Ugly but typical Conference Road Win
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:44 pm
First of all, here's a quote from Bobby Lutz on the Charlotte radio network post-game show.
" We got pushed in the back on rebounds all night long. We don't get the respect in this league like we used to get in the other leagues".
Well, Bobby, welcome to a league with the worst officiating in college basketball, but, at least, tonight it was equally bad on both sides. The two worst calls, at least somewhat evened out, although the one where they called a touch "push off" against Drew Lavender right before he hit a 3 then called the tech on Sean costing another point added up to a loss of 4 points to XU. The "push off" on Goldwire in the second half only cost Charlotte 2, maybe 3 if they give him a bucket and a foul. There are other calls too numerous to mention on both sides, including a horriffic call where DBrown got a clear rebound, was pushed down and then Derrick was called for a foul for undercutting someone when was on the floor.
This game was just ugly and Xavier just could not score- other than JoDu. What a great game by him-after he was reamed out by Sean and quickly removed after his first minute on the floor for not rebounding or boxing out. If you had told me before the game that A) Drew Lavender would not score at all, B) Leemire Goldwire would score over 30 C) That Stanley Burrell would have to sit out about half the game because of foul trouble, I would have told you that there was no way that XU would win this game.
Here was the key, especially after Stanley got in foul trouble. Sean had Xavier play a lot of zone and Charlotte, other than Goldwire, can't hit the broadside of a barn with a baseball from 10 feet. Charlotte's offense consisted of three ally-oop slams and Leemire Goldwire, who for most of the game, stood on his head and made ridiculous shots. One shot right below us, I swear that all he did was redirect the pass to him and swished a 3 from the corner, his release was so quick. Xavier did not play well, but found a way to win. And talk about going "all-in"? JuDo's 3 at the games end was a designed play, no doubt about it. It was set up that way and the dagger was in the hands of the hottest shooter for XU on the court. He didn't miss the mark, but how about having the outcome rely on a top of the key 3? For JuDo tonight, however, it was routine.
Charlotte has a beautiful arena, and an enthusiastic crowd. However, I was disappointed in the attendance. I would say that there might have been about 6,500-7,000. Certainly not near a sellout. It was raining like hell a little before game time. Good turnout by XU fans- maybe a couple hundred and about 50-60 at the pre-game.
In summary, another typical conference road game. You just want to sneak out of the arena with your team having 1 more point on the board than the home team. Xavier did that 1 better, and I'll take it.
" We got pushed in the back on rebounds all night long. We don't get the respect in this league like we used to get in the other leagues".
Well, Bobby, welcome to a league with the worst officiating in college basketball, but, at least, tonight it was equally bad on both sides. The two worst calls, at least somewhat evened out, although the one where they called a touch "push off" against Drew Lavender right before he hit a 3 then called the tech on Sean costing another point added up to a loss of 4 points to XU. The "push off" on Goldwire in the second half only cost Charlotte 2, maybe 3 if they give him a bucket and a foul. There are other calls too numerous to mention on both sides, including a horriffic call where DBrown got a clear rebound, was pushed down and then Derrick was called for a foul for undercutting someone when was on the floor.
This game was just ugly and Xavier just could not score- other than JoDu. What a great game by him-after he was reamed out by Sean and quickly removed after his first minute on the floor for not rebounding or boxing out. If you had told me before the game that A) Drew Lavender would not score at all, B) Leemire Goldwire would score over 30 C) That Stanley Burrell would have to sit out about half the game because of foul trouble, I would have told you that there was no way that XU would win this game.
Here was the key, especially after Stanley got in foul trouble. Sean had Xavier play a lot of zone and Charlotte, other than Goldwire, can't hit the broadside of a barn with a baseball from 10 feet. Charlotte's offense consisted of three ally-oop slams and Leemire Goldwire, who for most of the game, stood on his head and made ridiculous shots. One shot right below us, I swear that all he did was redirect the pass to him and swished a 3 from the corner, his release was so quick. Xavier did not play well, but found a way to win. And talk about going "all-in"? JuDo's 3 at the games end was a designed play, no doubt about it. It was set up that way and the dagger was in the hands of the hottest shooter for XU on the court. He didn't miss the mark, but how about having the outcome rely on a top of the key 3? For JuDo tonight, however, it was routine.
Charlotte has a beautiful arena, and an enthusiastic crowd. However, I was disappointed in the attendance. I would say that there might have been about 6,500-7,000. Certainly not near a sellout. It was raining like hell a little before game time. Good turnout by XU fans- maybe a couple hundred and about 50-60 at the pre-game.
In summary, another typical conference road game. You just want to sneak out of the arena with your team having 1 more point on the board than the home team. Xavier did that 1 better, and I'll take it.
