Voice of Reason

[stammina0721]

I know I'm not in favor for a number of you, but I feel the need to be a voice of reason. Tonight's game was lost for many reasons and has major implications. But take a step back and look at the whole picture.

I'm not going to beat a dead horse, but we all knew the roster coming in was depleted and weak. The idiosyncrocies of our roster has been debated at nauseum. I'll just leave it at we lost a lot and brought in 3 transfers to make up a lot of scoring.

Now we know how the season started and how it has progressed. These players deserve our absolute respect and admiration to fight through more adversity than 99% of us could ever imagine. This team is one of my favorite teams not for it's success, but for how they never gave up despite being written off over a month ago.

I think tonight's game was lost for one reason, and that is Travis Steele. That is NOT a knock on Steele as of this point. A lot of factors came into tonight's game, but the major mistake Steele made was not getting Gooden rest. Gooden is below average right now when we consider turnovers, but he is the best PG we have on the team. He needed some rest at some point. After that long stretch of no whistles in the first half Scruggs could have given him a blow. Not long but give the man a minute or two just to get his legs back. Then with 10 to go in the second half given him another blow for the stretch run. Gooden isn't great, but a tired Gooden is horrible. A blow or two may make the difference in a live or die game like tonight was. Steele will learn that lesson from this game.

Now the season is not over. The only thing over in my opinion is the at large selection. This team can win 3 in 3 days. It's going to be needed for a NCAA birth. I hope we do it. I have become a major Hankins fan. This man came to X just for the chance to play in the NCAA tournament. I hope this team gives him the opportunity to make his dream come true.

[Snipe]

I just love the title, VOICE OF RESAON

That is ambitious.

[Snipe]

I think tonight's game was lost for one reason, and that is Travis Steele. That is NOT a knock on Steele as of this point. A lot of factors came into tonight's game, but the major mistake Steele made was not getting Gooden rest. Gooden is below average right now when we consider turnovers, but he is the best PG we have on the team. He needed some rest at some point. After that long stretch of no whistles in the first half Scruggs could have given him a blow. Not long but give the man a minute or two just to get his legs back. Then with 10 to go in the second half given him another blow for the stretch run. Gooden isn't great, but a tired Gooden is horrible. A blow or two may make the difference in a live or die game like tonight was. Steele will learn that lesson from this game.





I think tonight's game was lost for one reason, and that is Travis Steele. That is NOT a knock on Steele as of this point.


Well, as long as you are not going to Knock on Steele as of this point, I guess it isn't that bad that "tonight's game was lost for one reason, and that is Travis Steele."

I am just having fun. If this game was lost for one reason, and that reason was Travis Steele, well maybe that is a knock on Travis Steele. Maybe just maybe. And I am a fan of Travis Steele.

I actually think you could make a point about the minutes. Butler had a great game plan and the officials let a lot of touch and play go on. It was more hands on than hands off tonight and Quinten Gooden was raped a few times with no whistle. I thought we got a bum whistle but that is to be expected on the road, but some of my compatriots exclaimed that the refs were just bad at what they do, and they were bad both ways. They let a lot of stuff go on.

So I would not be so melodramatic and say we lost for one reason, and that reason was Travis Steele. But you could make your appeal to Steele. Maybe a Quentin Goodin with 35 minutes tonight would be better than 40 minutes. I think you could make that argument in a sense. Now given that Goodin played 40 minutes against SJU, 38 against Nova, and 37 against Seton Hall, it isn't like we aren't going to play him. And he was physically harassed tonight, and the refs let them play that way. They were all over him, and he played for 40 minutes. I can see an argument that maybe he should have had a breather.

[stammina0721]

In my opinion, Goodin needed a breather. The unfathomable turnovers because of the increased pressure are proof of that. I think Steele will recognize that mistake and he will learn from it.

[nuts4xu]

I think tonight's game was lost for one reason, and that is Travis Steele.

How many turnovers did Travis Steele have? If there was one reason we lost last night, it was turnovers. Naji and Q had 10 of the 15 turnovers for the team.

You can't have that many turnovers and win in this conference...especially on the road.

[Caf]

I'm not going to beat a dead horse, but we all knew the roster coming in was depleted and weak.

A lot of factors came into tonight's game, but the major mistake Steele made was not getting Gooden rest.

Gooden is below average right now when we consider turnovers, but he is the best PG we have on the team. He needed some rest at some point.

