Is UC Any Good?

[Masterofreality]

I haven't bothered to watch them yet, so I'm just askin'.

They're undefeated, but the teams they beat have won a combined 1, that's one game. So, are they just beating up on cupcakes, or are they a legitimately decent team?

All I know that we need to beat their a$$es!

[Filthy Chilean]

They are decent but they only had one way to go.

Right now I would compare them to a Ball State Football team. They may look good on paper but when/if they play some real competition we will get an idea what kind of team they are.

[BlueGuy]

I watched one of the games. I think it was against North Dakoda or someone like that. Whoever it was, UC destroyed them. Maybe not the greatest test for them, but Yancy Gates and Deonta Vaughn are good. Vaughn is a legit all big east player, and can be dangerous. Yancy Gates is goot at times, but only a freshman. It is easy to tell he has all the potential in the world though.

I think their biggest problem is going to be depth. They have a decent starting 5. Beyond that, not so much.

[Stonebreaker]

UC goes 10 deep. They only thing they lack is a true PG (due to injury). I think next year will be their coming out party. Although they will make some noise in the BE, and possibly even make the tourney.

[Statman]

I think UC will stuggle in a powerful, top-to-bottom, Big East this year.

[Masterofreality]

I think UC will stuggle in a powerful, top-to-bottom, Big East this year.

Don't really care about that, Stat.

I just care if they will struggle against US!

[xu15]

I work with a guy that still goes to UC and he seems to think they are good...go figure. But really I am just a little worried about Vaughn going off on us for 30. I think if we keep him from getting hot then all their supposedly good forwards will find out what it's like to play better forwards.

[Xpectations]

This is by far UC's best team in the Cronin era.

The teams they've played so far include a team that is playing its first-ever D1 season and three teams that had RPIs last year of 267, 320 and 276.

Obviously they haven't been tested yet, but they have completely blown out each of those teams by very wide margins -- something they didn't do last year. These are games that were either close or they lost early last season when they were dramatically underachieving.

They look good defensively and have many more scoring options and more depth than the past couple of seasons.

They will be a very tough test for us, especially if Holloway is out or unable to really practice prior to that game. It's at the Shoe, so our 7 newcomers will experience the most hostile environment they've ever seen. Playing at UC will make it a tough game, but the experience of playing the Shootout on the opposing court should further toughen our team.

They have two 5-star players and two 4-star players who will be playing against us, not including the injured Cashmere Wright, who is also a 4-star, nor John Riek, a 4-star center that is sitting out. And it also doesn't include their best player by far, Vaughn.

Given their significant improvement in talent and depth, let alone that the game is at the Shoe, it could easily be a coin flip as to who wins.

[bleedXblue]

This game is usually one where you can throw out the records and current state of each program. I do think UC is better....depth wise this year. I predict a close game with X coming out o top 68-57

[Snipe]

I think we will have a hard time getting out of the Shoe with a victory.

Gates appears to be the real deal. UC has some talent. Had they not lost the point I think they would be outright dangerous. Cronin will get UC back on track.

[nuts4xu]

I agree with Xpectations, this is by far the best UC team in the Cronin era. Toyloy is a beast and a very solid player. He is a great fit for Cronin and has been very good for UC in the short season. He would play on most teams, including ours in my opinion.

Mike Williams and Gates give them a front line they haven't had since Huggins was coach. This actually resembles a team built to compete in the Big East. The development of guys like Wilks and Alvin Mitchell give them some depth and make me believe this team can play some ball. Deonte Vaughn finally has some players to take the offensive burden of himself. He will not have to score 30 for this team to win this year. They have enough weapons to spread it around.

It is tough to tell how good they really are because of the teams they have played, but this team should exceed anything Cronin has done so far at UC. We have lost to worse UC teams, so I have no doubt that game will be a tough win, with or without Holloway.

[THRILLHOUSE]

as others have already said, its Cronin's best team since returning to UC. I still think they are a year away, but I could see them making the NIT this year.

[X-band '01]

At least they're beating all the cupcakes this year - IIRC, teams like Belmont and Bowling Green have won in the Shoe in recent years.

[Juice]

They will play some decent teams in Vegas this week so I think we will learn more about them these next couple of days.

That being said, I am scared about the game at the Shoe this year. Williams and Vaughn scare me.

[Stonebreaker]

I think X will win this year, and UC will have the advantage next year. Which, of course, means that the opposite will happen...as the underdog seems to win.

[xu15]

I don't know if we will be underdogs next year either. They may be a lot better than recent years but we will be pretty damn good too. Long way away but that should be a hell of a game.

[AviatorX]

They will be exposed this weekend in Vegas. Better than the last few years, yes. Good, not really.

