoXavier.com.

[GoMuskies]

I like us +6 tomorrow. I know we're on the road and bad, but Creighton is also not good. This is definitely a game we can keep close.

[GoMuskies]

Well, I was down in the hotel lobby picking up a pizza at 11:30 last night, and according to Twitter it looks like if I’d have stayed down there another half an hour I’d have seen the team finally arrive at the hotel. I’m guessing it was the fog that played havoc with the trip. Arriving less than 12 hours before game time is not a real positive first step towards a road win.

[paulxu]

Anybody have any streaming ideas?

[Jesuit4Life]

TV channel clearances (https://goxavier.com/documents/2019/2/1//Big_East_Basketball_Xavier_at_Creighton.pdf)
FOX SPORTS ARIZONA
FOX SPORTS DETROIT
FOX SPORTS MIDWEST
FOX SPORTS NORTH
FOX SPORTS OHIO
FOX SPORTS SOUTH
FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST
FOX SPORTS SUN
FOX SPORTS WEST
FOX SPORTS WISCONSIN
AT&T SPORTSNET (Rocky Mountain Region)
MASN 2
YURVIEW NEW ENGLAND

[Lloyd Braun]

Maybe the traveling snafu will instill some increased toughness in the group! Those chartered flights can really soften ‘em up, amiright? Or amiright?

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

Q can’t dribble. What else is new.

[Xville]

What does Steele see in q that he deserves his starting spot back? Is It the teams incredible ball movement when he runs the offense or his magical lacksadasical defense?

This teams collective basketball IQ along with its head coach is at historically low levels.

Glad I have a tee time so I dont have to watch the inevitable meltdown in the last five minutes of the game.

[GIMMFD]

The one day I try to join LiveChat and speak, nobody else is in here.. jeeze guys.

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

What does Steele see in q that he deserves his starting spot back? Is It the teams incredible ball movement when he runs the offense or his magical lacksadasical defense?

This teams collective basketball IQ along with its head coach is at historically low levels.

Glad I have a tee time so I dont have to watch the inevitable meltdown in the last five minutes of the game.

Q needed to start because two bigs against Creighton won’t work. Ballock is a 6’5 point 4 who shoots a ton of threes. Tyrique couldn’t guard him.

[XUBison]

I’m watching, but I have to be honest... I don’t really care. Depressing.

[kellernr]

Naji has awful court vision when he makes passes.

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[letskeepitreal]

Wow, how we have fallen. No TV coverage in Chicago!

[AviatorX]

Naji has awful court vision when he makes passes.

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I don’t even think it’s his vision. He is a slave to the sets they’re running - especially those designed for post entries. Looks like a QB throwing to his first option even when it’s triple covered.

[Xville]

Wow, how we have fallen. No TV coverage in Chicago!

You should be thankful

[XUBison]

Q needed to start because two bigs against Creighton won’t work. Ballock is a 6’5 point 4 who shoots a ton of threes. Tyrique couldn’t guard him.


Start Tyrique at PG... Bill Murray... anyone else!

[GIMMFD]

Well, I was down in the hotel lobby picking up a pizza at 11:30 last night, and according to Twitter it looks like if I’d have stayed down there another half an hour I’d have seen the team finally arrive at the hotel. I’m guessing it was the fog that played havoc with the trip. Arriving less than 12 hours before game time is not a real positive first step towards a road win.

Yikes that's pretty bad, I heard they had to go to option 3 in order to get to Omaha, I'm sure the guys were incredibly exhausted, but gotta try to shake it off and get your head right.



Anybody have any streaming ideas?

Whenever Jesuit can't post, just google "NCAA Basketball Streams Reddit" and click the first link, you'll find any game you're looking for!

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

Naji is 0-3 with 3 turnovers in the game. Get him out

[GoMuskies]

Defense is so bad.

[X Factor]

This team can't stop ANYONE! I have never seen a worse defensive team at Xavier. Ever.

[AviatorX]

Would like to see a lot of Scruggs/Q/Harden/Naji/Jones down the stretch.

