Xavier Thoughts

[downtown85]

Xavier nearly doubled us on the rebounding battle. 39-20

Home cooking on the foul differential.  Not complaining, just stating a fact. (X 32-41 FT v. MU 10-13 FT)

Point guard issues continue for MU.  HOWEVER the assist/turnover ratio for MU was 21-6, a pretty good result.

That guy Semaj Criston is pretty good.  28 pts, perfect from beyond the arc.  his 3 pointers broke our back in the second half. 

MU played tough but seemed to run out of gas after J Wilson fouled out. 

X's defense is not that good if we can put up 79 points on them OR our offense is better than we think.

[VegasWarrior77]

Good to see Dawson, JJJ and Burton on the court at the same time
Burton will be starting by end of season
Starting lineup could be Wilson/Jake/Burton/Jamil/Ox

[madtownwarrior]

So burton starting over Juan Andersen? That does not seem like a bold prediction.

Good to see Dawson, JJJ and Burton on the court at the same time
Burton will be starting by end of season
Starting lineup could be Wilson/Jake/Burton/Jamil/Ox

[VegasWarrior77]

It is not a bold prediction.  It is one of my "Xavier Thoughts".

[AZWarrior]

It was aggravating to watch Jamil being played for a sucker tonight.  Multiple times under X's basket he fell for the shot fake and ended up fouling the X player.  I suspect X worked on this in practice and it resulted in Jamil fouling out. 

Jamil has just got to learn to keep his feet on the ground in those situations.  I understand the young man is intelligent.  But he's continually being played for the fool.  And when he's on the bench with foul trouble, or on the bench fouled out, he's of no help to his team.

[JWags85]

Honestly, this is the most encouraged I've been all season.  They lost to a Xavier team that is HOT and nearly unbeatable at the Cintas Center over the last 5 years.  And fought back to tie it only to be snuffed out by a stud shooting out of his mind.  Saw alot of good things from alot of different guys.  Other than @Nova, we should be easily competitive in every game and steal a few on the road.  I still think we finish top 4 in front of Gtown and Providence.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

We will wreak havoc and get revenge at the BC.  they won't get that many free throws there

[Texas Western]

Good overall game and great to see Deonte,JJJ and Dawson with some extended playing time. The bith fg problem continues to be point guard play, would rather see Derick more as a defensive role player where I think he would shine. He is a great kid trying his best but I think the coach has put him in a very difficult situation.

[Rudy]

It was aggravating to watch Jamil being played for a sucker tonight.  Multiple times under X's basket he fell for the shot fake and ended up fouling the X player.  I suspect X worked on this in practice and it resulted in Jamil fouling out. 

Jamil has just got to learn to keep his feet on the ground in those situations.  I understand the young man is intelligent.  But he's continually being played for the fool.  And when he's on the bench with foul trouble, or on the bench fouled out, he's of no help to his team.

I agree with this on the one hand...but Jamil has elevated and swatted a ton of shots this year and in his career. I enjoy watching his volleyball jump lead to blocks. He has to pick his spots better. I got the feeling that they scouted that too.

[jsglow]

It's nice to see us actually run plays for Jake.  If he can maintain anything near his current pace, I hope it'll open things up for DG down low.  And Jamil, nail your feet to the floor on defense.  We simply can't win when you play 12 minutes.

[KenoshaWarrior]

Honestly, this is the most encouraged I've been all season.  They lost to a Xavier team that is HOT and nearly unbeatable at the Cintas Center over the last 5 years.  And fought back to tie it only to be snuffed out by a stud shooting out of his mind.  Saw alot of good things from alot of different guys.  Other than @Nova, we should be easily competitive in every game and steal a few on the road.  I still think we finish top 4 in front of Gtown and Providence.

Agree.  Best we played in a while!!        Not sure that we can not be competitive at Nova. 

[XUOHTX]

Just wanted to come over and say great game. When we (X) joined the Big East, Marquette was one of the teams I really looked forward to playing.  

I don't think this game went like anyone expected.  I certainly didn't think both teams would be in or around the 80's.  You guys almost did to us what we did to UC this year by hitting an uncharacteristic number of 3's. A crazy amount of fouls really changed the dynamics of the game which seems to be par for the course this year (good or bad).

I look forward to to our trip to the Bradley Center and many years of great games.

[TJ]

Xavier nearly doubled us on the rebounding battle. 39-20

Home cooking on the foul differential.  Not complaining, just stating a fact. (X 32-41 FT v. MU 10-13 FT)

Point guard issues continue for MU.  HOWEVER the assist/turnover ratio for MU was 21-6, a pretty good result.

That guy Semaj Criston is pretty good.  28 pts, perfect from beyond the arc.  his 3 pointers broke our back in the second half. 

MU played tough but seemed to run out of gas after J Wilson fouled out. 

X's defense is not that good if we can put up 79 points on them OR our offense is better than we think.

IMO, there was very little, if any home cooking.  Sure there was a bad block call on Juan and the announcers were all over it, but that was one call.  The free throw disparity happened because MU spent the whole frickin' game on the perimeter.  They weren't attacking the basket and drawing fouls like they usually do.

[tower912]

1.   There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
2.   This team goes as far as Jamil takes it.   Time to play as smart as Buzz says you are.
3.  John Dawson, you finally looked ready last night.   Welcome to the party.
4.   Officiating was consistent......for the home team.   It happens.  
5.   FT differential too much to overcome.
6.   Running plays for Jake works.
7.   As good as the frosh looked on offense, they certainly looked liked frosh on defense.
8.   Sadly, so did Jamil.
9.   Rode Davante too much last night.   He was worn out late and couldn't guard the big transfer from the MAC.   More Otule, particularly in offense/defense swaps, please.  
10.   This team is inches from everything falling into place and going on a run.   Sadly, I fear that we will all hear Pat Benatar singing "...it's a little too little, it's a little too late."
11.  I am not in a cold sweat worrying about next year's team.   It looks like the frosh, when they are sophomores, will play fearlessly and lead.    They're going to have to.  

