NIT Tournament Game Thread: Xavier v Georgia (3/19/2024)

[paulxu]

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/2a1f45a0-e1cc-4202-89d7-1b7b5c27f309_1.3c18d8e111cdcd7e8a271effb6000907.jp eg?odnHeight=612&odnWidth=612&odnBg=FFFFFFVS.https://georgiadogs.com/images/2018/4/6/18_Uga_X.jpg


CINCINNATI --- -- The Xavier University Musketeers, 16-17, will visit the University of Georgia Bulldogs, 17-16, for National Invitation Tournament First Round action on Tuesday, March 19. Game time is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN. The radio call can be heard on 55KRC.
The Musketeers are making their 10th all-time appearance in the postseason NIT. XU won its second NIT Championship with a win over Texas A&M at Madison Square Garden in 2022. XU also won the NIT title in 1958.

Xavier is making its 35th postseason appearance in the last 41 postseasons in 2024 (2020 canceled by the pandemic), including 28 NCAA Tournament berths and seven NIT berths during that time. Xavier earned a spot in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER UNIV. MUSKETEERS (16-17) VS. UNIV. OF GEORGIA BULLDOGS (17-16)
NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024 AT 7 P.M. ET
STEGEMAN COLISEUM IN ATHENS, GA.

TV, RADIO AND LIVE STATS

Television: ESPN with play-by-play from Roy Philpott and analysis from Richard Hendrix.
Xavier Radio: 55KRC-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).

[paulxu]

One way to get on the Flagship.

[paulxu]

Less than an hour till tip off...and the excitement is palpable.

[drudy23]

Win or lose - whatever.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Stuck at work, any word on whether Swain is available? Would love to see him get some tourney experience.

[drudy23]

Stuck at work, any word on whether Swain is available? Would love to see him get some tourney experience.

There's literally no point in rushing him back for this. I'd be shocked if he even made the trip.

[XU_Lou]

Adam Baum
@AdamJBaum
Some info re: Xavier's first-round NIT game tonight at Georgia. Athens was sold out due to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, so the Musketeers stayed over an hour away in Atlanta at the same hotel many visiting football teams stay at when playing against Georgia.


Shelby Dermer
@EnquirerShelby
Less than 20 minutes to tip.

Xavier didn't get to Stegeman Coliseum until a little over an hour before tip due to traffic/wreak on the highway from Atlanta. Muskies warming up now. Will have starters shortly.

[Section 200]

If Oliveri can settle in we should be good

[noteggs]

I know he has a height challenge, but Green really needs to work on defense in the off season.

[noteggs]

There's literally no point in rushing him back for this. I'd be shocked if he even made the trip.

Also, can’t think he would be medically cleared

[Section 200]

This is the Ousman game! Hope Oliveri can get it going

[bjf123]

Need Quincy to get hot from 3.


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[SkyWalker]

Absolutely embarrassing. We might need 10 new players next year.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I was just able to check the phone app and it looks like same old same old.

No defense, Q is cold.

[xukeith]

Ice cold from all except Ousmane.

I guess Georgia plays defense but that was ugly again for maybe the 17th game this year.

[muskiefan82]

That last turnover for a runout dunk is the season in a nutshell

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

This team, for me, has become hard to watch since about halfway through the season. Tonight, they are playing like they want the season to be over---especially the guards. McKnight and Olivari threw up some low percentage shots really early in the possession. And, as usual, our frontcourt looks really weak with the exception of Abou.

You know what else? We don't play a lick of defense and we cannot rebound.

[Three Point Pete]

This is the Ousman game! Hope Oliveri can get it goingFrontcourt is rocking! Need to get guards going with strong 2nd half push.

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[XUBob]

42 points says it all.

[Section 200]

That last turnover for a runout dunk is the season in a nutshell

Yep

[ArizonaXUGrad]

This team just finds ways to lose. They make a small comeback, only to squander it giving up an O-board and three.

Toss in a TO and an and 1. Just fast forward this half and let them go home.

[bjf123]

I’m out. This is ridiculous.


