Game Thread: Xavier v Butler (3/6/2024)

[paulxu]

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/2a1f45a0-e1cc-4202-89d7-1b7b5c27f309_1.3c18d8e111cdcd7e8a271effb6000907.jp eg?odnHeight=612&odnWidth=612&odnBg=FFFFFFVS.https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/TeoAAOSw101fsFoH/s-l200.jpg

CINCINNATI --- The Xavier University Musketeers, 15-14 overall and 9-9 in the BIG EAST Conference, finish off the road portion of their league schedule when they visit the Butler University Bulldogs, 17-13 overall and 8-11 in the BIG EAST, on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. Xavier is looking for its third-straight win, while Butler is shooting for its second-straight victory.

Xavier leads the series vs. Butler 47-26, including two straight victories and a 16-9 mark since the two teams became BIG EAST rivals in the 2013-14 season. Xavier won the first meeting this season in Cincinnati, 85-71 on Jan. 16, while Butler won last year's meeting at Hinkle Fieldhouse 69-67 on Feb. 10.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (15-14, 9-9 BIG EAST)
BUTLER UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (17-13, 8-11 BIG EAST)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024 AT 7:30 P.M. ET
HINKLE FIELDHOUSE IN INDIANAPOLIS, IND.

TV, RADIO AND LIVE STATS

Television: CBS Sports Network with play-by-play from Andrew Catalon and analysis from Steve Lappas.
Xavier Radio: 700 WLW-AM with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer Joe Sunderman ('79) 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).

[drudy23]

Win, lose, whatever.

I'm here for the Miracle @ MSG.

[fellahmuskie]

Going with a group of three. First Xavier road game in a while!

[American X]

Please win so I can flip a classy bird at Butler fans.

[Xville]

x +3...taking that all day even if it is Butler's super bowl

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Minus Swain, they still have a good shot here. Miller schemes well against Matta. He should have something up his sleeve, but this is their Senior night. We won't get any help from the officials as they tend to lean to the home team for these.

[paulxu]

Did they leap into the 21st century and get a Precision Time System...or is the old clock operator still trying to figure out how to use it?

[Cincypunk.org]

Minus Swain, they still have a good shot here. Miller schemes well against Matta. He should have something up his sleeve, but this is their Senior night. We won't get any help from the officials as they tend to lean to the home team for these.

What happened to Swain?

[Xville]

What happened to Swain?

Rumor is ruptured appendix. This program could use a break or two in the positive direction. I know last season was s16 but could have been ff had free stayed healthy.

It’s been about six years of shit.

[noteggs]

Posh hitting a three and Brooks banking a three. Rough start

[American X]

At least they got going down double digits out of the way early.

[Xville]

Good to see our guys really be fired up and ready to play from the jump. We need a sarcastic font

[Xville]

Another game where x didn’t show up from the tip. Getting really effing old

[xuphan]

Another game where x didn’t show up from the tip. Getting really effing old

Miller is going to have to make some hard decisions during the offseason. This team needs a major rebuild.

[Xville]

Good response from being down early! They have woken up

[American X]

Just when I thought Ousmane could not surprise me anymore, he negates a Claude three with a foul.

[Xville]

Huh? How was that a foul on des?

[Xville]

Q has been very very bad tonight so far

[ArizonaXUGrad]

On pace to give up 100 points and commit 20 TOs.

[bjf123]

Wonder if we’ll get to 30 points by halftime?


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[Xville]

Claude is about the only option on o so far tonight and everyone has been bad on d. On last possession, Five x players standing around while the ball bounces on the ground. the one butler player near the basket ( while all others are running back in d) gets the board and scores on a layup.

[noteggs]

Fear the mullet!

[paulxu]

This is depressing.

[American X]

I am going to get a Werner ladder, official ladder of NCAA March Madness, and jump off of it into the pond.

[paulxu]

On a positive note, we are shooting 100% from 3.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Basically the same old story all year, sub-par defense when we need it followed by a turnover we don't need to try and bring the game closer.

This team just does too many of the things .500 teams do to stay .500.

