Game Thread: Xavier v. TCU (12/5/2024)

[xudash]

Potential, by definition, implies unrealized talent. If a team’s play is consistently uninspired and lacks passion, that potential remains unrealized because, without passion and purpose, the team is simply going through the motions. That said, if you believe this team, even playing with passion and purpose, is going to win 10 or more Big East games, I think you’ll be disappointed. The reality is that many of the transfers likely maxed out before they got here. The transfer portal will always have a lot of fool’s gold—players who might seem promising but don’t have the kind of expansionary talent needed to elevate their game to the next level.

So, that would suggest that our coaching staff doesn’t know what they’re doing with respect to the portal.

[bleedXblue]

Potential, by definition, implies unrealized talent. If a team’s play is consistently uninspired and lacks passion, that potential remains unrealized because, without passion and purpose, the team is simply going through the motions. That said, if you believe this team, even playing with passion and purpose, is going to win 10 or more Big East games, I think you’ll be disappointed. The reality is that many of the transfers likely maxed out before they got here. The transfer portal will always have a lot of fool’s gold—players who might seem promising but don’t have the kind of expansionary talent needed to elevate their game to the next level.

Yeah, I don't know. Maybe I'm reaching for something that isn't there and hoping that with some more inspired play this team can compete and win more.

Fools gold can also come in the form of frosh who are highly rated and don't pan out. Really important to have a guy evaluating and making the decisions. I think Sean has been mostly really good- with Boum and Olivari. This year maybe he missed on 1 or 2 guys. Dont know that yet.....

[drudy23]

So, that would suggest that our coaching staff doesn’t know what they’re doing with respect to the portal.

They don't have the money to compete for several of the top guys. Maybe 1 - but 2, 3 and 4 are guys from lower conferences are hoping can make the jump.

Would be interesting to see how many portal guys we lost to the Blue Bloods because they simply can pay more. The NIL era is going to prove difficult for a school like X.

[bleedXblue]

They don't have the money to compete for several of the top guys. Maybe 1 - but 2, 3 and 4 are guys from lower conferences are hoping can make the jump.

Would be interesting to see how many portal guys we lost to the Blue Bloods because they simply can pay more. The NIL era is going to prove difficult for a school like X.

https://basketball.realgm.com/ncaa/c...transfers/2025

[bleedXblue]

They don't have the money to compete for several of the top guys. Maybe 1 - but 2, 3 and 4 are guys from lower conferences are hoping can make the jump.

Would be interesting to see how many portal guys we lost to the Blue Bloods because they simply can pay more. The NIL era is going to prove difficult for a school like X.

X needs to really figure this thing out quickly. Recruiting (frosh) is still going to be a major focus and has to be the foundation for Xavier. No frosh this year? Seriously? Need to have those 2nd and 3rd year guys be a key part of the rotation. We've had some unfortunate things happen the last few years including a coaching change and injuries force some of what's happened. But 5-6 new guys every year can't be the answer? We will go at it again next year losing a minimum of 5 guys. Hunter, Free, Maddox, Foster and McKnight. Two frosh coming in for now means at least 3 new transfers.

[X-band '01]

They don't have the money to compete for several of the top guys. Maybe 1 - but 2, 3 and 4 are guys from lower conferences are hoping can make the jump.

Would be interesting to see how many portal guys we lost to the Blue Bloods because they simply can pay more. The NIL era is going to prove difficult for a school like X.

I thought your slogan was No Excuses?



"But I'm studying for fina-

DID I STUTTER? NO EXCUSES!

[drudy23]

I thought your slogan was No Excuses?



"But I'm studying for fina-

DID I STUTTER? NO EXCUSES!

I'm in the camp that X has to figure this out without having to continually ask the fans for more money. That is just not sustainable.

What I can't stand is the inevitable "well, people didn't give enough, so it's their fault" - no more finger pointing, find a way to build out a sustainable NIL program that can compete for Final Fours. That's what we were promised. That is not on the fans who have been showing up for 50 years.

I find it very hard to believe that in a college with a budget of god knows what, that they can't find a way to fund an extra $2M for NIL, especially to highlight the men's basketball program, because let's be honest, that's where most of it should go.

[Xville]

I'm in the camp that X has to figure this out without having to continually ask the fans for more money. That is just not sustainable.

What I can't stand is the inevitable "well, people didn't give enough, so it's their fault" - no more finger pointing, find a way to build out a sustainable NIL program that can compete for Final Fours. That's what we were promised.

I find it very hard to believe that in a college with a budget of god knows what, that they can't find a way to fund an extra $2M for NIL.

Have you not been paying attention to Xavier’s financial situation the last few years? It’s not great.

I’ll also add that Xavier has plenty of nil to compete for final fours. It just has to be spent better, and we can’t have starters get injured for the season.

You come across as someone that’s owed something…”that’s something that we were promised.” Nothing in life is guaranteed.

[drudy23]

Have you not been paying attention to Xavier’s financial situation the last few years? It’s not great.

Well then cut some stuff that doesn't have the impact of men's hoops. $2M is a drop in the bucket for a major college budget. A rounding error.

It's fine to have The Final 2% - but it's peanuts compared to the big whig donors.

Does Xavier survive as a school at the current cost of tuition if it doesn't have major college basketball? Maybe, maybe not. It's already struggling with major college basketball - but rest assured, the hoops decisions didn't get them to this point. Take care of literally the gateway to Xavier's rise. The basketball program literally put the school on the map.

[Xville]

Well then cut some stuff that doesn't have the impact of men's hoops. $2M is a drop in the bucket for a major college budget. A rounding error.

It's fine to have The Final 2% - but it's peanuts compared to the big whig donors.

Does Xavier survive as a school at the current cost of tuition if it doesn't have major college basketball? Maybe, maybe not.

I agree there is a ton of bloat, but that’s school budget, not bb budget. All the resources that have been spent on bb is plenty to compete for final fours. Not sure what else you’re asking for