Gut Check Time!

[Xavier Nation]

Xavier Faithful,

I don't know about the rest of you but I am not feeling the way I should before a 3-14 opening game. This Georgia team "kind of" reminds me our our 04 team who won 4 in 4 and had the momentum going into the dance and went on to the Elite 8... I felt better last year pre OSU match-up than I do right now heading into DC.

We have 2 different looks this year:

1. Well balanced and can compete with any team in the NCAA (i.e. the way we played K-State, IN,TN)

2. Intimidated or uninterested. ( i.e. St Joes in the tourney, GW at home)

The 1st look can take us to the Sweet 16, possibly the Elite 8. The 2nd look will have us on our way home Thurs evening. So with all that being said and not being part of the practices this week I am a little concerned. I have watched Drew very closely and put him at 80% pre ankle injury as of this past Fri night.

I truly believe that we are a better team but I guess I am looking for a few more insights to lift me out of the pint glass and on to the dance floor..

[Mr. Neutral]

With any luck, GA is more like our '06 team that won 4 in 4 days, got a 14 seed and then faltered at the end against #3 Gonzaga. We want to be Gonzaga this time.

This IS the same location where our #6 Musketeers lost to #11 Washington on March 12, 1998, so we've got that history to contend with.

[chucksonline]

I agree, Xavier Nation. I felt a little uneasy last night when the bids came out. X has a very tough 3-14 match-up.

With a healthy Lavender, I'd feel a little more confident.

Let's hope the boys come to play.

[PMI]

I was there on March 12, 1998, my 12th birthday and the worst one in memory. This time is different though. We will see the Drew we were used to before A10 play started, Stanley in his tyical shut-down form, Duncan at the top of his game, BJ raining threes, Derrick dunking on Dawgs left and right, CJ cleaning up and penetrating, Love pulling down boards and getting putbacks, and Dante picking some pockets. I believe we will get the best effort from this team. Atlantic City had a terrible vibe for X. When I got into my seats behind our bench and realized I was the only one wearing blue in my section, I had a bad feeling. When I saw how uninterested the team looked in being there I became more uneasy. But I really believe that this team is ready to step up for the big show and I can't wait for Thursday. I've already ordered my kegs and gotten my tickets. It's gonna be a great weekend in the nation's capital.

[Xavier Nation]

Dude,
That is the hype I am looking for!! I know they can do it as long as they are 200% heads in!!!

I was there on March 12, 1998, my 12th birthday and the worst one in memory. This time is different though. We will see the Drew we were used to before A10 play started, Stanley in his tyical shut-down form, Duncan at the top of his game, BJ raining threes, Derrick dunking on Dawgs left and right, CJ cleaning up and penetrating, Love pulling down boards and getting putbacks, and Dante picking some pockets. I believe we will get the best effort from this team. Atlantic City had a terrible vibe for X. When I got into my seats behind our bench and realized I was the only one wearing blue in my section, I had a bad feeling. When I saw how uninterested the team looked in being there I became more uneasy. But I really believe that this team is ready to step up for the big show and I can't wait for Thursday. I've already ordered my kegs and gotten my tickets. It's gonna be a great weekend in the nation's capital.

[Mr. Neutral]

<<I was there on March 12, 1998, my 12th birthday and the worst one in memory.>>

I'll never forget my shock and disappointment when that game ended, and we were out of the tournament by 1:30 p.m. on the 1st day. It was awful.

That team had won 7 of its last 8 games, including our 3 A-10 conference games by 24, 15 and 14 points, with the last two wins over NCAA teams URI and GW.

Basically, we were playing about as well as we could play, and then.......

[PMI]

I too can still remember how upset I was. Being a Xavier fan in the sixth grade in Potomac, MD, I took a lot of heat for it. My fellow classmates, all MD and G-Town fans, had only heard of Eggs-avier through me and had no respect for the team they considered a random mid-major. They said it was a fluke that they got a sixth seed and I just kept telling them to wait and see, and then we go one and done. I'll never forget the ***** I took after that. The only time it was that bad was when we lost to Maryland, of all teams, in 03.
I guess the moral of the story is that a small Jesuit school from Cincinnati has to earn it's respect in places outside the Cinci area, because it's not just given to you. I think we've done a lot the years over to merit respect, at least since I've started watching these guys in the early 90s, but I want this to be the year that we leave no questions in anyone's mind. I think this can be that year given we bring our A game.
Very few teams have had the run of success that X has enjoyed over the past two and a half decades, yet the ones who have seem to be some of the most respected programs in college hoops. I'd say we are long overdue for a deep run and a championship push, and we have the personnel. Now it's time to get the job done.

[Xavier Nation]

Andy Mac summed it up in his frontpage( Musketeer Madness) commentary!

[jamal4xu]

I'm fired up!

This is going to be a great weekend of Xavier basketball. No worries about UGA, reality will hit them hard in the face on Thursday around 12:21...

[bluegrass]

That '98 game against UW was an example of a bad matchup.They had Todd McCullough at 7' inside which made our inside play ineffective.As I recall the last play of the game TJ got suffed by McCullough under the basket.That was one of the most disappointing ends to a Xavier season.I feel better this year because I think we matchup well against Ga.Their best player is a guard which plays into Stan's hands. They don't have any real dominating inside players.From what I've heard on the radio they aren't a real good 3 point shooting teamm and tend to turn the ball over a lot.Maybe all this talk about them being the upset special will work against them.