[Xville]

Can Gytis sit on the bench the rest of the year? I’ve seen enough. Don’t know how Sean hasnt

[paulxu]

On a negative note, they are shooting 40% from 3.
5 for 12 is better than 1 for 1.

[American X]

Claude has expanded his game to f'ed up passes also.

[paulxu]

Miller schemes well against Matta.

This is not aging well.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

This is not aging well.

I give him a pass tonight. Swain down and doesn't Ciani have a knock also? It's basically a skeleton crew out there. Toss in that fact that they literally have zero to play for, without Swain they lost any of the small chance to win 4 in 4 days at MSG.

[noteggs]

9, I mean 9 TO’s. Wake me up when it’s over…

[Xuperman]

If Miller wants Green out there....what is the point if he doesn't get any looks from 3?

[Xville]

I give him a pass tonight. Swain down and doesn't Ciani have a knock also? It's basically a skeleton crew out there. Toss in that fact that they literally have zero to play for, without Swain they lost any of the small chance to win 4 in 4 days at MSG.

Well Ciani sucks so that doesn’t matter. But I also don’t think it has anything to do with scheme. Millers scheme does not include giving the ball to the other team and taking fucked up shots with ole’ defense

[American X]

Snipe needs to slump bust those Butler 10s.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I am sure Miller told them to focus on not getting unnecessary fouls. That could be part of this defense. I would hope that changes in the second, but Matta knew Swain was down. Smart to tell his guys to push and drive.

[Blue Blooded-05]

Thad Matta is an OLD 56

[Xville]

Claude needs to pull the wide open three trigger. I don’t care if he may miss them. He can’t keep taking up that shot for a tough two

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Not having that on the block big just kills us in these situations. We get TOs or rebounds down like this and are forced to take jumpers that miss.

[Xville]

9 of 30 isn’t gonna win ya many games

[bjf123]

They haven’t scored in 4 minutes and we’re still down 13. That’s embarrassing


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[bjf123]

Wonder if we’ll get to 30 points by halftime?


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Nope. Think I’m done for the night. This is ridiculous


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[Xuperman]

Can someone explain how a guy like Olivari can look so pathetic?

[Xville]

Well, keep butler in the 60s and q get hot in the 2nd half and maybe x makes it a game

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Butler gave them so many chances to pull it back and we said nah.

[noteggs]

Wonder if we’ll get to 30 points by halftime?


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My bet is no.

[paulxu]

Well, our 3pt % is now down to 25% after missing the next 3.
But I don't understand why you go 17 minutes of a half and only shoot 1 3pt shot, especially down double digits.

[Xuperman]

24????
Something is WAY wrong.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

This team just doesn't help me stay out of my bourbon during the week. I am going to have to hit the JD triple mash for this garbage to go down.

[American X]

Not that it is the worst game plan, but I do not think Claude one-on-one only is going to cut it. They did stop the pace to give up 100 points, which is nice. Just then cut the lead down to reasonable by half, crazy idea.

[Three Point Pete]

Quincy and Trey need to shoot 3 pointers, open up the paint.

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[Xville]

Really going to have to play this stupid team again in the day of shame, again? For the right to get bent over without lube to UConn?

[American X]

This team just doesn't help me stay out of my bourbon during the week. I am going to have to hit the JD triple mash for this garbage to go down.

I picked the wrong Lent to not drink.

[Xville]

I picked the wrong Lent to not drink.

At least you didn’t give up sniffing glue, so you got that going for ya, which is nice

[drudy23]

One assist at halftime.

One.

We suck.

[drudy23]

Claude 6 TOs - still 18 minutes to go

[Xville]

Butler trying everything to get us back in this game

[MHettel]

Serious issues with this team. There were signs all year long, but we’ve got some soft guys that have a whole lot of quit in them.

Even the GTown comeback was a one man show with basically just one on one play. That’s garbage offense and only works on a crap team like GT.

I don’t want to suffer through another crap year, but frankly I’m wondering how many of these pieces are worth bringing back?

[drudy23]

4 missed layups in first 4 minutes.

Just ugly basketball. It’s like street ball.

