Dayton @ Xavier Game Thread
 

Per Boozehound on the A10 board: (X-homer alert)

http://www.basketballforum.com/atlantic-10-conference/447090-overview-your-team.html

Xavier:

Key Losses:

Jordan Crawford (SG) - Jordan was a big part of Xavier's offense last year and is now playing in the NBA. His departure leaves a significant scoring void but probably has limited defensive impact on the team. Averaged around 20ppg last year. We will need to make up at least 15 points of that scoring from other players.

Jason Love (C) - This one hurts as well. Love was not an extremely prolific scorer but was usually good for 8-12 points and about 8 boards. Jason played very good interior defense, and was consistent. Jason's departure puts a lot on Frease's shoulders.

New Players:

Justin Martin (SG/SF) - Justin has a good shot and ability to get to the rim. Very athletic with a lot of potential. Could play significant minutes right away. He may have some trouble qualifying due to credit transfer issues when he switched High Schools.

Jay Canty (SF) - Canty is said to be an excellent defender who is long and athletic. He can rebound as well. His jump shot is a work in progress from what I hear but shows some serious potential. Will probably see mintues this year due to his athletic ability and defense, as long as he is mentally ready and doesn't make too many rookie mistakes.

Griffin McKenzie (PF) - Griffin should play this year, despite having his jaw wired shut after being jumped by some losers at a house party. Mack says he is back up to 225 and is showing a very good outside shot in practice. Griff could be another Doellman-type of big man for Xavier with an inside-out game but limited toughness around the rim. Not known for being a great defender.

Jordan Latham (PF/C) - Jordan is very ready athletically to play College ball. He also has the ability to step out to 15 feet or so and make some jump shots. Not an extremely tall Center but a good rebounder with some major skills and good size. Long wingspan. Sounds like a Jason Love type of player with an outside shot.

Key Returning Players:

Terrell Holloway (PG) - Developed into a stud PG last year and ran the floor very well. Has a solid (if somewhat streaky) outside shot and an impressive ability to get to the rim for his size. Rarely turns the ball over. Tu is likely to be our 'star' player this year. He is consistently one of the hardest workers in the offseason so I would expect him to be even better this year than last. Tu has show the ability to score in bunches, but will need to score more consistently to make up some of the offense we lose with Crawford's departure. Shows up in big games and at crunch time.

Mark Lyons (PG/SG) - Mark showed flashes of tremendous ability last year but also showed flashes of being a Freshman. Is lightning-quick with loads of athletic ability. Can finish around the rim. His outside shot is very streaky but not bad and could be very good with practice. The biggest problem Lyons had last year was decision making. He takes it to the rim far too often was a results gets blocked a lot. Mark will need to score more consistently as well.

Kenny Frease (C) - All we have heard about this offseason was how hard Kenny was working. He has dropped a lot of weight and is in much better overall shape. He attended the same big man camp in Boston that Love used to go to. The jury is still out on whether or not it will translate on to the court, but we all know Kenny has the ability to play quality ball. Xavier really needs significant production from Frease this year.

Jamel McLean (PF) - Jamel is what he is: very athletic, very high motor, excellent rebounder and solid finisher at the rim. No outside shot to speak of and not a very good FT shooter. Jamel needs to pick up where he left off last season playing with intensity and getting a lot of his points on stick-backs and cleaning up junk. Jamel would easily average double-figures this year as a Senior.

Dante Jackson (SG/SF) - Vocal leader and good defender. Has a 3 point shot but doesn't like to shoot a lot. Has a couple of unconscious performances every year (usually 1 against Dayton...) and is not afraid to take, and make, the big shot. Doesn't like to take it to the rack. More offensive and defensive consistancy from Dante will be key this year. We don't need 15 points a game from him, which is good because we aren't going to get it, but 10 points should be doable for Dante.

Brad Redford (SG) - Sharpshooter from 3 point range who was bothered by a hip injury for much of last season that hampered his production and minutes. Hopefully is 100% but hip injuries are funny. Brad needs to work on creating his own shot as he relies heavily on catch and shoot type of passes from teammates. If we can get him 6-8 shots per game he will average double figures. Whether or not that happens is anybody's guess.

Jeff Robinson (PF) - We would really liked to have red-shirted him last year but we just didn't have the depth in the front court. He was too skinny and lacked experience, and as a result didn't see the floor much at all. Coaches say that Jeff may be the most athletic player on the team, which is a pretty strong statement with guys like McLean and Canty. Has bulked up quite a bit and could see some significant minutes for Xavier. Any production from Robinson will be a bonus.

