What teams are you going to miss playing?

[pki1998]

I started a thread specifically on Dayton, but then I thought maybe it would be good to discuss all the teams we will miss playing. I was in high school when X made the jump up from the MCC to the A-10. So the A-10 seems almost as much as home as the old MCC days. During the more than 15 years in the A-10, a few games became must see games.

St. Joe’s – This might be the toughest one to lose. I love it when X plays other Jesuit schools. I have to travel a lot for work and caught a couple of X- St. Joe’s games in Philly. The fans there were top notch and always treated me well. Phil Martelli is a good coach, and his teams play solid fundamental basketball. If the new Big East ever goes to 12 they would be my first choice as an expansion candidate. Yes I know it will never happen, because Villanova and Fox Sports wouldn’t be behind it. Outside of Dayton, this is the game I would like to continue playing the most.

Temple – Either way we were losing Temple as a conference mate, but I will miss these games. Always hard fought, but respectful, the outcome of the X-Temple was almost always an important game. These two schools were the flagships of the conference for the last 15 years.

St. Louis – My gut says our separation from St. Louis will not last long. St. Louis has done a lot of things right the last couple of years and are really building an impressive program. My guess is once the Big East expands they are in. In the mean time I would really like to keep playing them.

It seems to like moving the Big East is like moving from High School to College. It’s a great opportunity and is necessary to become the best you can be, but you have to be a little sad not to keep seeing your old high school buddies every day. How about everyone else, what teams are you going to miss?

[Shadow]

It seems to like moving the Big East is like moving from High School to College

It may be a step up to the Big East but that is an grossly unfair statement to make of the A-10

[gladdenguy]

The 3 best basketball programs in the A-10 besides Xavier in the last 20 years are probably St. Joes, UMass, and Temple.

If I had to choose I guess Temple. Always a big game no matter the year.

I can't say that about St. Joes or UMass.

[pki1998]

It seems to like moving the Big East is like moving from High School to College

It may be a step up to the Big East but that is an grossly unfair statement to make of the A-10

Sorry that statement wasn't intended to be an insult of the A-10. Maybe the analogy might have been better if I had used leaving college for work in the real world. My point was that we are leaving behind programs that we were used to playing every year. For the majority of these schools we will be seeing them rarely if ever. This struck me as very similar to leaving a school. Sure you keep in contact with your closes friends but for others you drift apart.

[madness31]

I see no upgrade at the top but an improvement at the bottom. If X can't challenge for top of the conference on a regular basis, we need a new coach. Butler will be tough to beat and losing to GT, Nova and Marquette on occasion is acceptable but we should be ahead of all but Butler most years.

Butler has the best coach. They are the best program at this point. Had VCU joined they would be right there with Butler as 1 and 2 in the conference. The top of this new BE is a step behind. History is a different thing as the BE schools have a large advantage.

I expect we will continue to schedule the best of the A-10 in non conference as they will help the SOS. I'm sure the AD will look at who was good the prior season and who is returning and try to arrange games with those teams. If we do that I won't really miss any of the teams.

[chicosbailbonds]

I see no upgrade at the top but an improvement at the bottom. If X can't challenge for top of the conference on a regular basis, we need a new coach. Butler will be tough to beat and losing to GT, Nova and Marquette on occasion is acceptable but we should be ahead of all but Butler most years.

Butler has the best coach. They are the best program at this point. Had VCU joined they would be right there with Butler as 1 and 2 in the conference. The top of this new BE is a step behind. History is a different thing as the BE schools have a large advantage.

I expect we will continue to schedule the best of the A-10 in non conference as they will help the SOS. I'm sure the AD will look at who was good the prior season and who is returning and try to arrange games with those teams. If we do that I won't really miss any of the teams.

You guys want to make it out that Gillen, Matta, or Miller are still coaching Xavier! Please, you have slipped a notch or two since one of those guys was coaching the Musketeers. And you think Brad Stephens is the best coach in the Big East? Compared to what? John Thompson? Jay Wright? Xavier is taking a step up and not the other way around! I can't wait to see you guys start playing Marquette, G'Town, Villanova!

