Game Thread: Xavier v. IU Indianapolis (11/8/2024)

[paulxu]

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/2a1f45a0-e1cc-4202-89d7-1b7b5c27f309_1.3c18d8e111cdcd7e8a271effb6000907.jp eg?odnHeight=612&odnWidth=612&odnBg=FFFFFFVS.https://mascothalloffame.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Jinx-e1678823390799-circle.jpg

CINCINNATI --- The Xavier University Musketeers, 1-0, host the IU Indianapolis Jaguars, 1-0, on Friday night at 6 p.m. at Cintas Center. This game is the second of a five-game home stand to open the season.

Xavier won its 35th-straight regular season opener with a 78-69 win over Texas Southern on Monday.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (1-0, 0-0 BIG EAST)
IU INDIANAPOLIS JAGUARS (1-0, 0-0 HORIZON)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2024 AT 6:00 PM ET
AT THE CINTAS, CENTER, IN CINCINNATI, OHIO

TV, RADIO AND LIVE STATS

TV/Stream: FS1 with Sloane Martin and Robbie Hummel on the call.
Xavier Radio: 55KRC 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).

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

[paulxu]

As the information was very brief on goxavier, and pretty late, I'm guessing Tom Eiser is busily trying to sort out the parking issues.

[Xville]

x -31.5.....my gawd IUI must be really really awful.

[muskiefan82]

Well....wasn't X -26.5 against Texas Southern? I think no one knows anything right now

[MHettel]

Looking for Hugley, Green, Maddox and Hunter to have big games. Or 3 of those 4. Can’t win on the backs of 3 guys only….

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I would love to see Green improve. Hugley, Maddox, Hunter all have proven at high levels to produce. I would imagine they all figure out their role.

[drudy23]

x -31.5.....my gawd IUI must be really really awful.

Well, they beat IU Columbus by 56 in their first game if that means anything (probably doesn't).

They also have a local transfer in Nathan Dudukovich (via Thomas More) who was a prolific scorer at Lakota West. Will be interesting to see how he plays against the big boys.

[xukeith]

I am guessing the over/under on Maddox, Foster, Green, and Hugley's total scoring tonight's game is +- 15 points

[MHettel]

I am guessing the over/under on Maddox, Foster, Green, and Hugley's total scoring tonight's game is +- 15 points

I’ll take the WAY over . 25+

[D-West & PO-Z]

x -31.5.....my gawd IUI must be really really awful.

Yeah, feel like I'd have to take the points but apparently IUPUI is really bad. Still seems like a lot!

[Xuperman]

Yeah, feel like I'd have to take the points but apparently IUPUI is really bad. Still seems like a lot!

I watched IU Indy in the very 1st game of the season on Monday....11 AM start. They destroyed their D2 opponent. They can play. -31 1/2 is ridiculous.

[MHettel]

Elmer Fudd didn’t miss this many bunnies.

Fugly

[bjf123]

Elmer Fudd didn’t miss this many bunnies.

Fugly

Public reps ! [emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]


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[xu82]

We are 2/11 on layups. Things have to get better, right?

[xu82]

And to point spread tonight was what?

[Three Point Pete]

Hunter's FG was a joy to watch. Classic moves.

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[xu82]

Hunter's FG was a joy to watch. Classic moves.

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I thought he was padding his RB stats. ��

[muskiefan82]

He did Angel Reese that one a little. Looked better though.

[Three Point Pete]

We should have 50 pts. The numbers have to eventually break our way.

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[ArizonaXUGrad]

Well we aren't losing at the half, that is a small improvement.

[SkyWalker]

Not quite in mid-season form.

[muskiefan82]

I see. Conwell is a first half evaluator and second half destroyer.

[muskiefan82]

Hugley with an offensive board, gets fouled, then assists to Hunter. That is a stretch I would like to see a lot more of

[MHettel]

Maybe more successful interior lob entry passes in this game than all of last year. Can’t be overstated how important that is.

[MHettel]

Maybe more successful interior lob entry passes in this game than all of last year. Can’t be overstated how important that is.

Never mind

[Xuperman]

Ceiling high for DMcK. We are seeing Tu 2.0.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

This Indy team can shoot 3s and 100% FTs.

[MHettel]

Really need to improve 3pt defense.

Green in particular is a liability. The average lateral quickness and well below average reach means he’s leaving his feet / committing far too often. Open shooters after a pass and defensive rotation.

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

Robbie Hummel is a Big Pipes Guy!

[Strange Brew]

I’m behind out here in the high desert tundra. However, 100 pts or we suck.:)

[XUGRAD80]

Nice to have bigs that can make free throws. Really nothing much to complain about offensively, but the D is certainly in need of some improvement. I am confident that they will become a better defensive team, but I don’t think that they will ever be a great one. They will get better as a team as they learn to play better help defense and learn to rotate better. It’s a process. Take the win and move on to the next one.

[bjf123]

Interesting that Sean didn’t call in to Joe and Byron after this game either.


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[Xavier]

Never mind

Was at least a good sign they seemed to really focus on that. Led to a lot of easy baskets. Just assumed it was mostly because we were bigger…..but still, to your point, it was a lost part of the game last year. For how poor we started they still put up 90+. Swain attacked the boards well tonight, but he also got burned a bit on defense.

