A Strategic Loss

[Pierre Dracot]

Xavier's loss to ASU assures that they will beat Baylor and Cincinnati.

[harryfe]

Not sure what the outcomes will be but suspect we will be slight underdogs in both games..

[Pierre Dracot]

Not sure what the outcomes will be but suspect we will be slight underdogs in both games..

Both KenPom and Sagarin have Xavier winning both games. KenPom: Xavier by four over Baylor, and by one over UC). But my prediction involves team psychology and cycles.

[madness31]

Agreed the loss was needed. The team plays complacent for stretches because they are a bit too confident they can turn it on when needed. Careless turnovers, lack of intensity on defense for stretches of time in most games this year.

Hopefully the loss will create a sense of urgency. ASU is possibly a very good team but it was a winnable game if X simply went after it for the full game. The lack of concentration to end the half was inexcusable. Officials were bad and ASU shot lights out in the 2nd half but neither was the issue at the end of the first half.

[26+6=1]

Can't sugar coat it. They looked terrible for the last 25 minutes of the game. Just terrible!

26+6=1

[MOSQUETERO]

ASU scored 73 points the last 23 minutes. That is just brutal Jones and Kanter were having a feast under the basket. Why did we deviate from that? It seemed like Mack called a timeout in the 2nd half just to call. He seemed as perplexed as I was. Of course I will try to forget this loss if we win our next two games.

[Anti-Homer]

Not sure what the outcomes will be but suspect we will be slight underdogs in both games..

We know we're favored against Baylor. We will be favored against UC as well, though the spread will be closer to 2- 2.5