Defense

[Go Go Golston]

Every player on the floor for Xavier lacks defensive fundamentals. Poor posture. Leave their feet. Never trace the ball. Never deny passing lanes. Don't move their feet. Help defense is nonexistent. Guys are constantly lost.
WHO'S TEACHING THESE KIDS????? This regime has been exposed.

[X-Expert]

mack is a carbon copy of Skip. Has some good plays but overall, poor defensive teams and little ball movement on offense. Sumner masked some of their issues because he can break you down. Bluitt and Macura are good but can't really create their own shots (Bluitt better than Macura). Miller's teams focused so much on D and rebounding. Its hard to watch.

[madness31]

This has been an issue since Mack took over. Xavier will not go far in the NCAA until we have a coach that is able to teach and motivate players to play at a high level on the defensive end. This year it appears the team will not even make the tournament.

[madness31]

X-Expert, I have to disagree about Trevon being able to break down the defense better than Macura. Macura has done it somewhat regularly all year whereas Trevon has only done this a handful of times. TB is very one dimensional. He has a very quick release but can't put the ball on the floor. He finishes well when someone gets him the ball as he gets to the rim but rarely creates his own shot. Both should be back next year but if Macura improves his FG% he will be drafted higher than TB.

[XU Captain]

mack is a carbon copy of Skip. Has some good plays but overall, poor defensive teams and little ball movement on offense. Sumner masked some of their issues because he can break you down. Bluitt and Macura are good but can't really create their own shots (Bluitt better than Macura). Miller's teams focused so much on D and rebounding. Its hard to watch.

Why blame the coaches? It's injuries and Marquette is just better.

[Anti-Homer]

mack is a carbon copy of Skip. Has some good plays but overall, poor defensive teams and little ball movement on offense. Sumner masked some of their issues because he can break you down. Bluitt and Macura are good but can't really create their own shots (Bluitt better than Macura). Miller's teams focused so much on D and rebounding. Its hard to watch.

Agreed. I loved Skip as a person, but his idea of defense was outscoring the other team. His influence on CM has come full circle. I remember hearing Tim Miles of Nebraska giving CM credit of teaching him the 1-3-1. Perhaps Tony Bennett of VA would show the same generosity CM did last year and allow our coaches a visit. They could also probably learn from CM regarding out of bounds plays as well.

[lionelchalmers0]

mack is a carbon copy of Skip. Has some good plays but overall, poor defensive teams and little ball movement on offense. Sumner masked some of their issues because he can break you down. Bluitt and Macura are good but can't really create their own shots (Bluitt better than Macura). Miller's teams focused so much on D and rebounding. Its hard to watch.

Agreed. I loved Skip as a person, but his idea of defense was outscoring the other team. His influence on CM has come full circle. I remember hearing Tim Miles of Nebraska giving CM credit of teaching him the 1-3-1. Perhaps Tony Bennett of VA would show the same generosity CM did last year and allow our coaches a visit. They could also probably learn from CM regarding out of bounds plays as well.

Agree with this and I see what you mean. However, I must say that really if Ed and Myles stay in the mix that's probably a relatively smart way to run this team and we probably end up as a 24 or 25 win team. This year will be such a year of what could have been. If Ed stays healthy, Myles sticks around, and Ekiyor doesn't bail where would we be? It's disappointing to see us play the way we are and certainly I agree the D is horrendous (particularly tonight) but isn't this just proof that you can't lose an NBA caliber guard, your heart and soul senior leader, and a 4 star transfer and compete in the big east?

[skyhops]

We didn't beat anybody with Ed this year. I listened to Mack and he particularly pissed with the defensive effort. Wojo took Mack to the woodshed tonight especially how we continued to switch on defense and have Gates or Gaston guarding one of their perimeter players, which resulted in a good amount of their points. Our defensive breakdowns and their points off turnovers were the dagger. Disappointing that this team and coaching stff doesn't have the stones to at least pull out a victory the last six games. Players like Hill, Brown, Posey, Grant, Tu, etc. would have never allowed this to happen. What a mess and it is not looking better for next year.

[XavierTragedy]

X-Expert, I have to disagree about Trevon being able to break down the defense better than Macura. Macura has done it somewhat regularly all year whereas Trevon has only done this a handful of times. TB is very one dimensional. He has a very quick release but can't put the ball on the floor. He finishes well when someone gets him the ball as he gets to the rim but rarely creates his own shot. Both should be back next year but if Macura improves his FG% he will be drafted higher than TB.

"Drafted" higher?? In what, the Western Hills Men's Y League? Neither of them will be "drafted". Macura is bedlam out there. Yeah, he touches the ball every possession, thus he takes more than his share of shots. WAY too erratic. His passion is compelling, but is at best a wash, and at worst a total negative for this team.

[bluegrass]

mack is a carbon copy of Skip. Has some good plays but overall, poor defensive teams and little ball movement on offense. Sumner masked some of their issues because he can break you down. Bluitt and Macura are good but can't really create their own shots (Bluitt better than Macura). Miller's teams focused so much on D and rebounding. Its hard to watch.

Agreed. I loved Skip as a person, but his idea of defense was outscoring the other team. His influence on CM has come full circle. I remember hearing Tim Miles of Nebraska giving CM credit of teaching him the 1-3-1. Perhaps Tony Bennett of VA would show the same generosity CM did last year and allow our coaches a visit. They could also probably learn from CM regarding out of bounds plays as well.

Agree with this and I see what you mean. However, I must say that really if Ed and Myles stay in the mix that's probably a relatively smart way to run this team and we probably end up as a 24 or 25 win team. This year will be such a year of what could have been. If Ed stays healthy, Myles sticks around, and Ekiyor doesn't bail where would we be? It's disappointing to see us play the way we are and certainly I agree the D is horrendous (particularly tonight) but isn't this just proof that you can't lose an NBA caliber guard, your heart and soul senior leader, and a 4 star transfer and compete in the big east?

I don't know of any team that could win with one point guard unless that guard is Magic Johnson.If Ed stays healthy we probably have at least 2 more wins,If Myles doesn't screw up,we are a top 25 team and playing for a good seed.I can't blame Mack for those things.We did have 2 unused scholarships but I'll assume he figured why use them on a so so player when I could save it for a top recruit for next year.