Is a loss what this team needed?

[realxfan]

I think in 2004 the loss to Duquesne refocused the team. I think a loss would have helped the Patriots down the stretch. Decourcey really thought Memphis needed a loss to have any shot of winning it all. Hopefully this team gets it going again...Duncan has not played anywhere near like he did against Charlotte and Rhode Island...Hopefully they give Lavender something to ease any pain when the NCAA's start.

[picknroll]

To answer your question in one word: YES. Now the commentary: Focus is the key word here..the team's lack of focus at the free throw line, Burrell's "throwback" out of control offensive play, and the team getting out rebounded again are all in need of re-focus and adjustment. The 11 game win streak is over. Now let's get back to playing tougher inside on defense and offense and run off another 10 in a row for NCAA title, damn it.

[XU84]

I don't think a loss is ever good but it happened. I'm hoping for a strong performance against Richmond with a "W" then at least making the finals of the A10. I'd feel better about the game last night if they had played well and still lost. As it was, they just didn't look sharp.

[GrimeTime]

I think we needed the loss. How many times did we win by the skin of our teeth after playing a lackluster game? I know that's a mark of a good team, but I think we were really starting to believe our own hype. Maybe this will bring us back down to reality..... I hope. Really - remember that we're talking about 20yo kids. Coach says you have to hit free throws to win and play solid D, but winning game after game without those seemed to work, so I'm sure they were blowing off Miller to some extent, even if just subconsciously.

This should be a nice cold glass of water in the face wake-up, and maybe we run the table here out!

(and it doesn't hurt that it was a good loss at St. Joes and not to the Bonnies or something!)

[muskieman]

NO, let me repeat that NO but that being said I hope they find something that will carry them on their next run of 10 games. No because I never think a loss is good but it is what you take out of it that separates a good team from the also-rans. No because it can cause negatives just as easily as it can inspire them. It can cause back biting on teams that heretofore had a good team chemistry.


NO a big win would have been the tonic but Sean will turn something good from this...

[xcellent]

I don't think you ever need a loss. I think that there are things that were evident that needed some work over the past couple games, and people didn't do what they needed to do in order to fix it. Had we done that, we probably would have won last night. That being said, when a good team loses a game, it makes it really hit home what the problems are. All you can hope for after every game is that your learns from that game and fixes what is broken, whether they win or lose.

[XU 87]

The real issue is when will Drew get healthy? He's moving a little better, but he still looks a little gimpy out there.

[DC Muskie]

We needed to lose, so we could understand how to win.

Incredible way of thinking. I knew this sort of stuff would come out...

Someone has to explain to me the self life of consecutive victories. Is it five? nine? Twelve, before the need to lose helps them refocus.

[wkrq59]

No team needs to lose to learn how to win. How the hell can you learn to win by losing? To quote Leonard Nimoy, "It's illogical."
From Bob Staak through Pete Gillen, Skip Prosser, maybe Matta and definitely Sean Miller--in truth all coaches everywhere--say three things make the difference in a team winning or losing especially at this trime of year. Defense, rebounding (the best completion of a perfect defensive play) and free throws.
I believe with a few exceptions, Xavier played good defense. The rebounding margin that Xavier lost was not that great, but the difference in free throw shooting was the difference between a win and a loss.
Everytime Xavier loses a game there is usually the bitching and the accusing etc. etc. The one thing I haven't read--maybe I missed it--is calls for Sean's head. Glad to see even the naysayers among us have jumped off that train--albeit temporarily, yah think?
Hope the team got back all right and I hope they can get ready for Senior Night.
(P.S.--If you doubt Bruno's ability to screw things up, why weren't all the second-last games played on Wednesday night. This Thursday-Saturday turnaround is ridiculous, especially for the teams that have to play that final game on the road.
Happily, Richmond is coming to Cintas. But they are a very good team and can't be taken lightly.
Good loss????No such thing. Doesn't exist. Let's move on to Saturday.