Xavier

[TNBearcat3]

We win by 10 and this gets us rolling into March.

This is my Hope, Prayer and Wish. You really never know in this game, it wouldn't be surprising to see either team win by 20 or go into OT.

 

[Bearcat22]

I don't think UC has a prayer. Cats are playing like absolute crap - Xavier has struggled lately too, but they have more weapons....UC might stop a few, but not all.

The key stats are these: They have turned the ball over 303 times, while scoring 1988 pts.

The Cats have turned the ball over 331 times, while scoring 1543 pt.

X Assist/TO = 447/303
UC = 288/331

If, by some miracle, UC can handle the ball & limit the gifts, they might have a shot, but I don't hold out much hope.

Sorry to be such a downer, but this team has crapped on every flowering of optimism I've had this year. I'm starting to expect failure as a defense mechanism against the pain of dashed hopes.

The one ray of sunshine I have is from a negative incident. I wonder (and this is based on no knowledge whatsoever), if Moore's suspension will rally the team. Or, perhaps a problem has been removed that will have a positive bounce. He might be a wonderful young man - I have no idea - his teammates might love him, again, no idea. Just from observing his demeanor, as others have posted, he seems removed, distant, sulking half the time. That does not foster team chemistry or provide the fire and sense of shared purpose that winning requires.

I hope I'm an idiot with this prediction, and if so, will gladly be called such (and embrace it), but I predict X 72 - 54

With new players and players playing increased roles these ups and downs had to be expected. It doesn't make it less frustrating, but somewhat expected and impossible to predict scores. I wouldn't be shocked if we won or lost by 20. Two losses in a row at home is territory we don't want to venture into.

 

[TheLongHaul]

I expect a large X victory as well. Xavier sucks at defense but is good on offense and especially lately, UC has had huge gaps in their defense. Xavier will exploit this. Plus, even though Xavier's defense sucks, it really doesn't matter when the team you are guarding can't shoot worth a lick and plays at such a slow tempo. Maybe, just maybe, if UC can actually make open shots, then they will have a good chance.

 

[BCM]

I will never pick against UC in this game. Ever. I don't care how pessimistic or "realistic" you are you do not pick X over UC.

 

[Bearcat Rob]

I honestly dont understand how xavier (16-10) is projected in the tournament, their best ooc win is murray state which has an rpi of 69. isnt that why smu didnt make it last year?

 

[Bearcat Rob]

Also when we lost ecu everyone was freaking out and we bounced back with a big win @smu a very good team. I am very confident the teams bounces back wednsday in front of a rocking crowd

 

[UCalum08]

I expect a large X victory as well. Xavier sucks at defense but is good on offense and especially lately, UC has had huge gaps in their defense. Xavier will exploit this. Plus, even though Xavier's defense sucks, it really doesn't matter when the team you are guarding can't shoot worth a lick and plays at such a slow tempo. Maybe, just maybe, if UC can actually make open shots, then they will have a good chance.

That is a fair assessment. I am worried about X being able to play inside out. Stainbrook will open things up for their shooters. Jacob made a post earlier about who will be Xavier's player who has the game of his life. I am worried about Reynolds and/or Myles Davis. Davis can get hot from 3 and Reynolds size and athletic ability makes me nervous.

 

[bearcat jeff]

That is a fair assessment. I am worried about X being able to play inside out. Stainbrook will open things up for their shooters. Jacob made a post earlier about who will be Xavier's player who has the game of his life. I am worried about Reynolds and/or Myles Davis. Davis can get hot from 3 and Reynolds size and athletic ability makes me nervous.

I think the Reynolds / Clark match up is huge in this game. Rebounding period is huge in this game.

 

[UCalum08]

I think the Reynolds / Clark match up is huge in this game. Rebounding period is huge in this game.

