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Muskies' Struggles Continue!!
By
Andy Mac Williams,
1/5/2012
My Scouting report on the LaSalle game concluded thusly: "La Salle could pull off the upset but they'd have to hit a flurry of threes from all angles plus a sad sack XU effort." That's sort of what happened in the first half at Tom Gola Arena in Philly. LU led 46-30 at the break. It was 24-24 with 7:43 left before half when the roof caved in.
The Explorers owned every significant stat. They outscored XU from 3 point range 7-1 and triggered 10 more total shots. Playing mostly with a 4 guard line-up LU managed to outrebound XU by 2 (by 3 on the offensive glass). Xavier turned the ball over 9 times to LaSalle's 3.
LU played ball sharing offense (14 assists on 17 FGs) while XU constantly settled for quick shots and one-on-one forays to the basket (6 assists on 11 made FGs).
The Muskie big guys struggled to make close-in shots and failed to get to the foul line enough. Defensively, XU was MIA. La Salle got any shot they wanted.
The Muskies kind of regrouped after halftime. They trailed 74-69 with 90 seconds left but couldn't get consistent defensive stops finally losing 80-70.
I'm upset! You're upset!! Muskie Nation is upset!!! It's Xavier's first A-10 opening game loss since 2005 (Sean Miller's first season) at UMass. The questions are multiplying. Can the bleeding be stopped? Where did that gritty defense go? Why can't the post guys finish around the rim? Where is Justin Martin? And on and on and on!!
Fact - Xavier is 9-5 through 14 games - same record as last season and the season before.
Fact - XU's 8-0 start and #8 rating a little over three weeks ago were not misprints.
Fact - There are no trades to be made or white knights riding out of the West to save the day. It boils down to coaches and players working harder and longer and smarter to regain what's trickled away.
When things got very tough one season at Wake Forest and the media was second-guessing and fans were breaking their ankles jumping off the Demon Deacons' bandwagon, Skip Prosser wisely said: "Basketball seasons are meant to be enjoyed - not endured." I used Skip's line right after last season's blow-out loss at UC when attitudes were in the dumpster.
The Muskies have been enduring - not enjoying since the stupid fight. Enough handwringing and recriminations!! It's a game!! We fans watch it for entertainment. We take pleasure in the speed and athletic ability and execution of a well rehearsed plan. Coaches and players have to enjoy what they're doing - not dread it.
XU has another shot at returning to normalcy Saturday afternoon at Fordham (Noon - Rose Hill Gym-Fox Sports Ohio). The Rams are playing well under second year coach Tom Pecora. They beat Georgia Tech last week in the Bronx and took out #24 Harvard Tuesday at Rose Hill.
Fordham opens A-10 play Thursday at UMass. Chris Gaston is their star (6-7, 220 JR.). He's an automatic double-double.
Pecora has brought in two NYC guards - Devon McMillan and Bryan Smith who attack the basket and pressure the ball. Soph Branden Frazier is another solid guard. The Rams play the light cavalry small line-up style that seems to give XU fits against La Salle at least.
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