Xavier Practice Yesterday

[Masterofreality]

Fred Garvin (Male Prostitute) and I went to the practice yesterday! Here are snippet recaps:
Sean is an incredible teacher in practice with all 2 hours 33 minutes fully utilized.
The kid who impressed us the most was Kachi Nzeh. What an athlete, long arms and he can score. Ousmane looks like the only legit rebounder for now with bulk. That is until the Euros and Dailyn Swain get more experience.
No question that Dez will be the offensive focus with probably McKnight as the starting PG. Kam Craft was running around looking healthy but like one of the X admins told me, he was behind other guys in reps due to his injury. Even though he couldn't participate, Jerome sat through the whole practice and was there for his teammates. I was told the reason for his cardiac issue is still undetermined, which is the difference between he and Bronny James. The Euros know their fundamentals but they look like they need some bulk. Afraid they might get pushed around in the Big East but we'll see. Backcourt looks deep and good.
There was lots of time spent in running offensive concepts drills because of all the new guys. Defense drills were impressive and, yes, they practiced free throws.
Sean & staff are amazing!
A great day for a preview!

[paulxu]

Good stuff. Thanks.

[Final4]

Thanks for the update. Was Freemantle there? Any opinion on Reid?

[xukeith]

Thanks MOR!

[xudash]

Fred Garvin (Male Prostitute) and I went to the practice yesterday! Here are snippet recaps:
Sean is an incredible teacher in practice with all 2 hours 33 minutes fully utilized.
The kid who impressed us the most was Kachi Nzeh. What an athlete, long arms and he can score. Ousmane looks like the only legit rebounder for now with bulk. That is until the Euros and Dailyn Swain get more experience.
No question that Dez will be the offensive focus with probably McKnight as the starting PG. Kam Craft was running around looking healthy but like one of the X admins told me, he was behind other guys in reps due to his injury. Even though he couldn't participate, Jerome sat through the whole practice and was there for his teammates. I was told the reason for his cardiac issue is still undetermined, which is the difference between he and Bronny James. The Euros know their fundamentals but they look like they need some bulk. Afraid they might get pushed around in the Big East but we'll see. Backcourt looks deep and good.
There was lots of time spent in running offensive concepts drills because of all the new guys. Defense drills were impressive and, yes, they practiced free throws.
Sean & staff are amazing!
A great day for a preview!

Great stuff, MOR. Thanks for sharing.

It is a damn shame that Jerome will not be able to suit up this year for Xavier. However, in thinking about the young man and his basketball career, I am very happy for him that ge got to go out "on top" for the most part.

Think about it. If I recall correctly, he was the overall #2 pick coming out of Ohio high school basketball his senior year. He decides to go to IU. That didn't work out, so he lands at Xavier with Travis Steele, where he wanders along with potential, but no meaningful coaching guidance. Along comes Sean Miller and BAAM! Jerome Hunter ends up with a solid season and establishes himself as a key cog in the S16 run.

He may have regrets in some instances when he looks back, but he will always know that his final trajectory was a thing of beauty for himself and Xavier Nation.

Knowing that he was there for the entire practice, encouraging his teammates, makes me like him even more.

I did notice what's his name dropping X out of this year's forecasted NCAAT - first one out. Silly fool. Sean Miller says hold my beer and Primanti's sandwich and watch this.

Go X!

[XU_Lou]

n/a - comment was already made...

[GoMuskies]

I have plenty of faith in Miller, but in the 30 seasons since I first enrolled at Xavier I would say this is the team most shrouded in mystery. I have literally no idea how this team will play or how good they will be. I wouldn't be shocked if they missed the Tournament or if they were a 2 or 3 seed and went deep. It kind of makes the anticipation for the season more fun. That sense of mystery might be less fun if a lesser light were our coach, of course.

[muskiefan82]

Coach Miller takes unknown quantities and makes them better. Steele took known quantities and made us wonder what we were supposed to actually know them for.

[paulxu]

From Miller in the Rothstein article, he seemed to be saying Hunter could be back.

[Masterofreality]

From Miller in the Rothstein article, he seemed to be saying Hunter could be back.

Until they can put a definite diagnosis on why Jerome had the problem, he will not be seeing the court. And that has not happened.

[xavierj]

NM

[bobbiemcgee]

Nice summary MOR

[Masterofreality]

I also must add that Quincy Oliveri is not out of the mix as starting PG.
There is a competitive situation going on. We’ll see.

[noteggs]

From Miller in the Rothstein article, he seemed to be saying Hunter could be back.

