Next year will be full of changes

[X-Expert]

And just like that-the season is over. Foul trouble, crucial injury to Marshall, turnovers, and FT shooting led to the demise of the season. Now, the off-season will be full of uncertainty. Will Mack be back? My concern is that he has never come out to say he is staying (as he did when the Indiana and OSU jobs came open). Rumor has it he had the opportunity to come out and tell the fans that he is staying but did not do so. Time will tell but honestly, if he leaves i would be ok if X can keep the recruits. I honestly believe that his "status" has to be affecting the recruiting. Mack has been on a roll recruiting and next year is not strong (6th in BE). For Mack, its now or never. If he turns Louisville down now (assuming he is offered), he will likely never get the chance at least for a while-unless they get a bridge coach which i don't see. Secondly, their lineup next year at this point would seem to be offensively challenged. We saw the end of the first half in which Goodin, Scruggs, Marshall, Jones, and Gates go from a 9 point lead to a 3 point deficit in 5 minutes. Thank God Macura, Bluitt, and Kanter came back in the last 34 seconds to give X the lead. Boudreaux should help and hopefully Hardin is ready but X will lack shooters and a solid big -unless they get someone off the transfer heap. X is still in the hunt for juco Marlon Taylor and top 100 player Tevian Jones. I would guess that Mack's decision will affect this. I never was in favor of getting a coach with no experience but was proven dead wrong. Miller and Mack have shown that being part of a great program and a very supportive administration will help a coach. Enter Travis Steele. My guess is that Mack is gone. This is just a guess but as I said, he has not come out to show his commitment to stay at Xavier. Travis Steele is a great recruiter. He has been around two of X's best coaches and has a great reputation across the country (from what i've read). he is currently the recruiter for a couple of X's future targets which would help in retaining these players. One thing I would guess for sure, only one of Mack and Steele will be back next year. Steele will get his chance somewhere and it is well deserved.

[bluegrass]

Macks decision should come in the next few weeks. Sooner the better so we can move forward especially on the recruiting front. The uncertainty is deadly .Hope he stays but the money will he tempting. Honestly I've heard some people say he's definitely leaving and I've heard other say he's definitely staying.

[Anti-Homer]

I just hope Louisville gets rolled quickly from the NIT, so X can move forward w/w-o him a.s.a.p.

[harryfe]

If he should want to go to Louisville I hope
He goes. He was not ready to become a
head coach at X when he signed but has certainly become a good coach but if he doesn’t want to stay then let him go. We need to rebuild
anyway. Won’t shed a tear if he leaves but
if he stays will cheer the day because then
I know he wants to be at X.

[skyhops]

If you asked us last year about Jones, Gates, and Goodin I think most would be very content with them taking the next step offensively but it just has not happened with them. The incoming freshmen class is pretty weak and I agree with most that it has been affected by the Mack rumors. We need shooters ASAP and a big. This was our best chance for a final four and making the tourney next year will be a challenge.

[longliveskip]

if you wanted a glimpse of what next season is going to be like, that 8 min FG drought in the first half on Sunday with Tre JP and Kanter on the bench is not making me feel very good about it at all.

that being said, guys put in work in the offseason and get better. who knows how much better some of these guys will get.

if Mack leaves, could throw even more of a wrench into things as in - will we lose any recruits or have guys transfer? i don't know. wondering about Harden. is this a guy who can contribute next season or even his junior and senior year? most guys would be gone if they had a freshmen year like he had. just not sure on him.

[jct1941]

XU has got to be getting a lot of monies from their NCAA participation. I would think that Mack (and his assistants) should get some kind of reward for that. But, if XU can not afford to keep a very good coach we will remain a stepping school to those WHO CAN PAY the big bucks. XU has been very fortunate with the choice of coaches but one slip and we could become irrelevant. Just sayin'. Go Xavier!

[bluegrass]

A weak recruiting year is really hurting our senior class for next year.Gates is the only one and he has been a little disappointing so far.Maybe he steps it up next year .I like Q,Ty,Naji and Scruggs and I think you'll see more productivity from them.Hopefully Harden surprises us with some quality minutes.But the key is Chris returning.

[Xavier2005]

I think most of the Xavier fans would prefer CM to return with a long term contract. However, if CM chooses to leave....it is NOT the end of the college basketball world for Xavier. Xavier is NOW a destination place for many great basketball players and Coaches. If Xavier pays $2 million to $3 million to a coach, there will be many coaches more than willing to come to Xavier....good coaches to great coaches.

[X-Expert]

If you asked us last year about Jones, Gates, and Goodin I think most would be very content with them taking the next step offensively but it just has not happened with them. The incoming freshmen class is pretty weak and I agree with most that it has been affected by the Mack rumors. We need shooters ASAP and a big. This was our best chance for a final four and making the tourney next year will be a challenge.

X is in the hunt for a couple of very good shooters in Tevian Jones and Marlon Taylor. I would also think that they will be in the mix for some of the transfers. They had offered the best recruit who is leaving Pitt, as well as Jermaine Harris at Rhode Island-of course any chance would likely mean that Mack stays. Another concern is if Louisville can't get the guy they want now, they give Padgett a 2 year contract at which time Mack (or another coach) can come in a couple of years. Louisville allegedly want to look at: Mack, Painter, Alford, and Smart