Musketeer Madness

Here's my take:

1. Collison fouled out of the Western Ky game and got an extra five minutes of rest. Westbrook had four
fouls in that game and had to be pulled for several minutes. Meanwhile, Xavier guards had to play an
extra five minutes overtime against WVA. That's like a ten minute swing, in Collison's case. So, I think
Xavier's legs were tired.

2. The type of scrambling, pell mell defense that UCLA plays wears you down. And remarkably they don't
foul that much (or don't get called). Whatever, playing UCLA is a grind under the best of circumstances.

3. UCLA had many "nail biters" recently. Critics are saying they just get favorable treatment from the refs,
and also providence is shining on them. But, they have now won their last 14 games. So, one has to
conclude that there must be "something in the air" about them.

4. The odds are that Memphis has too much height, weight, and firepower for UCLA. But that was also
true in 2005 in their Elite 8 match up. UCLA held Memphis to 53 points, about 30 below their average.
They still don't know what hit them.

5. I honestly believe that if Xavier played UCLA 10 times, then Xavier would take five of those games.
Xavier matched up very well with UCLA, with good height, speed, shooting, defense, and coaching.
Xavier is a very dangerous opponent, and a feared one. Most UCLA fans were hoping to see UConn
or Duke in the Regionals. No one wanted to play Xavier.

As much as I love Xavier Basketball, I can't agree with the "we would win 5 of 10" against these guys. We are just not there yet. UCLA is a deep and talented team getting a lion's share of the talent on the West Coast.

Had we shot well from the arc and made free throws we would have had a close and respectable game but UCLA is now firing on all cylinders. They are too much.

On another note, the Davidson game reminder me of our elite eight game with Duke. Last game of the weekend. Small margin with small school against a powerhouse that is in the thick of things almost every year. Two points. Classy players.

Have to agree with Murph on this one. I don't know how you can go from losing by 19 (our largest margin of defeat in an NCAA tourney game ever) to saying we'd beat them 5 out of 10.

Yes, it would have been a lot closer game if we'd hit even an average number of shots, but you could see by the wild shots we were throwing up inside that we had tremendous difficulty getting off good shots against a team as tough defensively and athletic as was UCLA.

Could we beat them on a given night? Sure. 5 of 10? Not likely.

At home a couple of times,maybe.They have a first and third team All-American player.