[sixstrings03]

I see no upgrade at the top but an improvement at the bottom. If X can't challenge for top of the conference on a regular basis, we need a new coach. Butler will be tough to beat and losing to GT, Nova and Marquette on occasion is acceptable but we should be ahead of all but Butler most years.

Butler has the best coach. They are the best program at this point. Had VCU joined they would be right there with Butler as 1 and 2 in the conference. The top of this new BE is a step behind. History is a different thing as the BE schools have a large advantage.

I expect we will continue to schedule the best of the A-10 in non conference as they will help the SOS. I'm sure the AD will look at who was good the prior season and who is returning and try to arrange games with those teams. If we do that I won't really miss any of the teams.

Marquette fan here and psyched to see XU join the BE! Certainly hope you're able to compete at the top of the league right off the bat.

What's the consensus on why Xavier missed the tourney this year? Is your incoming class going to give a boost for the upcoming BE schedule?

[RaiderX]

Welcome Chico,
1. I dig your name. All time classic movie!
2. Please don't let Madness give you an impression on this whole board..
3. Did you see Xs lineup this year? Are you saying Jay, Thompson, or Buzz could of done better?
Xavier can't wait to play Gtown, Nova, and Marquette!

[RaiderX]

I see no upgrade at the top but an improvement at the bottom. If X can't challenge for top of the conference on a regular basis, we need a new coach. Butler will be tough to beat and losing to GT, Nova and Marquette on occasion is acceptable but we should be ahead of all but Butler most years.

Butler has the best coach. They are the best program at this point. Had VCU joined they would be right there with Butler as 1 and 2 in the conference. The top of this new BE is a step behind. History is a different thing as the BE schools have a large advantage.

I expect we will continue to schedule the best of the A-10 in non conference as they will help the SOS. I'm sure the AD will look at who was good the prior season and who is returning and try to arrange games with those teams. If we do that I won't really miss any of the teams.

Marquette fan here and psyched to see XU join the BE! Certainly hope you're able to compete at the top of the league right off the bat.

What's the consensus on why Xavier missed the tourney this year? Is your incoming class going to give a boost for the upcoming BE schedule?

Hi Six, X lost their 2 best returning players. You may have even heard of them? It would be like Marq. losing Vander blue, wilson and Mayo. Is Blue gonna come back next year? If everyone returns then MU should be top 10 hopefully Gtown, also. X will not be that highly ranked. Many of us here know more then just about our team.
Good luck against Davidson Today!

[sixstrings03]

I see no upgrade at the top but an improvement at the bottom. If X can't challenge for top of the conference on a regular basis, we need a new coach. Butler will be tough to beat and losing to GT, Nova and Marquette on occasion is acceptable but we should be ahead of all but Butler most years.

Butler has the best coach. They are the best program at this point. Had VCU joined they would be right there with Butler as 1 and 2 in the conference. The top of this new BE is a step behind. History is a different thing as the BE schools have a large advantage.

I expect we will continue to schedule the best of the A-10 in non conference as they will help the SOS. I'm sure the AD will look at who was good the prior season and who is returning and try to arrange games with those teams. If we do that I won't really miss any of the teams.

Marquette fan here and psyched to see XU join the BE! Certainly hope you're able to compete at the top of the league right off the bat.

What's the consensus on why Xavier missed the tourney this year? Is your incoming class going to give a boost for the upcoming BE schedule?

Hi Six, X lost their 2 best returning players. You may have even heard of them? It would be like Marq. losing Vander blue, wilson and Mayo. Is Blue gonna come back next year? If everyone returns then MU should be top 10 hopefully Gtown, also. X will not be that highly ranked. Many of us here know more then just about our team.
Good luck against Davidson Today!

got it - rebuilding years are a drag, that's what we were expecting this year. Apologies for the lack of knowledge of XU... Looking forward to knowing more about the program moving forward.

Blue should be back next year unless we make a FF run and he puts up a Wade-like performance.