Game Thread: Xavier v. Creighton (January 26, 2020) Big East Conference Game

[Muskie]

Xavier University Musketeers (13-6, 2-4) vs. Creighton (15-4,4-3)


Sunday, January 26, 3030 at 4:00p.m.


Omaha, Nebraska

[paulxu]

Well, let's have a good game.:logo:

[whopper]

Kobe's death will affect a lot of games today as so many of these players idolized Kobe. Who knows how everyone will react. Biggest death since Princess DI. RIP Mamba

[GoMuskies]

Not feeling great about this one. Just feels like a bad matchup for us. But with a win today I'd say we are officially back on track.

[GoMuskies]

Oh, and I went with X +5.5. Much more with my heart than my head on that one!

[GoMuskies]

This mic'd up thing seems stupid.

[GoMuskies]

Oh yeah, this sucks.

[X-band '01]

We won't hear much of Travis Steele thanks to the FCC.

[SM#24]

F’ing Tyrique. His finishing this year is for shit.

[AviatorX]

Tyrique is just not good enough to play through. It's just true. So frustrating.

[GoMuskies]

The game sucks too so far.

[AviatorX]

Oh yeah, this sucks.

This is terrible. They should run this on FSGo or something.

[AviatorX]

Hankins would have dunked both of those and it would be 7-5.

[bjf123]

We won't hear much of Travis Steele thanks to the FCC.

Wonder if they’ve got a 7 second delay going? The sound has cut out a few times.


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[paulxu]

We're on track for 32 turnovers.

[drudy23]

I'm already tired of the Steele "oh darn" hand clap.

[GoMuskies]

We're on track for 32 turnovers.

Is that a lot?

[drudy23]

Trav is not getting the trav call.

[mistabeecee41]

You can trash Trav all you want but if our game plan is to get our senior center easy looks and he misses 3 layups and has 2 turnovers in the first 5 minutes, there isn’t anything you can do

[drudy23]

Well, McDermott knew what our play "spin" was - the second Trav called it out, he was looking for the "high low", and he was right.

Maybe we should call it something different from here on out.

[AviatorX]

You can trash Trav all you want but if our game plan is to get our senior center easy looks and he misses 3 layups and has 2 turnovers in the first 5 minutes, there isn’t anything you can do

Yep. For the scheme vs. execution debate, that opening 8 minutes was pretty strong evidence this team will not be effective offensively under any circumstance.

For the most part, offense looked crisp and generated good looks. It's really hard to blame Naji forcing a couple when you're watching guys miss wide open looks.

[SM#24]

I still don’t get the green/yellow/red audio bar other than it’s annoying.

[Xavgrad08]

Watching this team shot threes can be painful.

[XU 87]

very little discipline on offense. How many bad shots will they shoot in the first half?

[bjf123]

Watching this team shot threes can be painful.

So far, even the layups are painful.


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[GoMuskies]

KyKy not a net positive today.

[Xville]

6 points in 9 minutes....impressive

[paulxu]

If we shoot 16% and they shoot 40%...we'll probably lose.
How does anyone shoot 16% in college?

[GoMuskies]

Man, even the scores are ugly, lol.

[XBR1]

Man, I don’t like McDermott.

[bjf123]

6 points in 9 minutes....impressive

We’re up to 11 in 11.


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[X-band '01]

If it weren't for Xavier hitting the glass, this would be a complete whitewash.

[X-band '01]

Uhh, never mind.

[bjf123]

Dagger right there. Ballgame.


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[Xville]

We gotta start being stronger with the ball...playing soft.

[AviatorX]

Carter and Freemantle please.

McDermott seems pretty uninspiring, maybe why he has literally never won anything of consequence.

[KabeX]

That was a no doubter. Jezzuss.

[Xavgrad08]

This having the coaches mic’d up is going to be awkward if Xavier gets drilled.

[X-band '01]

Awkward for whom?

[XUBison]

I didn’t think anything could make this team harder to watch, but this broadcast has succeeded.