Predicted Starting Lineup:

Holloway (PG)
Lyons (SG)
Jackson (SF)
McLean (PF)
Frease (C)

Predicted first 5 off the bench:

Martin, Canty, Robinson, Redford, Latham

Predicted Finish:

Top 3. Xavier has lost a lot, but they lose a lot every year and still finish at the top of the league. They have earned the benefit of the doubt.

http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=570

Xavier Musketeers
Last Season: 26-9 (14-2)
Key Losses: Jordan Crawford, Jason Love
Head Coach: Chris Mack

Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Dante Jackson 6-5 Sr.
SG: Tu Holloway 6-0 Jr.
SF: Mark Lyons 6-1 So.
PF: Jamel McLean 6-8 Sr.
C: Kenny Frease 7-0 Jr.
Key Reserves: Brad Redford 6-0 Jr. SG, Justin Martin 6-7 Fr. SF, Jay Canty 6-6 Fr. SF, Jordan Latham 6-8 Fr. PF, Griffin McKenzie 6-8 Fr. PF, Andrew Taylor 6-8 Sr. PF

Year in and year out, Xavier is always relevant in college basketball. No matter who the Musketeers lose each year, they are always in contention for an Atlantic 10 title and an NCAA tournament berth. And once they get to the NCAA tournament, they are always capable of making a deep run. Even with Chris Mack in his first year as head coach last season, the Musketeers defeated Minnesota and Pittsburgh to reach the Sweet 16, where they fell to Kansas State, 101-96 in double overtime, in a classic NCAA tournament game.

It's no different this season. Xavier lost star player Jordan Crawford, who hit all the big shots in the loss to Kansas State and averaged.......

Play hard. End the streak.

Go Flyers!

Lets get it done Flyers!

All streaks must come to an end.....

Looks like they are gonna wait for NMU/SDSU to finish

Well, New Mexico loses a home game in its Pit. I hope it is a trend and x loses a home game in its...

Holy crap......CW already gets one foul for getting all ball.

15 seconds and CW sits due to a foul.

2 early boards by Staten, pushing it on Tu/Lyons. One and done thus far on offense each way. Nice to see refs will be whistle happy on the visitors at the Cintas Center as always.

i cant see it what the hell?

Joe Demayo in the house and he's calling it tight. Not good for the Flyers.

Benson with our first four points. Big man playing well early. CW definitely playing tentatively w/that early foul called on him.

9-7 X first media timeout

Not complaining but 4-0 in fouls

Gotta keep it up on the defensive glass. Limiting X's shots is key. Tu will get frustrated if we do and we can take advantage of his aggressiveness.

Kavs w/4boards already. Staten w/3.

Good guys 12, Other guys 9.... Keep it up Flyers!!!!!

What was Kav's quote about X before he even started playing last year? I'm only listening but he seems to be playing a little angry (in a good way)!! Keep it up, big guy!

Kavs is a rebounding machine!!!!!

I've been waiting for someone to call us on the screen in this game. Been close a few times.

Ugh Devin. He is just getting beat up by everyone lately with size.

Now CJ to the bench w/2 fouls.

DS not starting out very well. That second foul on DS may be good for us....

quit fouling!

Back to firing up 3's.... Going to lose if that is all we do.... Other guys 14 UD 12.

Staten knows this is important. I like him more each game.

Benson! 7 big pts thus far

JS hanging tough!

Going to be hard to win tonight with the zebras against us.

Benson = offensive machine w/9pts.

UD 7-15 FG, 3-8 3pt, 3-3 FT
XU 6-15 FG, 1-5 3pt, 5-5 FT

UD 11-6 rebs, 4-2 asts, 5-2 to, 8-2 fouls

CW no shots

I'm not watching but 1290 makes it sound like the refs are getting the best of us.

20-18 UD 7:21 1st half

CW MIA so far. It's his last chance, he needs to step up.

Not listening to the CBS CS broadcast, but man I can't wait til the ESPN game. This network couldn't seem to favor X anymore than they are.

3 quick fouls on X here by the refs so they don't have to call any for the next 5mins again.

Hmmmm.... Chris Wright is laying a serious egg in the biggest game of the year.... He needs to get on track now...!

CW and co. need to finish on those shots. We have a tough time getting "and 1's". They're hanging tough, as I hoped they would though. Just need to get through this last 3mins and into the half keeping status quo.

Paging Chris Wright. Paging Chris Wright. Your team is playing at the Cintas Center right now and they're wondering where you're at.

Kinda getting tired of the missed free throws....

With PW's 2 FTs its UD up 32 - 29 with 59 seconds in the first to go.

I love how the CBS PBP guy keeps saying that PW won Mr. B-ball in MI. Bet that must really fry Redford's ass when he hears that!

Halftime stats

UD
11-22 FG, 4-10 3pt, 6-9 FT (CW w/all of our misses)
15rebs (6off), 6ast, 1stl, 5to

Benson 9pts 2rebs, Williams 7pts 3rebs, Staten 5pts 3rebs, Wright 3pts 3 rebs, Kavanaugh 4rebs

XU
11-22 FG, 3-9 3pt, 6-7 FT
9rebs (2off), 5ast, 2stl, 1blk, 2to

Holloway 12pts, Frease 9pts, Jackson 0-5 FG

UD 32 X 31 at the half.

