Game Thread: Xavier v. Morgan State (12/10/2024)

[paulxu]

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/2a1f45a0-e1cc-4202-89d7-1b7b5c27f309_1.3c18d8e111cdcd7e8a271effb6000907.jp eg?odnHeight=612&odnWidth=612&odnBg=FFFFFFVS.https://i.pinimg.com/474x/29/99/2c/29992ccbeb4619252bccb3b257ae7802.jpg

CINCINNATI --- The Xavier University Musketeers, 7-2, host the Morgan State University Bears, 5-7, on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Cintas Center. This is Xavier's final home non-conference game of the season.

Xavier is looking to bounce back from a 76-72 loss at TCU last Thursday. After the Morgan State game Xavier will play three-straight ranked opponents, including at No. 22 Cincinnati on Dec. 14, XU's BIG EAST opener at No. 18 and two-time defending National Champion UConn on Dec. 18, and No. 6 Marquette in XU's BIG EAST home opener on Dec. 21.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (7-2, 0-0 BIG EAST)
MORGAN STATE BEARS (5-7, 0-0 MEAC)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, AT 7:00 PM ET
CINTAS CENTER, CINCINNATI, OHIO

BROADCAST AND LIVE STATS INFORMATION

TV/Stream: CBS Sports Network with play-by-play from John Sadak and analysis from Tre Demps.
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 available on the Varsity Network and on Sirius XM.

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

[X-band '01]

I see Reds broadcaster Jon Sadak on the call tomorrow night.

You might want to adjust the title thread as Xavier has already lost to TCU.

[GoMuskies]

Morgan State is #348 out of 364 Division I teams according to KenPom. Can't say I'm sad to see an opponent like this on te schedule right now.

[paulxu]

Crap. I can't fix it. Only a moderator I think, unless I delete the entire thing.

Help moderators !!

[paulxu]

Thank you moderator(s) !

[drudy23]

This should be a 30+ point win. If not, just adds to the growing concerns.

[bleedXblue]

This should be a 30+ point win. If not, just adds to the growing concerns.

Exactly. Not optimistic based on how this team has played through 9 games.

Would be great to see some things like:

1. Who's the floor leader of this team?
2. What kind of defense are we going to play? The pack line hasn't worked and I don't think it fits the style and strength of this team.
3. The offense is anemic and stagnant. What adjustments will be made?
4. Would be great to see this team come together, play like they're having some fun and all on the same page. Havent seen that yet really......

[Xville]

I’d like to see a starting lineup change this game. X should win by 30 plus ( not saying they will) , but it’s a good time to switch up the lineup at a time where stress should be low

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

Morgan State is #348 out of 364 Division I teams according to KenPom.

IU Indy is #351. We beat them by 14, 94-80. Strap it in.

[Three Point Pete]

Hello
Rome is looking [emoji106]

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[GoMuskies]

This is more like it.

[noteggs]

Early but much much better

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Recording it but checking the box, no Green?

[bigdiggins]

Greens in Street clothes

[Xville]

Morgan state is so fucking bad. This game has been painful to watch

[bjf123]

Good thing about games like this is so many people leave early, it’s easy to get out of the parking lot.


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[Three Point Pete]

Big John has hops!

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[Xavier]

Fletcher is intriguing. That’s the type of thing I can get from this game.

[GoMuskies]

What's the deal with Fletcher? Listed as a senior who doesn't play.

[noteggs]

Yeah Morgan State is bad. But hopefully this is the type of offense we can expect moving forward.

[noteggs]

What's the deal with Fletcher? Listed as a senior who doesn't play.

Sean promised mom he would take it slow with him coming on back to back acl injuries

[Three Point Pete]

When's the last time we had a 60 point lead?


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[ArizonaXUGrad]

Guy has been hurt on and off for awhile. He was a good recruit at FSU.

Kind of showing we should have done. Wondering if this team needs to find a road identity. You need to e able to lean on 1-2 players on the road and defend. TCU smacked us and played physical enough to stop the drives and transition. We have to be able to play through that.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Morgan state is so fucking bad. This game has been painful to watch

That is why I don't think we can take much from this. Good to see Free's alpha dog mentality at the start along with some interior passing. Conwell refrained from jacking threes but otherwise is hard for me to conclude anything. I guess a win like this can help with the confidence. But, yeah Morgan State really really sucks.

[MHettel]

Let’s just hope the guys had some fun and leave this game with some confidence. That might be all this team needs.

[Xville]

What's the deal with Fletcher? Listed as a senior who doesn't play.

Tons of injuries. Great prospect out of high school, (vashon, which used to be a basketball factory)and was crazy athletic. A lot of that is kind of gone but still has some game.