[whopper]

Creighton offensive is so free flowing compared to ours but we have only hit one outside shot

[xukeith]

this game broadcast looks like a Rocky movie.
"Cut me mickey!!"

[AviatorX]

This roster just sucks.

[GoMuskies]

It's not good when the defense starts to break down. The offense isn't going to make up for that.

[GoMuskies]

How are we going to lose by less than 20?

[KabeX]

Head fake - works all the time in Jr. High

[bjf123]

How are we going to lose by less than 20?

We’re not.


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[AviatorX]

KyKy was horrendous earlier on both ends, but I'd bring him back here - need a lift before the half and who the hell else is going to provide it?

[Xville]

Its amazing they are shooting under 30 percent and only down 10, especially with the defense being garbage

[GoMuskies]

Free is a stud.

[GoMuskies]

Creighton has us well scouted.

[GoMuskies]

First bucket in 5 weeks for Moore. Huge.

[AviatorX]

Congrats to Moore on his first career Big East field goal. I'm hoping that's a joke, but without looking I think it might be sincere unfortunately.

[KabeX]

Just hangin round

[bjf123]

I’m amazed that we’re down single digits. That was a horrible half of basketball.


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[AviatorX]

I have to imagine the only thing more frustrating than watching these last two Xavier teams would be being a Creighton fan, talking yourself into this style of play every year, and then it never working when it counts.

[Lloyd Braun]

Creighton has us well scouted.

Creighton Astros!

[KabeX]

This all access thing might be interesting inside the locker room. Other than that I'm good if they never do it again.

[Xville]

Had 9 turnovers that half... did naji have all of them?

[RoseyMuskie]

The Goodin ship has sailed in my book. The Tyrique Jones ship is starting to leave the port. Missing bunnies, outworked by Creighton’s Jones, and poor defense.

But sure, let’s yell and scream after you make one easy shot.

[whopper]

moose's 3 actually negated bullock's 3. we are closer than we deserve to be. I think Alexander is taking on the Naji challenge personally as man defense is tough. Horrible half and not reflected in the score. Creighton played all man to man defense and has a flowing offensive system which makes mcdermott's job and the players job easy

[shucker]

X is just not consistent enough on offense which then leads to bad Defense. Giving up too many easy drives to the hoop. McDermott is a big whiner and really crIes tto the officials. I think he should trade in his coaching shirt for a referee shirt if he knows so much and can make that many calls from the bench!!

[X Factor]

I didn't hear Steele mention bad shits or turnovers one time in the first half.

[SM#24]

I didn't hear Steele mention bad shits or turnovers one time in the first half.
That whole half was a bad shit.

[bjf123]

Had 9 turnovers that half... did naji have all of them?

4 each by Naji and Tyrique. 1 by Paul.


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[X Factor]

That whole half was a bad shit.

Haha, I meant shots, but touche.

[X Factor]

Our upperclassmen are really bringing it today....🤮

[AviatorX]

I didn't hear Steele mention bad shits or turnovers one time in the first half.

He just directly addressed it in the locker room - flat out told Scruggs and Naji that Creighton is selling out on their drives and they need to jump stop and make the right play from there - whether it's a pass or a shot. 6 or so of the turnovers came directly from the game plan of trying to force Jones on Creighton or were dead ball offensive fouls. There's nothing to say about that, really.

[X-band '01]

X is just not consistent enough on offense which then leads to bad Defense. Giving up too many easy drives to the hoop. McDermott is a big whiner and really crIes tto the officials. I think he should trade in his coaching shirt for a referee shirt if he knows so much and can make that many calls from the bench!!

He's just trying to work the officials like 99.9% of coaches would, especially when Xavier has actually been more physical overall in the game.

Just don't lay down during the first 5 minutes like the Marquette game and Xavier might actually have a shot to steal one.

[XUBison]

McDermott comes off like a dentist. Travis sounds like a used car salesman.

[SM#24]

6-20 from 2 is terrible. Scruggs 0-4. Killing them on the boards though.
This is a winnable game if we play with our heads on the outside of our assholes.