[Xville]

Woof that was a bad four minutes but x is right in the game. If q can get out of whatever the eff headspace he is in, we got a chance

[drudy23]

Serious issues with this team. There were signs all year long, but we’ve got some soft guys that have a whole lot of quit in them.

Even the GTown comeback was a one man show with basically just one on one play. That’s garbage offense and only works on a crap team like GT.

I don’t want to suffer through another crap year, but frankly I’m wondering how many of these pieces are worth bringing back?

These first 4 minutes were nonsense.

And yes, what comes next? Concerning indeed.

Serious upgrades needed.

[noteggs]

How we down 9 when they haven’t scored in 8 minutes? Never mind I know.

[Xville]

Hell yeah! Let’s go!!!

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Miller is going to have to make some hard decisions during the offseason. This team needs a major rebuild.

You are right. We do need a rebuild. But here's a potential problem with your statement. There are going to be a lot of teams attacking the portal, almost every team in the Big East among them. I have confidence in Miller but what if we whiff in the portal? It isn't a sure thing. Leaving aside McKnight and Dez, other than Nzeh, Green and Swain, do our other returning players have the ability to play at this level? Think about Abou, Ciani, Lazar and Gytis. I haven't seen much improvement in any of them. I get they will have a year of Big East experience under their belts next year but is that enough if they lack the talent needed to compete?

Other teams are going to get better. Cooley is making something like $6.0 million annually and he will be under intense pressure to improve. He's got six scholarships open, and he has stated that recruiting better players is his primary objective for next year.

We all assume, because of Miller, that next year we will be better. What if we are not better? What if next year looks a lot like this one? This has been such a tough season to get through and I don't want to endure another next year.

[Xville]

Serious issues with this team. There were signs all year long, but we’ve got some soft guys that have a whole lot of quit in them.

Even the GTown comeback was a one man show with basically just one on one play. That’s garbage offense and only works on a crap team like GT.

I don’t want to suffer through another crap year, but frankly I’m wondering how many of these pieces are worth bringing back?

Crap offense? UConn won two national championships with one on one basketball. Napier and kemba say hello

[Xville]

You are right. We do need a rebuild. But here's a potential problem with your statement. There are going to be a lot of teams attacking the portal, almost every team in the Big East among them. I have confidence in Miller but what if we whiff in the portal? It isn't a sure thing. Leaving aside McKnight and Dez, other than Nzeh, Green and Swain, do our other returning players have the ability to play at this level? Think about Abou, Ciani, Lazar and Gytis. I haven't seen much improvement in any of them. I get they will have a year of Big East experience under their belts next year but is that enough if they lack the talent needed to compete?

Other teams are going to get better. Cooley is making something like $6.0 million annually and he will be under intense pressure to improve. He's got six scholarships open, and he has stated that recruiting better players is his primary objective for next year.

We all assume, because of Miller, that next year we will be better. What if we are not better? What if next year looks a lot like this one? This has been such a tough season to get through and I don't want to endure another next year.

Trust in Sean, it will be fine. We do have some hopeful insurance in free too

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I like how they got our hopes up momentarily then gave up a quick run and a T.

Lol, followed by another TO. You couldn't script this any worse.

[American X]

Check mystery technical foul playing at Butler off your bingo card.

[Xuperman]

This is a clown show of a basketball game.

[Xville]

Let’s go!!!! Fuck butler

[drudy23]

This is a clown show of a basketball game.

It really is.

It feels like a TBT game.

[GoMuskies]

Have any of you noticed that we're bad?

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Just can't get closer than 6, we get close but miss and give up a shot on the other end to extend the lead. Damn, Swain would have made a difference.

[Xville]

Claude made the mistake that may have put the final nail in

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Can you imagine that? Abou commits a dumb-ass foul.

[UCGRAD4X]

Huge push-off on Nzeh and then Abou gets called for the same screen they do ALL THE TIME.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

That should be it.

[GoMuskies]

Have any of you noticed that we're bad?

Because it turns out we're bad.

[Xuperman]

This is a horrific offensive display of epic proportions.

