Musketeer Madness

Just saw it on the evening news. X made the biggest jump of any team in the poll moving up 8 spots from 23rd. The amazing thing is, in my opinion, that as well as they have been playing, I think they could even be better. Time will tell: GO MUSKIES!!!!

http://pollspeak.com/pollstalker/pollst ... 6&t2=0&v=0

I thought it was interesting that Gavin Keefe didn't have Xavier in his top 25 and still had Dayton ranked 25th. Hmmmmmm.

Lee Yobbi still has Dayton at #14 along with quite a few others that have them ranked.

Gavin Keefe had Xavier at 21st. Xavier then beat Dayton and Umass and he dropped them from top 25.

Lee Yobbi had Dayton at 12th and Xavier at 18th the week before. After the drubbing Dayton moved down 2 notches and xavier moved up 2 notches. Dick Vitale had Xavier unranked and moved them up to 16th.

Pretty rapid drop by the Flyers. They're barely getting any votes in the AP poll. The Muskies are the highest ranked team with four losses if I'm not mistaken.

I cannot believe I am doing this!! I have to reluctantly agree with xu84, I also think XU could do even better. If they can continue to play defense and crush some of the teams in the league I can see them higher. This team has the potential to do some incredible things in the regular season & March Madness. Miller has a daunting task ahead, to keep these guys focused and playing good defense.

It's hard to predict where we're going to end up. As we've seen this year, on most nights, X is a solid, effective team. On some nights, they're dynamite. On a few nights, not so much.

Our strength (balance) is also a potential weakness. If we're not hitting our 3's against a big-time team, we're in trouble. And I'm not sure if we've got anybody who could get, say, 30 against a Kansas and carry us if the rest of the squad was having an off-night. If we ARE hitting our 3's, X can beat anybody (pretty much).

Most nights, X is a tough, tough team, no question. But you only need one bad-shooting game to go home.

I think 15 is just fine. For the first time, I honestly believe it is not just a voting anomaly, but an earned ranking, reflecting our record and our talent. The two inexplicable, or at least unanticipated, losses are the only flies in the balm, it is true.

I disagree with Mr N that there is no one who could go for 30 if we needed it. Drew could do it.

I know we are all looking forward to the tournament with so much anticipation. This is the really fun part of having known and hung with this school and it's teams for so long. Unlike The Run team, we would not be sneaking up on anyone this time, stunningly upsetting established teams and programs by playing "over our heads." There is a sense from this team that we do belong in the elite company of these other teams.

I am enjoying and savoring the juice of it.

Mr. Neutral wrote:It's hard to predict where we're going to end up. As we've seen this year, on most nights, X is a solid, effective team. On some nights, they're dynamite. On a few nights, not so much.

Our strength (balance) is also a potential weakness. If we're not hitting our 3's against a big-time team, we're in trouble. And I'm not sure if we've got anybody who could get, say, 30 against a Kansas and carry us if the rest of the squad was having an off-night. If we ARE hitting our 3's, X can beat anybody (pretty much).

Most nights, X is a tough, tough team, no question. But you only need one bad-shooting game to go home.

You can say that about any team in the country.

I don't like the reliance on the 3 but it is a big part of this teams offensive scheme. They have enough guys who can get hot that it usually pays off. On nights where it doesn't, they need to count on Drew and CJ taking the ball to the basket. Its a diverse line-up, and hard for opposing teams to defend. I like being #15. Its higher than I would have thought but obviously the voters like what they see.