Sean really was a proponent of how Big 12 scheduled last year. Easy teams where you can build good computer numbers. Doesn’t really help when you aren’t running away with them though. If X is relying on computer numbers to bolster resume in order to make the tournament this year something went wrong anyways.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Kalkbrenner is going to eat us alive this year.

Our defense I think will improve but we are going to have to really excel on offense. Let's not miss so many bunnies moving forward.

[Strange Brew]

Nice to have bigs that can make free throws. Really nothing much to complain about offensively, but the D is certainly in need of some improvement. I am confident that they will become a better defensive team, but I don’t think that they will ever be a great one. They will get better as a team as they learn to play better help defense and learn to rotate better. It’s a process. Take the win and move on to the next one.

You’re still not getting what it means to be a it Muskie.

Let’s go X?

Come on, let’s go X!

[XUGRAD80]

You’re still not getting what it means to be a it Muskie.

Let’s go X?

Come on, let’s go X!

Huh? Tell me what I’m missing then.

[Xville]

I’ll admit I was a few drinks in before the game so maybe my perception is off. However, I love fee but his d is still gawd awful. I counted three times in the first half his man blew right past him to get a bucket.

Our offense though especially in the 2nd half was incredible. I feel like we missed 2-3 shots, and that’s it

[XUGRAD80]

I’ll admit I was a few drinks in before the game so maybe my perception is off. However, I love fee but his d is still gawd awful. I counted three times in the first half his man blew right past him to get a bucket.

Our offense though especially in the 2nd half was incredible. I feel like we missed 2-3 shots, and that’s it

With a couple of minutes left, they were 17-19 in the 2nd half. Your perception on that, and on Free’s D, is not off. He has slow feet. In addition, he looks skinny now. I think that his losing weight/body fat will allow him to play more minutes and probably escape more foot injuries, but it also means that heavier and more physical opponents may have an easier time getting past him. I would hope that it would allow him to move more quickly and to gain better defensive position, but so far I haven’t seen it.

[Xville]

Wake is going to provide us with a really good gauge on where this team is and where it needs to go. They are a good basketball team that’s probably top 4 or 5 in the acc. A team x should beat at home, but x is going to have to be firing on most cylinders to win it.

[A Fan]

Is it too early to ask if our expectations for this roster may have been too high?

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Is it too early to ask if our expectations for this roster may have been too high?


Kalkbrenner is going to eat us alive this year.

A but early on first point. But, missing Lassina, Miller is going to have to figure out some answers, offensively and defensively, in the paint.

[Xville]

Just get to the tournament. This program can’t afford being left out of it again

[Xavier]

Before the injury I thought they could make a run to a 3-5 seed type season. I’d say that’s a little lofty at the point but still early to tell. I still think our bigs are collectively better than they were last year, especially when we go small with Swain at the 4. Out backcourt with McKnight only improving on his 2nd half of last year jump is better, too. At least IMO.

So making the tournament seems likely to me. The bottom of the big east might be the worst it’s ever been which could help, too.

[Strange Brew]

Huh? Tell me what I’m missing then.

Sorry, meant to hit Reply and not Reply with Quote.

My bad. It’s been snowing for three days and I probably need to touch some grass. :)

[MHettel]

Before the injury I thought they could make a run to a 3-5 seed type season. I’d say that’s a little lofty at the point but still early to tell. I still think our bigs are collectively better than they were last year, especially when we go small with Swain at the 4. Out backcourt with McKnight only improving on his 2nd half of last year jump is better, too. At least IMO.

So making the tournament seems likely to me. The bottom of the big east might be the worst it’s ever been which could help, too.

Interior defense was going to be our weakness even before Traore was hurt.

Comparing this years team to last year, I think we still have a slight upgrade up front. Abou wasn’t bad, but he needed a scorer along side him so he could just rebound and play defense. I think we will miss him. The other bigs were garbage, although Nzeh had some potential. So slight upgrade there.

Olivari and Dez were our 2 best players. Both gone. Conwell seems to be akin to Boum or Quincy which is great. Jury is out on how to replace Dez. I thought Foster and Maddux would cover that easily, but I’m not sure yet.

The team has not yet played convincingly better than last year. We have a PLUS offense but a MINUS defense

[D-West & PO-Z]

Speaking of Claude, rough start to the season for him.

Through 2 games:

25 mins/game
8 ppg
2.5 rebs
1.5 assts
0.5 steals
38.5% FG
0% (0-3) 3pt %

[Xavier]

If this is the McKnight we get all year, he’s better than Dez easily. Now if Dez is able to shoot the 3 ball a little that could change. He’s 0-3 on the year so far.

[MHettel]

Speaking of Claude, rough start to the season for him.

Through 2 games:

25 mins/game
8 ppg
2.5 rebs
1.5 assts
0.5 steals
38.5% FG
0% (0-3) 3pt %

Yeah, not good.

I’ve been checking the stats of former players. Abou and Nzeh have both been productive. Ciani has been ok at a lower level. Lazar hasn’t done much.

Jonathan Powell looks legit. Maybe one that got away….