[Xville]

Swain
Green
Nzeh
McKnight
Claude


It’s a good core. Add free, get a legit big and replace q and that’s a tourney team imo.

Not concerned with replacing q, but a legit big may be difficult

[GoMuskies]

Mullet man is one of our best players, huh?

[Xuperman]

Swain
Green
Nzeh
McKnight
Claude


It’s a good core. Add free, get a legit big and replace q and that’s a tourney team imo.

Not concerned with replacing q, but a legit big may be difficult

There will be portal problems.

Only McKnight and Ousmane guaranteed.

[Xville]

There will be portal problems.

What do you mean?

[Xville]

Quincy injured or Sean just pissed off?

[GoMuskies]

Quincy injured or Sean just pissed off?

If he's not hurt Miller should probably be subject to a mental health check.

[UCGRAD4X]

Why? Just why?

[Xville]

Djokovic needs to play more and Gytis a lot less

[GoMuskies]

This has to be rock bottom, right?

[Xville]

Ok I want Djokovic back too

[Three Point Pete]

This game over after the first 4 minutes.

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[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Tonight's result for this team, in this season seems very predictable. We just suck this year.

[XUBison]

This has to be rock bottom, right?

Georgetown is 4-54 in the BE the past three seasons, so there’s that.

[Xville]

It’s really something that butler went 11 minutes without scoring and x still never threatened to take a lead

[drudy23]

Need

more

talent

[GoMuskies]

Georgetown is 4-54 in the BE the past three seasons, so there’s that.

As long as we don't hire James Posey or David West as head coach, we're probably safe from that fate.

[drudy23]

As long as we don't hire James Posey or David West as head coach, we're probably safe from that fate.

I'd have taken either over Steele.

Champions

[GoMuskies]

I'd have taken either over Steele.

Champions

Patrick Ewing, Kenny Payne, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler and Isaiah Thomas were all "champions", too.

[drudy23]

Patrick Ewing, Kenny Payne, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler and Isaiah Thomas were all "champions", too.

And none of these guys are David Effin West

[GoMuskies]

And none of these guys are David Effin West

No, 4 of the 5 were WAY, WAY better.

[XUBison]

As long as we don't hire James Posey or David West as head coach, we're probably safe from that fate.

Hey, Patrick did win the BE tourney once— Hope reigns supreme!

[drudy23]

No, 4 of the 5 were WAY, WAY better.

Blasphemy.

DWest has 2 rings. Posey has 2 rings.

I think only Isiah on your list.

Posey <> West 2024

[Xville]

So from what I have heard q got benched for effort.

It was a really weird ass game from him. That’s two pretty shitty (for him) games in a row now

[Xville]

Blasphemy.

DWest has 2 rings. Posey has 2 rings.

I think only Isiah on your list.

Posey <> West 2024

If rings mattered to what player is better, then Robert horry is better than all of them.

[Xuperman]

What do you mean?

Only McKnight and Ousmane are guaranteed returnees.

Everyone else will be an off season "free agent". That spells trouble IMO.....there is one reason that is obvious.

[American X]

Olivari was poised to win the Big East scoring title, the promptly gets the shanks. Is he hurt from that fall early in the Georgetown game?

Not that I want to see Steele-ball return, but they needed to bomb from three toward the end to close the gap instead of painfully trying to run half-court offense.

At least none of our players had vestigal organs erupt this week.

[Xville]

Only McKnight and Ousmane are guaranteed returnees.

Everyone else will be an off season "free agent". That spells trouble IMO.....there is one reason that is obvious.


Meh. X has nil. I’m not concerned about keeping guys we want to keep

[xukeith]

Meh. X has nil. I’m not concerned about keeping guys we want to keep

Agree.
3 new transfers, 1 new frosh, and perhaps 7-9 returners.

[Xuperman]

Meh. X has nil. I’m not concerned about keeping guys we want to keep

Are you saying X can match any and all NIL offers? Because I'm guessing that at least 1 of our guys already has bags of cash dancing in his head.

[Xville]

Are you saying X can match any and all NIL offers? Because I'm guessing that at least 1 of our guys already has bags of cash dancing in his head.

