Xavier

[JackBauer151]

Tonight sucks more than words can describe but this season will be defined by how they finish. If they play the way they played in the second half from here on out we will be just fine. Find a way to make to the NCAA is all that matters right now.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

That first half killed us. Not just the zone stuff. Caupain walking it up with KJ and Sanders on the wings is not giving us anything.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Tonight sucks more than words can describe but this season will be defined by how they finish. If they play the way they played in the second half from here on out we will be just fine. Find a way to make to the NCAA is all that matters right now.

I'm actually more optimistic now than I was going into the game.

 

[ccmbearcat]

Houston first.

A loss to Houston would end any hope we have left. We can win out or fade out from here on. Houston is now the most important game of the year.

 

[JackBauer151]

That first half killed us. Not just the zone stuff. Caupain walking it up with KJ and Sanders on the wings is not giving us anything.

I really am at a loss on what to do with KJ. He simply has been a nightmare 90% of the season. He plays good on the ball defense most of the time. That's about the only positive thing I can say. Doesnt rebound, cant shoot, turns it over, cant create off the dribble, not a very good passer, and takes ill advised shots. I feel so bad for him being a local kid and just trying so hard and literally almost having zero success.

 

[UCalum08]

I mean Xavier made shots. Dee Davis was on fire. We had every chance to win. We just have not been good in the final minute in close games.

Maybe it looked different on TV but Cobb can't shoot that 3 at the end. You have to drive to the hoop. Its def frustrating bc our guys battled their butts off.

 

[cincrulz11]

There isn't a lot you can do when Davis, Farr and Macura go 7-9 on 3 and not a single one of them was above 30% on the season. They were 49-181 27% coming in.


In the post game LD talked about how they were fine letting D. Davis shoot 3's coming in as he was 18% in conference play.


Xavier just always shoots lights out against us. Really hard to beat that.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I really am at a loss on what to do with KJ. He simply has been a nightmare 90% of the season. He plays good on the ball defense most of the time. That's about the only positive thing I can say. Doesnt rebound, cant shoot, turns it over, cant create off the dribble, not a very good passer, and takes ill advised shots. I feel so bad for him being a local kid and just trying so hard and literally almost having zero success.

Yep I'm in the same boat on KJ. But he just can't play anymore. All hope is not lost for his career, but for this season we gotta shut him down. Just can't be counted on. Time for Morman to get his shot...can't possibly hurt us any worse at this point.

 

[MTBU225]

Sucks that we lost, never like losing to X. But i was glad that we finally showed heart and that our players were fired up and showing emotion. It was nice seeing Shaq and Gary being assertive and showing emotion. Would have like to see the ball be driven inside and crash the boards, but like some of you all said, Cobb had an open look.... got to knock those down. At least we played hard, rather see that than some half assed effort. Also would like to see us play some more man to man, especially against teams we out match athletically

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I mean Xavier made shots. Dee Davis was on fire. We had every chance to win. We just have not been good in the final minute in close games.

Maybe it looked different on TV but Cobb can't shoot that 3 at the end. You have to drive to the hoop. Its def frustrating bc our guys battled their butts off.

I think in the moment he just knew he had to get a shot off and knew he was open. He took a semi jab step like he wanted to drive, but I can't blame him for putting it up.

 

[MTBU225]

I said he isn't athletic. Athletic is Blake Griffin

Okay then there are only about 10 athletic people in the world by your definition haha. Clark is athletic, especially when he's not fully grown or used to his body. Griffin is super-human as is lebron james, etc.

 

[cincrulz11]

Time for Morman to get his shot...can't possibly hurt us any worse at this point.

Yes he can because KJ still plays well on the defensive end.


The 2 is just a mystery like the 3. As soon as you think one guy wants to own the position they fall apart. Cobb is 6-21 the last 2 games and 3-14 from 3. Nobody wants to step up and get it done.



I'm ready for anybody to step up but Cobb has to be more consistent, KJ has to build his confidence and trust himself, and Morman has to allow the game to come to him and play in the system the team has set up.

 

[TheLongHaul]

Wow. Two games in a row that I'm sickened. This team just knows how to lose. So much wrong in that game it's amazing that they were even in it.

-Davis got out coached big time. You knew they were going to shred the zone and he took way, way too long to get out of it. By then X was on fire and UC was in a deep hole. WTH was that last play? A set play for a 3 when you are down 1? And to call your last TO prior to the last FT?