For sure. Our rebounding has been really bad lately but it will be put to the test Wednesday. Reynolds/Clark matchup worries me because of the size difference. He is much bigger than Clark and will have a mental advantage over him too. UC is going to have to play with an urgency and aggressiveness we haven't seen yet.

 

[bearcat jeff]

We may lose the game, I simply will never pick that, but let's be real. People are making it sound like X is a machine. This team has played better teams this season and won. I don't get all the blow out talk.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

The more I think about it, the more nervous I get about playing zone in this one. Doubling Stainbrook in the post plays right into their hands. You just don't see the throwback type C in college bball anymore and his ability to pass completely changes the angles we're used to seeing on the perimeter. We've already had struggles lately on our rotations as is, I'm just worried that he'll torch us on double teams by getting guys the ball who are stepping into their shots/moving towards the hoop. When Xavier played Seton Hall, they shot around 75% from 2. I'm afraid that the inside out game against zone defense will leave gaps for guys like Bluett and Reynolds. And once a team cracks a zone, it is hard to stop the bleeding. I hope LD can make the proper adjustments or else our defense will be on their heels and it'll end up being like that ND game a few years ago when they scored 89 and just toyed with us bc they could so easily work it inside and make the extra pass.

 

[cincrulz11]

If they have anybody on the perimeter you really have to watch out for it's Abell. He's been the only one that has shot the 3 well since conference play has started. Myles Davis can get hot, but he can also be completely off (just under 33% from 3 since conference play started).

Bluiett is also extremely streaky from 3 but is 8 of his last 17 the past 3 games.


xavier will settle for 3's if you make it tough to get inside. That's how they lost to Seton Hall. We have to make the entry passes difficult.


Also xavier starts the game small with Bluiett at the 4 and Abell at the 3. I'm not sure we can play man vs them cause Ellis doesn't match up with Stain, Clark doesn't tend to guard the perimeter, and I'm not sure Sanders can play on Abell.


If we go man and over help like we have in the past, xavier is going do to us what ND always did to us.

 

[Eternal E]

NC State is a great three point shooting team at 36.5% as a team for the season. Lacey shoots 41.5%, Barber shoots 37.8% and Turner shoots 37.8% individually. Guess how many they made against Cincinnati?

 

[jacobkdoyle]

NC State is a great three point shooting team at 36.5% as a team for the season. Lacey shoots 41.5%, Barber shoots 37.8% and Turner shoots 37.8% individually. Guess how many they made against Cincinnati?

Zilch!

Wow, Barber shoots 3s that well?

 

[Eternal E]

Zilch!

Wow, Barber shoots 3s that well?

Even more impressively, we only let them get off 5 attempts. I threw Barber in there even though Lacey and Turner take most of their attempts. Barber only has 37 attempts on the season.

 

[Bulldog01]

With new players and players playing increased roles these ups and downs had to be expected. It doesn't make it less frustrating, but somewhat expected and impossible to predict scores. I wouldn't be shocked if we won or lost by 20. Two losses in a row at home is territory we don't want to venture into.

This team needs a leader coach or player

 

[Bulldog01]

NC State is a great three point shooting team at 36.5% as a team for the season. Lacey shoots 41.5%, Barber shoots 37.8% and Turner shoots 37.8% individually. Guess how many they made against Cincinnati?

Don't play zone and we got a good chance

 

[Bulldog01]

Davis go have to put his big boy pants on and get creative with coaching. Shaq and kj should only come in during tv timeouts. have Sanders rotate in for bigs and Mormon for guards

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Opened as a PK

 

[Shoemaker]

I go back and forth on this game. On the one hand, I think there's no way UC loses at home, right? Especially with how poorly xavier plays on the road? It should be that simple.
But history and the recent trend of the team certainly suggest anything but simplicity. You fear Xavier having the freak shooting night like they did a year ago, or the scenario in which they just want it more than the Bearcats.
The crowd has got to bring it tomorrow night and the players need to be fired up, but not get carried away, similar to the UCONN game.
Winning this game can go a long way I think.