NIT Bound

[MOSQUETERO]

I think pcp still has 4 more Xavier losses until he gets to "be quiet". Btw, four straight losses leaves us at 18-14 which I don't think is good enough for the NIT and I think the school will mercifully decline a CBI invite.

[madness31]

That was a painful discussion. Captain is right that if X loses out then the team will not make the NCAA tourney. I do not believe the team will lose the next 4 games. Officiating in college basketball is very biased and X playing at home for 2 games gives them a great advantage. Beating Butler, even with that advantage, will be difficult but as another poster mentioned the match-up is somewhat favorable for X. Despite Butler being a great team, X has a legit chance of winning. I won't dare predict the winner but hope X comes out motivated to win.

X has serious issues without Sumner. Macura is the only guy with the ability to put the ball on the floor other than Q but he can't score. I like Q long-term as he has poise and is able to get into the lane and find teammates. His turnovers are generally reasonable. He will develop into a better scorer and doesn't need to put up big numbers, just keep the defense honest. Shooting is a problem for the entire team. I'm not sure how X can have so many big time shooters from HS and yet struggle to make a decent percentage as upper classmen. The chemistry is off, at times it seems guys are more interested in their personal stats than winning. Other times the offensive flow is terrible because the offensive set is ineffective. The team struggles to maintain defensive intensity on a consistent basis as well as on the glass. The desire has been inconsistent for most of the year, not just post injury or during losses.

I suspect X needs at least 2 wins to make the tournament. How a team finishes and the status of injuries are definitely considered when choosing teams.

[pcp33]

Captain, if you can point me to any reputable source that predicts Xavier will miss this year's NCAA tournament, I will stop posting.

Here...from Andy MacWilliams, former XU radio guy on this forum in a story....this should shut you up and eliminate any further posts from you. You said any reputable source and you will stop posting. Andy Mac has more credibility than any media in this city. See below.

NEXT-NCAA AT LARGE BID:

Xavier is 18-10 currently with a 22 NCAA RPI( way better power rating and Strength of Schedule than heading into the final week of the regular season in 2014 and 2015). The negatives are 4 straight losses and a 3-4 February record. IF XU were to lose the next four including their first game in NYC,they certainly would be left out of the NCAAs.

Did I miss where he predicted X to lose all four? I know you have a different level of common sense than the rest of us, so let me know.

[Xavier2005]

NCAA only...... reject the NIT or anything else...period. Do not play the NIT.

[oldhoopster2]

Passing on an NIT invite is arrogant and would just work against X in the future. We'd lose some respect nation wide. Passing on the CIT may not, but I think if the NIT is all we can get, let's play, unless there are further injuries to keep us from being competitive.

[pcp33]

The NIT is not optional and hasn't been for several years.

Again, a comical amount of NIT and even CBI (!) talk on here when there are quite literally ZERO Bracketologists who have XU out.

Lunardi's first four out -- Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Rhode Island, and Georgia. It is damn near impossible for any of that group to end up with a better resume than X.

I think a lot of posters on here don't watch any college basketball outside of X games.

[pcp33]

Xavier listed as the second 9 seed on Bracket Matrix, comfortably in the field and ahead of a number of teams that basically have 0 chance to pass the Muskies.

Also of note, two actual bubble teams Vandy and Georgia Tech, on the verge of blowing a chance at a good win and taking a bad loss respectively.

[Jesseandrippers]

The NIT is not optional and hasn't been for several years.

Again, a comical amount of NIT and even CBI (!) talk on here when there are quite literally ZERO Bracketologists who have XU out.

Lunardi's first four out -- Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Rhode Island, and Georgia. It is damn near impossible for any of that group to end up with a better resume than X.

I think a lot of posters on here don't watch any college basketball outside of X games.

Dont be a homer with rose colored glasses. We have lost 5 straight. We have double digit losses. We dont have a handful of signature wins. We are at risk. Beating Marquette will go a long way for us to them not taking our spot. Btw - CBS has us as a bubble team

https://www.google.com/amp/www.cbssport ... ubble/amp/

[skyhops]

Everyone has us as a bubble team. Must win tonight

[thecoach]

I tend to agree with you Hops. You can't continue to drop games at home. Unfortunately Depaul does more to hurt than help, kind of a nothing to gain scenario there, but we better win.