Xavier

[Bearcat2016]

I have watched Xavier multiple times this year and I must say they play really hard. We have to match/exceed their intensity or we could get killed on the glass. I am confident in this game though because I feel Xavier's execution is really lacking. Their turnovers and free throw shooting has to be worrisome for their fans. It's just been sloppy.

I'm confident Mick will play man to man. If we play aggressive/switching man to man defense, while forcing Sumner to settle for jumpers, I really think we hold them to 55-60 pts. Make Bluiett take tough shots because that guy just cares about his stat line. You never know what Macura will do. He can take some really bad 3's sometimes but he does get hot streaks.

Offensively, as many others have stated, we must play inside-out. I also want us to rotate who is catching it on the block each possession. Once we find the hot hand between Gary and Kyle our offense will flourish from there.

I really feel Evans is going to be elite in this game. Just a gut feeling he's going to show everyone he's the most talented guy on the floor. If KJ/Troy continue to play like they have I can't imagine us not scoring 75 points.

That being said:
Cats:74
XU: 60

This win will increase Cincinnati's record to 50-34
Roll Cats

 

[GarradJ21]

I have watched Xavier multiple times this year and I must say they play really hard. We have to match/exceed their intensity or we could get killed on the glass. I am confident in this game though because I feel Xavier's execution is really lacking. Their turnovers and free throw shooting has to be worrisome for their fans. It's just been sloppy.

I'm confident Mick will play man to man. If we play aggressive/switching man to man defense, while forcing Sumner to settle for jumpers, I really think we hold them to 55-60 pts. Make Bluiett take tough shots because that guy just cares about his stat line. You never know what Macura will do. He can take some really bad 3's sometimes but he does get hot streaks.

Offensively, as many others have stated, we must play inside-out. I also want us to rotate who is catching it on the block each possession. Once we find the hot hand between Gary and Kyle our offense will flourish from there.

I really feel Evans is going to be elite in this game. Just a gut feeling he's going to show everyone he's the most talented guy on the floor. If KJ/Troy continue to play like they have I can't imagine us not scoring 75 points.

That being said:
Cats:74
XU: 60

This win will increase Cincinnati's record to 50-34
Roll Cats

Yeah, it will be good to have Jacob out there. He didn't play much last year.

The starters need to bring it. We have too young of a bench, too big of a game. We need a strong leadership from our seniors.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I have watched Xavier multiple times this year and I must say they play really hard. We have to match/exceed their intensity or we could get killed on the glass. I am confident in this game though because I feel Xavier's execution is really lacking. Their turnovers and free throw shooting has to be worrisome for their fans. It's just been sloppy.

I'm confident Mick will play man to man. If we play aggressive/switching man to man defense, while forcing Sumner to settle for jumpers, I really think we hold them to 55-60 pts. Make Bluiett take tough shots because that guy just cares about his stat line. You never know what Macura will do. He can take some really bad 3's sometimes but he does get hot streaks.

Offensively, as many others have stated, we must play inside-out. I also want us to rotate who is catching it on the block each possession. Once we find the hot hand between Gary and Kyle our offense will flourish from there.

I really feel Evans is going to be elite in this game. Just a gut feeling he's going to show everyone he's the most talented guy on the floor. If KJ/Troy continue to play like they have I can't imagine us not scoring 75 points.

That being said:
Cats:74
XU: 60

This win will increase Cincinnati's record to 50-34
Roll Cats

Good post. I agree on Washington and Clark both getting action in the post. Very important.

 

[justinhub2003]

Also we need Gary to be like he was in his first shootout where he was pretty unstoppable.

Last year we had 2 players no longer with us combine for 8 of our 16 TO.

I think we can keep it under 10 in that category this year.

Also attack JP macura. He has mental lapse on defense all the time. He is good for the occasional steal but his overall defense is pretty lackluster. Attack him.

On paper SMU is a better team and we handled them. I'm excited to witness my first shootout live

 

[Bearcat513]

Also we need Gary to be like he was in his first shootout where he was pretty unstoppable.