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[MHettel]

The reason this team decided to play in the NIT is because they hate us

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Yes it's one game, but Georgia won just 6 conference games. We are getting run out of their gym. It's early, but possibly the BE didn't deserve more than three teams in the dance.

[xukeith]

This team just finds ways to lose. They make a small comeback, only to squander it giving up an O-board and three.

Toss in a TO and an and 1. Just fast forward this half and let them go home.

The body language says a lot. Guards quit and decided defense is optional.

[xu82]

We’ve got them right where we want them! Athens! It’s great college town!

[Section 200]

Tough night for Oliveri - hope he can get it going in front of his folks

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Wow, so Q is done I think. Play Green, give him a shot at meaningful minutes and run stuff through him.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Absolutely embarrassing. We might need 10 new players next year.

Yes. After the last few games and especially tonight, I won't shed a tear if all of these players leave---McKnight, Dez, etc. These guys have no heart. None. I am embarrassed for them.

Miller needs to clean house and start over.

[Three Point Pete]

The body language says a lot. Guards quit and decided defense is optional.Yep, it's Colbert time

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[ArizonaXUGrad]

Usually it's 1-2 guys who just drag and quit and it brings the rest of the guys down. Who knows, could be the team? That said, 20+ in the NIT to a crappy team is unacceptable. I half wonder if Miller took it to see who would come and play hard and who would quit.

Two offensive boards in a row leading to points. Give me a break.

[MHettel]

I think this team lacks the JP Macura guy that just brings a nasty intensity. They are all either passive leaders or just friendly kinda happy go lucky guys that just don’t seem to hate losing.

We need a mean SOB that kicks all the guys in the ass

Kunkel is another example. Not the best player, but damn that dude gave 100%

[XUBison]

It’s starting to sink in… I cannot believe how shitty this season was.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

The whole 500 or better record is nonsense to me seeing this. I get you need players of different mentality on a team in order for it to succeed, but these guys just don't have that drive that makes you play hard 100% of time. I cannot imagine how frustrating this must be for Miller to coach this. That guy is a genius to coach them to 16 wins.

[XUBison]

I think this team lacks the JP Macura guy that just brings a nasty intensity. They are all either passive leaders or just friendly kinda happy go lucky guys that just don’t seem to hate losing.

We need a mean SOB that kicks all the guys in the ass

Kunkel is another example. Not the best player, but damn that dude gave 100%

Or, now hear me out here, we are just not very good.

[MHettel]

It’s starting to sink in… I cannot believe how shitty this season was.

I called it a lost season when we were 1-2 in the Big East. And yet I watched every single minute of this garbage.

The rest of this week may be interesting. I expect a couple guys to enter the portal on their own. I think exit interviews might result in a couple more.

So brutal

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Does Green have a knock I don't know about that limits him? How is Colbert getting run instead of him?

[XUBison]

The whole 500 or better record is nonsense to me seeing this. I get you need players of different mentality on a team in order for it to succeed, but these guys just don't have that drive that makes you play hard 100% of time. I cannot imagine how frustrating this must be for Miller to coach this. That guy is a genius to coach them to 16 wins.

This is where I’m at. Can you imagine if Steele were coaching this roster– Ousmane out chucking 3s left and right!

[drudy23]

It’s starting to sink in… I cannot believe how shitty this season was.

Starting?

[muskiefan82]

I'm just going to hope this is the penance we must endure for a final four in the near future

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Consider this also, this team has three back court players that walk out game in game out not trusting two front courts all the time. They just couldn't trust them the entire year. I can't imagine how that can wear on a player.

[MHettel]

Lazar some how bringing his season averages down with this stellar performance.

[Blue Blooded-05]

I cannot think of a more perfect play that summarizes this season than Jokavich driving out of control to the hoop, not getting called for a blatant offensive foul before missing two uncontested layups at point blank range.

[XUBison]

Starting?

I guess I’ve been in shock.

[Three Point Pete]

LAZAR!

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[bleedXblue]

Does Green have a knock I don't know about that limits him? How is Colbert getting run instead of him?

effort and defense

[HenryMuto]

Don't call it a comeback !

[xukeith]

I abandoned thi sgame 5 minutes into the second half.
Oh my am I shocked it a 2 point game.