I believe the plan was to get him back slowly this year and be full bore next year. He’s probably still a depth piece for next year (like 7th-8th guy) but he still has some game.

[GoMuskies]

This is already his second senior year. He'll get another?

[GreatWhiteNorth]

I expect a big win, but this is too much!

[MHettel]

If this season was a movie, Hugley would go to the eye doctor and suddenly he’d be able to see the rim instead of 2 or 3 of them. It would be a turning point for the season, and Hugley would be a beast inside.

[Xville]

This is already his second senior year. He'll get another?

Two almost full years of injuries plus covid

[MHettel]

https://people.com/angel-reese-jamaican-vacation-with-boyfriend-camron-fletcher-7643087

In case you were wondering.

[XUGRAD80]

This is already his second senior year. He'll get another?

Yes. He basically lost 2 years to knee injuries, plus he has had a Covid year. He has one more year of eligibility after this year.

[drudy23]

No complaints tonight.

Season gets real this weekend. Lock in!!!

[Xavier]

Sounds like Green is in the dog house. Or maybe injured.

“When we have more to say about that. We will address it”- Sean on him being inactive tonight

[drudy23]

Doesn’t sound like an injury with how he worded it.

[Xavier]

Just saw it on twitter. I agree but wasn’t sure if maybe they were waiting on MRI results or something. But agreed it seemed more disciplinary

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Could be anything, regardless it looks like the team responded. If that was the issue hopefully it gets fixed and they roll.

[xukeith]

He is not a starting center but Cam Fletcher could add another rebounder, defender, scoring option in frontcourt.

He definitely looks smooth.

[XUGRAD80]

He is not a starting center but Cam Fletcher could add another rebounder, defender, scoring option in frontcourt.

He definitely looks smooth.

Agree. At this point more of a depth piece than anything. In the post game radio show Sean said that he was almost completely back but that they still wanted to remain cautious. He pointed out that he thought that Cam had come back a month or two early after his last injuries, when he was probably 90% and not 100% healed, and they didn’t want to make that mistake again. I believe that he will still give him until January before Cam is called upon for any significantly important minutes. Just to be cautious.

[Xville]

Could be grades with green. I’ll be shocked if he’s here next year. Another guy that will need
To be replaced

[bleedXblue]

Could be grades with green. I’ll be shocked if he’s here next year. Another guy that will need
To be replaced

Yep, Millers recruiting has not been great. Too small, not a creator and too one dimensional.

[bleedXblue]

He is not a starting center but Cam Fletcher could add another rebounder, defender, scoring option in frontcourt.

He definitely looks smooth.

Id take 8-10 minutes from Green and give them to Cam. Brings more size and physicality that we need. Slide Dante over to point to spell Dayvion.

[Xville]

Yep, Millers recruiting has not been great. Too small, not a creator and too one dimensional.

a top 75 recruit that I never understood. Can shoot, and like you said not much else. He'd be a really good fit at a mac type school. Maybe he goes to Steele.

[Xville]

Id take 8-10 minutes from Green and give them to Cam. Brings more size and physicality that we need. Slide Dante over to point to spell Dayvion.

Once Cam is fully ready to go, I agree.

[XUGRAD80]

Could be grades with green. I’ll be shocked if he’s here next year. Another guy that will need
To be replaced

This is exam week for X so semester grades aren’t out yet. It could be that he had to miss some practices in order to do extra study for those exams, but it couldn’t be grades as no semester grades are out. On Twitter (X) he has denied that it is a grades thing. I don’t want to speculate as to what the problem may be, but it does seem that it’s not an injury problem.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Think you guys are dead wrong about Green. He has come off the bench and won a game for us. Great shooter. Lots of players his size find a productive role and I hope he does as well. Still, there is a reason he is not getting minutes so he has to figure it out and address.

[Xville]

This is exam week for X so semester grades aren’t out yet. It could be that he had to miss some practices in order to do extra study for those exams, but it couldn’t be grades as no semester grades are out. On Twitter (X) he has denied that it is a grades thing. I don’t want to speculate as to what the problem may be, but it does seem that it’s not an injury problem.

If he denied that it is grades, ok. However, im sure teachers would let Sean and staff know where he stood before exams, and if it was a problem. Maybe he sat because he needs the extra study time as you mentioned who knows. One thing is for sure, its a disciplinary reason whether its grades or some other issue that Sean is not taking lightly.

[Xville]

Think you guys are dead wrong about Green. He has come off the bench and won a game for us. Great shooter. Lots of players his size find a productive role and I hope he does as well. Still, there is a reason he is not getting minutes so he has to figure it out and address.

