Tomorrow night is historic

[Go Go Golston]

Tomorrow's game in my mind is the most important game in a very long time for the Xavier brand.
For so many reasons which posters have aptly mentioned most of the second half of this season. How the entire group including players, coaches, GA's and even managers respond to this challenge will tell me alot about where this program is and where it's heading. I'm hoping I will see and feel a sense of urgency the minute I walk into Cintas. 20 turnovers will not get it done. 67% FT will not get it done. Missing point blank shots at the rim will not get it done. Letting a bounce pass go under your hands and into the backcourt will not get it done. Not being able to get the ball inbounds without a steal-twice will not get it done. Not knowing how much time is left in the possession will not get it done. Getting down 12 six minutes in will not get it done. Not ever letting Butler in the door and knowing what it takes for that to happen will get it done. Playing hard in spurts will definitely not get it done. For this team there is no Sunday morning.
If this team is as good as it thinks it is, then show it for 2 1/2 hours tomorrow.

[drudy23]

You know, at first I read this and thought "no way, this is dumb". But then after thinking about it, I think it's very important for Steele.

I do agree if we don't see the XMen fighting and clawing to get what's theirs tomorrow, I think that is a testament on Steele and the staff. Two years in a row not making the dance is kind of unprecedented. And if they can't be amped for tomorrow's game, will we ever see that level of "care" from a Steel team. As of right now, it's been very inconsistent over 2 years.

So maybe not "historic" but maybe a true transition point for Steele.

I just hope we win. March without X in the tourney just isn't the same. It's still fun, but it doesn't have that amped up feel.

[Strange Brew]

Tomorrow's game in my mind is the most important game in a very long time for the Xavier brand.
For so many reasons which posters have aptly mentioned most of the second half of this season. How the entire group including players, coaches, GA's and even managers respond to this challenge will tell me alot about where this program is and where it's heading. I'm hoping I will see and feel a sense of urgency the minute I walk into Cintas. 20 turnovers will not get it done. 67% FT will not get it done. Missing point blank shots at the rim will not get it done. Letting a bounce pass go under your hands and into the backcourt will not get it done. Not being able to get the ball inbounds without a steal-twice will not get it done. Not knowing how much time is left in the possession will not get it done. Getting down 12 six minutes in will not get it done. Not ever letting Butler in the door and knowing what it takes for that to happen will get it done. Playing hard in spurts will definitely not get it done. For this team there is no Sunday morning.
If this team is as good as it thinks it is, then show it for 2 1/2 hours tomorrow.

Forget ‘Em and their idiotic clocks, time to rip off the fountains on the court. Must win! ZIP ‘EM UP!

I will now take a required moment to reflect per the retirement of our current overlord er University president.

[mid major]

This is our "play in game". Take the drama out of it and just win. Home court, senior day, beatable opponent...lose and nobody to blame. We could have won at Butler. Tyrone Hill said it best. It's win time!

[whopper]

a good pep talk and all valid points. I hope EVERYBODY makes Tyrique and Q's senior day special. The Macolm Bernard signature I see on this site is what we need, the one that ends is "all you need to do is follow me". I am nervous and went to Providence and saw us play well and lose..the same effort PLUS Paul Scruggs would win this game.

[Masterofreality]

I posted this on the game thread but it is valid here too.
Xavier was in this exact same position exactly 5 years ago on March 7, 2015. The difference is that X had to go to the 18,000 capacity cauldron that is Creighton. This year, at least, we’re at home.
X was squarely on the bubble at 41 RPI. 8-9 in Conference, had to win to avoid Wednesday in MSG and finish 6th. Sound familiar? This was after years of 17-14, missing the postseason then barely making the Dance in the play-in game and losing to NC State. The seat was getting hot.
Mack and his guys got it done. Can Steele & his?

[Xavier]

It’s huge. We are squarely on the bubble. A loss means we have to win 2 in NY. Win and I think we’re in. It’s historic because as dumb as it sounds it could be the difference between looking for a new coach in a couple years or not. Hell, could be the difference between the program taking a major step back.

Win, make the tournament (who knows, right match ups and make sweet 16....not the point in this thread) and Steele buys time. Lose, miss the tournament with Scruggs and Marshal leaving (which I think will happen) and next year making the tournament is a long shot. 3 years missing the tournament to kick off your start at Xavier....won’t last long.

It obviously doesn’t make or break the program but it’s a huge game and opportunity.

[jhelmes37]

It's still fun, but it doesn't have that amped up feel.

March without Xavier is like non-alcoholic beer.

Kinda tastes like the real thing without any of the warm fuzzies.

[xu 89]

Tomorrow's game in my mind is the most important game in a very long time for the Xavier brand.
For so many reasons which posters have aptly mentioned most of the second half of this season. How the entire group including players, coaches, GA's and even managers respond to this challenge will tell me alot about where this program is and where it's heading. I'm hoping I will see and feel a sense of urgency the minute I walk into Cintas. 20 turnovers will not get it done. 67% FT will not get it done. Missing point blank shots at the rim will not get it done. Letting a bounce pass go under your hands and into the backcourt will not get it done. Not being able to get the ball inbounds without a steal-twice will not get it done. Not knowing how much time is left in the possession will not get it done. Getting down 12 six minutes in will not get it done. Not ever letting Butler in the door and knowing what it takes for that to happen will get it done. Playing hard in spurts will definitely not get it done. For this team there is no Sunday morning.
If this team is as good as it thinks it is, then show it for 2 1/2 hours tomorrow.

This is well said and I agree. Most of what you mention is mental and shouldn't be happening at this point in the season and especially with the juniors/seniors (i.e., the stolen inbound passes, the over and back, shot clock awareness, you forgot the Naji stepping over the in bound line). Missed shots will happen but if the silly turnovers continue this team won't get far in the post season.

[AviatorX]

Should we wait to see if Xavier's second best player is in uniform tonight before we declare this game a referendum on the status of the program?