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Muskies Brooklyn Stay Brief!!
By
Andy Mac Williams,
3/15/2013
Xavier's profitable rewarding 18 year run in the Atlantic 10, apparently, is now over-history-done. Certainly, losing to St. Joe's in the conference tournament first round was not an ideal swan song from the Muskies' perspective. The Hawks won 58-57 in a wild finish at the new Barclay's Center. XU had mega-chances to win and advance, but late first half and late game execution issues bit the Muskies in the butt as they have all season during a rash of close losses.
X played a solid hard working first half,but missed a half dozen lay-ups-bunnies and putbacks at the rim and somehow found themselves trailing 28-25 at the break.
Both Isaiah Philmore and Semaj Christon got to the basket repeatedly but could not finish. SJU coach Phil Martelli had defensed Semaj well in late January on Hawk Hill. His strategy worked again in Brooklyn. St Joe's baited "0" into drives by sagging off him then double and triple teaming. Semaj shot an inefficient 3-14. He still put together strong numbers (10 points-4 assists-only 1 turnover and 3 steals plus 4-4 FTs) but X needed his normal 15PPG.
The NBC Sports Network crew had Semaj with one foot in the NBA Draft also. Maybe in two years? But Christon needs a huge summer to work on his lower body and his left hand and his 3 point shot. He will be truly hard-to-guard next season with some tweaks and time in the weight room. An 82 game NBA schedule might grind him up if he leaves too early.
I now know too much about NBC analyst David Kaplan. He loves the NHL and NBC broadcasters Mike Emmrick and Eddie Olchuk. He loves the Cubs. He loves Phil Martelli. Maybe I was just cantankerous because XU lost, but how about a little more love for the Muskies and college basketball (the game you're covering). The final few seconds prior to halftime sums up this frustrating close call Xavier season.
Chris Mack subs Landon Amos who'd been hurt for several games to face guard Langston Galloway SJU's lethal 3 point sniper. Amos is hyped. He's doing his job-over guarding his man. Phil Martelli picks off Amos. Galloway rolls to the basket for a dunk and Jeff Robinson slips in late for a foul. 3 point play SJU leads 28-25 after being out played handily.
X carved out a nifty 44-36 lead with 11:30 left in regulation, but as had happened repeatedly all year, SJU embarked on a rapid fire 12-0 run to recapture the lead. The Hawks flipped around the rebound numbers. X forgot to block out.
Halil Kanacevic, as I predicted,was the wild card (unfortunately positive) for St Joe's (11 points-7 rebounds-6 assists-just 2 turnovers). He connected the dots for SJU and X could not handle him. Give the Muskies credit!!
They bounced back-made FTs and took the lead late,but again they failed to close. The final 40 seconds were a nightmare. XU had the ball and a 57-56 lead. Brad Redford popped open on the left wing early on a semi-break. He was wide open but there were no rebounders. That's an 80% shot for Brad. My thought was "Shoot it!!" and damn the torpedoes. X took a time-out and got only a bad shot and no FTs.
Galloway drove the lane. He was not fouled, but Justin Martin took a swipe at the ball and the official anticipated contact as did Galloway who stumbled off balance and managed a weak shot that barely ticked the rim. Foul on XU. First FT almost popped out. Second FT swish.
1.4 seconds left! Martin the long pass off the backboard. SJU's Ronald Roberts tosses Travis Taylor-the intended receiver out of bounds while the ball is airborne. Flagrant foul-not called. Philmore catches a lucky bounce off the backboard and maybe rushes the shot. He is straight out from the basket with no angle. Very tough FG try.He misses!! Xavier loses!
Now we hope for an NIT home game or two. It's happened to Xavier before. This season is a temporary inconvenience leading to permanent improvement just like the signs you see around highway construction jobs.
The New Big East will be huge for recruiting and media exposure and university finances. The cavalry is coming over the hill in terms of player personnel. Those who are forecasting a Muskie downward spiral are going to be sorely mistaken.
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