Is Nate Johnson the Key to Xavier's Season

[Muskie]

From our friends over at Banners on the Parkway (https://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2021/10/25/22745050/is-nate-johnson-the-key-to-xaviers-season-basketball-big-east)

When Nate Johnson was healthy, Xavier was hard to beat. For a long stretch of when Nate Johnson was healthy, Xavier was impossible to beat. Nate Johnson did not stay healthy all season. That is a very reductionist way of looking at Xavier’s basketball season, but it’s not entirely wrong.

Nate Johnson suffered some sort of leg injury in late January. At that point in time Xavier was 11-2, Johnson was the best three point shooter in the nation, and the Musketeers were 46th in the KenPom rankings. Nate had shredded Oklahoma and Marquette from deep, punched it on UC in the Shootout, and was always handling Xavier’s toughest guard assignment on defense...

[Muskie]

The two worst things that happened last season to X: Johnson's injury and the Covid pause. Both were killers for the rest of the campaign.

[xukeith]

The key to this season is Nunge. He was a utility player for Iowa. Steele is asking him to defend, score and rebound a ton more than he has ever done before.
X guards are skilled and play defense. If Nunge can defend AND play strong offense, then X has a chance to be special.

[Xville]

I agree with other comments on here, it’s not a player, it’s Steele. If it’s the same lineup and roster management he has had the last three years, the players won’t be able to overcome the poor leadership.

[XU_Lou]

I agree with other comments on here, it’s not a player, it’s Steele. If it’s the same lineup and roster management he has had the last three years, the players won’t be able to overcome the poor leadership.

Don't break an ankle when you decide to jump on the bandwagon....

[Xville]

Don't break an ankle when you decide to jump on the bandwagon....

You’re a fucking idiot. I’m always a fan, I’m on a basketball message board. I’m a fan of Steele and the team. I’m not a fan of his decision making the past three years. Shut the fuck up and stay in your stupid conspiracy covid corner

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

I agree with other comments on here, it’s not a player, it’s Steele. If it’s the same lineup and roster management he has had the last three years, the players won’t be able to overcome the poor leadership.

Assuming guard play this year is consistent with guard play last year (which doesn't seem like a huge leap), I think our record comes down to Bigs (Nunge, Miles, ZFree) and Steele. It will not take much to upgrade our inside play. I expect to see an immediate noticeable improvement.

The potential wild card, as you correctly identified, I think, is our coach. I'm having trouble defining exactly what I want to see from Steele this year but I think it is adopting a style of play that aligns with his (seemingly) abundance of talent along with his game management + bench leadership. Observing Steele over the last couple of years, his decisions sometimes seemed robotic + mechanical. I want to see decisions consistent with the flow of the game. I'm no coach and my expertise is only that I'm a long time hoops and X fan. But, I should (I think) feel like I understand most of his coaching decisions. They should make sense to me. I should be able to recognize the why behind his actions. Maybe not always but most of the time. Sometimes in the past, I haven't. Perhaps that's on me but others on this board have expressed the same thoughts.

Today, heading into the season, I really do expect to see improvement in both play on the court and coaching decisions. I'm optimistic that Steele will show growth in his now fourth season. Like you, I want Steele to make believers out of all of us. Still, I'm a little nervous.

[XU_Lou]

You’re a fucking idiot. I’m always a fan, I’m on a basketball message board. I’m a fan of Steele and the team. I’m not a fan of his decision making the past three years. Shut the fuck up and stay in your stupid conspiracy covid corner

No, you're quite irrational in your assessment of Steele and the results over the past 3 years. You don't have a clue on how well the players did in practice, injuries they were dealing with, etc... Most importantly, to say that not playing games - and not practicing on four different occasions - wouldn't have an effect on team chemistry or fitness levels is about the dumbest, most absurd, most irrational thing a so-called fan could ever say.

Good God, quit your bitching about Steele every time this topic comes up for crying out loud.

Again, don't break an ankle when you decide to jump on the bandwagon - you know, when it's safe for you to jump back on....