Any and all? No. To keep the guys miller wants and add? Yes.

[Xuperman]

Any and all? No. To keep the guys miller wants and add? Yes.

I have my doubts. One can argue that there are only 3 of our guys that have any real value in the upcoming "free agency". The likelihood of retaining all 3 is 50/50.....losing any of the 3 will hurt. 1 in particular will be highly targeted.

[bleedXblue]

It’s really something that butler went 11 minutes without scoring and x still never threatened to take a lead

Some of the worst offensive play execution I've ever seen from an X team. We don't run plays and get guys good open looks. Almost NO POST player ever posts up. Its basically let Claude try to get a shot inside 10 feet or hope we can get Quincy an open look. Screens are virtually non existent.

[bleedXblue]

Are you saying X can match any and all NIL offers? Because I'm guessing that at least 1 of our guys already has bags of cash dancing in his head.

I think Ciani, McKnight, Ousmane, Swain, Green and Nzeh are all highly likely to return. Not huge NIL targets......

Des has some value for sure, but I think the risk of starting over somewhere else is not worth that. He'll be a focal point of the team and his desire will be to have a good year, improve and get drafted.

Lazar- no idea- minimal NIL value (may be worth the risk of keeping)
Gytis- should not return

Powell coming in leaves 4-5 open spots......will be there....

[GoMuskies]

I think Ciani, McKnight, Ousmane, Swain, Green and Nzeh are all highly likely to return.

If that's all we have returning, that's not a great start. We'd need AT LEAST three more good players to be competitive.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

If that's all we have returning, that's not a great start. We'd need AT LEAST three more good players to be competitive.

Have heard, on this board I recall, that Euro's not eligible for NIL. Maybe that's just first year?

We really suck and honestly, I'm shocked. Never thought we had the top team in the league but thought we'd be far better than has turned out. This season reminds me of the Steele years, like any of us can forget. Just so unlike what I expected from a Miller coached team. I'm sure it has happened in years past and for me there have a lot of years past. Still, I cannot recall an X team that got blown out from the start so many times.

I don't look at some of the returnees and say to myself "Geez, I'm glad they are coming back!". We really need a re-build. But so do a bunch of teams.

I don't what to expect next year. I really don't. I'd like to have total confidence in the future under Miller and I guess I do but my confidence isn't as total as it was last year at this time. What a different season this has been. Seems almost tragic.

[Xavier]

I have my doubts. One can argue that there are only 3 of our guys that have any real value in the upcoming "free agency". The likelihood of retaining all 3 is 50/50.....losing any of the 3 will hurt. 1 in particular will be highly targeted.

I’m not even sure the 3 you are talking about. But I’m guessing it’s McKnight/Claude/and maybe Swain or a big? Unless you’re including Freemantle in the 3. Starting a team with Claude/McKnight/Freemantle with Powell coming in is a great start. And honestly, I won’t really lose sleep over anyone that leaves.

Agree with Xville, X won’t have any problem keeping the guys they want to keep.

[Xavier]

I don't look at some of the returnees and say to myself "Geez, I'm glad they are coming back!". We really need a re-build. But so do a bunch of teams.



I agree with your overall sentiment, but I remind myself it’s a completely different team with capable bigs (Freemantle and Hunter). Miller did not plan to come into the season with this roster. I don’t have doubts in Sean, though. Still, disappointing and unexpected results. Wanted to highlight the above, though. The amount of talent that is leaving the BE next year is wild. UConn is to the point you expect them to reload….but Creighton and Marquette will look a lot different (with maybe even a new coach at Creighton).

X will be in the same boat with a lot of teams in the BE this summer. Which is good and bad. They will be competing for a lot of the same transfers but also means there will be a lot of question marks in the BE headed into the season.

[MHettel]

I’m not even sure the 3 you are talking about. But I’m guessing it’s McKnight/Claude/and maybe Swain or a big? Unless you’re including Freemantle in the 3. Starting a team with Claude/McKnight/Freemantle with Powell coming in is a great start. And honestly, I won’t really lose sleep over anyone that leaves.