[Hards Alumni]

1.   There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
2.   This team goes as far as Jamil takes it.   Time to play as smart as Buzz says you are.
3.  John Dawson, you finally looked ready last night.   Welcome to the party.
4.   Officiating was consistent......for the home team.   It happens.  
5.   FT differential too much to overcome.
6.   Running plays for Jake works.
7.   As good as the frosh looked on offense, they certainly liked frosh on defense.
8.   Sadly, so did Jamil.
9.   Rode Davante too much last night.   He was worn out late and couldn't guard the big transfer from the MAC.   More Otule, particularly in offense/defense swaps, please.  
10.   This team is inches from everything falling into place and going on a run.   Sadly, I fear that we will all hear Pat Benatar singing "...it's a little too little, it's a little too late."
11.  I am not in a cold sweat worrying about next year's team.   It looks like the frosh, when they are sophomores, will play fearlessly and lead.    They're going to have to.  

11/11

[KenoshaWarrior]

1.   There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
2.   This team goes as far as Jamil takes it.   Time to play as smart as Buzz says you are.
3.  John Dawson, you finally looked ready last night.   Welcome to the party.
4.   Officiating was consistent......for the home team.   It happens.  
5.   FT differential too much to overcome.
6.   Running plays for Jake works.
7.   As good as the frosh looked on offense, they certainly liked frosh on defense.
8.   Sadly, so did Jamil.
9.   Rode Davante too much last night.   He was worn out late and couldn't guard the big transfer from the MAC.   More Otule, particularly in offense/defense swaps, please.  
10.   This team is inches from everything falling into place and going on a run.   Sadly, I fear that we will all hear Pat Benatar singing "...it's a little too little, it's a little too late."
11.  I am not in a cold sweat worrying about next year's team.   It looks like the frosh, when they are sophomores, will play fearlessly and lead.    They're going to have to.  

I disagree with #5.  The free throw differential was not what burried us.  It was the contested threes that Samadj Christen kept hitting in the final 3 minutes.  They were backbreakers!!!     We were in this game even with the free throw differential.

[Dawson Rental]

I disagree with #5.  The free throw differential was not what burried us.  It was the contested threes that Samadj Christen kept hitting in the final 3 minutes.  They were backbreakers!!!     We were in this game even with the free throw differential.

But Xavier wouldn't have been without it.

[MU82]

It was our best offensive game against a quality opponent. You always look better offensively when 3-pointers go down.

Our defense (and rebounding, which is an extension of defense) was nowhere near acceptable, however.

[tower912]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2014/01/09/91046/#boxscore

Game box score.  

Sticking with 13-5 in league. 

[Hards Alumni]

But Xavier wouldn't have been without it.

+1

[barfolomew]

3.  John Dawson, you finally looked ready last night.   Welcome to the party.
4.   Officiating was consistent......for the home team.   It happens.  

3. Dawson is making progress, but still looks lost at times. Shot selection was not the best and had a horrendous moving screen shortly after he checked in which was not called... which leads me to:
4. I thought the officiating was inconsistent/poor for both teams. The play above, Burton's goaltend, and Davante's boneheaded arm-wrap on the X player under the basket are a few of the calls that should have gone against MU.

[79Warrior]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2014/01/09/91046/#boxscore

Game box score.  

Sticking with 13-5 in league. 

13-5 looks like a real stretch. I would be happy if we could rip off three wins in a row.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Just wanted to come over and say great game. When we (X) joined the Big East, Marquette was one of the teams I really looked forward to playing.  

I don't think this game went like anyone expected.  I certainly didn't think both teams would be in or around the 80's.  You guys almost did to us what we did to UC this year by hitting an uncharacteristic number of 3's. A crazy amount of fouls really changed the dynamics of the game which seems to be par for the course this year (good or bad).

I look forward to to our trip to the Bradley Center and many years of great games.

Marquette played a very solid game but X simply played better.  Samaj was unstoppable.

[tower912]

13-5 looks like a real stretch. I would be happy if we could rip off three wins in a row.

Undefeated at home.   Road wins at 4 of the following 5:   DePaul, Butler, Seton Hall, Providence, SJU.   

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

1.   There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
2.   This team goes as far as Jamil takes it.   Time to play as smart as Buzz says you are.
3.  John Dawson, you finally looked ready last night.   Welcome to the party.
4.   Officiating was consistent......for the home team.   It happens.  
5.   FT differential too much to overcome.
6.   Running plays for Jake works.
7.   As good as the frosh looked on offense, they certainly looked liked frosh on defense.
8.   Sadly, so did Jamil.
9.   Rode Davante too much last night.   He was worn out late and couldn't guard the big transfer from the MAC.   More Otule, particularly in offense/defense swaps, please.  
10.   This team is inches from everything falling into place and going on a run.   Sadly, I fear that we will all hear Pat Benatar singing "...it's a little too little, it's a little too late."
11.  I am not in a cold sweat worrying about next year's team.   It looks like the frosh, when they are sophomores, will play fearlessly and lead.    They're going to have to.  

Couldn't have said it better myself.

About #11, I'm a little nervous for next year. D Wil, Anderson, and Mayo as the seniors is not ideal. But I see a lot in these frosh. I also really like the incoming class. Acording to Hill, Buzz told him that he would contribute right away. I don't think I've ever heard of Buzz promising a freshman that. I hope this means that Hill is a really special player.