You are answering your own criticisms. Steele didn't rest Goodin because the roster is depleted and weak and he's the best PG we have on the team. We have absolutely zero depth at that spot. Last night we had Naji coming up limping, needing to take less of a role with the ball. Then we had Scruggs, who is essentially our backup PG, in foul trouble. Who do you want in that would give us a chance of keeping the game close if you couldn't move Scruggs to the point?

[Xville]

The thing that just really pisses me off, is Butler isn't good, actually they pretty much suck. Yet X played offensively the only way they could lose the game which was to turn the ball over, and throw up complete crap instead of going to the inside well time and time again. Butler can't match X's inside game but yet, we had Q and Naji throw up crap all game long outside of a few minutes each half where our bigs dominated Butler. The gameplan for X to beat Butler is very simple, but our backcourt selfishly refused to stick to that gameplan last night.

[X-man]

The thing that just really pisses me off, is Butler isn't good, actually they pretty much suck. Yet X played offensively the only way they could lose the game which was to turn the ball over, and throw up complete crap instead of going to the inside well time and time again. Butler can't match X's inside game but yet, we had Q and Naji throw up crap all game long outside of a few minutes each half where our bigs dominated Butler. The gameplan for X to beat Butler is very simple, but our backcourt selfishly refused to stick to that gameplan last night.

That's the part that is so hard to understand. You would have thought that their recent success, largely due IMHO to the fact that they played with trust and as a team at both ends of the court, might have shown them that the "hero-ball" model on offense doesn't work. Yet that is effectively what they did. Add to it the fact that they played with no energy against a jacked up senior day crowd and opponent (why no energy is hard to understand given what this game meant to them), and you have a recipe for a defeat against a very mediocre Butler team. Now the possibility of an at-large bid has likely disappeared

[GoMuskies]

You are answering your own criticisms. Steele didn't rest Goodin because the roster is depleted and weak and he's the best PG we have on the team. We have absolutely zero depth at that spot. Last night we had Naji coming up limping, needing to take less of a role with the ball. Then we had Scruggs, who is essentially our backup PG, in foul trouble. Who do you want in that would give us a chance of keeping the game close if you couldn't move Scruggs to the point?

I think there was an opportunity to get Goodin a blow at some point with Scruggs moving over to the 1. Scruggs was in foul trouble, but it's not like he sat out the whole second half. When Scruggs WAS in, Goodin should have had at least a short sit down. We'd have had a hard time having worse PG play from whoever took over the role for 3 minutes while Goodin rested.

And while I applaud Marshall for the effort, I'm not sure Steele should have had him out there. I think he hurt us more than helped once he got hurt. I couldn't believe he came back in and immediately took a long three. When your legs aren't right, you're not making jumpers.

[XUGRAD80]

Can’t questions Naji’s heart though...maybe his judgement, but not his heart.


Butler just played at a high level on defense the whole night and did just enough on offense to win. As much as I really dislike them, and their fans, I have to tip my hat to them. Would be real easy for them to just fold up the tents and go home, but looks like they want to keep battling.

I hope we can say the same thing about X on Saturday. The season is NOT over and there are still opportunities out there. Rise up and take them!

[GoMuskies]

Can’t questions Naji’s heart though...maybe his judgement, but not his heart.


100% agree. It's not Naji's job to take himself out because he's limping around and ineffective.

[Muskie]

100% agree. It's not Naji's job to take himself out because he's limping around and ineffective.

I'll return to my constant theme during the six-game losing streak. Who would you have put in to give Naji a breather? We were reminded last night that when someone is tired, having an off night, or banged up that there really is no margin for substituting someone off the bench.

[Caf]

We'd have had a hard time having worse PG play from whoever took over the role for 3 minutes while Goodin rested.

I think this is the crux of it. It was tight all game, maybe he could have done it right when he put Scruggs back in. I think it was around 8 minutes left, 50-55. I certainly don't believe a fresher Goodin in exchange for 3 minutes of a limping Naji, a gassed Jones, Hankins, Scruggs, plus Castlin, Welage, or Harden wins that game. That's half because I don't think a fresh Goodin is that much better, and another half that he's the only backcourt player who was able to pass last night. 0 AST for Scruggs, Welage, Castlin, 1 for Naji.

To be honest the assist numbers really make Naji's turnovers more dramatic. 6 TOs for Goodin is a ton, but at least he has some assists to balance them. How Naji manages 4 TOs on 1 assist is unreal.