[Snipe]

I think X will win this year, and UC will have the advantage next year. Which, of course, means that the opposite will happen...as the underdog seems to win.

I think it is more likely that we lose this year at the Shoe. Why will UC have the advantage next year at the Tas? We are going to be good next year and the shootout will be a home game.

[XURunner85]

How can you tell if these guys are good and the real deal...they haven't played anyone yet....I am not saying that some of their players aren't good but I am saying how can you tell if they have played an oppenent that is of decent caliber....I know we are good because we beat Missouri, Va Tech and Memphis, all 3 are very good tough oppenents...UC has not had a team to base whether they are good or not. Lets wait until they play someone who is a top 50 team, of course that might be us before they play anyone good...and why is this top under Xavier basketball, this should be under crap....

[Thor in 204]

I was at the Shoe two years ago and witnessed our team get taken out of their game from the moment that Josh Duncan got mugged early on. We could not respond to the intensity of that game in that environment. This year X has beaten good teams but in a neutral environment. UC will want the game very badly. They are as big and as physical as any team we have faced so far. While I agree that they have not been tested as yet, I see a lot of talent and depth there, and I think Cronin is a great coach. As Yancey Gates develops and as Dixon and Mitchell get more consistent, I think UC will be very tough to beat. For us to win this year I think we'll have to hold our own inside and our guards will have to make it very hard for Deontae Vaughn to get good shots and make passes. He is a dominant player who can carry the will of that team. At the same time, I don't think I've ever seen a Xavier team with the collective will to win and the ability to execute that will so early in the season.

[Eastside_J]

Yes cupcakes without a doubt.

Although beating those complete cupcakes by about 30, which is what you are supposed to do with cupcakes. Unlike last year and the year before when the same cupcakes were managing to give us a game or even manage a win. This is really the only gauge to be used so far, other than the fact that all the frontcourt guys can now finish a layup. But truthfully that alone may be an 8 point per game difference from last year.

The transformation of UC basketball is not complete but it is gaining ground steadily.

[Mark 3 Pointer]

UC's opponents as of 11/28 are a combined 0-11.

[Masterofreality]

UC's opponents as of 11/28 are a combined 0-11.

Western Illinois beat that powerhouse Eureka.

But you're right about the record against D1 opponents.

[jdm2000]

Better than in years past, definitely a good amount of talent. Yancy v. Frease will be fun to watch. They have serious problems at the point with Cashmere Wright's injury. It will be tough one, like rivalry games should be.

[boozehound]

Better than in years past, definitely a good amount of talent. Yancy v. Frease will be fun to watch. They have serious problems at the point with Cashmere Wright's injury. It will be tough one, like rivalry games should be.

We may have some point guard issues as well with Holloway out.

[Xpectations]

Yes cupcakes without a doubt.

Although beating those complete cupcakes by about 30, which is what you are supposed to do with cupcakes. Unlike last year and the year before when the same cupcakes were managing to give us a game or even manage a win. This is really the only gauge to be used so far, other than the fact that all the frontcourt guys can now finish a layup. But truthfully that alone may be an 8 point per game difference from last year.

The transformation of UC basketball is not complete but it is gaining ground steadily.

I agree with EJ. While you can't judge how well they would do against tournament caliber teams , they are stomping bad teams with tremendous efficiency.

Don't believe for a moment that it's easy to win by 30 even against bad teams when you're playing at home. As EJ said, it the past couple of seasons it was a very different story.

You can actually get meaningful information about teams against quality opponents and cupcakes. Good teams beat cupcakes by 30. Average teams do not. That's why the RPI is inferior versus other mathematical systems. Point differential absolutely matters when judging teams.

UC is far, far better than average, which is more than you can say about the other Cronin teams. They will be a good test for us. And they will have been tested by a couple of non-cupcakes prior to The Shootout. They won't have any road experience by then but that won't matter since we'll play them at The Shoe.

Playing at home could very well be the difference this year. And if we're without Holloway, or even if he has essentially not practiced prior to the game, then they could easily be the Vegas favorite at home.

[gladdenguy]

UC down 42-31 with just over 11 min in the ballgame.

[GoMuskies]

FSU says the answer to your question is an emphatic no.

[Stonebreaker]

UC isn't playing well tonite. They are going to miss their injured pg a whole bunch. Achilles heel in a big way.

[gladdenguy]

Well, their first minute test and they are going to lose to Florida St (down 54-45 with 1:17 left). I agree, they are not very good at this point.

[Stonebreaker]

It's still early, and I wouldn't say that given this is their first away game of the year, that they are going to be awful. But...it's not a good sign for them.

[GoMuskies]

Well, their first minute test and they are going to lose to Florida St (down 54-45 with 1:17 left). I agree, they are not very good at this point.


Now 0-1 against teams that have beaten another Division I foe.