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Muskies Oust Owls!!
By
Andy Mac Williams,
1/11/2013
Xavier gave 40 minutes of scrappy effort defensively and managed just enough offense to skunk talented Temple 57-52 in the Atlantic 10 opener at Cintas. The Owls came in favored after beating Syracuse and Villanova and losing a close one at Kansas last Sunday. The Muskies converted the Owls into a mediocre jump shooting team. A-10 MVP candidate Khalif Wyatt had just carved up KU for 26 and had dropped 33 on Syracuse at MSG. The Muskies held him to 5 points on 2-11 shooting plus they kept him off the FT line.
Overall,TU shot just 34%(4-20 from 3). XU outrebounded TU decisively 42-31. Most Temple possessions were one and done.  | | Semaj Christon goes above the defenders for an impressive dunk.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Brad Redford drills a trey despite heavy defense late in the first half.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Dee Davis gets grabbed by a defender late in the second half.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Justin Martin gets “clothes-lined” on the way to the basket and still makes the shot.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Coach Mack provides some one-on-one tutoring for freshman Semaj Christon.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Coach Mack gives Justin Martin a hug after the game.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |
Coach Mack went back to Jeff Robinson as a starter looking for more length against lanky Temple and JRob played his best basketball since the Butler win. His stats (6PTS-7REBS) were not monster but he defended well and thrived in effort situations.
Landon Amos stepped up again playing extended minutes because of Dee Davis' wrist sprain and Semaj Christon's cramping problems. Amos had 4 rebounds-an amazing block on a Will Cummings lay-up and strong defense against Wyatt.
Brad Redford shifted to PG because of the injuries-buried 3 of 4 3 pointers-ran the offense well and slipped in to take two vital charges.
Travis Taylor delivered another double-double(11P-10R). Justin Martin gave 34 solid minutes with 10P-5R and sticky defense.
Semaj scored 16 showing great variety with pull-ups and lay-ups and a huge drive and dunk off the left wing. He cut his turnovers to just 1.
X struggled again from the FT line and from 3 point range but the numbers were better-certainly better than Temple's were. The win reminds me of the retool job Coach Mack and company fashioned at Rhode Island 2 years ago in the A-10 opener.
The Muskies have a quick turn-around. They host GW Saturday-4PM at Cintas. Dee Davis is questionable with a sprained wrist which probably means Redford starts and Amos will play double digit minutes.
GW is 7-7 so far with an A-10 win over St Bonnies 78-59 Wednesday in DC. Second year coach Mike Lonergan has played a decent schedule with losses at Notre Dame, at Rutgers, at Georgia and home to Kansas State.
The Colonials rebound well and play aggressive inside defense.They shoot 3's poorly but stroke FTs at 72%.
GW is big inside with 6-10 264 Fr Kevin Larsen and 6-9 Jr Villanova transfer Isiah Armwood. He had 11P-14R and 5 BLKS vs ST Bonnies. 6-1 Joe McDonald is the FR point guard with bulkier Bryan Bynes backing him up.6-6 SR Lasan Kromah is back and he's played well against XU. 6-6 Fr Patricio Garino is a starter and scored 12 vs SBU.
The Colonials are improved. Xavier managed to edge them 59-58 last Feb in an ugly game at the Smith Center.
Davis's availability would really help the Muskies, but that might not happen.
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