[GoMuskies]

I'll return to my constant theme during the six-game losing streak. Who would you have put in to give Naji a breather? We were reminded last night that when someone is tired, having an off night, or banged up that there really is no margin for substituting someone off the bench.

Obviously Naji's tough to replace, but if he was too hurt to play at all, he'd have had to figure it out. Whatever that plan might have been was probably the right plan for last night, too. That's an awfully tough call when Naji has been the best player in the league the last couple of weeks, but he just physically wasn't capable. I won't be even a little bit surprised if he misses Saturday's game.

[MHettel]

The refs let Baldwin hack at the ballhandlers all night. He was slapping and reaching and they let it happen. If they call that just once, it reduces the occurance drastically. If they call it twice, then its not going to happen at all.

I could tell within 5 minutes that the refs were going to let Baldwin get away with that crap all night, and that would be the reason we lost.....and then it was.

[xudash]

That's the part that is so hard to understand. You would have thought that their recent success, largely due IMHO to the fact that they played with trust and as a team at both ends of the court, might have shown them that the "hero-ball" model on offense doesn't work. Yet that is effectively what they did. Add to it the fact that they played with no energy against a jacked up senior day crowd and opponent (why no energy is hard to understand given what this game meant to them), and you have a recipe for a defeat against a very mediocre Butler team. Now the possibility of an at-large bid has likely disappeared

Spot on.

Whether it was "energy" or a lack of focus or both, a few of those turnovers were simply inexcusable at this point in the season in general (i.e. should have that stuff well under control by now) and given this game and what was at stake.

[Xville]

The refs let Baldwin hack at the ballhandlers all night. He was slapping and reaching and they let it happen. If they call that just once, it reduces the occurance drastically. If they call it twice, then its not going to happen at all.

I could tell within 5 minutes that the refs were going to let Baldwin get away with that crap all night, and that would be the reason we lost.....and then it was.

I understand defending our guys, but this is not the reason x lost. They lost because q and naji went back to the hero ball which caused the six game losing streak in the first place and selfishly refused to do what was needed to win the game.

[AviatorX]

I understand defending our guys, but this is not the reason x lost. They lost because q and naji went back to the hero ball which caused the six game losing streak in the first place and selfishly refused to do what was needed to win the game.

These takes crack me up man. Did they selfishly refuse to do what was needed to win, or maybe, just maybe, Butler also has guys on scholarship and did a great job heating up the ball and making it difficult to get it into the post? Not to mention they packed it in down the stretch and X couldn’t make a shot.

[Xville]

These takes crack me up man. Did they selfishly refuse to do what was needed to win, or maybe, just maybe, Butler also has guys on scholarship and did a great job heating up the ball and making it difficult to get it into the post? Not to mention they packed it in down the stretch and X couldn’t make a shot.

If you haven't, id invite you to watch the 2nd half again and then come back with that take. The first 10 or so minutes, x does exactly what they need to do to win the game. After that, its hero ball for the majority of the rest of the game, and butler didnt suddenly change anything schematically. Like others though, I dont understand what Steele was doing when he took hankins out of the game for 8 minutes when essentially crunch time. That was a coaching mistake, period.

[xukeith]

DePaul sucked and whipped SJU. Does SJU suck?

[xukeith]

Hankins can only play defense under the basket. He can't move around and guard smaller players. Jones guarded every player last night at different points.

It is all about defense.
Tough game. I am optimistic about SJU and teh BE Tourney! Next year will be rough with a very very young team(they will take 6 months to understand D1 basketball).

[Muskie in dayton]

The refs let Baldwin hack at the ballhandlers all night. He was slapping and reaching and they let it happen. If they call that just once, it reduces the occurance drastically. If they call it twice, then its not going to happen at all.

I could tell within 5 minutes that the refs were going to let Baldwin get away with that crap all night, and that would be the reason we lost.....and then it was.

Sorry, but blaming the officiating is “The Dayton Way”. We lost that game, and we lost because of our own sloppy play, bad decisions and bad coaching.

[xavierj]

Hankins can only play defense under the basket. He can't move around and guard smaller players. Jones guarded every player last night at different points.

It is all about defense.
Tough game. I am optimistic about SJU and teh BE Tourney! Next year will be rough with a very very young team(they will take 6 months to understand D1 basketball).

