Xavier Game

[BM1090]

Will try to start some basketball discussion.

Marquette will likely open around -4. Could see anywhere from 3-5 but -4 seems about right.

Xavier has a lot of length, but unlike Providence and SHU won't have huge height advantages against us inside. Every starter is listed between 6'4 and 6'9. They really cannot shoot the ball. Team 3P% is only 29.7%. Scruggs shoots 37% on decent volume. Marshall is capable of getting hot but is only at 28% on the season.

Despite all their length they are only an average rebounding team, better on the offensive end than the defensive end. They don't get to the line very much. One area they really excel is guarding the 3P line. They turn the ball over slightly more often than MU.

I'm relatively confident going into this game, predicting an 8-10 point win.

How's everyone feeling about tomorrow?

[mubb3434]

Soooo this means Xavier will shoot 44% from 3 tomorrow

[Warrior of Law]

Great analysis.  Considering the Providence loss, this ends up being a big game for mid-January.  With students back, I would hope the arena will be ready to roll and a great atmosphere.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Less typing, more winning. Time for MU to get on a roll here.

[BM1090]

Less typing, more winning. Time for MU to get on a roll here.

3 in a row.

[NorthernDancerColt]

Soooo this means Xavier will shoot 44% from 3 tomorrow

Yep. Put him in the bathroom with Eddie M and CoffeeCakeFace.


Seriously, guys. No offense, but you guys need to learn the art of keeping quiet about opponent shortcomings. So many of you are the guy at the track who, seeing someone else yelling home their apparent longshot winner, screams "YOU GOT IT!!" moments before the horse goes onto the wrong lead and loses at the wire.

[MUfan12]

Have only seen X a little bit here or there this season. The biggest thing I'm looking at is after these last two games is how MU will deal with physicality. Will they try to finish through contact rather than embellish it to get a whistle? Will they try to move guys off their spots defensively?

I hope they figured some things out last week and can bounce back. Three winnable games coming up.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Threes gotta be dropping early & often, need to bury them early like Nova rather than let them hang around & bully us like Providence did. Need to be clean on the glass too. No easy baskets, put them on the line if needed, we have 15 fouls at the C position. They're a bad FT shooting team make them earn it at the stripe.

[BM1090]

MU opens -3. I love MU at that number.

I'm a little bit worried about Markus with Scruggs/Marshall on him. Other than that I think it's a great matchup.

[Jamo]

Would like to see 5-10 minutes of 0 big lineups with Cain/Bailey. Where you feel you can get by on the boards/D it's worth it to get some semblance of offense from all 5 on the court.

[WhoaJoe2020]

Would like to see 5-10 minutes of 0 big lineups with Cain/Bailey. Where you feel you can get by on the boards/D it's worth it to get some semblance of offense from all 5 on the court.

I understand where you're coming from but no. Bailey getting banged around would not help his offensive game. The team just needs to do what they've been doing only better. Or maybe Xavier isn't as good as SH, PC, and CU and Marquette just wins by playing at the level they have been. Maybe Marquette matches up better.

[We R Final Four]

If @ SHU was a must win by some.....what does that make this game?

[WhoaJoe2020]

If @ SHU was a must win by some.....what does that make this game?

Some....... Not many.

[BM1090]

If @ SHU was a must win by some.....what does that make this game?

It wasn't.

This one by definition isn't a must win, but it's about as close as you can get in the 5th conference game of the season.

[MarquetteDano]

It wasn't.

This one by definition isn't a must win, but it's about as close as you can get in the 5th conference game of the season.

Both X and we are 1-3. As, as stated just about a must win for both teams. Someone will be 1-4 after this and it will be looking bleak.

[GoldenZebra]

Great analysis.  Considering the Providence loss, this ends up being a big game for mid-January.  With students back, I would hope the arena will be ready to roll and a great atmosphere.

The Providence game had a great crowd and the students that were there were loud. The team fell flat on their face and couldnt seal the win, despite having plenty of chances to do so, WITH the crowd behind them.

[WhoaJoe2020]

The Providence game had a great crowd and the students that were there were loud. The team fell flat on their face and couldnt seal the win, despite having plenty of chances to do so, WITH the crowd behind them.

Yep...... Guaranteed loss. SMDH

[Cheeks]

It wasn't.

This one by definition isn't a must win, but it's about as close as you can get in the 5th conference game of the season.

It's a must win

[BM1090]

The Providence game had a great crowd and the students that were there were loud. The team fell flat on their face and couldnt seal the win, despite having plenty of chances to do so, WITH the crowd behind them.

Disagree here. The crowd was as flat as the team.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Disagree here. The crowd was as flat as the team.

6pm to start, sure. Crowd was excellent as the game went on.

[Herman Cain]

Always enjoy the rivalry with X. Should be a fun high scoring game. A win here and we have a chance to build much needed momentum.

[GoldenZebra]

Yep...... Guaranteed loss. SMDH

I just dont get the narrative that the crowd "better be loud or the team loses". Its college sports, stuff happens. Crowd helps but its not the end-all to determine a game.

[Shooter McGavin]

Anyone know if Elliott is able to play?

[Stretchdeltsig]

Great win Marquette.

[Herman Cain]

The team played very well tonight. Very pleased to see us get a big margin victory. Lets see if we can build some momentum now.