Nova Game thread Will X change history

[Jesseandrippers]

Question: Does Freemantle have another year of eligibility left because of Covid?

A good question as it relates to all of our “Seniors”
Anyone know?

[muskieman]

https://youtu.be/JagGrGCLfNo highlights

[longliveskip]

this is legitimately the first time that i've watched us play Nova and i could honestly say "we are better than them". never before have i been able to say that. the two coaching changes have something to do with that, but we are flat out better than them. and it's nice to be able to see it.

the next two will be even harder.

LET'S GOOOOOO!

[muskieman]

this is legitimately the first time that i've watched us play Nova and i could honestly say "we are better than them". never before have i been able to say that. the two coaching changes have something to do with that, but we are flat out better than them. and it's nice to be able to see it.

the next two will be even harder.

LET'S GOOOOOO!

I guess you forgot 2/2019 when Zach Hankins, Gooding, Scruggs, and Naji each put up double digits against Nova and beat them by 12 at Cintas.

[pdxmuskie]

this is not the first time X was better than Nova but is the first time we have had the better coach.

Free and Souley played amazing. Jones and Kunkel played well but they continue to be careless with the ball at times. If they could cut their TOs in half (these are unforced turnovers) the margin of victory will grow significantly.

The defense is getting better but still too many breakdowns giving up easy drives to the rim or wide open shots. Some of the open shots are likely by design because the shooter is not a good shooter. I don't generally know the other team well enough to know when the shooter should be left open and when we simply got lucky that the open shot was missed.

I also do not believe Xavier is playing above their potential. Most turnovers are unforced. Plenty of missed easy shots each game. Plenty of defensive breakdowns each game. A few players are shooting better than expected from 3 but that is partly because of great shot selection. Additionally, various Xavier players have had periodic bad games. Nunge has played poorly 3 times. Kunkel has in another 3 plus missed a game with injury. Free had a couple bad games. Jones has been frustrating at times. There is room for improvement. I cannot speak to whether the opponent has generally played poorly against X but they are typically not scoring significantly below their average.

[muskieman]

this is not the first time X was better than Nova but is the first time we have had the better coach.

But winning against their HofF coach is not chopped liver. I love our recent win, but they don't have a HofF coach (right now) and their lineup right now isn't the same as in past years. That could change when they're at full strength

[Anti-Homer]

Question: Does Freemantle have another year of eligibility left because of Covid?

A good question as it relates to all of our “Seniors”
Anyone know?

Free and Tandy both do. Even though I wish both would stay, I suspect they'll move on.

[Anti-Homer]

this is not the first time X was better than Nova but is the first time we have had the better coach.

But winning against their HofF coach is not chopped liver. I love our recent win, but they don't have a HofF coach (right now) and their lineup right now isn't the same as in past years. That could change when they're at full strength

Yes, it will. I still think X wins at home but with a healthy Justin Moore, I still expect it to be very competitive.

[Anti-Homer]

this is not the first time X was better than Nova but is the first time we have had the better coach.

Free and Souley played amazing. Jones and Kunkel played well but they continue to be careless with the ball at times. YES . If they could cut their TOs in half (these are unforced turnovers) the margin of victory will grow significantly.

The defense is getting better but still too many breakdowns giving up easy drives to the rim or wide open shots. Some of the open shots are likely by design because the shooter is not a good shooter. I don't generally know the other team well enough to know when the shooter should be left open and when we simply got lucky that the open shot was missed.

I also do not believe Xavier is playing above their potential. Most turnovers are unforced. Plenty of missed easy shots each game. Plenty of defensive breakdowns each game. A few players are shooting better than expected from 3 (Every single one except for quick hook Tandy is shooting better than last year, by a large margin. Ain't a coincidence). but that is partly almost wholly because of great shot selection. Additionally, various Xavier players have had periodic bad games. Nunge has played poorly 3 times. Kunkel has in another 3 plus missed a game with injury. Free had a couple bad games. Jones has been frustrating at times. There is room for improvement. I cannot speak to whether the opponent has generally played poorly against X but they are typically not scoring significantly below their average.

When you have Free, Nunge, and Kunkel on the floor at the same time, your defense is not going to be good. Thankfully, their offensive game more than makes up for it. It is similar as to why no one ever talks about what a poor defender Bluiett was. He was so good offensively, and they won at a high rate in one of the best conferences in the country, that he was always considered a NET-NET +++.

[Anti-Homer]

this is legitimately the first time that i've watched us play Nova and i could honestly say "we are better than them". never before have i been able to say that. the two coaching changes have something to do with that, but we are flat out better than them. and it's nice to be able to see it.

the next two will be even harder.

LET'S GOOOOOO!

I guess you forgot 2/2019 when Zach Hankins, Gooding, Scruggs, and Naji each put up double digits against Nova and beat them by 12 at Cintas.

I doubt he did. Though I believe X played them competitively that year in all 3 games, Nova went to the Tourney winning a couple of games, and X was on the outside looking in.