This is true. Hankins plays good on offense but he gets backed down on defense and can’t guard a guard. Tyrique pretty much shut McDermott down last night and made him a non factor. I think Steele knew defensively he had to keep Tyrique in. The problem was Xavier should have just pounded the ball to Tyrique the last 8 minutes and they didn’t do that.

[stammina0721]

I think there was an opportunity to get Goodin a blow at some point with Scruggs moving over to the 1. Scruggs was in foul trouble, but it's not like he sat out the whole second half. When Scruggs WAS in, Goodin should have had at least a short sit down. We'd have had a hard time having worse PG play from whoever took over the role for 3 minutes while Goodin rested.

And while I applaud Marshall for the effort, I'm not sure Steele should have had him out there. I think he hurt us more than helped once he got hurt. I couldn't believe he came back in and immediately took a long three. When your legs aren't right, you're not making jumpers.

This is exactly my point. Scruggs has experience running the point. Just getting Goodin a blow or two may have made the difference. I think at one point the TV announcer even commented on how hard he was breathing and laboring on the court.

I wanted to say Steele made a mistake by not giving him rest. But it is not me saying Steele sucks or is dumb, and that is why I prefaced by saying it is not a criticism.

It is a mistake many young coaches make including myself when I started my coaching career. I think Steele will learn from it and will not repeat that same mistake again

[AviatorX]

This is exactly my point. Scruggs has experience running the point. Just getting Goodin a blow or two may have made the difference. I think at one point the TV announcer even commented on how hard he was breathing and laboring on the court.

I wanted to say Steele made a mistake by not giving him rest. But it is not me saying Steele sucks or is dumb, and that is why I prefaced by saying it is not a criticism.

It is a mistake many young coaches make including myself when I started my coaching career. I think Steele will learn from it and will not repeat that same mistake again

Where did you coach? And were you as successful as you currently are at gambling?

[JTG]

DePaul sucked and whipped SJU. Does SJU suck?

Sorta, yes. At the very least their coach really sucks.

[stammina0721]

Where did you coach? And were you as successful as you currently are at gambling?

I'm a football coach, but the concept of getting guys breathers still applies

[X-band '01]

DePaul sucked and whipped SJU. Does SJU suck?

Whenever they play teams with frontcourt depth, yes. Max Strus and Femi Olujobi were the biggest matchup problems that St. John's couldn't solve. By the same token, they didn't have Ponds in their lineup when DePaul won at Carnesecca earlier this season.

[AviatorX]

I'm a football coach, but the concept of getting guys breathers still applies

Yeah, might apply a little different when you're coaching a high-major D1 basketball game with any at-large chances on the line. Just a guess.

[xu82]

It was a rough year. We knew it would be. Keep fighting in every battle till the end and build on the recent streak. Play with discipline and develop character to share with next year’s class. I won’t get too down about this and I envision a bright future.

[Xville]

Yeah, might apply a little different when you're coaching a high-major D1 basketball game with any at-large chances on the line. Just a guess.



It's perfectly reasonable to suggest that giving q a breather is more beneficial to the team than having him out there for 40 minutes.

[AviatorX]

It's perfectly reasonable to suggest that giving q a breather is more beneficial to the team than having him out there for 40 minutes.

No argument there. It's a little less reasonable to declare "you learned this early in your coaching career" as if we're talking apples to apples. From the same guy who is "destroying his bookie."

[XUBison]

It's perfectly reasonable to suggest that giving q a breather is more beneficial to the team than having him out there for 40 minutes.


Yes, especially when he wasn’t playing well at almost any point of the game.

[Lloyd Braun]

It's perfectly reasonable to suggest that giving q a breather is more beneficial to the team than having him out there for 40 minutes.

Q’s stamina is pretty good however. Or is it stammina?

Regardless the difference in playing 37 amd 40 minutes is pretty negligible physically, especially with a media timeout every 4 minutes and the countless of number of plays reviewed. I might be convinced it’s of some benefit mentally to watch a bit however, but I don’t think that’s the argument here.

[Xville]

Q’s stamina is pretty good however. Or is it stammina?

Regardless the difference in playing 37 amd 40 minutes is pretty negligible physically, especially with a media timeout every 4 minutes and the countless of number of plays reviewed. I might be convinced it’s of some benefit mentally to watch a bit however, but I don’t think that’s the argument here.

To put it more bluntly, there was zero reason for him to play 40 minutes last night when that was possibly one of the worst games of his career. I know x doesnt have much depth this year but paul can handle pg duties for a while, even if he was in foul trouble. Q was awful last night and was "rewarded" with 40 minutes.