[Xville]

No, you're quite irrational in your assessment of Steele and the results over the past 3 years. You don't have a clue on how well the players did in practice, injuries they were dealing with, etc... Most importantly, to say that not playing games - and not practicing on four different occasions - wouldn't have an effect on team chemistry or fitness levels is about the dumbest, most absurd, most irrational thing a so-called fan could ever say.

Good God, quit your bitching about Steele every time this topic comes up for crying out loud.

Again, don't break an ankle when you decide to jump on the bandwagon - you know, when it's safe for you to jump back on....

You have zero knowledge of basketball. Stay in your lane bitch, quit talking out your ass. You also have zero clue as to what I do or do not know surrounding the program nor the access I or others in my circle have around the program. It’s not just about last year. If it was, I’d give a pass, as I did previous years. Three years is a trend, one that hopefully is broken this year. If you want to actually talk basketball and maybe learn something, fine, otherwise get off my dick that you are so obsessed with.

There is no bandwagon since I have and will always be a fan. You’re just a loser that is too busy looking up covid articles all day to know squat about the game.

[XU_Lou]

I have no clue.

I agree.

[Xville]

Getting back on topic..I think the guards are going to do what they do. Johnson I think is going to have a great season, Scruggs should be a great leader and the rest of the boys will play their roles well. For me, it’s about the forwards—-will free heal up nicely, what about nunge? Is miles going to take the next step, is hunter? Lots of question marks in the frontcourt that hopefully are answered favorably sooner rather than later

[hoopster68]

We should know a lot more by Christmas: games against Ohio State, Memphis/VT, OK State & Villanova will all be in the book by then. Can the coach adjust to these various styles; can he use the talents on the bench; can he substitute; can he use up-tempo, slow down, press, etc. when needed? If his actions look like the previous three seasons, Christmas will be a sad time in Muskieville.

[whopper]

few mention Stanley..I don't see how this does not translate to an effective offense player in big east (40 points Div 1). I know there are bigger defenders but he created a LOT of space . I think if we had him to sub for Carter last year (and probably supplant) we would have won 2 more games. Shame he got injured an incidental play. https://youtu.be/zt2g5Gpwxgk

[XU_Lou]

You have zero knowledge of basketball. Stay in your lane bitch, quit talking out your ass. You also have zero clue as to what I do or do not know surrounding the program nor the access I or others in my circle have around the program. It’s not just about last year. If it was, I’d give a pass, as I did previous years. Three years is a trend, one that hopefully is broken this year. If you want to actually talk basketball and maybe learn something, fine, otherwise get off my dick that you are so obsessed with.

There is no bandwagon since I have and will always be a fan. You’re just a loser that is too busy looking up covid articles all day to know squat about the game.

Oh, so are you insinuating that somehow you're a 40-year-old graduate assistant working for the team out of Louisville?

[Xville]

Oh, so are you insinuating that somehow you're a 40-year-old graduate assistant working for the team out of Louisville?

Nope. Wrong again Lyin Lou

[XU_Lou]

Nope. Wrong again Lyin Lou

I know, it's just more:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EihPtBZ_Yus

[Xville]

I know, it's just more:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EihPtBZ_Yus

You should know, you clutter the board with it all day everyday lyin lou

[XU_Lou]

You should know, you clutter the board with it all day everyday lyin lou

Okay, "Mr. Insider"

[Xville]

Okay, "Mr. Insider"

Never said that lyin Lou. It’s no surprise you would struggle though, it’s clear you have a comprehension problem.

[xu82]

Anyone else want to pitch in to get a room for a couple posters?

[XU_Lou]

You also have zero clue as to what I do or do not know surrounding the program nor the access I or others in my circle have around the program.


Never said that lyin Lou. It’s no surprise you would struggle though, it’s clear you have a comprehension problem.

Okay, "Mr. Insider"....

[muskiefan82]

Anyone else want to pitch in to get a room for a couple posters?

Halftime boxing/ufc match?

