Xavier Season Reflections..

[Masterofreality]

It’s spring, the sun is out and the golf courses are open, but before I file away the package that was the 2007-2008 Xavier Basketball season, I just have to memorialize the memory bank of what I thought best about, arguably, the greatest season so far in Xavier history. So much to note:

• Starting last April, when Kenny Frease declared that he would become a Musketeer. (I’m sure after reading my post on this board giving him all the reasons to come to X!)
• My placing a bet in the Sportsbook of the Eureka Hotel and Casino in Mesquite, Nevada on the Xavier/Miami game and seeing X’s 11 point halftime lead, then going back to the blackjack table. Went back to collect and was shocked to see the final. That almost, but not quite, ruined the rest of a great golf trip.
• The Kent State game, which was the precursor of this team’s “team first” attitude showing up with 57% shooting on nothing else but unselfish play.
• DBrown’s emphatic “F-You” dunk early in the Indiana game, sending the message that this Xavier team didn’t care what name was on the front of the other jersey.
• Stanley Burrell’s “hammer lock” defense. Pick any game, but start on Eric Gordon.
• The guys gutting out a big win against UC with JoDu injured. DBrown with a huge 11 points in crunch-time.
• The Tennessee game. Memorable, not because of the loss, but because of A) The intensity of an NCAA Tourney quality game being played at Cintas and B) The lesson learned by the team as to how consistently hard you have to play to be Elite. The lesson served them well later.
• The beatdown of Kansas State and the minimizing of Michael Beasley to just another freshman.
• The “Bomb Squad” raining 32 3’s on Virginia and Auburn.
• Drew’s poised, magical assist to JoDu at the end of the GW game in DC.
• Byron Larkin’s assessment of Jimmie Binnie as a “Traffic Cone” during the beautiful blowout at Cintas.
• Drew Lavendar’s length of the court weaving drive for a layup through all 5 UMass players, punctuating his virtuoso 19 point performance.
• DBrown’s phenomenal tip in to save the game at St. Louis.
• Superb team basketball under pressure with a pass from Stan to Drew to a wide open “Big Jumper” Raymond for a huge 3 against St. Joes at Cintas.
• An injured Drew Lavender having just enough left to drive the key and kick to an open JoDu for a gigantic 3 against Charlotte right below my seat. AND the guts of Sean Miller to call that play with a 1 point lead to ice the game.
• Josh Duncan leading a wonderful team performance at Rhode Island, not missing a shot all night, scoring 23 points, and extending his consecutive field goal streak to 16. Add a big, guts 3 made by the wounded Drew that stuck in my game memory.
• About 3,000 of my intimate friends and I in Cintas at the snowstormed Duquesne game. My LHS brothers from Indianapolis didn’t miss it, though. THAT is commitment!
• Ho, hum, just another routine win at the dump.
• Ho, hum, just another A-10 Tournament win against the dump. CJ Anderson just shutting Marcus Johnson down whenever he guarded him. Roberts getting “hammered” again.
• Dante’s confident 3 vs. Georgia. A poised comeback win.
• CJ Anderson’s MAN SIZED, testosterone laden 18 point performance against Purdue.
• “Do it, BJ, DO IT!” What else needs to be said?
• The sadness watching our seniors leave the court for the last time against UCLA. However, PRIDE in how they conducted themselves for Xavier University, how they gave it their all leaving no bit of energy unexpended, and how they will receive their degrees in May. Many thousand “thank-you’s” to them, and their families for making Xavier a part of their lives, and, by extension, they being a part of my life.
• The comfort of knowing that Sean Miller will continue to be the basketball coach at Xavier University, that he loves the school, that he is committed to his current and incoming players, and that “Xavier being a special place” is more than words to him. I’m also proud to be a very, very small donor to the financial package to help Sean be fairly compensated.
• My ongoing and abiding faith in, and thanks to, Mike Bobinski and Father Graham for their outstanding leadership at the school that I am proud to call mine and that I and that my youngest daughter are graduates of.
• My continuing thankfulness for the friendships that I have through Xavier University, and the ability to keep them fresh through personal contact and through this internet tavern.
• My continuing wishes for the progressive health recovery of WKRQ, the Muskieman, Muskieman Wife, and all of our Xavier family who maybe medically challenged.

Folks, this has been a special year, but it is only one in the continuing saga as this great University that we love continues to build its national profile. This is the “Golden Age of Xavier Basketball” and it continues unabated. Enjoy what we have and have positive belief in the future. This program is on the road to being a national power, and we’re all along on the bandwagon. Hope to see some of you at the AFO outing in August.

Enjoy the off-season and summer. FORE!!!

[indymuskie]

Very nice reflection of the season. A great season it was and very possibly the greatest in Xavier history thus far.

Thanks to Mike Bobinski, Coach Miller, his staff, and the entire 2007-2008 team for all the wonderful times and now memories.

[Wisexuowl]

Thank you MOR. I have printed this out, and itwill be framed and on my wall where I can enjoy this season thru your words until we go again in November.

PS. These words will also drown the usual neg bunch, but let 'em eat cake!

[brownlavender]

was definatly my favorite season ever behind the season i first became a muskie fan. I was maybe 10 yrs old seeing byron run the floor with derek strong. There's a reason i didn't become a UC fan and it's byron and derek and tyrone, what a team that was. This team was just as fun to watch and when they lost it brought a few tears to my eyes. I'm not an alum but i do bleed blue and of all the local sports teams college bball is definalty my favorite. I remember where i was when todd benzinger caught the final out for the reds, where i was when krumrie broke his leg, and where i was the day that X made the elite 8 for the second time in 5 years. Here's to the future and further success in cincy sports, hell i even cheered for the bearcats in the CBI as well as dayton in the NIT.

[gundun]

MOR,
That could be the script for the latest version of THE RUN.

Thanks for bringing back so many great memories.

Only six months to pre-season.

[Mr. Neutral]

<<These words will also drown the usual neg bunch, but let 'em eat cake!>>

Can't eat cake while you're drowning, Wise. Have to watch those mixed metaphors.

[muskieman]

Cake , who said Cake?