[XU 87]

These takes crack me up man. Did they selfishly refuse to do what was needed to win, or maybe, just maybe, Butler also has guys on scholarship and did a great job heating up the ball and making it difficult to get it into the post? Not to mention they packed it in down the stretch and X couldn’t make a shot.

Wrong. When X loses, it's the coach's fault. Bad game plan, no adjustments, not enough emotion, and of course the coach "had the deer in headlights look on his face where he didn't know what to do."

Butler hit some tough shots yesterday. X missed some shots. If X had hit a few shots towards the end (Scruggs three in the corner for instance), X could have won, and we would be talking about what a great job Steele did yesterday.

[stammina0721]

Yeah, might apply a little different when you're coaching a high-major D1 basketball game with any at-large chances on the line. Just a guess.

I'm not going to get into a pissing match here. I'll just leave it at this. You have no idea what level I coach or what my role is. Despite that, sports isn't rocket science. In my personal opinion and per my own personal experience as well as observations from other young coaches who I've seen get their first major coaching position, the mistake of playing exhausted players because you can't " afford" to get a sub in is a mistake that is made and will continue to be made a lot.

It is usually in the best interest of the team as a whole to get your top decision maker a little break. If you don't agree that is perfectly fine because you are entitled to your opinion. You very rarely see a player in any sports get zero opportunity for rest.

I personally feel we may have seen Goodin make better decisions if he had gotten a little rest. I'll leave it at that.

[stammina0721]

Q’s stamina is pretty good however. Or is it stammina?

Regardless the difference in playing 37 amd 40 minutes is pretty negligible physically, especially with a media timeout every 4 minutes and the countless of number of plays reviewed. I might be convinced it’s of some benefit mentally to watch a bit however, but I don’t think that’s the argument here.

Lloyd Brain usually what you are saying would be legitimate. However, there were some unusual circumstances last night. There were two very long stretches of play with no whistles ... Longer than I have ever seen.

In the first half we didn't get the under 16 time out till there was almost 12 or 13 minutes left. That length of time is very atypical of a basketball game. It also was not slow ball at that time. It was very uptempo and I'm sure took a bigger than expected toll on the players.

There was also a similar stretch in the second half. Not quite as long but a very long stretch none the less. Basketball players are in fantastic shape, but in game situations they rarely go that amount of time without a whistle. I think that played a large role in the fatigue that Goodin obviously showed

[xdude]

I thought we played with good energy last night. Butler's senior night, a thin bench, a few shots not falling at the end, and boom, we lose. I'm not sure there was much to be done, with Naji limping and Q having a less than stellar night. These boys have surprised and inspired me with the five game win streak. Considering where we were a mere three weeks ago, I say hats off to this team, regardless of how the rest of the year plays out.

[stammina0721]

I thought we played with good energy last night. Butler's senior night, a thin bench, a few shots not falling at the end, and boom, we lose. I'm not sure there was much to be done, with Naji limping and Q having a less than stellar night. These boys have surprised and inspired me with the five game win streak. Considering where we were a mere three weeks ago, I say hats off to this team, regardless of how the rest of the year plays out.

That's why I said this is one of my favorite teams. The battle our guys have shown will hopefully get passed down to next year's freshman and pave the way for a very exciting next 4 years

That being said, let's beat St. John's and win 3 in 3 days

[AviatorX]

I'm not going to get into a pissing match here. I'll just leave it at this. You have no idea what level I coach or what my role is. Despite that, sports isn't rocket science. In my personal opinion and per my own personal experience as well as observations from other young coaches who I've seen get their first major coaching position, the mistake of playing exhausted players because you can't " afford" to get a sub in is a mistake that is made and will continue to be made a lot.

It is usually in the best interest of the team as a whole to get your top decision maker a little break. If you don't agree that is perfectly fine because you are entitled to your opinion. You very rarely see a player in any sports get zero opportunity for rest.

I personally feel we may have seen Goodin make better decisions if he had gotten a little rest. I'll leave it at that.

I do have a pretty good idea that you don't coach high major division one basketball (or football). Otherwise you are wasting a lot of time posting here.

[SemajParlor]

Q’s stamina is pretty good however. Or is it stammina?



Lloyd Braun as a username is underrated. I wonder how many people get the reference.

[GoMuskies]

Lloyd Braun as a username is underrated. I wonder how many people get the reference.