[xu82]

Halftime boxing/ufc match?

That could be a PPV BONANZA!

[XUBison]

Halftime boxing/ufc match?

is that boxing kangaroo still around? Seems it could somehow fit into this equation.

[xu82]

is that boxing kangaroo still around? Seems it could somehow fit into this equation.

That would be right up there with frisbee dogs!

[drudy23]

Assuming guard play this year is consistent with guard play last year (which doesn't seem like a huge leap), I think our record comes down to Bigs (Nunge, Miles, ZFree) and Steele. It will not take much to upgrade our inside play. I expect to see an immediate noticeable improvement.

The potential wild card, as you correctly identified, I think, is our coach. I'm having trouble defining exactly what I want to see from Steele this year but I think it is adopting a style of play that aligns with his (seemingly) abundance of talent along with his game management + bench leadership. Observing Steele over the last couple of years, his decisions sometimes seemed robotic + mechanical. I want to see decisions consistent with the flow of the game. I'm no coach and my expertise is only that I'm a long time hoops and X fan. But, I should (I think) feel like I understand most of his coaching decisions. They should make sense to me. I should be able to recognize the why behind his actions. Maybe not always but most of the time. Sometimes in the past, I haven't. Perhaps that's on me but others on this board have expressed the same thoughts.

Today, heading into the season, I really do expect to see improvement in both play on the court and coaching decisions. I'm optimistic that Steele will show growth in his now fourth season. Like you, I want Steele to make believers out of all of us. Still, I'm a little nervous.

Post contribution has been the key to success the past few years, and it really hasn't been there, mostly because of the confusing offensive structure we've employed the last 3 years. We haven't really utilized a true big man with Steele. That's not his thing - he's has tried to mimic Villanova without the talent and roster make-up as Villanova.

The offense the last 3 years has been - shoot threes.

There was a limited time last year in the early season where this team shared the ball and utilized an inside out approach to offense, and it worked. Once conference play started, our bigs were not good enough to compete with other true Big East bigs and we were exploited because other teams knew we had no offensive or defensive post presence. And it killed us - and we went back to chucking 3s and hoping to get hot to beat teams.

The roster construction of this team has to put SOME emphasis on solid post play. It doesn't have to run through the post, but it's the obvious void that is holding this core back under Steele. He has to be willing to change some of his philosophy around his "new age" Villanova approach as Xavier simply doesn't have that type of roster construction or wing talent to do that.

[xukeith]

Post contribution has been the key to success the past few years, and it really hasn't been there, mostly because of the confusing offensive structure we've employed the last 3 years. We haven't really utilized a true big man with Steele. That's not his thing - he's has tried to mimic Villanova without the talent and roster make-up as Villanova.

The offense the last 3 years has been - shoot threes.

There was a limited time last year in the early season where this team shared the ball and utilized an inside out approach to offense, and it worked. Once conference play started, our bigs were not good enough to compete with other true Big East bigs and we were exploited because other teams knew we had no offensive or defensive post presence. And it killed us - and we went back to chucking 3s and hoping to get hot to beat teams.

The roster construction of this team has to put SOME emphasis on solid post play. It doesn't have to run through the post, but it's the obvious void that is holding this core back under Steele. He has to be willing to change some of his philosophy around his "new age" Villanova approach as Xavier simply doesn't have that type of roster construction or wing talent to do that.
Didn't Steele get Nunge as a post player to fill a void? How does Freemantle do well in BE rebounding by shooting too many threes?

[drudy23]

Didn't Steele get Nunge as a post player to fill a void? How does Freemantle do well in BE rebounding by shooting too many threes?

Only if Nunge is actually used. Scrimmage today against Vandy we go 11-32 from 3 - that’s simply too many 3s for this team to be effective. Yes I know the scrimmage means nothing, but also why go out and lose doing the exact same thing? I’d love to see the box score - if these guys just go out and chuck up 30 3s a game for a 4th year in a row, I will continue to bad mouth it here.

It’s a losing formula for the construction of this roster.