[XUBison]

Wait, did Georgia’s whole roster hit the portal after the 10-minute mark? What is going on here?

[Three Point Pete]

Oh, those unkind whistles!

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[HenryMuto]

That sucks because X would got the ball right there to put it back in but this is going to screw us.

[xukeith]

Not goaltending

[Three Point Pete]

Don't call it a comeback !OK but whatever you call it, it's unbelievable.

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[Blue Blooded-05]

Wait, so if they rule no goal tend, they’ll make us throw it in instead of Ousmane having a wide open layup?

[HenryMuto]

What am I missing on the Ohio State game they are showing Georgia already won.

[HenryMuto]

Wait, so if they rule no goal tend, they’ll make us throw it in instead of Ousmane having a wide open layup?

Exactly which is why this rule blows this happened to Kentucky a couple of times this year where they would have had the put back in and in fact in those games since the game was outside of 4 mins we didn't even get the ball back.

[MHettel]

All I wanted was the guillotine. Instead, I get some medieval torture device.

[xukeith]

Will Olivari win the game with a 3?

[HenryMuto]

WTF why did Claude play that like there was 5 seconds left he wasn't going to get it off in time.

That is what they drew up.

That BS Goal tend rule sucks we could had the layup though he blew that in real time

[xukeith]

Very idiotic play out of bounds. Miller, is that on you?

[muskiefan82]

Play meh. Get down big. Come back. Lose. I've seen this game way too many times

[Tim]

Vintage Claude. Makes backbreaking turnovers and dumb mental mistakes but fills up the stat sheet with great numbers that box score watchers think was a great game.

[Section 200]

Vintage Claude. Makes backbreaking turnovers and dumb mental mistakes but fills up the stat sheet with great numbers that box score watchers think was a great game.

Maybe that’s just a sophomore? Learn from this and lead us next year. Amazing improvement from last year. Miller trusted him with last shot

[Blue Blooded-05]

Well I’d say it’s been fun... but... it hasn’t

[drudy23]

Wait, so if they rule no goal tend, they’ll make us throw it in instead of Ousmane having a wide open layup?

He would have missed it…again.

[xudash]

Maybe that’s just a sophomore? Learn from this and lead us next year. Amazing improvement from last year. Miller trusted him with last shot

Agreed. And if he wants to truly achieve at a high-level, he will remember tonight and make sure he’s fully engaged on the floor when he’s on the floor next year.

[nickgyp]

First half was disappointing. No energy and sloppy but Ousmane did show some nice shots and Nzeh hustled. Second half showed more of the same as it started. I continued to think why did Xavier even want to play this game and then not show up. The deep hole was dug and all that was left was to get to the end. A season ending with no wind in its sails. The heart and hustle at the end only serves to show why the year has been confounding. Glimpses of capabilities that disappear like the Loch Ness monster. I am not a basketball coach but sure is baffling.

[XUGRAD80]

Sean’s last comment on the post game show…”Next year we will be a lot better.”

[paulxu]

They needed a Chris Mack inbound play with 1.9 seconds left.

Not whatever the hell I watched, followed by a 3 whistles being swallowed.

[XU-PA]

With what, 5 minutes delay, that was the final play they came up with??

[Section 200]

With what, 5 minutes delay, that was the final play they came up with??

My guess is Sean decided either Claude makes the shot and we go to OT or he has a great reason to work hard in the offseason.

[XUBison]

Sean’s last comment on the post game show…”Next year we will be a lot better.”

So this year was a choice?

[paulxu]

I wonder if that's the biggest deficit in the second half overcome (almost) in a long time.
At least they didn't quit.

[XUGRAD80]

So this year was a choice?

Uh, no. It was the result of some unfortunate circumstances, some bad choices, and some bad luck. There will be changes made to make sure it’s not repeated.

[XUBison]

Uh, no. It was the result of some unfortunate circumstances, some bad choices, and some bad luck. There will be changes made to make sure it’s not repeated.

Sure, whatever. I guess I’m glad to hear he’s resolute; he should be. This season must have been very embarrassing for him.