Yeah saw that. Obviously he is ruled out this year. Wondering if he was talking about him in the future? Could he possibly take another medical redshirt year. However not sure he wants to be 25 year old college player.

[xu82]

I have plenty of faith in Miller, but in the 30 seasons since I first enrolled at Xavier I would say this is the team most shrouded in mystery. I have literally no idea how this team will play or how good they will be. I wouldn't be shocked if they missed the Tournament or if they were a 2 or 3 seed and went deep. It kind of makes the anticipation for the season more fun. That sense of mystery might be less fun if a lesser light were our coach, of course.

I literally looked up our roster today and studied a few guys. I don’t remember a year where I had less of an idea about how we would look.

[bobbiemcgee]

Looks like 13 of our games will be top 25. How far have we come from A10 days.

[xukeith]

Hunter and Freemantle will be mid 20 something next year.

Love those 2. If both can be 90% of their ability X would be stacked at almost every position except shooting guard.
Wave of CUSA transfers, East European guys, and veterans pursuing their doctorates will be a damn good basketball team.

[GIMMFD]

I have plenty of faith in Miller, but in the 30 seasons since I first enrolled at Xavier I would say this is the team most shrouded in mystery. I have literally no idea how this team will play or how good they will be. I wouldn't be shocked if they missed the Tournament or if they were a 2 or 3 seed and went deep. It kind of makes the anticipation for the season more fun. That sense of mystery might be less fun if a lesser light were our coach, of course.

Yup, was talking to my UCONN alumni brother in law and he was asking about how we'd look this year, and I truly had no clue what to tell him, it's an interesting roster construction with a lot of questions and unknowns, but for some reason I'm pretty calm about the prospects of this season. Getting Sean Miller back has been a godsend, because at least you know you have someone that has a great track record and ability to lead us to where we want to be.

Loved reading the practice notes though, thanks MOR, its making me a bit giddy for basketball season and to see how we look this year, hoping for another successful year!

[MHettel]

so ready for some basketball.

I really have zero questions about the backcourt. 2 transfers that have already done it well at this level.

I think we go small, which means Claude plays a 3 like Scruggs should have been used. Really think Claude could earn some awards this years.

Front court. This is obviously the question. I think the North Texas guy will start and play a lot of minutes. We need a beast in the middle. He’s the guy for that role. Then, we need 2 more guys to emerge to get a rotation. Nzeh is seemingly a beast. But also a frosh. Then 3 Euro guys that I’m sure Miller sees something in.

Rest of bench is swain, green, Kraft, ???

Miller spent years at UofA having to manage huge roster turnover. He had 5Star guys coming in yearly and he weaved it together.

I feel like he’s got ALOT to work with here

[bleedXblue]

1. Losing Free and Hunter are crushing blows
2. No returning player we can "count on" other than maybe Claude
3. So many new guys
4. Huge question marks in the post
5. Very, very difficult schedule. OOC is tough right out of the gate with Purdue (road), Houston (home) and T-Giving tourney.

Id be happy with 20 wins.......I don't have the expectation that we go to the tourney. That would be a huge bonus.

Projection 18-13
Around 5th/6th in the BE

[Smails]

1. Losing Free and Hunter are crushing blows
2. No returning player we can "count on" other than maybe Claude
3. So many new guys
4. Huge question marks in the post
5. Very, very difficult schedule. OOC is tough right out of the gate with Purdue (road), Houston (home) and T-Giving tourney.

Id be happy with 20 wins.......I don't have the expectation that we go to the tourney. That would be a huge bonus.

Projection 18-13
Around 5th/6th in the BE

I agree with all of this..but if we finish 5th in the BE, we'll be in the tourney. A fifth place finish means we'll have picked off a couple of ranked teams in conference play.

[xavierj]

I also must add that Quincy Oliveri is not out of the mix as starting PG.
There is a competitive situation going on. We’ll see.

No chance. He is the starting shooting guard. Dayvion McKnight is the starting PG. he will be one of the best in the big east. If you listen to Sean, he loves him.

[XUBob]

Was at practice today. I agree with MOR, might take a bit but I think this team is going to be more than fine. I was impressed with the overall team speed, they are going to play fast! Our bigs are all wide bodied, I think rebounding will be much improved. You can see that Gytis has professional experience, he just has an air of I’ve been there and I can do this about him. Trey Green will be X’s microwave, he can shoot. I’m excited what this group is capable of.

[Frambo]

Was at practice today. I agree with MOR, might take a bit but I think this team is going to be more than fine. I was impressed with the overall team speed, they are going to play fast! Our bigs are all wide bodied, I think rebounding will be much improved. You can see that Gytis has professional experience, he just has an air of I’ve been there and I can do this about him. Trey Green will be X’s microwave, he can shoot. I’m excited what this group is capable of.