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

Hopefully Naji is coming in for Castlin and not Eli. Maybe try some zone. Getting killed on switches

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

Would like to see a lot of Scruggs/Q/Harden/Naji/Jones down the stretch.

Yes. Definitely

[paulxu]

So, Hankins doesn't switch back...left guarding a little guy at the arc...who promptly drives around him for a layup.

WTF?

[kellernr]

This team can't stop ANYONE! I have never seen a worse defensive team at Xavier. Ever.Hankins needs to learn to hedge and then get back to his man. I'm tired of seeing him try to go 1 on 1 with the PG. He gets burnt every time down the floor. They have to quit switching on every screen.

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[AviatorX]

Hankins needs to learn to hedge and then get back to his man. I'm tired of seeing him try to go 1 on 1 with the PG. He gets burnt every time down the floor. They have to quit switching on every screen.

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Very much prefer switching everything (as does the coaching staff), but obviously Hankins is not cut out for it. Should just play less tbh.

[kellernr]

Also, for a big guy hankins is an awful rebounder. X needs to stop getting tall white centers with 2 inch verticals.

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[MITTENMUSKIE16]

We suck.

[GoMuskies]

This is embarrassing. Creighton is awful. And scorching us.

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

10 turnovers. Naji has 4. Sit him the rest of the game. Keonte brings less than nothing but I don’t really care

[X Factor]

Naji....:whiteflag:

[X Factor]

Does this team have the worst basketball IQ in the history of basketball or do they just lack basic skills that high major players should have developed a long time ago?

[paulxu]

I'd just like us to be competitive.
Somehow this group looks like (I know [hope] this isn't the case) they just don't care.
Forget that nation's longest streak of .500 or better in conference play.

[muskies1235]

Creighton has only missed 11 shots and of those they rebounded 4.

That plus the turnovers is how you end up down 15 despite shooting really well.

The last game and half has shown the issues are far greater than needing a shooter or two despite the agenda some "in the know" are pushing.

This team doesn't defend and it doesn't rebound.

In other words it's not very tough.

[whopper]

This has been the worst game so far. It should be a tough locker room discussion. Without outside shooting the double low post is a turnover magnet. Even though Tyrique and Zach are 5-5 there have been 5 turnovers at least getting them the ball. This will be a test of character in the second half. Damn. There was no replay of the offense foul against Tyrique which could have been a 3 pt play but did not see much argument..that was the only time I thought we had a little juice.

[kellernr]

With the lack of outside shooting I dont understand why we stand 4 guys on the perimeter with no one cutting through the lane.

Also, 2 bigs is not working. 1 rebound between Jones and Hankins in the 1st half.

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[muskies1235]

Without outside shooting the double low post is a turnover magnet.

They shot 39% from 3 that half.

[AviatorX]

I gotta be honest, I view seasons like this (where X clearly isn’t a threat to make a run in March) on a yes/no scale. Either they make the tournament or they don’t. Outside of that, doesn’t really matter to me what the record is and I surely don’t care about some made up conference record streak (especially when the bulk of that stretch went down in a garbage league).

Obviously this season is a “no.”

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

I think everyone on the team sans Paul is incredibly mentally soft and disinterested. If the ball isn’t in their hands they’re just going through the motions.

[GIMMFD]

Creighton has only missed 11 shots and of those they rebounded 4.

That plus the turnovers is how you end up down 15 despite shooting really well.

The last game and half has shown the issues are far greater than needing a shooter or two despite the agenda some "in the know" are pushing.

This team doesn't defend and it doesn't rebound.

In other words it's not very tough.

I'm starting to wonder if bringing in some guys like Tu Holloway, David West, etc. to give em a good lashing and let them know what it means to play for Xavier, and how our teams are built on being gritty would help. You're right, this team isn't tough. They don't have that inner fire.

[whopper]

They shot 39% from 3 that half. Good point, but the turnovers were on entry passes so on 5 plays(at least) we never had a chance to get it back out. They are locked in and hedging. Just one of many issues.

