Villanova Game thread 02/17/2018

[mumuskie87]

JP fouls with 1 sec left on the shot clock.
Game is pretty much over.
Basketball Jones misses another point blank shot.
Game over.
X made a nice run in the 2H but couldn't close the gap all the way.
Very disappointing.

[mumuskie87]

I hate to be Debbie Downer but truthfully is anyone surprised. I think X is a very good team but for some reason Nova owns us. The lose to Butler, Providence, & St, John’s, and play like the Warriors against us. I think most of the problem is mental and I don’t know how you can fix it. There is always a critical juncture when the game is close , one or two things go wrong and we seem to fold. Happens time and time again. I still support this team not upset or surprised by what I am seeing. The truth is Nove owns us right now.

Xavier Bob - you are correct. Nova owns us
Now 1-9 in BE conference play against Nova.
Had a chance to knock off the king but failed.
Really really disappointed.

[X4LIFE]

Where has Xavier's defense gone?

[Shadow]

Now I know how the citizens of Mudville felt.
Darnit!

[mumuskie87]

16 3's for Nova.
High water mark against X in BE conference play.
They shot 47% from 3 and X shot 35% which loss #9 out of 10 for X against Nova.

[mumuskie87]

Now I know how the citizens of Mudville felt.
Darnit!

No joy. Mighty X has struck out.

[X4LIFE]

Disappointing loss. Xavier has to figure out its defense, especially 3 point defense, before the NCAA tourney. I'll be honest I don't really care about Big East Championship this year. I feel this will be our best chance ever to get to the FinalFour and maybe our best chance for years to come. So, take only positives where you can during this regular season and improve on weaknesses and make a run. Good luck X!

[mumuskie87]

Well..think I'm going to see my friend Colonel Taylor and have several sips.

Doesn't get any easier - at Gtown will be a difficult game.

[mumuskie87]

Nova had 25 assists and only 6 TO's
Not going to lose any games with those numbers

[Anti-Homer]

First of all,

Props to CM for coming out to the post game show and not ducking it, like a lot of coaches would have done. I also credit him for trying to painfully throw feeble excuses for the 10th installment of “Another Beat down by Nova,” though frankly, I was embarrassed for him. Nova scored 95 points against X, with one of their best 3 point shooters out, at Cintas, and CM basically said they just hit tough shots and have NBA players. There should be no secret as to why the defense is horrendous, with that assessment and resignation. Why even play the game then? I suspect if a team only scores 10 points above their avg. against X, they get rewarded with orange slices. Did Nova hit tough shots? Absolutely. But somehow, inferior teams like the previously winless league foe Johnnies overcame it, as did Butler, and Providence. Butler has beaten Nova 3 of the last 5 times I believe. I don’t think their teams have been littered with NBA players. They have one in Martin, and that’s no guarantee.

What was more perplexing, is the lack of adjustments again. No ¾ court press to make them start their offense higher, or anything else. Anything! Despite the fact that Nova had the game in the bag except for 3-4 minutes when X had it under double digits, JW Wright applied token pressure to change things up, and also doubled in the post on occasion. With his success, that may be a tactic to consider implementing. Also, CM’s insistence on force-feeding Scruggs in tight games cost them once again. Providence redux. X cut the lead to 5, and Scruggs went on a fast break dribbling it into traffic again. The turnover led to a 3 by Gillespie. Game over. PS is going to be a very good player, but 99% of X fans know he is a turnover waiting to happen. You can live with him playing up by several baskets against inferior teams, but not when you’re down against Nova.

He also had Scruggs guarding Bridges in the post, which was an embarrassment, especially with Gates on the bench. I still contend CM is a top 40 coach despite the history vs Nova, and still feel X will make a deep tourney run, as many of the X haters on ESPN opined today, even after today’s disaster. However, the coaches and the team urinated down their legs once again on national TV, in a meaningful league game against Nova. Five years in a row. Good news is next year offers another of potential redemption, and X will not be put in the same bracket as Nova in the BIG Dance. Otherwise,. I’d be in favor of declining the tourney invitation.

AH OUT!