Seton Hall game thread

[ChitownSteve]

A game that never should have been in doubt certainly was stressful. A few observations and thoughts:

- First time in a while I can recall Zach chasing points. It became evident early in the 2nd Half he was concerned about keeping his double digit scoring streak alive. Coach Miller then had him sit for quite a while before re-inserting Zach. Fortunately, the key bail-out three with 5:57 to go turned around Zach’s thought process and he settled down.

- Foster should be given a “Saturday Jug (i.e. detention) to study “Time and Score”. He compounded the inexplicable 3 point shot, up 8 and with 26 seconds to go on the shot clock, by falling asleep during a Seton Hall an in-bound play, giving up a lay-up and fouling the shooter. That dropped the lead to 5, with only 14 ticks off the clock. Abysmal shot clock and defensive awareness in crunch time.

- The whole world saw McKnight pushing off on the in-bounds play. Maybe he should sit in with Foster. A veteran player cannot make such a clear mistake at that spot in a game.

- Currently, when X is scored upon, and the other team is pressing, Zach starts running down the court. He usually is the closest to the opponent’s ball after the made basket. A strategic change is needed and Zach needs to quickly grab the ball and in-bound it prior to the opponent having time to set up the Press. What X is doing now is far too slow and clearly ineffective as the ball all-too-often ends up in the corner, with a double-team quickly imposed upon our player.

Certain each of you already knew the above, just feels better to express it.

On a positive, X came out strong today and it was enough to hold on for the victory. The same cannot be said for UConn (and the self-proclaimed “best Coach in College Basketball”) eight days ago. On that note, we can all smile.

[muskieman]

Roadkill is roadkill; it doesn't have to be pretty; you just have to get the win. Look at UConn against St. Johns this year: 40 turnovers in 2 games.

[Kevin Reilly]

We did not look like a tournament team in the second half. Not sure why every team doesn't press us? When we let up on defense and the other team scores and they can set up the press we are in a lot of trouble. We have a week to get ready for Creighton which is basically our season. We need Hugley in there early so Kalkbrenner doesn't catch it 5 feet from the basket and go for 30 again. I think Miller will come up with a good plan and we beat the them at home. We are very shaky on the road so I'm not to confident in the Big East tournament. If we get to the tournament Miller needs a raise. LOL.

[longliveskip]

Xavier pt. differential in first 35 min of games: +400

Xavier pt. differential in last 5 min of games: -350


feeling at end of games for Xavier fans even though we won: -100

[skyhops]

Thats what happens when you have a below average BE points guard and non cerebral players such as Free, Hunter, and Foster. I didn't watch the game til later, but I still think that Free should not be shooting 3's, awful. I agree with AH regarding Millers lineups late in games. Foster is a good bench BE player, but does not handle the pressure at all and even Swain is shaky but he is young. This would have been a good game for Green. I don't see us winning against Creighton and you know we will get homered at Butler. One of Free's worst games. Maddox needs more than 20 mins.