[GoMuskies]

Could use a Tandy barrage this half.

[GoMuskies]

Keep fouling 3 point shooters.

[GoMuskies]

Naji should be wearing a Creighton jersey.

[Lloyd Braun]

Here’s a nice view of the big lineup against Creighton ...

[bjf123]

4 fouls in 4 minutes. Not a way to start the 2nd half.


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[AviatorX]

Naji has sucked today, but there's just no one else. I'm fine playing him the rest of the way.

[GoMuskies]

Tandy shooting like Q.

[Xville]

Tandy shooting like Q.

Hes hardly the issue. Naji, carter, scruggs, jones are absolute jokes this game

[GoMuskies]

Hes hardly the issue. Naji, carter, scruggs, jones are absolute jokes this game

He's definitely not the only problem, but he's been atrocious.

[AviatorX]

Say what you want about Q, but there are very clearly minutes for him in this backcourt.

[KabeX]

Again not to get all Dayton like but sure seems like we're getting homered a bit. Getting hammered for sure tho so it really doesn't matter.

[noteggs]

Looks like 5 vs Freemantle

[AviatorX]

Hes hardly the issue. Naji, carter, scruggs, jones are absolute jokes this game

He looks absolutely lost in the system defensively and has thrown 3 possessions straight into the trash. He's been a huge minus today.

[bjf123]

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like the players just aren’t getting what Steele is saying during the time outs.


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[GoMuskies]

We're still just one decent stretch away from making this a tight game. I just dont think this team has a decent stretch in them.

[Xville]

He looks absolutely lost in the system defensively and has thrown 3 possessions straight into the trash. He's been a huge minus today.

What I'm saying is..hes a freshman, the rest are upper classmen and they look like freshmen

[whopper]

what is wrong with Scruggs, he has looked lost a little without Q believe it or not. Damn but they may be a package deal as he was awful against Georgetown. I am glad he is keeping Scruggs in with 4..he will either help or just foul oout. That drive that was blocked would have been a basket earlier this year. Hope he can turn it around..this is very frustrating as we kind of pencil in 14 for Scruggs and his attitude is good

[OTRMUSKIE]

If T Jones got 2 points for every yell he would avg 40 points per game. The man loves to yell after every rebound or basket made.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Refs have nothing to do with this game. X once again is shooting abysmal. Travis hands are tied with a team that can’t shoot.

[RoseyMuskie]

The broadcast has put on display the difference between Creighton’s player leadership and Xavier’s. And that’s reflective in Xavier’s season performance.

[paulxu]

We haven't won many 4 minute wars in BE play this year.

[GoMuskies]

I think we're just bad.

[AviatorX]

I'm further in the "the roster is the problem" camp than ever at this point. This team is just not built well, for reasons that have been litigated to death on here.

If you want to put that on Steele, I won't tell you you're wrong, but I'm anxious to see him with a full suite of his recruits.

[bjf123]

The broadcast has put on display the difference between Creighton’s player leadership and Xavier’s. And that’s reflective in Xavier’s season performance.

Maybe we’ve been giving the “core four” way too much credit.


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[94GRAD]

90% of McDermott's coaching is complaining to the refs!

[XU 87]

Refs have nothing to do with this game. X once again is shooting abysmal. Travis hands are tied with a team that can’t shoot.
I agree to some extent, but this team plays with no discipline on offense, and that’s the coach’s fault.

[JTG]

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like the players just aren’t getting what Steele is saying during the time outs.


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Steele talks too much, he needs to simplify what he wants.

[RoseyMuskie]

I'm further in the "the roster is the problem" camp than ever at this point. This team is just not built well, for reasons that have been litigated to death on here.

If you want to put that on Steele, I won't tell you you're wrong, but I'm anxious to see him with a full suite of his recruits.

Agreed. I think it’s truly players not plays. Case in point, first war.

[Strange Brew]

Greggy M is a whiny,

[paulxu]

Oh, and I went with X +5.5. Much more with my heart than my head on that one!

