Game Thread: Xavier v Bryant (11/24/2023)

[paulxu]

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/2a1f45a0-e1cc-4202-89d7-1b7b5c27f309_1.3c18d8e111cdcd7e8a271effb6000907.jp eg?odnHeight=612&odnWidth=612&odnBg=FFFFFFVS.https://bkstr.scene7.com/is/image/Bkstr/887-MAGNET-SCSPC-Bulldog


CINCINNATI --- The Xavier University Musketeers, 3-2, host the Bryant University Bulldogs, 3-3, on Friday at noon at Cintas Center. Xavier, which is opening a six-game homestand, is coming off an impressive 66-49 win over WCC preseason favorite Saint Mary's on Sunday at the Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas.

Bryant, which is coming off a 67-61 win over Howard on Monday, won 61-52 at then-No. 10 FAU on Nov. 18.


THE MATCHUP

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (3-2, 0-0 BIG EAST)
BRYANT UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (3-3, 0-0 AMERICA EAST)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023 AT NOON ET
AT CINTAS CENTER IN CINCINNATI, OHIO

TV, RADIO AND LIVE STATS

Television: FS1 with play-by-play from Jason Ross Jr. and analysis from LaVall Jordan.
Xavier Radio: 700 WLW with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer Joe Sunderman ('79) and analysis from XU all-time leading scorer and Hall of Famer Byron Larkin ('88). XU broadcast is also on the Varsity Network and on SXM.


Live Stats: Media stats at Statbroadcast.com (http://Statbroadcast.com) and fan stats at GoXavier.com (http://GoXavier.com).

[Xville]

O looks awesome today. I think Bryant has something to do with that, but still. Very cohesive and free flowing.

[xu82]

I’m enjoying the first half and the stress free 21 point lead.

[noteggs]

Yes great ball movement. Already 13 assists

[Three Point Pete]

What a relief! We can hit free throws

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[xukeith]

McKnight on pace for 10 points and 14 assists.

[bjf123]

What a relief! We can hit free throws

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And threes. Shooting 50% from deep at the half.


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[xukeith]

What happened to former X transfer Ben Stanley?

[XfansinKy]

Are teams scouting Claude hardly goes left? I could be wrong here.

[XfansinKy]

Went to Old Dominion and averaged about 10ppg

[HenryMuto]

Bryant beat Florida Atlantic somehow

[paulxu]

Not real smart play there.

[Xville]

My pick the score is pathetic lol

[paulxu]

Maybe we can get a mulligan.

[xukeith]

Shooting 67% from 2 is a nice problem.

[xu82]

Nice to see everybody getting some time on the court. I’m curious about these guys too.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

My score prediction is totally off. I didn’t expect X to win by this much, but it’s nice though.

[UCGRAD4X]

Great 1st half again. A lot to like in this game. 27 assists on 38 fg.

2nd half - X only outscored 51 - 50.

[bobbiemcgee]

Abou looked good until the head butt. Does he have to sit a game?

[UCGRAD4X]

Abou looked good until the head butt.

I like the fire and the aggressiveness. Going to come in handy come BE play. Xavier going to struggle big time against Big East bigs.

Would love to see a video of that. Didn't really see it at the game and no replay.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Abou looked good until the head butt.

No fouls in first half and only one for the game. Unfortunately, it was dead ball flagrant and you only get one of those a game.

It wasn't even that great a head butt but, I guess, for maximum effect he did it right in front of a ref who was only about a foot away.

This is a nice win against a fairly weak opponent coming off a road trip. A good opportunity, as one poster said on another thread, "to smooth the edges". The transfers had the opportunity to gain some needed confidence and Miller got to play with his nine-man rotation.

Monday should bring more of the same although, for me, I'd rather see a more difficult opponent. I realize we have Houston coming in a week from today, but I prefer a young deep team, like ours, to face more difficult games early so when we head into conference play, we are ready for the crowds, the physical nature of the opponent, etc. I don't think today's game did much for us in that department. It was a needed "gimme" but we just need one of those every now and then.

[bjf123]

Would love to see a video of that. Didn't really see it at the game and no replay.

I missed it at the game, too, but have YouTube TV set to record X games. Here’s the replay from TV. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but was still a head butt. I think Rivera from Bryant took exception to the inadvertent elbow from Ousmane and got right in Abou’s face who pushed back with his forehead. Regardless, you can’t do that.

Well damn. It didn’t upload it. Let me try in a new post.

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[xu82]

We’re playing #2 and #6 in the early weeks of the season. I have no complaints with the strength of schedule. I hope it pays benefits down the road. You need some “confidence games” before we hit BE play, and you need to see how the Big Boys play as well.

[XUGRAD80]

That was the most stress free game I can remember in a long time. I almost fell asleep in the 2nd half. :biggrin:

[bjf123]

Looks like I can only get it here from Twitter / X

https://x.com/bjf123/status/1728208904864354712?s=46&t=BFaRhpzSZFkQ7RbyDYbL8g


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[paulxu]

Pretty good flop involved also.

And...Florida Atlantic just beat Texas A & M. How did they ever lose to Bryant?

[UCGRAD4X]

Looks like I can only get it here from Twitter / X

https://x.com/bjf123/status/1728208904864354712?s=46&t=BFaRhpzSZFkQ7RbyDYbL8g

Thanks.

Didn't look like the dude was all that up in Abou's grill talking shit really. It also didn't look like the headbutt even made much contact if any. The way he flopped the first time you would think he would have at least reacted to the head-butt (forehead tap - maybe).

Pretty weak sauce all the way around.