Why do you think we are dead wrong? What else does he do well? It's almost second semester of his second year and he hasn't gotten better in any other area of his game that I can see. I hope I am wrong and he has a great conference season, but I'd think the staff wishes he was further along.

He seems like a good guy, and tries hard when he is out there, but it is possible he just doesn't have the skill for this league. Nothing wrong with that, not many guys have it.

As I said, I hope I'm wrong and he really blossoms second half of this year. It'd suck to have to replace yet another guy.

[Xavier]

I was optimistic. He is fast and can shoot. One of the few guys who was never afraid of the moment. Thought he could be Nembhard lite. He’s 6’0 and one of the better PG in the country, so the size didn’t bother me too much.

[Xville]

Just watched Episode 3 of All in and was pleased to see some of the fire from Miller regarding Defense. It's go time, and they have to figure it out.

[Xville]

One positive that I am seeing from this team is the growth in maturity of Zach Freemantle. For the first couple of years, he seemed like an immature kid with a lot of skill, but acted like a child at times.

The maturity and really becoming a man thru all of the injuries and setbacks, has been great to see. A great representative for the university and the bb team.

[muskieindent]

Wow Morgan ST was bad. It's great that we shot the ball so well but when you're up by 30 points I think it's a lot easier to shoot.Hopefully it gives them some confidence going into the Shootout.

[bleedXblue]

One positive that I am seeing from this team is the growth in maturity of Zach Freemantle. For the first couple of years, he seemed like an immature kid with a lot of skill, but acted like a child at times.

The maturity and really becoming a man thru all of the injuries and setbacks, has been great to see. A great representative for the university and the bb team.

It's amazing to me what some expect from 18-22 year olds. I know what I was like then....... and some mature faster than others. Agree completely.

[bleedXblue]

Wow Morgan ST was bad. It's great that we shot the ball so well but when you're up by 30 points I think it's a lot easier to shoot.Hopefully it gives them some confidence going into the Shootout.

they shot it well for the whole game (early on to build the lead).........but agree with your premise

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Why do you think we are dead wrong? What else does he do well? It's almost second semester of his second year and he hasn't gotten better in any other area of his game that I can see. I hope I am wrong and he has a great conference season, but I'd think the staff wishes he was further along.

He seems like a good guy, and tries hard when he is out there, but it is possible he just doesn't have the skill for this league. Nothing wrong with that, not many guys have it.

As I said, I hope I'm wrong and he really blossoms second half of this year. It'd suck to have to replace yet another guy.

What I like most is, as another poster stated, the moment isn't too big for him. He is an excellent shooter and should be a shot in the arm coming off the bench. He hasn't lived up to that, I understand. But it seems like he is in and out for brief periods. I'd like to see him get extended minutes. I can't say he hasn't improved because I haven't seen him play enough.

Whatever he is doing, Miller isn't rewarding him with more playing time. So, I have to assume something isn't clicking but I don't see consistent shortcomings, like defense, because he isn't on the court long enough to do anything consistently, good or bad. I'll agree there is a reason for that, just don't know what that is. One thing I can criticize in his play is turnovers. You can't be the primary ballhandler and be sloppy taking care of the ball----perhaps that is Miller's issue.

I'm hoping he resolves whatever it is that is limiting his contribution because I think he has a lot of potential to contribute.

[bleedXblue]

What I like most is, as another poster stated, the moment isn't too big for him. He is an excellent shooter and should be a shot in the arm coming off the bench. He hasn't lived up to that, I understand. But it seems like he is in and out for brief periods. I'd like to see him get extended minutes. I can't say he hasn't improved because I haven't seen him play enough.

Whatever he is doing, Miller isn't rewarding him with more playing time. So, I have to assume something isn't clicking but I don't see consistent shortcomings, like defense, because he isn't on the court long enough to do anything consistently, good or bad. I'll agree there is a reason for that, just don't know what that is. One thing I can criticize in his play is turnovers. You can't be the primary ballhandler and be sloppy taking care of the ball----perhaps that is Miller's issue.

I'm hoping he resolves whatever it is that is limiting his contribution because I think he has a lot of potential to contribute.

He hasn't shown the ability to really contribute at this level. Most disappointing to me is that he isnt a facilitator and creator of shots for other players. He doesnt really have any mid range game and is not physical enough to get into the paint and score. He can handle the ball and shoot a little.

[Xavier]

I mean I think he’s shown flashes. And it’s not nearly as big a deal in last as is now but he was on all big east freshman team. I wouldn’t throw the towel in on him being able to contribute. Especially helping out against zone coverages. But I’d agree he doesn’t exactly seem any different than when he arrived on campus

[XUGRAD80]

If Sean is like virtually every other college coach, you earn game minutes in practice. If he’s not getting game minutes it’s probably because he isn’t practicing well.