Agree with Xville, X won’t have any problem keeping the guys they want to keep.

I think this is just wishful thinking.

If a guy enters the portal, it’s for money. Period. If a guy comes back after entering the portal, that means he used other offers as leverage to get more NIl out of X.

We need that NIL to grab at least 1 very solid 5 and a scoring 2.

We have no idea how far our NIL dollars will stretch.

Frankly if I were a big NIL donor this last year, and then my phone rings to put some more money in I’m looking at that slop I just watched this year and having second thoughts.

[Xavier]

I think this is just wishful thinking.

If a guy enters the portal, it’s for money. Period. If a guy comes back after entering the portal, that means he used other offers as leverage to get more NIl out of X..

Yeah, that was my first thought when Tandy left, too. Jacksonville St must have dropped the bag on him.

[94GRAD]

Only McKnight and Ousmane are guaranteed returnees.

Everyone else will be an off season "free agent". That spells trouble IMO.....there is one reason that is obvious.

There is no 2-time transfer rule anymore. Both of those guys can leave if they want.

[GoMuskies]

Yeah, that was my first thought when Tandy left, too. Jacksonville St must have dropped the bag on him.

I'd like to have another 38% three point shooter on this year's roster. Glad it's worked out for KyKy in Alabama.

[bleedXblue]

If that's all we have returning, that's not a great start. We'd need AT LEAST three more good players to be competitive.

yep.....3 more along with Free and Hunter "returning"

[xuwillie]

Sadly I'm beginning to think Green will not be back.

[XU_Lou]

Other than Free and Hunter, assuming they'll be able to play, do we really want anyone on our roster to be a starter next year? Perhaps Claude will do much better as a 4th or 5th offensive option, but the mistakes he consistently makes is maddening.

McKnight, Swain, Green, and perhaps Ciani and Nzeh would be great back-up players. You could also argue that Dokovic might be effective at some point. So yes, we need to find at least 2 starters in the portal - maybe more.

It feels like the program is at a major pivotal moment this off-season for many reasons.

[Xville]

Miller loves mcknight and is exactly the kind of player he wants in a pg. tough, gritty, experienced and an extremely high a/to ratio. He’s a keeper. One thing I will say about him, he really wanted to transfer to Louisville, but brain dead Kenny Payne never even called him. With a competent coach, maybe he goes there. He really wanted to play in front of his family. I dunno anything beyond that, or if he would want to go there now, but he did last year. Anyways, Claude will be awesome with a good frontcourt. Assuming free is back, just need a olivari replacement, and a legit 5.

Swain
Green
Djokovic
Nzeh
Maybe Ciani

Are backfills for next year. Swain and green are probably starting junior year and nzeh could be too depending on development.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

It feels like the program is at a major pivotal moment this off-season for many reasons.

Yes. Very much so.

[xuwillie]

I def want swain and McKnight back

[Xavier]

Why would people not want Claude back? He definitely makes some maddening mistakes, I agree. But he is a sophomore who was 10th in the league in PPG. That’s with teams knowing they don’t have to worry about 2/5 players on the court and can sag/help all game. He’s going to be an all BE player next year with a summer of improving and the addition of a capable front court.

McKnight is 5th in the BE in assists. (.1 behind 4th place). He fits the system perfectly. I just think people underestimate how the incapable frontcourt impacted everything.

[drudy23]

This team needs Claude and Claude needs a capable front-court to explode next year.

The roster holes are glaringly obvious, and it's pretty much been this way for 5 of the last 6 years. We need MAJOR upgrades in the paint.

I miss Tyrique.

[MHettel]

Yeah, that was my first thought when Tandy left, too. Jacksonville St must have dropped the bag on him.

I’m more thinking about guys that are productive already.

[muskieindent]

Why would people not want Claude back? He definitely makes some maddening mistakes, I agree. But he is a sophomore who was 10th in the league in PPG. That’s with teams knowing they don’t have to worry about 2/5 players on the court and can sag/help all game. He’s going to be an all BE player next year with a summer of improving and the addition of a capable front court.

