Is this the biggest game of the season so far?

[XU 87]

On the road against a very good A-10 team with a top 20 RPI. If Xavier wins, it shows that X can beat a good team on the road, something X hasn't really done yet. (I don't think Auburn is very good).

[vmuskie]

Definitely - not just for us fans - but also for the psyche of the team. If they win - then I think it is a huge hurdle they cross - they will believe that they can win big games on the road.

[xhoops]

Couldn't agree more...today transcends UC, UD, etc. Hope we do it!

[enegster]

Obviously, these announcers think this is big. You think they want UMass to win?
Personally, I enjoy beating UC the best!

[wkrq59]

It might just be. Consider:
*Xavier--Shot almost 44 % from the field to UMass 37, 18.24 to UMass 28.6 , both teams hit 68 % of their free throws.
*Xavier out rebounded UMass 41-30. The fouls were a wash, and the assists to turnovers, 11-16 were the same for both teams.
*But the biggest stat of all came from the entire Xavier defense: Forbes, who had been averaging 20 plus per game was held to 16; Harris who was averaging 20 plus per game was held to 7, yes, 7. and Chris Lowe, whom the goofy commentators claimed was "maybe the best point guard in the league? He was held to 12 points, and his assist to turnover ratio was 2-3. By contrast, Drew Lavender scored 19 points (He would have scored 22 if he made his free throws the way he usually does. Drew's assist to turnover ratio was 3-1 and he had two steals to Lowe's none.
Yes, Etienne Brower had 22 points but he made 10 of 11 free throws as every Xavier player who evewn breathed hard near him was called for a foul.
Had Brown, Lavender and Burrell made their free throws as they usually do, the game would not have been as close as it was.
I hope someone is rating those three zebras who didn't T-up Ford when he earned one get reprimanded by the league..Naw, that'll never happen.