As a huge Seinfeld fan, I get it now that you mention it, but I'm mad at myself for never really thinking about it before.

[MHettel]

Sorry, but blaming the officiating is “The Dayton Way”. We lost that game, and we lost because of our own sloppy play, bad decisions and bad coaching.

yawn.

[Masterofreality]

I just love the title, VOICE OF RESAON

That is ambitious.

Well, That Name is already taken. :rolleyes:

[XU 87]

Lloyd Braun as a username is underrated. I wonder how many people get the reference.

I never got it until watching a Seinfeld re-run last year.

[Masterofreality]

Well, as long as you are not going to Knock on Steele as of this point, I guess it isn't that bad that "tonight's game was lost for one reason, and that is Travis Steele."

I am just having fun. If this game was lost for one reason, and that reason was Travis Steele, well maybe that is a knock on Travis Steele. Maybe just maybe. And I am a fan of Travis Steele.

I actually think you could make a point about the minutes. Butler had a great game plan and the officials let a lot of touch and play go on. It was more hands on than hands off tonight and Quinten Gooden was raped a few times with no whistle. I thought we got a bum whistle but that is to be expected on the road, but some of my compatriots exclaimed that the refs were just bad at what they do, and they were bad both ways. They let a lot of stuff go on.

So I would not be so melodramatic and say we lost for one reason, and that reason was Travis Steele. But you could make your appeal to Steele. Maybe a Quentin Goodin with 35 minutes tonight would be better than 40 minutes. I think you could make that argument in a sense. Now given that Goodin played 40 minutes against SJU, 38 against Nova, and 37 against Seton Hall, it isn't like we aren't going to play him. And he was physically harassed tonight, and the refs let them play that way. They were all over him, and he played for 40 minutes. I can see an argument that maybe he should have had a breather.

Hey, guys. I'm still a Travis Steele guy..and will be. I'm on the train.....And I've waited to calm down for almost two days before posting this, BUT......

There is a case to be made that Travis did NOT coach as to what the game was dictating, did not coach to Xavier's strengths and did not "feel the game" as to what was best for Xavier in the staff's sub pattern and lineups against Butler.
Fowler and Brunk are trash. Our Bigs are so much better that it was a joke. Yet, despite Xavier outscoring Butler 18-12 with both Hankins and Jones on the floor, they were only on the floor together for a total of 11:16 seconds. Again, in that 11:16- 6:10 in the first half, 5:06 in the second half---AND NOT AT ALL AFTER THE 14:54 MARK LEFT IN THE GAME, our two Bigs on the floor together outscored Butler by 18-12...and 3 of that was a 30 foot heave by Jorgenson that was a terrible shot that he made then yapped in Naji's face and 2 were on a layup caused by Q passing up a wide ass open 3 from the top of the key, then throwing the ball right to Baldwin who scored a layup at the other end. It could be argued that if Q shot that ball, our bigs would have gotten the stickback and scored because Fowler was trash

Why does this staff continue to make up a script of substitutions, never "feel the game" as to what X's advantages are, stick to that script like glue, and waste minutes on guys that give you nothing? Meanwhile our best lineup languishes on the bench in some form.
How can you explain our best lineup, NONE of which had 4 fouls, NEVER seeing the floor in the last 15 minutes of a must win game?
When Naji hurt his ankle and was out of the game, guess what? Twice in a row, X went to the post up game and both Hankins and Tyrique scored a hoop. After the media timeout, those guys never saw the floor again TOGETHER the rest of the game.

Sorry for pointing out facts, but this went exactly against what I had seen the previous 5 games when I credited the staff for a better sub pattern. Tuesday night sucked, and it sucked the life out of X while giving Butler's garbage front line a pass.

I'm still pissed, but will be in the house Saturday. Let's win this SOB and bring home 3rd...or 4th...or whatever the hell we get.

[Masterofreality]

This is exactly my point. Scruggs has experience running the point. Just getting Goodin a blow or two may have made the difference. I think at one point the TV announcer even commented on how hard he was breathing and laboring on the court.

I wanted to say Steele made a mistake by not giving him rest. But it is not me saying Steele sucks or is dumb, and that is why I prefaced by saying it is not a criticism.

It is a mistake many young coaches make including myself when I started my coaching career. I think Steele will learn from it and will not repeat that same mistake again

I agree with this too. Stop the sub scripting, feel the game and coach to it.