This may not have been one of your better moves.

[XUBob]

I think we all expected the core four to improve, unfortunately, they have not. I think that is the biggest issue with this group. I know it is obvious, but, without those four playing better this will be the usual result.

[KabeX]

A wise man once said "shooting makes up for a myriad of ills". We got lots of ills. What we don't have ...

[bjf123]

I’m done. This team is just plain bad. There will be no NCAA tourney this year and the streak of a non losing conference record will fall.


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[Strange Brew]

Naji

Find pine for a bit

[GoMuskies]

To check how far we fall later..KenPom #58, offense #121, defense #29.

[noteggs]

I love Scruggs but he’s not a PG.

[AviatorX]

I know there's a contingent that turns up their nose at Goodin's career scoring/assists numbers and where they'll stack up in X history, but Jones is really the king of the empty numbers this season. It's beyond frustrating.

[whopper]

there is strange chemistry with the core 4..it is almost like they are sick of each other but not meeting expectations does that. Tyrique has passed out of low post 3 times tonight where he should have gone up and we got nothing from any of the plays

[IM4X]

Naji has just been really bad today... REALLY BAD!!!!

[XU 87]

Naji

Find pine for a bit

Or at least tell him to stop taking stupid shots. I have the impression no one has said a word to him.

[Xville]

Well, there's our run where my false hope comes back up again

[X-band '01]

I'll be damned. A smart 3 in transition goes in.

[Lloyd Braun]

Moore with the corner 3 I’ve been begging for

[GoMuskies]

Too little, too late. Maybe they'll beat the spread.

[AviatorX]

"2" being the call for the change up defense apparently too complex for Freemantle. Jesus man.

[Xville]

Ballgame...we suck again

[X-band '01]

Like Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the mountain.

[AviatorX]

I legitimately believe this team would have the same record with almost any coach. Maybe would have won at Wake Forest.

[OTRMUSKIE]

I have been in Best the spread mode for most of the year. We have not done well with the spread. -5.5 is spread and I don’t see it happening.

[shucker]

The same out come game after game. This team is not making enough positive progress.
Continuously playing from behind!
Too much to over come game after game.
Bad shot selection. Weak defense and too sloppy with the ball.

[Strange Brew]

Or at least tell him to stop taking stupid shots. I have the impression no one has said a word to him.

He’s auditioning for the NBA in his mind instead of leading the team.

[GoMuskies]

Worst Xavier team since...? 2006 team that was a miracle 14 seed?

[XU 87]

I legitimately believe this team would have the same record with almost any coach. Maybe would have won at Wake Forest.

I hope you’re right, but I’m concerned with this teams lack of discipline on offense, and that is primarily is a coaching issue.

[Xville]

I think its coaching and players...

[GoMuskies]

KyKy with about the worst shooting performance I've ever seen.

[XUBison]

I think its coaching and players...

there it is.

[OTRMUSKIE]

We just arnt good. We weren’t good last year either and it’s the same team. These kids def arnt giving up but I don’t know how much they care about wins and losses as the fans do.

[AviatorX]

I hope you’re right, but I’m concerned with this teams lack of discipline on offense, and that primarily is a coaching issue.

I think the offensive discipline is concerning, but I think/hope that's largely a product of there just aren't any answers on that end of the floor. I'm basically at a point where I don't think there's an offensive system that would work for this team against good competition.

If Steele's team that features 3 of his recruiting classes looks this uninspiring on offense, it will be time to have serious, serious concerns. I understand some people are going to go there sooner, and that's fine.

[XUBison]

KyKy with about the worst shooting performance I've ever seen.

yep. Talk about crashing back down to earth.

[KabeX]

yep. Talk about crashing back down to earth.

He is a Freshman. I think he'll be really good. But yeah, today was rough.

[GoMuskies]

Just saw the ad that says we have to go to Jersey and play Seton Hall on Saturday on Fox. Nooooooooooooo! Likely to be ugly.

