Providence game thread

[muskieman]

No telling how this one turns out. Before Freemantle's injury, Team Ranking had X a 70.3% chance of winning.
Xavier #16 vs #17 Providence
Next guy up. GO X

WIN THIS ONE FOR ZACK

[Anti-Homer]

X is one of the comeback teams of the year in the NCAA, along with K State, Marquette, Providence, & TCU. SM is also among a handful of coaches who lead the way for NCOY. Now, they are missing their best offensive player and rebounder.

Tomorrow, they play the team with the best player and one who shoots the most free throws in the league, Bryce Hopkins. Providence as a team goes to the line more than anyone and shoots very well overall. They play small, rotating 4 guards who play 20 or more minutes a game, along with two undersized bigs being 6'8" & 6'7." Their 3rd big play 14 minutes a game. Their guards can create off the dribble. They only shoot 34% from 3 and only have one guy< Noah Locke, who shoots better than 35%, at 36%. In other words, no knockdown shooters. He would be the 7th best on this team, which is remarkable. I am taking liberties though, b/c I am counting Kraft, who shoots 38% for 3, but had finished 23 Soduku books during games. It's pretty simple: If they penetrate (including Hopkins), get into the lane and cause ouls at a high clip, X will lose.

X, has difficulty guarding anyone unless the defender is Jones, Claude, or Hunter, especially off the dribble. Did I mention Providence has a plethora of guards who can beat you off of the dribble? Also, X is missing their best offensive player and rebounder, in case I forgot to mention that. Soooo, does anyone have any ideas on how to limit their penetration in the paint and near jumpers off the dribble? Also, a type of defense that would theoretically reduce foul trouble, especially when they only have six players who do not qualify for a redshirt? A type of defense that concedes the long-range shots, not a strength of Providence? Inquiring minds want to know, as well as DraftKings participants.

Relax, MMan, I signed them up as a sponsor this week. It truly is hard to measure how much value some Mods bring to their Board, or in my case, Boards. I am also negotiating with a guy who owns a chain of Nintendo game repair shops on the Eastside. Always hustling.

[connecticut72]

This would have been a tough game with Freemantle without him I do not like our chances. Creighton exposed some big time flaws in our game that a great coach like Cooley will be sure to take advantage of. Number one guard Souley hard with & without the ball, #2 lay off of Jones and keep him out of the lane. #3 take it right to our bigs they are soft and will not challenge at the rim. Providence is tough both mentally and physically & they play real hard for 40 minutes. Totally agree with AH regarding their guard play.It will be very interesting to see how Miller adapts. If anyone can adjust Sean can. In Miller I trust. Freemantle's offensive production cannot be replaced but we could possibly be better defensively. I hope Craft gets some time and peforms well. He looks to me like he has a good feel for the game and can shoot. Defense is a question mark so he will fit right in. It is also show me time for Edwards. He does not play like a big man or maybe it is just me. It is time for him to step up. I was wrong about Hunter so mea culpa, mea culpa, but I hope he does not try to do too much with his increased playing time. It has been such a fun year and I am so disappointed for Freemantle. It is a tough way to end your senior year. If possible the Big East is getting even harder. Villanova is better with Moore back and Whitmore and Armstrong coming on. Creighton & UCONN are back on track. So batten down the hatches it is going to be a Frantic February. GO X.

[pdxmuskie]

Based on AH's assessment of Providence, X may benefit from the absence of Free. Free isn't especially athletic and mobile on defense. Hunter and Edwards are. Neither are the offensive weapon that Free is but they should be more capable of helping on D. Unfortunately both are more foul prone than Free is so that may be a problem. Going small seems to be an option in this game so if Tandy or Craft can step up, they may also prove beneficial in this 1.

X has struggled to stop penetration but the likely lineups today should be an improvement in that regard. X also tends to leave guys open from 3 so it is encouraging Providence is not typically a great shooting team.

X must play with energy and focus. The team still has plenty of scorers as long as shots are falling. If the defense is improved, partially due to the personnel change and partially based on effort/execution then X can continue to work toward winning the conference.

[skyhops]

Free is one of the best defensive rebounders in the BE, he will be missed. I don’t hold out much home tonight but I will be there with my daughter and sources.

[muskieman]

Nice start for X

[muskieman]

Well no Craft in the first 20 minutes X had tough time scoring in the last 7 minutes when their 14 point lead went to 4

4 and half minute drought will kill a lead

[connecticut72]

Another Big East nail bitter. We looked so good and then the subs cost us momentum. Providence will not go away. They will fight you tooth and nail until the end. Not sure we have the toughness to compete. I hope I m wrong. Go X. Defend! Rebound! Our only chance.

[pdxmuskie]

Momentum was killed by the official when he didn't call the offensive foul. Xavier then proceeded to play without energy and focus the rest of the half.

It is inexcusable to allow a wide open 3 from the top of the key to close out a half.

Ball movement was great to start the game but was mostly absent the last 5 minutes. Rebounding also started strong and then trailed off. I'm not seeing a lot of fight in this team right now.

[muskieman]

X had 2 TOs in the first half and 2 in the first 2 minutes of the second. Now down and struggling to score