[Masterofreality]

I'll return to my constant theme during the six-game losing streak. Who would you have put in to give Naji a breather? We were reminded last night that when someone is tired, having an off night, or banged up that there really is no margin for substituting someone off the bench.

Eli Harden. Same position.

[slysyl]

I agree our bigs' were needed more than they were used.
Fowler gets away with more moving picks than any one in the league.

[stammina0721]

No argument there. It's a little less reasonable to declare "you learned this early in your coaching career" as if we're talking apples to apples. From the same guy who is "destroying his bookie."

So you agree with the statement but want to make an issue because I was the one who said it. I don't have to say anything else. I'm just going to sit back and let you keep hurting your own credibility

[XU 87]

Eli Harden. Same position.

There is a HUGE drop off from Naji to Harden. Naji is a forward and Harden is a guard. Harden can't rebound or guard bigger guys in the interior. He also got torched Tuesday on defense.

See you on Saturday.

[UCGRAD4X]

Hey, guys. I'm still a Travis Steele guy..and will be. I'm on the train.....And I've waited to calm down for almost two days before posting this, BUT......

There is a case to be made that Travis did NOT coach as to what the game was dictating, did not coach to Xavier's strengths and did not "feel the game" as to what was best for Xavier in the staff's sub pattern and lineups against Butler.
Fowler and Brunk are trash. Our Bigs are so much better that it was a joke. Yet, despite Xavier outscoring Butler 18-12 with both Hankins and Jones on the floor, they were only on the floor together for a total of 11:16 seconds. Again, in that 11:16- 6:10 in the first half, 5:06 in the second half---AND NOT AT ALL AFTER THE 14:54 MARK LEFT IN THE GAME, our two Bigs on the floor together outscored Butler by 18-12...and 3 of that was a 30 foot heave by Jorgenson that was a terrible shot that he made then yapped in Naji's face and 2 were on a layup caused by Q passing up a wide ass open 3 from the top of the key, then throwing the ball right to Baldwin who scored a layup at the other end. It could be argued that if Q shot that ball, our bigs would have gotten the stickback and scored because Fowler was trash

Why does this staff continue to make up a script of substitutions, never "feel the game" as to what X's advantages are, stick to that script like glue, and waste minutes on guys that give you nothing? Meanwhile our best lineup languishes on the bench in some form.
How can you explain our best lineup, NONE of which had 4 fouls, NEVER seeing the floor in the last 15 minutes of a must win game?
When Naji hurt his ankle and was out of the game, guess what? Twice in a row, X went to the post up game and both Hankins and Tyrique scored a hoop. After the media timeout, those guys never saw the floor again TOGETHER the rest of the game.

Sorry for pointing out facts, but this went exactly against what I had seen the previous 5 games when I credited the staff for a better sub pattern. Tuesday night sucked, and it sucked the life out of X while giving Butler's garbage front line a pass.

I'm still pissed, but will be in the house Saturday. Let's win this SOB and bring home 3rd...or 4th...or whatever the hell we get.

Obviously they can't be on the floor together for 40 min - (even though Rique lost 35 lbs...in case you didn't know) - understanding there is really no one else. I don't know if they are gassed later in the game, particularly Hankins (since M. Jones lost 45 lbs I hear), but I see no other reason they should not be on the floor together more against almost any team we play, but especially a team like Butler.

I would be interested to hear Steele's explanation/reasoning. He's a pretty straight forward guy so I don't think he would dance around it like many coaches would.

[Masterofreality]

There is a HUGE drop off from Naji to Harden. Naji is a forward and Harden is a guard. Harden can't rebound or guard bigger guys in the interior. He also got torched Tuesday on defense.

See you on Saturday.

Understand, but for a minute before the TV 4 minute breaks? Plus spot other places?

[Masterofreality]

Obviously they can't be on the floor together for 40 min - (even though Rique lost 35 lbs...in case you didn't know) - understanding there is really no one else. I don't know if they are gassed later in the game, particularly Hankins, but I see no other reason they should not be on the floor together more against almost any team we play, but especially a team like Butler.

I would be interested to hear Steele's explanation/reasoning. He's a pretty straight forward guy so I don't think he would dance around it like many coaches would.

Understood, but not in together AT ALL in the last 15 minutes of the game? An important game? Fouls weren't really a problem. No one had 4.

[American X]

Maybe Steele finally had enough of Hankins' hair.

[paulxu]

Headbands?