[noteggs]

10 turnovers. Naji has 4. Sit him the rest of the game. Keonte brings less than nothing but I don’t really care

Actually, when Kennedy was in he gave up 0 points with players he was responsible for.

Since the season has been hard to watch as a team, I’ll just focus on one player on the court to see how they play. I was mainly watching Q, Eli, and Kennedy.

Minus the first TO, Q was good offensively and not so much on D.

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

It was hyperbole for effect, and I still said Kk should play for Naji instead, even though he gives *less than* nothing lol. Good start for the half

[muskies1235]

I'm starting to wonder if bringing in some guys like Tu Holloway, David West, etc. to give em a good lashing and let them know what it means to play for Xavier, and how our teams are built on being gritty would help. You're right, this team isn't tough. They don't have that inner fire.

If they gotta bring those guys in to get guys to play hard this is way worse than anyone thinks.

It shouldnt be that difficult to get the guys who threatened to transfer if you isn't get the job to do the things you're asking them to do in the effort categories.

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

Watch Naji and Q play defense. They all bend at the waste instead of bending their knees. They stand straight up.

[noteggs]

This is starting to look a little like the Seton Hall and Butler game yesterday. Hope we can finish the come back where Seton Hall could not.

[xukeith]

No defense. They are trading baskets.

[MITTENMUSKIE16]

Q looks like a fool getting backdoored by a guy who has a wrap on his shooting hand. Stupid turnover couple possessions before too

[xukeith]

Q looks like a fool getting backdoored by a guy who has a wrap on his shooting hand. Stupid turnover couple possessions before too

At least he makes buckets. Everyone else is clanking shots.

[bleedXblue]

Just some observations. The offense sets and game plan that Steele is running out there remind of the last 9 years with Mack. A lot of standing around, passing the ball around the top of the key and hoping something happens. The defense is putrid. I sure hope Steele goes out and gets him a veteran assistant coach that can help him install some new ideas. I know the talent level is thin this year, but this is beyond painful.

[bjf123]

What the hell was that. Let the shot clock expire while standing around.


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[kellernr]

At least he makes buckets. Everyone else is clanking shots.Yeah. This is not a game where we can bash Q. He's been playing pretty damn good on the offensive end. Defense and laziness are this teams downfall.

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[xufan2020]

I can’t figure harden out. The effort is there but why is he so clumsy, stumbling and falling on the offensive end?

[bleedXblue]

I can’t figure harden out. The effort is there but why is he so clumsy, stumbling and falling on the offensive end?

dude has ZERO strength

[noteggs]

I can’t figure harden out. The effort is there but why is he so clumsy, stumbling and falling on the offensive end?

Wondering if game still hasn’t slowed down for him.

[xukeith]

First blowout since Marquette. Excuses? Team bus and flight was all disorganized so they were not able to shoot shots.

NO way X comes close to beating a SJU team that crushed Creighton at Creighton.

[noteggs]

James sighting

[xukeith]

Bottom line:
X need 3 top 50 recruits and nobody worse than 150. It will take 2-4 years but X will be BACK.

[xukeith]

Summer program for Marshall- Go to NJ and learn how to play PF b/c SF and dribbling is his weakness.

[bleedXblue]

I wonder what Steele will say after this loss and the next one and the next one? Sort of feel bad for him. He's looking like he is in over his head and has no answers for basically just about everything this team is not doing well. Really hoping he starts to find something. Tough way to get his HC career started............

[XUBison]

Q looks like a fool getting backdoored by a guy who has a wrap on his shooting hand...


I’m sorry,but aren’t we supposed to be more sensitive than this nowadays? It’s not Q’s fault.

[Lloyd Braun]

54 points against a defense that was shockingly rated worse than ours before this game (kenpom). Could you imagine us holding a team to 54 points?

[XUBison]

I can’t figure harden out. The effort is there but why is he so clumsy, stumbling and falling on the offensive end?


Clumsy players... Crap, this is depressing.

[bjf123]

This team keeps making the same mistakes and is getting worse instead of better as the season has progressed. Is Steele and this coaching staff that bad, or are the players that inept? Maybe a little of both?