[Olsingledigit]

I’m done. This team is just plain bad. There will be no NCAA tourney this year and the streak of a non losing conference record will fall.


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I am never “done” with a Xavier team. Yes they have their ills and may not have a great season but I will root for them every game and will not miss watching a play.

[Xville]

If we are 14-8 after seton hall, I'll be ecstatic

[whopper]

KyKy with about the worst shooting performance I've ever seen. true but he often is behind the 8 ball and we have not tried to work him into normal situations.. He is always coming in when we are down 10. I do think he should watch videos of Markus Howard as his movement is not as energetic as I think an 18 yr old's should be.

[whopper]

I am never “done” with a Xavier team. Yes they have their ills and may not have a great season but I will root for them every game and will not miss watching a play.
I like it. I am in Conn but the Big East to me is it's own storyline as the entire NCAA is too damn big for me to follow. The core 4 has hit a ceiling due to athletic limitations which manifest itself into mediocre play often. If they could rise up and hit mid range jumpers easily they would or dribble penetrate and dish or finish they would. We did have our window and did not capitalize and I think that is what gets people so frustrated.

[JTG]

Kyky's saving his hot streak for his shootout with Howard

[X Factor]

KyKy with about the worst shooting performance I've ever seen.

Did you not watch Paul Scruggs, a junior, just shoot 4-23 the past two games?

[xu82]

I liked hearing the coaches a lot more than watching commercials, so there’s that........

[IM4X]

I liked hearing the coaches a lot more than watching commercials, so there’s that........

I wish I could have muted McDermott. Hearing him complain that everything was a foul started to be obnoxious. Didn’t realize he was such a whiner.

[IM4X]

I liked hearing the coaches a lot more than watching commercials, so there’s that........

I wish I could have muted McDermott. Hearing him complain that everything was a foul started to become obnoxious. Didn’t realize he was such a whiner.

[GoMuskies]

Did you not watch Paul Scruggs, a junior, just shoot 4-23 the past two games?

Hey, Scruggs made 4 shots. And at least some of his 19 misses were in the same area code as the rim.

[AviatorX]

I wish I could have muted McDermott. Hearing him complain that everything was a foul started to become obnoxious. Didn’t realize he was such a whiner.

He has won exactly 3 NCAA tournament games at Creighton, only 1 in the Big East era. Been there a decade. Imagine this board if Xavier produced a decade like that (hopefully we aren't 20% of the way there). Yikes.

[X Factor]

Hey, Scruggs made 4 shots. And at least some of his 19 misses were in the same area code as the rim.

Wow, you're tough. 4 misses from a freshman in his 13th game versus 19 misses from a junior.

KyKy struggled today. Freshman will have good games and bad games.

This team's upperclassmen have struggled a lot this year.

[vee4xu]

I'm officially in wait-til-next-year mode. Anyone who wants to join me, there's plenty of room on the bus. Hey, at least it seems it'll be another stress free NCAA tournament this year.

[GoMuskies]

He has won exactly 3 NCAA tournament games at Creighton, only 1 in the Big East era. Been there a decade. Imagine this board if Xavier produced a decade like that (hopefully we aren't 20% of the way there). Yikes.

Sounds like a rich man's Skip Prosser.

[AviatorX]

Wow, you're tough. 4 misses from a freshman in his 13th game versus 19 misses from a junior.

KyKy struggled today. Freshman will have good games and bad games.

This team's upperclassmen have struggled a lot this year.

I think if folks are going to constantly call for more KyKy, the kid gloves are going to come off a bit when he sucks. He sucked today.

[xukeith]

How are we going to lose by less than 20?

How did that happen??

[X Factor]

I think if folks are going to constantly call for more KyKy, the kid gloves are going to come off a bit when he sucks. He sucked today.

I'm fine with that.

I think the playing time is only going to help him, and I hope Steele continues to give him good minutes the rest of the year.

[xukeith]

I think if folks are going to constantly call for more KyKy, the kid gloves are going to come off a bit when he sucks. He sucked today.

