Hey, I agree with Daugherty, too!

[Mr. Neutral]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 21/-1/ncaa

As Paul writes, this season's Xavier team will be judged on what happens from here on in. If we go down in the first round, this will be "that great record with the 1st round loss" team. Given who they played and who they beat, anything less than a Sweet 16 will have to be looked at as a disappointing result to this year.

It's a heavy burden to bear, but if you're #10 in the country, that comes with the territory. We've got to lose that "hey, we deserve to be in the top 10, but it's OK to lose in the 1st round" attitude.

We always say we should be up with the big boys. Now's the time to show it. Step up or step aside. Let's go X!

[XU-XHI]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 21/-1/ncaa

We've got to lose that "hey, we deserve to be in the top 10, but it's OK to lose in the 1st round" attitude.

We always say we should be up with the big boys. Now's the time to show it. Step up or step aside. Let's go X!

How can you lose that attitude when the team doesn't have it to begin with? Sure X could lose in the first round, but given the coaching staff and most of these player's experience in last years tourney, I believe their attitude is more determined than satisfied.

[Mr. Neutral]

XHI, I think a lot of X fans still have that attitude, as shown by their posts on various boards, and I think you can look at X's performance in the past two NCAA's, and you wonder about whether they really think they belong, and whether they really think they can and should beat big-time teams. If they had that no-fear, killer attitude, they probably would have beaten Gonzaga and OSU. But you could see the nerves take over, hence the losses.

It's time (past time, actually) to get passed that hesitance and grab the W when it's there to be had.

[muskieman]

Interesting slant by Paul, especially before the ball has ever been tipped up. I wonder if he just dusted off an old Bearcat article and just subbed in Musketeers?

I am sure (he said dripping with sarcasm) we can Google one of his articles where he took that approach with the Bearcats maybe in 1994, 97,98,99 or 2000. If not, I am sure he wrote it in 2002 when the Bearcats were a #1 seed or maybe 2004 or 05.

Paul-winner of the wet blanket award for 2008.

I guess you can always take the "what if they lose look" prior to a game...I am sure if they go to the second week or better he will write that article, "MAN, DID I GOOF THIS TIME!".

[Mr. Neutral]

All valid points, mm.

My point, as I've stated in the past, has been that, according to some posters, X is still "building" the program. And while that may be technically correct, we've been "building" the program since 1980. We've been to the NCAA numerous times, sent a number of guys to the NBA, including several first-rounders, sent our coaches to Big Six programs, and yet we (and I'm including both fans and players) still act like we're midmajor underdogs.

OR we complain when we're not given "major" status, but yet do we really have the NCAA resume to claim "major" status? In the entire history of XU basketball, we have 1 Sweet 16 and 1 Elite Eight. Isn't it time we stepped up and not just played teams tight, but (heaven forbid) actually beat them?

THAT'S the tradition I want to start, not the "gosh, we played a good game against...." tradition. Screw that. It's time to win, and win on the big stage!

[muskieman]

Gary, I don't disagree with some of your comments. I want X to be a major player even if they stack the deck against X. I also don't count my chickens before they hatch and I don't criticize my team before they have stepped on the floor...I don't think you did but I see Paul as just trying to sling a little mud on the muskie's success before he has to. We have bearcat and dayton people to do that. If X goes out in the first round it will make me sad but many though X would be rebuilding this year after we lost our three seniors that had played in the elite eight. Now that the team has succeeded up to this point Paul wants to rain on our party which he didn't do to Huggins. The word Hypocrite sounds about right.

[Nocalmuskie]

Unlike previous X coaches, Miller never plays the underdog card. The days of "joe bag o doghnuts" are long gone. Miller sees X as a big-time program, plays the best and expects X to win. No matter what happens this year, X will be a force for years to come.

X could very well lose Thursday against a hot GA team. But that does not diminish the fact that the program has stepped it up big time. SOmetimes it takes a few years for the work to pay off. Whether it is this year, next year, or the year after, it will happen.

[Mr. Neutral]

I see your point, mm, but I think we just disagree as to the interpretation.

I read Daugherty's column as a very accurate take on high-level college basketball today. No matter what coaches say publicly (and wish privately), it's ALL about NCAA success.

If your team's not making the tourney, fans and AD's ask why not. If your team's making the tourney but not winning games, fans and AD's ask why not.

Basically, if you want to be one of the big boys, you have to show that you belong on that level, as opposed to being on the "almost good enough" or "nice effort, too bad you don't have the talent" levels.

I certainly don't expect X to contend for the NCAA title every year, or even the Elite Eight, but NCAA wins shouldn't be a surprise, even against Big Six teams. Let's start a new tradition of winning those games!

[bluegrass]

This is definitely a year where we can't be just happy to be there or win 1 game. It would be disappointing to not at least make the Sweet 16. The '98 team was an outstanding team but I always remember the first round loss to Washington (which by the way was in DC). I like to think we are still building-but building toward the Final 4, not just an appearance.