Creighton Game thread 01/16/2017

[Anti-Homer]

X has lost two very close games in a row, against two very good teams. In those two games Xavier committed 33 turnovers to our opponent's 22. In these two very close games, Xavier missed 24 free throws. Our opponents missed 6. No mystery about these two losses. You give good teams 5-6 extra possessions and you leave 12 points a game sitting on the FT line, you won't win.

Commish agree and it would be less of an issue had they not lost all games to quality teams. Today, they lost to a team that lost their best player. In three losses, X was ahead at half. in all losses except Villanova, they were ahead at some point in second half. As for FTs, you are correct but be honest, they can't make FTs. X is 60% along in the season so won't improve dramatically throughout. I think their bench isn't developed and players legs are such that they can't shoot (FTs or 3s) because they are playing too much or their offense of having Bluett and Sumner break down their man can be too taxing. Their inside game is unfortunately not good. They give their all but reminds me when X joined the A-10 and TJ Johnson couldn't complete. He was an MCC player. X's big men are just not talented, Jones has time still. If tourney was today, with no quality wins, X would be squarely on the bubble.

X's big men are just not talented

X-Expert, you are wise, but there is sadness to your wisdom.

What hurts even more was X losing 3 bigs this past year, all of whom were eligible to return (Eyikor, London, Reynolds). Actually, Eyikor was shown the door because he apparently kept getting into trouble (foolish recruit to begin with, considering the baggage he came with). Next year, we'll have one true post player on the team who is sporadically effective, and possibly a GA recruit who is switching schools so he can become eligible.

Buoyed by 2 E-8s by his predecessors, and ascension to a top notch league, we are attracting top 10-15 talent, but the results are not translating to success on the court. However, lots of basketball to be played, so X still can turn it around and make the season a success. So X-Expert, I say to you," Feel free to jump off the band wagon. But don't expect a hand from me to hoist you back up when the turnaround begins. Now, I'm going to log off before I lose my temper. Good day sir.

[bluegrass]

Losing because you can't make free throws is the height of frustration. How many games have we missed 10+from the line. Never seen a Xavier team shoot this poorly.This was a tough stretch of games .I would have been happy with one win .

[X4LIFE]

I don't think there is anyone to blame. Guys aren't stepping up and this team cannot find a way to win close games. I can speculate but, I don't know what is going on, just have to let it play out and hope this team gets their act together soon before it's too late. At this point even though all losses were against top 15 teams and Colorado they can't afford to have any bad losses.

[skyhops]

Just wait til Davis gets back

[commish118]

X has lost two very close games in a row, against two very good teams. In those two games Xavier committed 33 turnovers to our opponent's 22. In these two very close games, Xavier missed 24 free throws. Our opponents missed 6. No mystery about these two losses. You give good teams 5-6 extra possessions and you leave 12 points a game sitting on the FT line, you won't win.

Commish agree and it would be less of an issue had they not lost all games to quality teams. Today, they lost to a team that lost their best player. In three losses, X was ahead at half. in all losses except Villanova, they were ahead at some point in second half. As for FTs, you are correct but be honest, they can't make FTs. X is 60% along in the season so won't improve dramatically throughout. I think their bench isn't developed and players legs are such that they can't shoot (FTs or 3s) because they are playing too much or their offense of having Bluett and Sumner break down their man can be too taxing. Their inside game is unfortunately not good. They give their all but reminds me when X joined the A-10 and TJ Johnson couldn't complete. He was an MCC player. X's big men are just not talented, Jones has time still. If tourney was today, with no quality wins, X would be squarely on the bubble.

X's big men are just not talented

X-Expert, you are wise, but there is sadness to your wisdom.

What hurts even more was X losing 3 bigs this past year, all of whom were eligible to return (Eyikor, London, Reynolds). Actually, Eyikor was shown the door because he apparently kept getting into trouble (foolish recruit to begin with, considering the baggage he came with). Next year, we'll have one true post player on the team who is sporadically effective, and possibly a GA recruit who is switching schools so he can become eligible.

Buoyed by 2 E-8s by his predecessors, and ascension to a top notch league, we are attracting top 10-15 talent, but the results are not translating to success on the court. However, lots of basketball to be played, so X still can turn it around and make the season a success. So X-Expert, I say to you," Feel free to jump off the band wagon. But don't expect a hand from me to hoist you back up when the turnaround begins. Now, I'm going to log off before I lose my temper. Good day sir.

X-Pert, we were shooting 70.1% FTs coming into this game. Not good, but not horrible. What happened today was like a virus. Once players started missing, and the crowd groaned at the missed FT, by the end of the game the X players were afraid they would miss. It became contagious. Bluiett shoots FT at 78.8%, Sumner 73.9%, and Macura at 84.6% So when they step to the line in a close game, AT HOME, you expect them to make them, and they should. Today, they all had misses down the stretch. You are correct, this is no going to be an 80% shooting team! But there is no reason they can't be a 72% shooting team. They shot 55% today.

Anti, Gaston had 12 points and 17 reb today, and Gates had 9 points and 7 reb off the bench. We out rebounded them by 11. The Low Post wasn't an issue today!