McKnight is 5th in the BE in assists. (.1 behind 4th place). He fits the system perfectly. I just think people underestimate how the incapable frontcourt impacted everything.

I don't get the beating on Claude either.I mean the guy was expected to be a super star after one year where he was just a role player.Maybe people thought he was going to be Colby 2.0 I think he's about where Colby was in his second year.He's been asked to do a lot.We need him back along with McKnight,Swain ,Green ,Nzeh.I'd like to keep Lazer just to see if he starts to blossom after one year.Abou is ok but not as a starter.

[xukeith]

Am I the only fan concerned about Green?
He was hyped as one of the best shooters in the freshman class.
He struggles vs BE guards.
Defense is weak.
Not a true pg at 5'9.
Maybe Miller wanted a Lavender 2.0 but I am assuming he needs a monstrous leap to his sophomore year.

My roster for next season:
Green
Claude
McKnight
Swain
Nzeh
Freemantle
Hunter
Ousmane
Lazar
Ciani
Powell
Transfer guard
Transfer post player

[Olsingledigit]

Am I the only fan concerned about Green?
He was hyped as one of the best shooters in the freshman class.
He struggles vs BE guards.
Defense is weak.
Not a true pg at 5'9.
Maybe Miller wanted a Lavender 2.0 but I am assuming he needs a monstrous leap to his sophomore year.

My roster for next season:
Green
Claude
McKnight
Swain
Nzeh
Freemantle
Hunter
Ousmane
Lazar
Ciani
Powell
Transfer guard
Transfer post player

Ousmane is out of eligibility. I think i have posted that about ten times. I too am concerned about Green. Great kid, great attitude, great effort but not big enough for the BE and doubt he could ever physically get to that point. When he goes into a game he is immediately posted up by the opponent. And his shooting is too streaky.

[Xville]

Ousmane has a year left—freshman year was the Covid year

[xuwillie]

Ousmane is out of eligibility. I think i have posted that about ten times. I too am concerned about Green. Great kid, great attitude, great effort but not big enough for the BE and doubt he could ever physically get to that point. When he goes into a game he is immediately posted up by the opponent. And his shooting is too streaky.

Yeah I was expecting him to be a more consistent shooter and you could deal with his defensive shortcomings. That hasn’t been the case

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

I don't worry about Green. He's a freshman. Inconsistency is a hallmark for many frosh. He's shown flashes of talent unlike some of his frontcourt newbies. His size leaves him with some challenges for certain but there are plenty of other similar sized players that succeeded in the Big East. Ryan Nembhard at Creighton comes to mind.

[Xavier]

Am I the only fan concerned about Green?
He was hyped as one of the best shooters in the freshman class.
He struggles vs BE guards.
Defense is weak.
Not a true pg at 5'9.
Maybe Miller wanted a Lavender 2.0 but I am assuming he needs a monstrous leap to his sophomore year.

I wouldn’t say concerned but changed expectations for sure. I had very high hopes for him. While he was one of the few guys on our team that could create for himself, It took excessive work bc his height. That butler freshman guard (6’4 white kid) locked him up..

He can be good, had some games where I was pumped about future.

[drudy23]

Green can be lethal if opposing defenses have to respect the paint. He's probably never going to be a 15+ point average scorer. He needs to get more open shots. Opposing coaches aren't dumb. That won't happen with below average bigs.

You can see the frustration with Olivari the last month. He's 1A on the opposing scouting report every game. Tough for these guards when opposing coaches take away your strengths knowing the bigs aren't going to beat you.

[MHettel]

Ousmane is out of eligibility. I think i have posted that about ten times. I too am concerned about Green. Great kid, great attitude, great effort but not big enough for the BE and doubt he could ever physically get to that point. When he goes into a game he is immediately posted up by the opponent. And his shooting is too streaky.

Weird, because he was a Miller recruit. The size was a known thing.

[Xuperman]

There is no 2-time transfer rule anymore. Both of those guys can leave if they want.

Let's clear up some of these eligibility issues.