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[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

I wonder what Steele will say after this loss and the next one and the next one? Sort of feel bad for him. He's looking like he is in over his head and has no answers for basically just about everything this team is not doing well. Really hoping he starts to find something. Tough way to get his HC career started............

He does look a little lost. I feel for the guy. This is an awful season.

It can go one of two directions for him. He can let this mess of a season define him, in which case his coaching career will, likely, be over sooner than later. Or, he can remember every single detail of this season and use it as motivation to never, ever be in a position where this can again occur.

[X Factor]

There are no excuses with the "talent" (four 4* star recruits getting a lot of minutes) to be as bad as we are this year.

We are DePaul of years past this year.

[XUBison]

dude has ZERO strength


Like, not enough to stay on his own feet? This seems like something that should have been red-flagged during his recruitment process. I blame Mack.

[Xville]

Holy crap this team is bad. I'm starting to wonder if Steele was a mistake. I dont want to think that way but this is beyond bad.

[GIMMFD]

I wonder what Steele will say after this loss and the next one and the next one? Sort of feel bad for him. He's looking like he is in over his head and has no answers for basically just about everything this team is not doing well. Really hoping he starts to find something. Tough way to get his HC career started............

Yup, just looks incredibly lost and has no idea what to do. There's nothing about this team that has me hopeful for anything, we may not win 15 games this year, it's a rough start to his career, and Mack left the cupboard bare, things are different when you're winning, and I wouldn't even mind as much if I saw clear improvement again. But I don't even know what to think.

[CP05XU08CU13]

Holy crap this team is bad. I'm starting to wonder if Steele was a mistake. I dont want to think that way but this is beyond bad.

Just went to the game in Omaha and sat courtside. First live game I have been to this season. A couple of observations: (1) Xavier looked winded and less physical than Creighton (need better strength, conditioning, and nutrition for players moving forward next season); (2) Steele has less fire than Mack did on the sideline, and Mack was not even that intense on the sidelines (I.e., Steele stood the whole game primarily with his hands on his hips and cursing in frustration); and (3) this team is schematically lost on the court (I.e., players do not move without the ball and have a hard time catching and shooting the ball). Turnovers, missed free throws and wide open shots, and less physicality was on full display today. Again, I hope and pray that things improve for Steele moving forward. However, this team appears to be getting worse as the season progresses.

[slysyl]

Last year in the last 4 minutes of the first half, and the last 4 minutes of the game against FL. STATE our four starters of this year were on the floor against FL STATE, and looked just like they look this year; BAD !
Mack is wearing new tailor made suits , and we are blaming Steele.
Don't worry about anyone on this team going pro early.

[whopper]

nobody covered themselves with glory today but Welage hit a 3, made a turnover and was bullied by Krampl and was never heard from again. Not that it would have won the game

[JTG]

nobody covered themselves with glory today but Welage hit a 3, made a turnover and was bullied by Krampl and was never heard from again. Not that it would have won the game

Welage's game is designed for Butler or Marquette or Creighton. No way he can flourish in our "chicken with it's ass on fire offense". I feel sorry for the kid.

[bleedXblue]

Welage's game is designed for Butler or Marquette or Creighton. No way he can flourish in our "chicken with it's ass on fire offense". I feel sorry for the kid.

pleas elaborate on what that means LOL

[JTG]

Spot up shooter, not blind drive then lay a brick player.

[Xville]

Last year in the last 4 minutes of the first half, and the last 4 minutes of the game against FL. STATE our four starters of this year were on the floor against FL STATE, and looked just like they look this year; BAD !
Mack is wearing new tailor made suits , and we are blaming Steele.
Don't worry about anyone on this team going pro early.

His suits look like he bought them at Wal-Mart and trust me he doesnt know what a tailor is.

The rest of this I'm with ya.

[sirthought]

Bottom line:
X need 3 top 50 recruits and nobody worse than 150. It will take 2-4 years but X will be BACK.

No one on this board should need reminding that the program had years and years of teams without that level of player...and many of those teams would have performed better than these guys have. I think a lot of this is the system they are using now.