-Caupain, where the hell were you tonight? He was completely non-existent. I didn't realize he was allergic to the paint. No excuses on that last play unless LD drew it up like that. He has to take the ball to the basket and never once did he in the entire second half. What's the point of a pick and roll if you are no threat to drive?

-KJ isn't very good. Maybe he'll be good by his Junior or Senior year but he isn't this year.

-Shaq who actually had a good game by his standards, is also a below average player. X exploited him big time.

-Sanders, same as Shaq. Just not good enough.

-Cobb, I like you but you have to make open shots. Not sure what is wrong with his shot right now because it looks good, just doesn't go in at a high clip.

-Xavier steps up in these games, UC puts their tails between their legs. And nothing is more frustrating than that. Dee Davis sucks yet he kills it against UC and UC just plays nervous.

Damn!!!!

 

[TheLongHaul]

I think in the moment he just knew he had to get a shot off and knew he was open. He took a semi jab step like he wanted to drive, but I can't blame him for putting it up.

Cobb had no other choice than to shoot. Either a terrible play call or a terrible decision by Caupain to pass it. It should have been a pick and roll with Caupain taking it to the basket but he has no desire and he is too slow to get by players.

 

[Weez1414]

There isn't a lot you can do when Davis, Farr and Macura go 7-9 on 3 and not a single one of them was above 30% on the season. They were 49-181 27% coming in.


In the post game LD talked about how they were fine letting D. Davis shoot 3's coming in as he was 18% in conference play.


Xavier just always shoots lights out against us. Really hard to beat that.

Their getting outshot by everybody on their home court. Pretty frustrating they cant even hit Ft's at home.

 

[cincrulz11]

-Caupain, where the hell were you tonight? He was completely non-existent. I didn't realize he was allergic to the paint.

9 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, 0 TO. Man what a scrub.

 

[Bearcatmatt]

Their getting outshot by everybody on their home court. Pretty frustrating they cant even hit Ft's at home.

I think the tendency as fans is to overreact to every loss. This team is young. They play like it. They're inconsistent in their effort. Sometimes their defense is great. They made some huge stops and kept X from scoring for about 7 minutes. They also gave up an open 3 at the end and made a critical mistake by fouling with the lead.

But tonight, I can't fault the effort. They have to learn to execute down the stretch - and in half of their close games against good teams (SMU twice, San Diego state) they have. In others, they have done the opposite. They have all the markings of a team that is young but has some talent. If UC makes the tournament, which I think the loss to X would put us at 5-4 against the RPI top 50, we still look good against what is a soft bubble. I certainly wouldn't want to play is as an 11 or 12 seed. There just isn't much separating teams after the top 10 or so this year.

Edit: I really hate auto correct.

 

[TheLongHaul]

9 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, 0 TO. Man what a scrub.

He made one basket in the second half. Only shot the ball 5 times, once in the second half. Not sure he even drove the lane once in the second half. That isn't good enough for this team.

 

[Bulldog01]

Cobb had no other choice than to shoot. Either a terrible play call or a terrible decision by Caupain to pass it. It should have been a pick and roll with Caupain taking it to the basket but he has no desire and he is too slow to get by players.

NO desire at all. Was smiling after miss

 

[bearcat jeff]

Wow. Two games in a row that I'm sickened. This team just knows how to lose. So much wrong in that game it's amazing that they were even in it.

-Davis got out coached big time. You knew they were going to shred the zone and he took way, way too long to get out of it. By then X was on fire and UC was in a deep hole. WTH was that last play? A set play for a 3 when you are down 1? And to call your last TO prior to the last FT?

-Caupain, where the hell were you tonight? He was completely non-existent. I didn't realize he was allergic to the paint. No excuses on that last play unless LD drew it up like that. He has to take the ball to the basket and never once did he in the entire second half. What's the point of a pick and roll if you are no threat to drive?

-KJ isn't very good. Maybe he'll be good by his Junior or Senior year but he isn't this year.

-Shaq who actually had a good game by his standards, is also a below average player. X exploited him big time.

-Sanders, same as Shaq. Just not good enough.

-Cobb, I like you but you have to make open shots. Not sure what is wrong with his shot right now because it looks good, just doesn't go in at a high clip.

-Xavier steps up in these games, UC puts their tails between their legs. And nothing is more frustrating than that. Dee Davis sucks yet he kills it against UC and UC just plays nervous.

Damn!!!!

Troy Caupain had 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assist and 2 steals. The only thing he did wrong tonight was not shoot enough.