1- I understood that all players are eligible to have ONE transfer with no strings attached. They can transfer again after that, but would have to sit out a year. So yeah, Dayvion and Abu can transfer again with that restriction.

2- Ousmane has a 5th "COVID year".

3- ZFree is a tantalizing portal option, if the right NIL chatter can get in his ear.

[Xuperman]

I’m not even sure the 3 you are talking about. But I’m guessing it’s McKnight/Claude/and maybe Swain or a big? Unless you’re including Freemantle in the 3. Starting a team with Claude/McKnight/Freemantle with Powell coming in is a great start. And honestly, I won’t really lose sleep over anyone that leaves.

The 3 are Claude, Swain, Green. Can't include Zach and Jerome because of injury unknowns.

Again, only McKnight and Ousmane are rock solid returnees.

[94GRAD]

Let's clear up some of these eligibility issues.

1- I understood that all players are eligible to have ONE transfer with no strings attached. They can transfer again after that, but would have to sit out a year. So yeah, Dayvion and Abu can transfer again with that restriction.

2- Ousmane has a 5th "COVID year".

3- ZFree is a tantalizing portal option, if the right NIL chatter can get in his ear.

You are absolutely wrong. That rule is no longer in place. That's how Aziz and Reynolds at UC became eligible during the season.

[xukeith]

Green can be lethal if opposing defenses have to respect the paint. He's probably never going to be a 15+ point average scorer. He needs to get more open shots. Opposing coaches aren't dumb. That won't happen with below average bigs.

You can see the frustration with Olivari the last month. He's 1A on the opposing scouting report every game. Tough for these guards when opposing coaches take away your strengths knowing the bigs aren't going to beat you.

I guess I have an argument.
Q Goodin had very good frontcourts over 4 seasons with X. He was never a consistent 3 point threat -between 27-30% from 3.

[bleedXblue]

Let's clear up some of these eligibility issues.

1- I understood that all players are eligible to have ONE transfer with no strings attached. They can transfer again after that, but would have to sit out a year. So yeah, Dayvion and Abu can transfer again with that restriction.

2- Ousmane has a 5th "COVID year".

3- ZFree is a tantalizing portal option, if the right NIL chatter can get in his ear.

my understanding is X is paying him this year for basically nothing......so he better return the favor

[Xavier]

my understanding is X is paying him this year for basically nothing......so he better return the favor

He’s probably the highest paid guy on the team, while recovering on Xavier’s dime. If he left for more money it would be ultimate scumbag move, IMO.

[drudy23]

I guess I have an argument.
Q Goodin had very good frontcourts over 4 seasons with X. He was never a consistent 3 point threat -between 27-30% from 3.

Difference is Q wasn't a good shooter.

C'mon, we're talking about two different levels of shooter here. Are you really comparing the two as shooters?

[Xavier]

Yeah I was going to say the same thing but figured everyone would gloss over it since it was such a bizarre comparison.

[xukeith]

Yeah I was going to say the same thing but figured everyone would gloss over it since it was such a bizarre comparison.

I love Claude but I wouldn't say he is a good 3 point shooter.

[XUGRAD80]

Difference is Q wasn't a good shooter.

C'mon, we're talking about two different levels of shooter here. Are you really comparing the two as shooters?

Clack and Clang, the brick laying brothers…they both were/are bad shooters. However, Claude still has time to turn that around. Way too often he is falling to one side or the other when shooting from 3. He scores well around the basket because he remains balanced when jumping and uses the backboard fairly often when in the paint. But I cringe every time he throws up a 3-pt shot.

[drudy23]

Clack and Clang, the brick laying brothers…they both were/are bad shooters. However, Claude still has time to turn that around. Way too often he is falling to one side or the other when shooting from 3. He scores well around the basket because he remains balanced when jumping and uses the backboard fairly often when in the paint. But I cringe every time he throws up a 3-pt shot.

I thought someone was comparing Green to Goodin above. That's just crazy.

I can understand the Goodin vs Claude comparison.

Don't understand why Claude is such a bad shooter. He has to shoot a ton in the gym. The other parts of his game are smooth, and his shot honestly doesn't even look that bad. I don't get it.