Agree. He cannot be relied on yet. Moore picked up the frosh slack. Moore shockingly did get blown by defending in second half.

[AviatorX]

I'm fine with that.

I think the playing time is only going to help him, and I hope Steele continues to give him good minutes the rest of the year.

Totally agree and I have no doubt that will happen.

[xukeith]

Sounds like a rich man's Skip Prosser.

Oh boy did he frustrate fans. Matta saved the day.

[xukeith]

I'm officially in wait-til-next-year mode. Anyone who wants to join me, there's plenty of room on the bus. Hey, at least it seems it'll be another stress free NCAA tournament this year.

I am in wait til 2 years from now.
I hope Scruggs comes back next year.

[X Factor]

Totally agree and I have no doubt that will happen.

And no one but me has mentioned Paul Scruggs going 2-15 against G'Twon and 2-8 today vs Creighton. Haven't seen anyone mention Naji's 6 turnovers either.

Those are the guys supposed to be leading this team.

[whopper]

I see Scruggs initiating his offense from too far out now that he is point guard and that to me is the cause of his problems. I also don't like Tyrique passing it out when he close regardless of his problems finishing at times and it puzzled me. Naj had 3 totally unforced turnovers, the one when ballock took it away at the foul line was like a dream I have(at 64) when I am trying to play but can't even reach for the ball. Lets see how it all plays out...now we need to play for the NIT and (hopefully) can be a tough out in the big east tournament. Q and Tyrique (and maybe others) CANT want to go out without a fight. Two bright spots was play of Fremantle and Moore. Remember we knocked them out of big East(and probably NCAA last year the Castlin game) and they probably looked at is as payback

[Strange Brew]

Let’s go X! When is the next game?

[Xville]

Look this game sucked..creighton is a gawd awful matchup for this xavier team so whatever.

I know there is no reason to believe this because this team has not shown much this year but I think they can win the next 3 of 4....that puts them at 16-8 with at least a shot to be on the bubble. Make it happen x

[kellernr]

Question. Is Ramsey still hurt or does Steele plan on redshirting him too? With Q "hurt" it looks like he is running a 7 man rotation with ramsey and james just sitting on the bench. James finally got minutes and played really well that game. Next game he looked lost and was pulled early and i dont think I've seen him on the floor since then.

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[JTG]

I am in wait til 2 years from now.
I hope Scruggs comes back next year.
Cmon, wait 2 years is just too depressing for Jan 26 of thd current season. Watching the miked up time outs was interesting. Steele talking to the players and the look on their faces was like watching a college prof trying to teach Physics to kindergarteners. Simplify, these guys are just not bright. I'm not sure I'd want Naji back next year. Might just be more of the same. Paul could probably work in any system .

[Xavgrad08]

On January 25, joe lunardi tweeted that Xavier was in the last four out. All of Xaviers loses except Wake Forest are projected in the tournament. Xavier has not been good for most of this year, but we still have some good opportunities. I think Marquette at home is a must win. Hopefully the team plays well and the Cintas is juiced. I m trying to be optimistic even if it leads to heartbreak.

[paulxu]

The team looked very dejected in the locker room after the game when they showed Steele talking to them.

[xu82]

Cmon, wait 2 years is just too depressing for Jan 26 of thd current season. Watching the miked up time outs was interesting. Steele talking to the players and the look on their faces was like watching a college prof trying to teach Physics to kindergarteners. Simplify, these guys are just not bright. I'm not sure I'd want Naji back next year. Might just be more of the same. Paul could probably work in any system .

I wish this would just STOP. I wish we had fans who would not go down this road. I’ll look long term, and I believe we will be fine. It may hurt for a while, but I’ll have faith.

