Providence game thread: 2/23/22

[skyhops]

This team just doesn’t have the coaching, players, or drive to win close games anymore. Bad plays out of time outs, Scruggs guarding Bynum, Hunter playing, and guys like Free and Jones who just can’t hit a shot when it matters. Nothing has changed.

[Michigan Musketeer]

Plenty of chances to win this game even with giving up (14)
3’s 14-29 will win most games. 29% doesn’t cut it but been there all season. Would be worse without Kunk. Homer calls hurt too but it all adds up to another loss. The Fans at the Dunk reminded me when X was good- seems like a long time ago. Would be nice to give the crowd something to cheer about this Sat. We are running out of games to make it happen

[muskieman]

Ok guys. We played the best team in the Conference to 3 OTs in their house with crazy things happening and lousy calls against us. I think everyone gave it their all. PC is now 11-1 in games of 5 points or less. This will not hurt us getting into the NCAA. Our ranking in the NET might go up.

I wanted to win tonight and the guys gave it their all and TS did not lose this game no matter what these "fans" say. OSD I just let them rant because half of what they say is just BS. It is always easy to say the guy on the bench is better and the guy on the floor should never see playing time but it's just hot air. They went into the Dunk and played 8 on 5 at times and just like things happened when X had a lead they find that water is coming in and making the floor too wet to play for some 20 minutes and it took the best team in the BE 3 OTs to get a win.

My guess is the guy, or someone like him, that yelled profanities at Matta telling him to quit will be somewhere in the crowd Saturday and let us hope he learned his lesson last time he made a fool of himself

[pdxmuskie]

The team looked as though they were having fun in the first half, specifically when some unseen bench players made an appearance. There was energy and hope.

Zach had a good first half and then became the low IQ player he has been.

Hunter has been terrible since being removed from the starting lineup. He should be an asset. I chalk this up to bad coaching/player development. His shot selection was bad since day 1 but that is easily fixed. I suspect him losing his spot to Zach has given him I don't give a _____ attitude. Reasonable given how the team has struggled since Zach's return.

Scuggs is not playing well but certainly had moments. Clutch at the line today and obviously a huge 3. Scruggs is the most talented player. Nunge is the best player and must be the focal point. Scruggs is the only player that can take over a game. He can get his shot against anyone. This is exactly why X deserved to lose. 2 changes with the game tied and a ton of time left to win the game and they went to Kunkel and then Jones. Kunkel had a good game and is capable of getting his shot but unless he begged for that opportunity, not the right call. The Jones play was a disaster as there was way too much time left on the clock for that shot to go up. Kunkel saved the day by almost getting the steal. Nunge is an acceptable person to take the last shot but not in this game. Odom could certainly get a high percentage shot off as could Scruggs. Both Odom and Scruggs should be in and 1 or the other should take those shots.

If I were coaching, Scruggs would take the ball to the rim unless he didn't want it or Odom really wanted it. This is the time when the coach should build confidence in the guy that needs to take the team to the next level. Have Scruggs take it to the rim but position Kunkel to get a kickout or Odom to slash for a dump off. If the coach had been teaching all season, he would have confidence Scruggs would make the right decision between getting his shot, kicking out or dumping off.

It is inexcusable that the officials did not call the intentional foul and then called X for a flagrant. Game should have been over on the intentional. Not as bad as the Odom flagrant but absolutely horrible.

[muskieman]

Xavier entered the night 37th on KenPom, they are now 35th.

Providence entered the night 46th, and they remain 46th.

[pdxmuskie]

Computer rankings are fun but I like winning.

I also hope Xavier does not accept an NCAA bid if their in conference record is below 500. Being a proven loser and going to the tournament at the expense of winning teams is not a Christian thing to do. Could they win games in the tournament, sure but do they deserve a chance when they don't win games now?

I would rather take the NIT bid than go to the NCAA tournament as an unworthy team. The NCAA should create a rule stating that a winning conference record is required unless winning the conference tournament but Schools don't have to wait for them to do the right thing.

[muskieman]

Computer rankings are fun but I like winning.

I also hope Xavier does not accept an NCAA bid if their in conference record is below 500. Being a proven loser and going to the tournament at the expense of winning teams is not a Christian thing to do. Could they win games in the tournament, sure but do they deserve a chance when they don't win games now?

I would rather take the NIT bid than go to the NCAA tournament as an unworthy team. The NCAA should create a rule stating that a winning conference record is required unless winning the conference tournament but Schools don't have to wait for them to do the right thing.

so all those teams that had losing records in the Big Ten and other power conferences, which I quoted on another thread, are all unchristian? Matthew 7:1-2

[Jesseandrippers]

Computer rankings are fun but I like winning.

I also hope Xavier does not accept an NCAA bid if their in conference record is below 500. Being a proven loser and going to the tournament at the expense of winning teams is not a Christian thing to do. Could they win games in the tournament, sure but do they deserve a chance when they don't win games now?

I would rather take the NIT bid than go to the NCAA tournament as an unworthy team. The NCAA should create a rule stating that a winning conference record is required unless winning the conference tournament but Schools don't have to wait for them to do the right thing.

Huh?

[longliveskip]

Computer rankings are fun but I like winning.

I also hope Xavier does not accept an NCAA bid if their in conference record is below 500. Being a proven loser and going to the tournament at the expense of winning teams is not a Christian thing to do. Could they win games in the tournament, sure but do they deserve a chance when they don't win games now?

I would rather take the NIT bid than go to the NCAA tournament as an unworthy team. The NCAA should create a rule stating that a winning conference record is required unless winning the conference tournament but Schools don't have to wait for them to do the right thing.

what in the GD WHAT?

i say again, WHAT?

WHAT?

[kyzrex]

Computer rankings are fun but I like winning.

I also hope Xavier does not accept an NCAA bid if their in conference record is below 500. Being a proven loser and going to the tournament at the expense of winning teams is not a Christian thing to do. Could they win games in the tournament, sure but do they deserve a chance when they don't win games now?

I would rather take the NIT bid than go to the NCAA tournament as an unworthy team. The NCAA should create a rule stating that a winning conference record is required unless winning the conference tournament but Schools don't have to wait for them to do the right thing.

I don’t want to call any poster a derogatory name, or question their sanity, so I’m hoping that this post is either alcohol or drug induced. Otherwise I’ve no other explanation for it.

I’m not necessarily against the idea of a rule that it should take a .500 or better conference record to qualify for the NCAA tourney, but I don’t think that accepting a bid under the current rules has anything to do with wrong and right, or being unworthy.