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Muskies-Tenacious vs Memphis Tigers!!
By
Andy Mac Williams,
2/27/2013
The deck seemed to be stacked against XU Tuesday nite at Cintas. Memphis rolled in-rated 17th nationally-already CUSA Champs-riding an 18 game win streak. They hadn't lost a road game since last season(11 straight wins away) and M was favored by 5 and a half. The Muskies were coming off a gut wrenching A-10 defeat (75-71 losing a 17 point lead) to VCU 3 days earlier plus X had lost PG Dee Davis to a head injury.
On paper the Tigers were set-up to walk-over the Muskies. Luckily,this one was played out on the court-not in some Monte Carlo computer simulation. XU parlayed home court advantage,sheer hustle and domination inside into a 64-62 ballsy victory over MU.
 | | Semaj Christon continues toward the basket after getting hit in the head.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Isaiah Philmore demonstrates a soft touch with his left hand for a key basket in the second half.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Brad Redford heads down court after grabbing a loose ball.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |
 | | Erik Stenger goes strong to the basket.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | A Cintas favorite, the Frisbee Dogs, preformed a halftime Tuesday night.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |
The Muskies led 31-20 at the break-outrebounding the huge lanky Tigers 27-14. Travis Taylor only played 10 minutes due to foul trouble. Coach Chris Mack patched things together-getting great gritty minutes from Eric Stenger who held his own against Memphis hulk Tarik Black despite giving up 50 pounds. Frosh James Farr snarred 2 rebounds-blocked a shot and forced Black into a travelling violation with smart post defense in 3 eventful minutes. Farr incurred Mack's wrath when he gave up a baseline drive just after he subbed in. That's a cardinal sin for a Packline defender.
Semaj Christon re-worked his game after posting 10 turnovers against VCU's manic press. SC took what the defense gave him in the first half-feeding the post and not forcing his drives. Memphis played behind Taylor and Isiah Philmore on the block and was slow to double team so X pounded it inside and swarmed the glass(11 offensive rebounds). After halftime Semaj had the energy and the opportunity to attack the rim. His overall line was impressive (13 points-5 rebounds-5 assists and just one turnover against the Tiger pressure).
Brad Redford played a huge 32 minutes and took ballhandling pressure off Christon. Redford coughed the ball up just once. He scored 5 vital points in the final two minutes( a "3" to put XU ahead for good 58-57 and two swished FTs). Brad dug out 3 rebounds-got a steal and absorbed a charge. Tiger coach Josh Pastner assigned ace defender Joe Jackson-his best player-to face guard Redford and Brad still prospered. Jackson is one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the country.
While he was watching Redford obviously he could not guard Semaj!! X seemingly won 80% of the 50-50 loose balls. Memphis made it close by drilling 6 straight 3 pointers in the second half, but XU richly deserved to win based on sheer effort and they did!! Philmore and Taylor combined for 33 points and 16 rebounds against MU's formidable front line.
Jeff Robinson chipped in 8 points and 6 boards and he nailed a key "3" late in the game(now 3-21 from outside the arc on the season). The Muskies flipped almost all the numbers on a very good NCAA-bound Memphis team. MU usually scores 76PPG (62 last nite). They turn opponents over 18 times(10 last nite). They outrebound teams by 6(X won the board battle by 9).
Most importantly, Xavier showed growth. They learned from their VCU bitter pill instead of feeling sorry for themselves. This team is getting better. That's a goal for Chris Mack. He wants his teams playing their best basketball in March. We are almost there on the calendar. Mack's teams in 2010 and 2012 came through late in the season(NCAA Sweet 16s). The 2011 team got a bad NCAA match-up in Marquette. This season is still in progress.
Three games are left in the regular schedule(UMass at Cintas-Saturday-2PM-CBS Sports Network,next Wednesday home vs St Louis and a week from Saturday at Butler). Xavier's 16-11 overall 8-4 in the A-10 tied for 5th with Temple and one game back of LaSalle (9-4). XU probably wrapped up at least an NIT berth with the win over Memphis.
XU lost at Tennessee just after Christmas blowing a late lead and struggling at the FT line. The Vols were floundering then. Now Cuonzo Martin has UT rolling. Tenn has won 6 straight SEC games including a 30 point destruction of Kentucky and a Knoxville win over Top 10 Florida. UT is 9-6 in the SEC and 17-10 overall with a realistic NCAA shot.
We'll post a Scouting Report on UMass Thursday. Skip Prosser wisely observed(I trot this quote out every season at some point, because it's ageless and makes so much sense). "Basketball seasons are supposed to be enjoyed-not endured." Skip was targeting his own players and coaches when he uttered this. Some super hyper critical ACC fans and the occasional knit picking media wonk were trying to suck the joy out of a Wake Forest season, but Skip's quote applies to fans also.
I don't know about you but I'm enjoying this season. VCU certainly was great theater. Memphis proved very exciting. The players and coaches are working hard-learning-improving and very much engaged. This is a close-knit resilient bunch. I think the team is enjoying the season. What's not to like?? People are entitled to their opinions. Some of the criticism and vitriol I read on-line is a bit ridiculous though. I know the internet has no filter and it's mostly anonymous, but does anybody really believe Chris Mack can't coach and should be fired? That's ludicrous!! Any leader-any high profile person worth his salt is going to upset a portion of the public. You can't please them all if you are making tough decisions.
I guess that's what it is. Chris had a few rough edges while at St X maybe and rubbed some folks the wrong way. He is verrry competitive. I want XU's coach to be that. He is extremely sharp also and a hard worker and an ethical driven recruiter. His skill set is a strong fit for Xavier IMHO. You may feel differently and I respect that. The fact is Chris is not going anywhere other than Xavier unless he calls the shot and that would not be good at all for the Muskies. Close ranks-support the program and enjoy the stretch run to March Madness.
The numbers don't look good for XU right now, but the numbers are still accumulating. Never put a period on any season until they make you hand in the uniforms. If it's the NIT, so be it!! Temporary inconvenience leads to permanent improvement-just like the road construction signs say. My vision for Xavier basketball is very virtuous-very bullish and it's not a 5 year plan. If you complain, you remain!! Your words are your prison bars. Live in vision, not in circumstance. Have faith in the future because it's going to be terrific!!! Or do what ever you want, but I'll be having more fun with less stress riding the XU bandwagon.
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