[whopper]

The team looked very dejected in the locker room after the game when they showed Steele talking to them. I know they must be and don't want to go out without a fight. The psychology of the Q and Tyrique(elite 8 number 1) and Naj and Paul (number 1 seed) having experienced success makes it doubly hard as they had a taste and know how much the fans care. Right now I hope there is enthusiasm for good basketball (great teams coming in), some spoiler wins and /or good efforts, some player development and lets see the Big East tournament goes. Maybe lowered expectations may create some pleasant surprises. I feel their pain as I have it too.

[Xville]

The team looked very dejected in the locker room after the game when they showed Steele talking to them.

I mean....how did you expect them to look? I looked like that every time I lost in grade school, high school...hell, intramurals. They should look like that after losses...either that or throwing and breaking shit ala chalmers

[GOX]

Translation.” Don’t vent your frustrations regarding a team that was expected to be highly competitive in the Big East. Don’t criticize a coach who said he would have a top 5 defense.
Don't express concern there is no leadership , a stagnant offense and no one who can consistently score. Stop being a pessimist and be like me ...a true fan...one who believes in the future of the Program, an optimist that hates negativity when I know a Final Four is a few years away. “
Thank you for your prescience.

[GOX]

I wish this would just STOP. I wish we had fans who would not go down this road. I’ll look long term, and I believe we will be fine. It may hurt for a while, but I’ll have faith.

Translation.” Don’t vent your frustrations regarding a team that was expected to be highly competitive in the Big East. Don’t criticize a coach who said he would have a top 5 defense.
Don't express concern there is no leadership , a stagnant offense and no one who can consistently score. Stop being a pessimist and be like me ...a true fan...one who believes in the future of the Program, an optimist that hates negativity when I know a Final Four is a few years away. “
Thank you for your prescience.

[Xville]

Translation.” Don’t vent your frustrations regarding a team that was expected to be highly competitive in the Big East. Don’t criticize a coach who said he would have a top 5 defense.
Don't express concern there is no leadership , a stagnant offense and no one who can consistently score. Stop being a pessimist and be like me ...a true fan...one who believes in the future of the Program, an optimist that hates negativity when I know a Final Four is a few years away. “
Thank you for your prescience.

Um no. It probably has more to do with the poster getting personal calling players stupid

[drudy23]

X has zero quality wins to hang their hat on. None.

Same as last year.

It wasn't going to get us in the tournament last year, and it won't this year.

We need a long winning streak or some magic at MSG in March. Otherwise, it's two consecutive years on the outside looking in, which hasn't happened in a very, very long time.

[RoseyMuskie]

If there’s any glimmer, it’s that X still has five games against opponents it has performed historically well against - DePaul, Georgetown, and Butler.

Their last chance is to keep capitalizing on that success, split between Providence, and take one at home from MU or Nova.

But, the margin is thin and there’s nothing which tells me at the moment that it can be beat Butler twice, nor stack that success. Hope I’m very wrong.

[Masterofreality]

My only comment lest I be branded a “Steele hater”.

Creighton scored 77 points, their season average, at Cintas.
Creighton scored 77 points, their season average yesterday.

Xavier scored 65 points at Cintas.
Xavier scored 66 points yesterday. (Yay for us!! We scored one more!!! Progress?)

In the 2 games combined Xavier had 23 turnovers vs a non pressure defense
In the 2 games combined Creighton had 19 turnovers vs our defense.

Xavier runs a simplistic offense vs Creighton's more intricate offense.

Creighton does what it does. Every game. Xavier is supposed to do “What the game dictates”. (Maybe score more points)

Yes. After 20 games - “We need to figure it out”. Repeat with me. “We need to figure it out”.

Hmmmmmmmmm. It’s really late, not so early.

[Lloyd Braun]

I actually think the offense was fairly complex at the beginning of the season and has since been simplified due to some poor execution and low BB IQ. That’s what I see anyways....

[Lamont Sanford]

Look this game sucked..creighton is a gawd awful matchup for this xavier team so whatever.

I know there is no reason to believe this because this team has not shown much this year but I think they can win the next 3 of 4....that puts them at 16-8 with at least a shot to be on the bubble. Make it happen x

XVILLE -

Have you looked at the schedule? Of the next four games, we have Marquette (H), Seton Hall (A), Depaul (A) and Providence (H). I think we win 1 of those 4...likely home versus PC. This team doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to win on the road this year. Love your optimism, but I just don't see it with this team and this coaching staff.

