Jacksonville game thread

[muskieman]

Swain impressed tonight 4-6 2-3 5-6 for 15 with 3 steals, 3 assists one TO

Quincy with 17 points

Abou 8 rebounds

[Kevin Reilly]

Well good to get a win but we are not a good shooting team. We shot 7-29 from the three point line. We will get blown out shooting like that in the Big East. Green and Olivari were 3-16 from the three point line. Swain had a very good game. He looks like a future star. Green is tiny and gets run over on defense. Ciani looks strong for a freshman and can rebound pretty well. This could be our least talented team in a long time. If Miller gets these guys to the tournament he deserves another raise. Should be a interesting year. Tough to lose 6 of your 7 best players in one year. We will take our lumps early with the schedule but it will be nice to see the freshman get their feet wet

[muskieman]

Granted X shooting the three was bad tonight but there are talented three-point shooters out there and Laz when added to that talent. All shooters will have off games and I hope that these bad shooting nights against teams like the last two teams. I was concerned about the rebounding tonight but Sean mentioned that the team started out slow rebounding last year.

My question was why didn't Sean tell them to stop shooting the three?

[Jesseandrippers]

Granted X shooting the three was bad tonight but there are talented three-point shooters out there and Laz when added to that talent. All shooters will have off games and I hope that these bad shooting nights against teams like the last two teams. I was concerned about the rebounding tonight but Sean mentioned that the team started out slow rebounding last year.

My question was why didn't Sean tell them to stop shooting the three?

I think Sean had them keep shooting because that may need to be our identity this season. As of now, we are anemic in the big men spots. If we cant shoot, there is zero chance we break .500 this year. May as well see if they can shoot out of their slump vs the likes of RM and Jax.

[pdxmuskie]

It is way too early to assume the team can't shoot. I believe the stats for the first game had the team over 50% from the floor. This game was not good from deep but as Muskieman said, players will have off nights.

They kept the TOs to a reasonable level and forced a lot of TOs. I can't excuse getting out rebounded. That is a lack of effort and can't happen.

I've only seen highlights as I was in Japan for the first game and no access to FS2 this game. Highlights show a diverse skill set amongst the team which is good but didn't have me feeling that this would definitely be a great year. Teams take time to gel. Players new to the college game take time to adapt. I suspect this team will show dramatic improvement as the season progresses.

2 wins in 2 games is a great start for a brand new team. Next game will be difficult but Purdue isn't typically a super athletic team so X might be able to keep it close or even steal a victory if they play with discipline on offense and get after it defensively. Obviously a win is a long shot but I'd rather play a moderately athletic great team at this point than a very good team with impressive athletes.

I personally love the balanced attack. Xavier has had some great years with 5+ guys averaging double figures. Teams don't need a go to guy when they play great team ball and make smart decisions.

[connecticut72]

As John Wooden said ¨play fast but don be in a hurry¨. We played away too fast tonight and took too many ill advised 3ś but I like this team. It is a much different team than last year. I think our big guys understand there role and played well. I think those 3ś will drop more consistently and we will be fun to watch. We are young so patience will be necessary but it will interesting to watch this team develop as the season progresses. Go X bring on the Boil Makers we have nothing to lose remember FDU in last years NCAA tourney.

[Kevin Reilly]

Connecticut 72 . I think you are 100% right. I think we were playing way to fast. I know Miller is trying to play at a faster rate this year and the players are not use to the pace yet. Not sure if they can play at that pace and shoot well. I hope they look inside a little more to balance the offense out. One dimensional teams are easy to defend. If the guards come down and jack up hurried 3 pointers we are in for a long year.

[XU_2011]

I don't know what game some of you were watching... the team was playing great when they were running up and down the court and being aggressive. Things went south when they had to play in the half court and had no answer to the zone, therefore lots of settling for 3s. Many of those 3s were good looks, just tough luck. No way Green goes 1-8 again, he is due.

But they found a way, kept attacking and getting to the line - 30 ft attempts! Once guys settle into their roles, things will be fine. Give it a few games.

[Anti-Homer]

As John Wooden said ¨play fast but don be in a hurry¨. We played away too fast tonight and took too many ill advised 3ś but I like this team. It is a much different team than last year. I think our big guys understand there role and played well. I think those 3ś will drop more consistently and we will be fun to watch. We are young so patience will be necessary but it will interesting to watch this team develop as the season progresses. Go X bring on the Boil Makers we have nothing to lose remember FDU in last years NCAA tourney.

Agree with this. Even last year's team whose starting five shot over 40% from 3 cumulatively, only took 20 a game. This team can be a decent three-point shooting team, if they are much more selective, and shoot 12-15 a game, unless Green, Olivari, or Lazar gets hot (from what I'm told). Losing Craft hurts, because he was one of the best three-point shooters in his class. Some observations:

As my brother said, Olivari plays with only one speed, and is too trigger happy. He ain't in Conf USA, where he could overpower and out run players. He has skill, but has to realize he isn't the alpha, nor is needed to be a high-volume shooter. This ain't Steele's offense. He is a very good FT shooter as well.

Claude is very good, but mainly within 12 feet. He should limit his threes to in rhythm, step in ones, where he has time to set. Teams will gladly allow him to shoot seven a game, He is not good enough to be a high volume, outside shooter, and fell into the trap Marshall did during his time at X. Both were great off the dribble and in the lane. That's where Claude should do most of his damage.

McKnight is a good 15 foot and in shooter, and happy to report that's where he has limited his shots. Crafty in the lane, and has a nose for on the ball D.

Love, love Daily Swain, He is much further along than I expected. Happy he shot 2-3 from deep but that seems to be more of a pleasant anomaly. He reminds me of a tall Semaj but can guard one through three. He will be at the tip of the zone the few times X ever employs it. He will leave X as the all-time leader ins teals.

Nemeiska (sp?) is a guy who seems to just make positive plays. Reminds me of a less athletic Justin Cage but didn't have JC's defensive prowess. He is crafty in the post, and has a good mid-range jumper, as well as a decent deep ball. I hope X gets him for another year.

Ciani is a mobile, skilled big, and will only get better.

Ousame is ok. Big lumbering big, who is too foul prone. Above avg defender and rebounder, with a limited offensive skillset. I liked his trey as much as I liked Jaylen Reynold's a decade ago. Hopefully, he keeps that in his pocket from this point forward. Seems like a great kid.

Trey Green has the moxie and confidence of Tu H. Excellent passer, really good handle and scorer. I have no doubt he will be a great three-point shooter. Rushed a few, but his reputation precedes him. Keep shooting.

Lazar is reputed to be one of the best players on the team, including being a good three-point shooter. I can't wait for his return.

Sean and staff did a masterful job or recruiting internationally, especially with the unexpected losses of Free and Hunter, and probably Craft. Rivaled only by the job Hop's whipping boy, T Steele did in his first year. This team will only get better and better, but I do not expect them to make the Tourney, will the late losses of three key players in Hunter, Free, and Craft, and Lazar's injury. This is especially true considering the brutal non-conference schedule and playing in the best conference in America. The future looks really good though. Thank you, Greg Christopher.

[olsingledigit]

Good post Anti. There is a lot of promise, but you are right that the schedule is murder for a team like thiss year’s.