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Muskies Club Kent - Pause for Exams - Gear-up for Shootout (err Classic)!!!
By
Andy Mac Williams,
12/11/2012
XU certainly labored early in Sunday's 62-55 Cintas win over Kent State from the MAC. Playing without injured small forward Justin Martin (concussion), the Muskies scraped up just 5 first half FGs (5-of-24). Kent led 9-0 after 4 minutes but X refused to panic. The work ethic was there but the offense wasn't flowing and the shots just refused to fall.
 | | The Kent State defender attempts to draw a charge and Freshman Semaj Christon jumps over him to lay in two of this team leading 18 points.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | Brad Redford buries one of his 4 3-pointers.
[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Erik Stenger gets a dunk after a nifty bounce pass from Brad Redford.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Dee Davis scores with a "tear drop."[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |  | | Semaj Christon studies a key foul shot late in the game as Coach Chris Mack looks on.[enlarge] Photo by Bob Stevens |
KSU star forward Chris Evans started fast, but Chris Mack went to newly minted defensive stopper Landen Amos early and he stuck to Evans like fly paper. The Muskies jump trapped the smallish Golden Flash guards and the aggressive tactic rattled them. X was proactive - winning on the boards by 4 - earning 14 FT attempts. The shot clock buzzer sounded frequently against Kent.
Xavier deserved the halftime lead,but trailed 20-18 due to 6-14 foul shooting. More frustration to start the second half!! The Muskies missed their first 3 shots. Semaj Christon finally scored a lay-up and completed a 3 point play. The XU defense stayed solid throughout. Evans struggled for clean looks.He finished 4-18 from the field with no FTs.
The other KSU "known" G Randall Holt really floundered (2-of-17 FG, 1-of-10 from"3" just 2 Fts). Melvin Tabb killed X on the offensive glass (20 points, 14 rebounds) but it wasn't enough to fill for Davis and Holt. Tabb, by the way, was a Dino Gaudio recruit at Wake Forest. Dino never got a chance to coach him nor the other 5 players in his Top 10 rated class. He was fired after making the NCAA Tournament.
Eric Stenger started the Muskie turnaround. He'd missed his first 7 free throws on the season. He was fouled twice around the rim and swished all 4 tries. Coach Mack smiled and thanked the free throw doctor. Score tied 33-33 with 11:36 left and away XU went!!
Dee Davis scored on a Drew Lavender model tear drop floater, Davis canned a "3". Brad Redford raced off a double screen and drilled his fourth 3-pointer of the night. Redford setup Stenger with a perfect bounce pass for a dunk and Semaj scored on a finger roll lay-up. A 4-minute 12-0 Xavier run-a 45-33 lead!! Ball game over. XU made all 5 shots!! Kent was 0-4!! That's spurtibility.
Stenger was at the heart of things with 2 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist. He wound up with 6points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and one steal in 19 minutes.
Redford was magic (4-of-5 from "3", 4 points in 22 minutes). Semaj scored 16 after the break. Coach Mack rested him periodically throughout the game and he was strong at the end-no cramps. The bench played more (56 minutes) and contributed well (20 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists).
We can't argue with a 44 point second half. That same team feel - that flow - that fun - that confidence - that control we saw against Butler and Purdue returned. To beat UC, the Muskies will have to approach 40 minutes of solid execution, not 20.
The 10 day hiatus from games is the longest exam break I can remember. Xavier has struggled lately in the game immediately following test week (1-7 since 2004 - Seam Miller's first season). Usually, X plays on Saturday or Sunday. This year they wait until Wednesday on a neutral floor at U.S. Bank Arena.
The Bearcats have exams this week also. Both schools are now on the Semester System. UC plays at Marshall on Saturday.
I'll have much more on the Shoot-out(err Classic) as we approach game day. Just hope Justin Martin's concussion symptoms dissipate more quickly than Andre Walker's during last season's NCAAs.
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