Xavier/GW Review

[Masterofreality]

Just got through reviewing the tape from last night. Let me tell you, after reviewing the game, I feel much better about how Xavier played last night than at first blush.

GW may not be an impressive team over the season, but they played very well last night. They had guys hitting tough 3's that kept them close. They were at home and played confidently in front of a loud crowd. If they had played that well all year, they would have a lot better record.

Xavier was challenged in many ways- GW changed defenses constantly, they are athletic and went to the glass hard. The loud crowd was a factor, and, no sour grapes, but XU did not get the benefit of any borderline calls, such as a fairly obvious goal-tend on a CJ Anderson shot and a very questionable block call on Big Love when Rice bowled into the lane. Despite that, they answered every challenge and made big shots and plays when needed. Anybody who thinks that GW played horrible and that XU "played down to their level" should go back and watch again. GW played their best and most inspired game of the year. Despite that, XU overcame.

Coaching move of the night? Sean Miller, at halftime, moving Stanley Burrell onto Maurice Rice. Rice had 13 points at halftime. He didn't score again until under 8 minutes left in the game- on a breakaway layup off of a steal. Then he scored 2 frees off of a foul on CJ, 2 frees on the questionable block/charge on Big Love, and a tough long contested 3 over Stanley. Stanley may not have scored much last night, but he had a great night again defensively, a number of good assists and solid floor leadership.

Heather Dinich must not watch too much college basketball. Xavier played fine last night, survived in a tough environment against a team who played at their best- just what Top 20 teams do.

[wkrq59]

MOR, I believe Sean showed how good a coach he is last night. He yanked players from the game for lack of defense and when they got back in, they played D. Agree on the Stanley covering #22. Hope Brown's dunk at the end when he could have held the ball won't come back to haunt Xavier at tournament time.
Also, Love the game Duncan played. There is a senior who could have pouted and sulked. Instead he joins Drew and Stanley in showing the way by stepping up at the end of the game when Xavier was struggling on offense in a very hostile environment. All in all a hard game to watch, though. Raised my normally low blood pressure.

[bourbonman]

...and a very questionable block call on Big Love when Rice bowled into the lane....

MOR, I agree the 2nd blocking foul should have been a charge. I just figured he was going to be guilty even if he got there 5 minutes in advance b/c of his tantrum on the first one. That ref wasn't going to give him anything.

[flatspat]

X wasn't going to get anything after Love's demonstration. But that's Joe DeMayo being Joe DeMayo.

[golfitup]

I love how there's a thread right now about Sean needing to change the rotation because of Stan......

[picknroll]

X wasn't going to get anything after Love's demonstration. But that's Joe DeMayo being Joe DeMayo.

Joe D. is a real assclown. He was actually in Love's face on the second "no call" player control foul. He kinda followed Love when he walked away from the call. Yes, a real assclown.