Depth, defense with Sean at the wheel putting it all together……it will be an interesting season

[BigMoeMusketeer]

I also must add that Quincy Oliveri is not out of the mix as starting PG.

In my opinion, Quincy will play the wing opposite Claude, and those two will be our two leading scorers. McKnight will be the starting PG and will absolutely lead this team in minutes played. He won't score much, but he'll add ball-handling, on the ball defense, passing, and toughness.

[xavierj]

In my opinion, Quincy will play the wing opposite Claude, and those two will be our two leading scorers. McKnight will be the starting PG and will absolutely lead this team in minutes played. He won't score much, but he'll add ball-handling, on the ball defense, passing, and toughness.

Quincy will take 5 or more threes a game I bet. He along with Green will be the best shooters on the team. Dayvion is not known as a shooter but his stroke looks good so expect him to improve that under Sean as well and at least be a guy you can’t just sag off of.

[D-West & PO-Z]

From Miller in the Rothstein article, he seemed to be saying Hunter could be back.

Quote that is not news, but concerning from Miller in that article:

"But we do have an influx of young players-10 new guys. I don't know if the Big East is set up for 10 new players but we're going to fight the good fight and I think we can be a team that really improves as the year goes on."

My buddy read that and texted me that "fight the good fight" is what Middle Tennessee says right before they play Alabama in football.

I do think the backcourt is going to be a strength. Obviously the front court at this point is a total unknown/wild card.

If anyone can get this many new players to gel and buy in, it's Miller. This was a great year to have the Bahamas trip even though we may have lost and added some guys since then.

Looking forward to the season.

[D-West & PO-Z]

1. Losing Free and Hunter are crushing blows
2. No returning player we can "count on" other than maybe Claude
3. So many new guys
4. Huge question marks in the post
5. Very, very difficult schedule. OOC is tough right out of the gate with Purdue (road), Houston (home) and T-Giving tourney.

Id be happy with 20 wins.......I don't have the expectation that we go to the tourney. That would be a huge bonus.

Projection 18-13
Around 5th/6th in the BE

I have no idea what to expect. I think the tourney is always possible with Miller. One thing I do strongly believe though is that if we are 5th in the BE in a given year we will be in the tourney. I'd say we'd be in most years where we are 6th as well.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I agree with all of this..but if we finish 5th in the BE, we'll be in the tourney. A fifth place finish means we'll have picked off a couple of ranked teams in conference play.

Didn't see your post before mine, but I totally agree. 5th place BE team in almost always going to be in. 6th I think is in most years as well.

[Masterofreality]

No chance. He is the starting shooting guard. Dayvion McKnight is the starting PG. he will be one of the best in the big east. If you listen to Sean, he loves him.

Probably true. I maybe shouldn’t have used the word “starting” but there is a very good chance that Quincy can shift over to the Point when Dayvion is out, or in foul trouble. Some of that depends on how quickly Trey Greene can develop.
I believe Quincy is a true combo guard and we won’t be seeing Dez playing any PG.

[sirthought]

Sounds like we're in good shape for the back court as far as running the offense. It'll be interesting to see how they compete against Big East players on the defensive end.

[xavierj]

Probably true. I maybe shouldn’t have used the word “starting” but there is a very good chance that Quincy can shift over to the Point when Dayvion is out, or in foul trouble. Some of that depends on how quickly Trey Greene can develop.
I believe Quincy is a true combo guard and we won’t be seeing Dez playing any PG.

I could see that. Green will also run the point.

[xavierj]

Sounds like we're in good shape for the back court as far as running the offense. It'll be interesting to see how they compete against Big East players on the defensive end.

The defense will be better in the backcourt. Quincy and Dayvion are big strong guards and good defenders. Have to remember last year Kunkel and Souley were slight of build and not great defenders. Trey Green my guess will struggle defensively when in but can make up for it the way he can score. The concern should be how our bigs can compete against Big East competition.

[murray87]

So several posters have gone to practices. I guess those are always open to the public? Is it possible to get inside for the secret scrimmages?

[xukeith]

So several posters have gone to practices. I guess those are always open to the public? Is it possible to get inside for the secret scrimmages?

I believe some posters are donors to X basketball and some were invited to watch a practice and donate more to X.

[Masterofreality]

I believe some posters are donors to X basketball and some were invited to watch a practice and donate more to X.

Give a few bucks to the All For One and you too can be invited!!!