[muskieman]

X is turning the ball over way too much to be a top notch team. If Watson plays second half we lose by 10 plus points. Time for Tre to hit a shot when it matters. Gaston was solid. Either these players have their own agenda or Mack just can't get thru to them. We will get spanked by UC

you may be right but then it is pure speculation on your part and we all know how you look at these players over the past few years. I agree that Gaston was solid but I also noted to people around me how gassed the players looked before their last timeout. Shot short sometimes mean legs are tired but the team seemed so tentative at the end of the game, unless Ed was driving no one seemed to want to take a shot. Tre's misses were worrying because he seems to have lost confidence. Last game in a time out Chris said he didn't want them jacking shots up and when they went out on the floor Tre jacked one the first time he touched the ball. Are the NBA scouts making players not play as a team? who knows but I do know that a couple of scouts were talking to JJ tonight while watching the players warm up and both never looked at the X end of the court only focusing on the Creighton players.

If I could put only one player on this team from the past the first would be Tu because he was fearless and the other would be Jamie Farr both would bring more testosterone which I think this team might need.

[skyhops]

I know Mack has been telling them to be patient and move the ball, but this team especially Tre and JP make same bonehead decisions and take poor shots. We have a perimeter oriented team that can't shoot and turns ball over too much. Not a good recipe for success

[Anti-Homer]

X has lost two very close games in a row, against two very good teams. In those two games Xavier committed 33 turnovers to our opponent's 22. In these two very close games, Xavier missed 24 free throws. Our opponents missed 6. No mystery about these two losses. You give good teams 5-6 extra possessions and you leave 12 points a game sitting on the FT line, you won't win.

Commish agree and it would be less of an issue had they not lost all games to quality teams. Today, they lost to a team that lost their best player. In three losses, X was ahead at half. in all losses except Villanova, they were ahead at some point in second half. As for FTs, you are correct but be honest, they can't make FTs. X is 60% along in the season so won't improve dramatically throughout. I think their bench isn't developed and players legs are such that they can't shoot (FTs or 3s) because they are playing too much or their offense of having Bluett and Sumner break down their man can be too taxing. Their inside game is unfortunately not good. They give their all but reminds me when X joined the A-10 and TJ Johnson couldn't complete. He was an MCC player. X's big men are just not talented, Jones has time still. If tourney was today, with no quality wins, X would be squarely on the bubble.

X's big men are just not talented

X-Expert, you are wise, but there is sadness to your wisdom.

What hurts even more was X losing 3 bigs this past year, all of whom were eligible to return (Eyikor, London, Reynolds). Actually, Eyikor was shown the door because he apparently kept getting into trouble (foolish recruit to begin with, considering the baggage he came with). Next year, we'll have one true post player on the team who is sporadically effective, and possibly a GA recruit who is switching schools so he can become eligible.

Buoyed by 2 E-8s by his predecessors, and ascension to a top notch league, we are attracting top 10-15 talent, but the results are not translating to success on the court. However, lots of basketball to be played, so X still can turn it around and make the season a success. So X-Expert, I say to you," Feel free to jump off the band wagon. But don't expect a hand from me to hoist you back up when the turnaround begins. Now, I'm going to log off before I lose my temper. Good day sir.

X-Pert, we were shooting 70.1% FTs coming into this game. Not good, but not horrible. What happened today was like a virus. Once players started missing, and the crowd groaned at the missed FT, by the end of the game the X players were afraid they would miss. It became contagious. Bluiett shoots FT at 78.8%, Sumner 73.9%, and Macura at 84.6% So when they step to the line in a close game, AT HOME, you expect them to make them, and they should. Today, they all had misses down the stretch. You are correct, this is no going to be an 80% shooting team! But there is no reason they can't be a 72% shooting team. They shot 55% today.

Anti, Gaston had 12 points and 17 reb today, and Gates had 9 points and 7 reb off the bench. We out rebounded them by 11. The Low Post wasn't an issue today![/quote]

Commish,

It was that rabble rouser X-Expert who questioned Gaston's ability to play at this this level. He is surely limited offensively, but he knows this, and is a very cerebral player. He had a great game today against a future 7 footer: 12 pts (5 for 12 shooting) , 17 boards, and only two fouls. For the season, he is averaging 7 points, 6+ boards, and shooting 59% from the field, in 19+ minutes a game. If only he was a good f.t. shooter. If you showed someone his blinded stats , and told him it was for a top 15 team playing in a top conference, one would say he is a very efficient player, and rebounding hawk. For a guy who lacks the skillset of most B.E. bigs, he is making the most of his talent. He isn't the issue with this team.

[Anti-Homer]

I know Mack has been telling them to be patient and move the ball, but this team especially Tre and JP make same bonehead decisions and take poor shots. We have a perimeter oriented team that can't shoot and turns ball over too much. Not a good recipe for success

He has, but they consistently seem to disregard his instructions. Without consequences, they will continue to do so. He needs to tighten the reins. Horrible deja vu from the Mark Lyons days.

[skyhops]

zip em up, AH. I bet Lyons and Tu would make their free throws at crunch time. Both JP and Tre need to knock down their 3's at the end of the game.