Last year we had 2 players no longer with us combine for 8 of our 16 TO.

I think we can keep it under 10 in that category this year.

Also attack JP macura. He has mental lapse on defense all the time. He is good for the occasional steal but his overall defense is pretty lackluster. Attack him.

On paper SMU is a better team and we handled them. I'm excited to witness my first shootout live

We made 46% of our 3's that game. We lost the second half in that game. Yes, we won, but SMU had a chance. We need to play a complete game, start to finish, to beat XU.

 

[Bearcat2016]

Also we need Gary to be like he was in his first shootout where he was pretty unstoppable.

Last year we had 2 players no longer with us combine for 8 of our 16 TO.

I think we can keep it under 10 in that category this year.

Also attack JP macura. He has mental lapse on defense all the time. He is good for the occasional steal but his overall defense is pretty lackluster. Attack him.

On paper SMU is a better team and we handled them. I'm excited to witness my first shootout live

Our seniors last year were really disappointing in big games. Shaq and Ellis just give you no chance in close games due to their offensive inabilities and lack of poise. I feel like losing them is why we are winning the majority our of close games this season. Also the guys we have grew from their mistakes. If Octavious Ellis was still our starting center I think I would be picking Xavier. LOL.

 

[Madman81]

Our seniors last year were really disappointing in big games. Shaq and Ellis just give you no chance in close games due to their offensive inabilities and lack of poise. I feel like losing them is why we are winning the majority our of close games this season. Also the guys we have grew from their mistakes. If Octavious Ellis was still our starting center I think I would be picking Xavier. LOL.

i think you probably could have just left it there.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Our seniors last year were really disappointing in big games. Shaq and Ellis just give you no chance in close games due to their offensive inabilities and lack of poise. I feel like losing them is why we are winning the majority our of close games this season. Also the guys we have grew from their mistakes. If Octavious Ellis was still our starting center I think I would be picking Xavier. LOL.

I think that Ellis gets a bad rap sometimes. Looking at stats and Ellis averages the exact same PPG and rebounding numbers that Clark does this season. Clark shoots at slightly better percentage but Ellis was a better FT shooter. UC also has a starting big that has been on the bench at end of games for whatever reason in lieu of a frosh. I agree they were disappointing but giving UC no chance, disagree. Could also be argued that KW and Clark have a better supporting cast as well.

Edit: Ellis did have almost 150 TO's in 2 years, that is a lot

Hopefully KJ can improve from his 3 pt 3 TO game last year

 

[justinhub2003]

I think that Ellis gets a bad rap sometimes. Looking at stats and Ellis averages the exact same PPG and rebounding numbers that Clark does this season. Clark shoots at slightly better percentage but Ellis was a better FT shooter. UC also has a starting big that has been on the bench at end of games for whatever reason in lieu of a frosh. I agree they were disappointing but giving UC no chance, disagree. Could also be argued that KW and Clark have a better supporting cast as well.

I liked Him as well. Just he got soft as he got older. And his hands were so clumsy. Like he could never play with an elite passing PG because he just couldn't catch quick passes.

That said I loved his defense. It's just weird he went from a guy who dunked everything hard to finishing soft and getting blocked or stripped. Overall I still liked him it's just we now have a new dynamic with our new bigs. Washington is a P5 level talent on offense and just great scorer.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

I liked Him as well. Just he got soft as he got older. And his hands were so clumsy. Like he could never play with an elite passing PG because he just couldn't catch quick passes.

That said I loved his defense. It's just weird he went from a guy who dunked everything hard to finishing soft and getting blocked or stripped. Overall I still liked him it's just we now have a new dynamic with our new bigs. Washington is a P5 level talent on offense and just great scorer.

I agree with points on Ellis, was never able to catch passes and played soft.

I am pretty sure Clark and Evans are P5 talents as well. Sure Washington is a dynamic scorer, but as I said, he is not in at the end of games for whatever reason, defense, rebounding and that has been a trend since Butler game. I just don't think that Ellis was such a liability that people think that he was.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

I agree with points on Ellis, was never able to catch passes and played soft.