[paulxu]

Well, we did improve 5 spots in the NET after the loss to Creighton.

Wonder how that works?

[beatuc]

I don't want to be that fan who has no hope for now or in the future, but this team is really bad and it's not looking brighter for the future. Anyone who seems to think this will be a one or two year turn around right now is a homer. Watching this team go on a run would be awesome, but it would be the farthest from reality miracle to happen to X in awhile. I've read on here people trying to convince how this team is better than last year's team. What!?!? I'm trying to see it that way but, how could anyone possibly watch games and think that. Is Naji better than last year (IMO No), is Q (Definitely No), is Scruggs (IMO No), Tyrique (IMO Yes). So if people want to vent their frustrations on here don't call them out on it. Not everyone is going to have the "it's okay because we graduate players" attitude, and some people are just optimists. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[GoMuskies]

Well, we did improve 5 spots in the NET after the loss to Creighton.

Wonder how that works?

We dropped 4 spots, from 59 to 63, in the NET.

[paulxu]

Guess it's a timing thing. I was going off Warren Nolan.

http://warrennolan.com/basketball/2020/net

[GoMuskies]

I went straight to the source. :)

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings

[Xville]

XVILLE -

Have you looked at the schedule? Of the next four games, we have Marquette (H), Seton Hall (A), Depaul (A) and Providence (H). I think we win 1 of those 4...likely home versus PC. This team doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to win on the road this year. Love your optimism, but I just don't see it with this team and this coaching staff.

Yeah I looked. I know it's a stretch and not saying it is going to happen but i think they can beat Marquette at home, depaul on the road (they are much improved but it's still depaul) and providence. That puts them at 16-8 which gives them a shot. Those last 7 games are pretty damn daunting and they would need to go 4-3 which is a serious stretch.

I'd just like them to get into the position to have a chance and being 16-8 would at least do that in a somewhat realistic fashion.

Also, for those saying that basically the season is over and we have no chance etc. Let me just remind you that we were once 11-13 and 3-8 on the season last year and came up probably just one win short of getting into the first four. Just saying, lots of season left even though we haven't seen much from this group to give us hope.

[waggy]

Can we teach Kyky all the subtleties of the pick and roll in the next 48hrs?

[bjf123]

If there’s any glimmer, it’s that X still has five games against opponents it has performed historically well against - DePaul, Georgetown, and Butler.


Even if we win all those, that gets us to a whopping 7 conference wins. Where do we get 2 or 3 more that might give us a chance at an at large bid?


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[GoMuskies]

Even if we win all those, that gets us to a whopping 7 conference wins. Where do we get 2 or 3 more that might give us a chance at an at large bid?


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8 Big East wins would put us on the Bubble and likely in.

[GoMuskies]

Should McDermott be fined and suspended by the league for threatening to wrestle Tyrique during the game?!?

[X-band '01]

XVILLE -

Have you looked at the schedule? Of the next four games, we have Marquette (H), Seton Hall (A), Depaul (A) and Providence (H). I think we win 1 of those 4...likely home versus PC. This team doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to win on the road this year. Love your optimism, but I just don't see it with this team and this coaching staff.

I honestly think they get 2 out of the 4 - either a win against Marquette or Seton Hall would be gravy at this point. DePaul and Providence are also losing the wind from their sails.

[xukeith]

I honestly think they get 2 out of the 4 - either a win against Marquette or Seton Hall would be gravy at this point. DePaul and Providence are also losing the wind from their sails.

For posters clinging onto hope, X has to win 3 out of next 4 to get to 8-9 wins before conference tourney. Seton Hall loss is a given.

[xukeith]

Can we teach Kyky all the subtleties of the pick and roll in the next 48hrs?

Maybe Zach can teach him. Or Dionte and Daniel.