So proud of this team

[lionelchalmers0]

I know there's a couple threads of this ilk so I apologize but wanted to look at this team in a more historical way.

Im so proud of this Xavier team... I think they've already become my favorite of all time. Obviously the chalmers team had been my favorite (the bj Raymond team probably my second favorite).

This team completely embodies everything a Xavier team is supposed to be. And really a team in general. Every. Single. Guy. Has stepped up. From Tre and JP playing otherworldly and being leading men.

My parents didn't go to college or watch basketball. What made me fall in love with Xavier basketball was two things: how they always seem to come together and overachieve even when they're underdogs, and how they seem to develop these players that are sort of underdogs, and tre and JP are great examples, and get them to the next level.

I feel as if there's been a steady rise in Xavier basketball leading to Saturday. Back in the late 90s we were this upstart mid major team that would knock of number one UC and occasionally put a guy in the NBA. With David west we ushered in an era of "we're the real deal" and began making these tourney runs. Sweet 16s. Then elite 8s. Then the big east era and we started getting higher level recruits and becoming a bigger stronger faster team (and getting some of the problems that go along with it).

And here we are. One game away from the final four again. A preseason top ten who was down on the mat, bloody and beaten and left for dead. They got up in spectacular and inspiring fashion and now they're throwing haymakers and attacking (and finishing, per tre's well written article). A senior transfer named Malcom Bernard had stepped up as a fiery madman and helped lift this team up.

This team has already guaranteed itself it's own chapter in the Xavier history books. If they win Saturday, they'll be on the f*$king cover of it.