Cincinnati up 20 on Xavier late in 2nd half

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'd say they are tougher than a lot of folks here are giving them credit for.  Sure, they've played a lot of cupcakes but they're unbeaten.

[Windyplayer]

Those doubts were legitimate before tonight's game. I have more respect for them after tonight's performance.

[rocky_warrior]

I'm reserving judgment until I see them against Villanova.  Xavier is about on the same level as Seton Hall (KenPom), who they beat by 17 at home.  Or Similar to Dayton (if you prefer RPI) who Cincinnati clobbered by 34.

Regardless, they seem like a good team, but they haven't played any top teams yet, so it's hard to determine *how* good.  I don't think they'll be an easy win for MU, that's for sure.

[Knight Commission]

I follow Xavier and this is not a good Xavier team. If DJO shoots like he has the past couple games, we are on par with UC this year.

The first 3 of our losses were largely due to DJO's struggles btw..

[brewcity77]

I follow Xavier and this is not a good Xavier team. If DJO shoots like he has the past couple games, we are on par with UC this year.

The first 3 of our losses were largely due to DJO's struggles btw..

Combined 9/36 from the field for 25%, 3/16 for 19% from 3-point range, and an average of 3 fouls per game in our first three losses.

Combined 68/137 from the field for 49.6%, 24/56 for 42.9% from 3-point range, and an average of 2 fouls per game in our other 12 games.

I think that's a pretty safe assessment. Hopefully those struggles are behind him. Looking at his last 5 games, it seems like they are.

Back to Cincy...I think that being at home should tip that one in our favor. They won't be a pushover, but I fully believe we are the better team. If we had played their schedule, I'm pretty sure we'd be undefeated as well. Put the likes of Duke and Vandy on their non-con and see how they'd do. I highly doubt they'd be undefeated.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Xavier is bad this year and Cincy is fraudulent. Mark my words, Cincy will fade just like that Clemson team did a few years back after it started out 17-0 and went on to lose 9 out of its final 13 conference games and ended up in the NIT. Now, I don't think Cincy will be quite that bad, but I believe MU is the better team and will finish higher than them.

[karavotsos]

Xavier is bad this year and Cincy is fraudulent. Mark my words, Cincy will fade just like that Clemson team did a few years back after it started out 17-0 and went on to lose 9 out of its final 13 conference games and ended up in the NIT. Now, I don't think Cincy will be quite that bad, but I believe MU is the better team and will finish higher than them.

I agree.  All except the Simmons-esque use of the term fraudulent.  Haven't really watched this team this year but watched them a lot last year.  Thought they were good for the first 2 games of the Maui Classic, they then blew a game to an inferior Gonzaga team and kept blowing games to less talented teams all year.  Really didn't look like they had any idea what they wanted to do.  Now Cronin is back coaching pretty much the same group of yahoos, minus Lance Stephenson.  Sure, that may be addition by subtraction, but you'll have to do a lot more subtraction in order for that team to be legit.  You have to take them seriously because they have a lot of athleticism, but I agree that odds favor them sinking like a stone.  Thought Cronin should have been fired last year or at least demoted to scout/recruiter.

[77ncaachamps]

Xavier is horrible. And they're plagued with injuries.

Cincy got them at the right time.

UC still has bruisers and punks so expect a really physical game.

[willie warrior]

It is becoming pretty disappointing when we start hoping that we are on par with the Cinccy's, St. John's, Providences, etc. in the BEast.

All this shows is that those other schools are improving-moving up--while we are not keeping up/stagnating. Any way you look at it, it does not bode well for our future in BEast, unless we can prove all of those people wrong.

If we are not as well off as the top 8 or so in BEast, and only on par with the next about 6, where does that put us in the pecking order? Anywhere from about 9th to 16th. There is no way anybody should be too happy with this predicament. As Al Davis once said, "Just win, Baby"

[DCWarriors04]

Why is everyone making a huge deal over Cincy? I'm sorry, but their record needs to be thrown out the window...who have they played? Until they start knocking off some credible teams that are tourney bound I'm not going to take them seriously.

St. Johns, ok, they've caught my attention with the way they've played, and I have to assume Lavin and Keady will have them fighting every night.

Providence...haven't they been a decent middle of the pack team since we joined the BEast?

You want to worry, worry when we start hoping that we are on par with Seton Hall, South Florida, and De Paul.

[ChicosBailBonds]

With all due respect, we should take every Big East team seriously

[Coleman]

With all due respect, we should take every Big East team seriously

+1

God damn it, I hate it when I agree with Chicos.

[ChicosBailBonds]

+1

God damn it, I hate it when I agree with Chicos.

Careful, Jay Bee will start sending you personal emails for using God in that way (I'm not kidding)

[M@RQUETTEW@RRIORS]

If your name were Ricky Bobby as long as your preface it with "with all due respect"

You can pretty much say what you want.

[ChicosBailBonds]

If your name were Ricky Bobby as long as your preface it with "with all due respect"

You can pretty much say what you want.

It's in the Geneva Convention


http://www.youtube.com/v/Af-Id_fuXFA?fs=1&hl=en_US

[Coleman]

Careful, Jay Bee will start sending you personal emails for using God in that way (I'm not kidding)

I was actually half-expecting the board to automatically correct "damn" with "darn" or something, like it does for unnatural carnal knowledge

[icheights]

Yancy Gates might be the most improved player in the BEast this year...looks like he brought some game this year, I gaurantee he give MU fits.