I am pretty sure Clark and Evans are P5 talents as well. Sure Washington is a dynamic scorer, but as I said, he is not in at the end of games for whatever reason, defense, rebounding and that has been a trend since Butler game. I just don't think that Ellis was such a liability that people think that he was.

Ellis was a much better defender and presence in the middle defensively then Washington. My issue with Ellis was his lack of hands. Throwing the ball to him was a gamble at best. Made running a inside/outside approach very dicey. Both seem to have control issues at times and pick up very avoidable fouls.

 

[Emperor Snapper]

I liked Him as well. Just he got soft as he got older. And his hands were so clumsy. Like he could never play with an elite passing PG because he just couldn't catch quick passes.

That said I loved his defense. It's just weird he went from a guy who dunked everything hard to finishing soft and getting blocked or stripped. Overall I still liked him it's just we now have a new dynamic with our new bigs. Washington is a P5 level talent on offense and just great scorer.

Ellis would have been a more valuable player on a team with more shooting. He generally finished pretty well, but he wasn't a very versatile offensive player and tended to turn it over when he tried to do too much. Surrounded by a bunch of quick shooters where he could focus on rolling to the rim & offensive rebounding, he would have looked a lot better. The Ellis/Clark/Shaq Thomas combo made just 30 total 3-pointers during Ellis' two seasons - the floor was just crowded with non-shooters, which accentuated his weaknesses.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Ellis would have been a more valuable player on a team with more shooting. He generally finished pretty well, but he wasn't a very versatile offensive player and tended to turn it over when he tried to do too much. Surrounded by a bunch of quick shooters where he could focus on rolling to the rim & offensive rebounding, he would have looked a lot better. The Ellis/Clark/Shaq Thomas combo made just 30 total 3-pointers during Ellis' two seasons - the floor was just crowded with non-shooters, which accentuated his weaknesses.

Yep. That says it all.

 

[GarradJ21]

I hope we boo JP everytime time he gets the ball.. Cant stand that clown.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I hope we boo JP everytime time he gets the ball.. Cant stand that clown.

For some unknown reason I don hate Mecura as much as I should. I think I just respect the fact that he goes out and let's it rip. I'd always take mistakes from that over mistakes from being tentative. Now, having said all that, I hope he goes 0-12 with 6 TO and fouls out.

 

[coachpipe]

For some unknown reason I don hate Mecura as much as I should. I think I just respect the fact that he goes out and let's it rip. I'd always take mistakes from that over mistakes from being tentative. Now, having said all that, I hope he goes 0-12 with 6 TO and fouls out.

And then Chris Mack pulls a Chris Mack and throws a basketball straight at his face

 

[AZ BEARCAT]

And then Chris Mack pulls a Chris Mack and throws a basketball straight at his face

LOL !!

 

[justinhub2003]

For some unknown reason I don hate Mecura as much as I should. I think I just respect the fact that he goes out and let's it rip. I'd always take mistakes from that over mistakes from being tentative. Now, having said all that, I hope he goes 0-12 with 6 TO and fouls out.

Problem with Macura is that, if you watch him, he goes 110% on 20% of defensive possessions.

But the other 80% of the time, he completely take off and just chills.

You can almost blame Creighton loss on him. He was supposed to switch on to their 7 foot 3 point shooter and didn't, he said with his original man and left him wide open for a easy 3 point shot.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Problem with Macura is that, if you watch him, he goes 110% on 20% of defensive possessions.

But the other 80% of the time, he completely take off and just chills.

You can almost blame Creighton loss on him. He was supposed to switch on to their 7 foot 3 point shooter and didn't, he said with his original man and left him wide open for a easy 3 point shot.

Yeah he might be better suited as a full-time bench guy. Obviously Xavier doesn't have that luxury this year though.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

https://youtu.be/NIGjxkMmC6g

Coach