Not bad for a road game and CJ sitting most of the half.

Good guys 32 other guys 31 at the half. GO FLYERS!!!!!

Props to Benson and Staten. They each came to play tonight on each end and imo were our best players that half.

The good: the lead, 54% shooting, rebounding.

The bad: FTs, CW neutralized for much of the time, controlling Tu.

The ugly: x fans.

Wan missed one FT

Box score....
 

Solid 1st half.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=310152752

Go Flyers!

Staten missed the front end of a one and one.

Actually he missed two, since he missed the front end.

Kenny Frease has played most of the first half. Keep him in there and he will need a lung replacement at the end of the game. Keep pushing it.

We have the lead and CJ sat most of the first half.

I like where we are right now.

Praying.

Kavs needs yo play over Searcy-enough of this senior favoritism. The difference between the two is stark.

Not bad considering both CJ and CW have not played. Staten with only one assist. He has got to get his head up on that double team hedge and hit the guy rolling. He has a terrible habit of not looking for the pass on that play. Benson and PW keeping us there. Great defense by PW.

as long as they keep taking good shots they can hang in ... the caveat being if X gets hot from the perimeter.

awful charge call on CW.

Well, this all looks familiar.

CW having a bit of a meltdown

Staten keeping us alive. CW is just having an awful game offensively.

I can't believe how quickly we can rack up fouls.

Someone needs to really foul Holloway instead of the ole stuff we're giving him.

I don't think so! I like the look right now. A couple stops on Holloway and we can take control of this game. Killing them on the glass right now.

Can someone who knows Basketball rules explain why anytime we defend the post it is a pushing foul? I get the who two hands thing, but I'm not always seeing it, so fundamentally our guys must be doing something that isn't legal.

Great look by Luke to CJ. Way to weather the early storm guys, now lets play our game.

CJ gives us the lead again. This is going to be interesting.

For some reason I thought they said Wright on WHIO, and I was frazzled by Fabrizius passing up a three to get Wright a three.

No foul call on Kavs bucket?

Oh, and I'm not feeling the announcers. At the end of the day we are shooting ok, playing mostly ok, but need to clean up the lazy fouls.

Second half fouls: Dayton 6, Xavier 0.

Oops, Xavier just committed one.

X in the bonus for the final 11+mins. Of course the foul is called on Luke as McLean shoves everyone around to no calls.

Staten and Parker are playing well at the point, and everyone else is providing what they can right now. Play tough Flyers.

these fouls are BS. our post players arent allowed to touch frease or mcclean

Just over 11:00 remaining, and Xavier's shooting free throws for the rest of the half. They're hitting 85% so far. They need to regress toward their average.

Wow, a push off, and elbow to the neck, and he got the foul?

Not sure how to expect anyone to play defense the rest of the game.

Mclean shoved off wright and then knocked over PW and gets the foul. Zebras are bending them over

LOL @ these refs. They'd easily give X that bucket.

And they then give Kavs his. Get consistent stripes!!!!

How is Benson's basket not counted?

that basket should have counted, even Gillen admitted it

Another call that doesn't quite go our way. Even the terrible announcers said they missed it.

We r getting f'd royally
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I can't stand Gillen
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Huge possession by Kavs. Saves a timeout till the under 8

CJ with a nice move. Tied.

I can't take anything away from Holloway.....except the name change. That's just weird.

He can flat out shoot even if he is obnixious.

This is setting up for the ultimate downer.
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Flipping FT's the difference right now. We're shooting as well as they are, although it feels like X is hitting everything in sight.

Agreed! Deja Vu of Crawford last year.

Whoever Taylor is guarding, give them the stinking ball!!!

I like the new found agression. If we keep that up, we should be in good shape.

We can't get an effing call
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Blatant walk followed by a no call jump ball. These refs freakin'
SUCK

I hate these guys. Every single one of them shows up and plays their best game every time we play them down there. Taylor with 6pts, Frease 13pts....ugh. Staten and CJ need to keep leading us.

Believe!!! Mental toughness! This game is ours to be had! WE WILL PREVAIL.

FT. :(

Way to hit those FTs Chris.
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He costing us the game at the line
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5 point swing on missed FT's. Can't win on the road if you don't hit FT's. Oh well.
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Big time shot by PW. We needed that.

Thank you PW, his 3 makes it 65 - 62

It's from the same script every time: fail to take advantage at the free throw line, allow a three at the other end.

Dayton FT: 10-16 (Wright, 2-7)
Xavier FT: 15-18

Definitely missing a contribution from Luke in this one.

Cj baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 68-67 good guys!!!!

UD 68 - 67 with 3 to go.