[bleedXblue]

If Sean is like virtually every other college coach, you earn game minutes in practice. If he’s not getting game minutes it’s probably because he isn’t practicing well.

Even when he gets minutes he's not developing into a player that is beyond making the occasional 3 pointer.

[drudy23]

Even when he gets minutes he's not developing into a player that is beyond making the occasional 3 pointer.

He's limited by his size. At that size, you have to be phenomenal at getting by guys and being able to finish (Drew Lavender) - otherwise, you're going to struggle at that size in the BE. It's pretty much that simple.

He's on the team to make shots or to open up other guys because he can make shots. He's forever going to be a role guy because of his size and one dimensional skill set. He is quick enough to get by guys, but he struggles to finish. It's tough to be a 2 guard in the BE under 6 feet - too much size and physicality from the guards in this league.

Sean has to define his role, and Green has to accept it.

[XUGRAD80]

Even when he gets minutes he's not developing into a player that is beyond making the occasional 3 pointer.

True dat

[noteggs]

If Maddox continues to play better and within Sean’s system, it will eat Green’s minutes regardless.

[Xavier]

Looks like indefinite leave for green. “disappointed he can’t be on the court but health comes first”

Rather not speculate, could be a number of things

[Xville]

Looks like indefinite leave for green. “disappointed he can’t be on the court but health comes first”

Rather not speculate, could be a number of things

in that case, wish all the best for him. Heal up in whatever he needs to be healed, and hope to see him back

[waggy]

He’s no smaller than Ashworth.

[X-band '01]

If Maddox continues to play better and within Sean’s system, it will eat Green’s minutes regardless.

If you saw the recent episode of All In, we saw in part why Maddox ended up in Sean's doghouse at the time. Not going after rebounds was one way to do it. I know there was one game where he also missed someone on an open 3 and immediately got hooked. He's not forcing things as much as he was earlier in the season and he's showing signs of improvement.

Of course, how he does in the next three games will be a critical barometer for him. Going up against Morgan State isn't even close to what UC, UConn and Marquette will offer.

[bleedXblue]

He’s no smaller than Ashworth.

Thats exactly the point. Ashworth is all over the court, constantly moving and the entire offense revolves around him. He's an initiator and creator as well as a pretty good shooter.

[waggy]

Thats exactly the point. Ashworth is all over the court, constantly moving and the entire offense revolves around him. He's an initiator and creator as well as a pretty good shooter.

What's the point again? That size is holding Green back? It's not holding Ashworth back.

[Xville]

What's the point again? That size is holding Green back? It's not holding Ashworth back.

Size AND one dimensional skill set. If he had size, he could do some things that a 6'0 just can't physically (pass over the top due to vision, post up his man, use physicality to get by guys).

[Xavier]

Thats exactly the point. Ashworth is all over the court, constantly moving and the entire offense revolves around him. He's an initiator and creator as well as a pretty good shooter.

Slight difference. He has one of the best Centers in the game behind him on defense and is more of a focal point for the offense. Teams focus is 100% kulk. It makes a huge difference and much easier for Ash.

He’s still a lot better all around player than green just pointing out he’s got a bigger advantage too

[bleedXblue]

What's the point again? That size is holding Green back? It's not holding Ashworth back.

I think we're saying the same thing. Just bc of your size that doesn't limit what you can or cant do on the court

[drudy23]

Ashworth is a much better all-around player than Green. I would also consider Ashworth a true point guard, so he also can pass and run the show. He does a ton more than Green, because his all-around skill-set allows it. He's also 24 years old and has a ton of college level experience on good teams.

[drudy23]

I think we're saying the same thing. Just bc of your size that doesn't limit what you can or cant do on the court

You can't make this statement without moderators. Size can absolutely limit you depending on your skill set. A smaller stature requires enhanced skills for the same success. Green has one elite skill. Everything else is pretty pedestrian.

[MHettel]

You can't make this statement without moderators. Size can absolutely limit you depending on your skill set. A smaller stature requires enhanced skills for the same success. Green has one elite skill. Everything else is pretty pedestrian.

Size isnt just height. It’s your weight and reach as well. Green stands no chance on defense. He’s got no reach and can’t disrupt the passing lanes. He’d get destroyed by a guard that can post him up.

Paul Scruggs being guarded by Green? Tu Holloway?

Green has to have his shooting be so deadly that it makes up for his obvious shortcomings.

I’m not giving up on him. Maybe people “know” more than i do, but indefinite leave means he could still come back. I hope he does and I hope he finds a long term role as a guy that causes defense to react to his presence