Congrats to Nova

[muskieman]

Completely took the heart out of Michigan. 6th man DiVincenzo outscored MU's bench 31-7.

[yellow20xd]

The best team all year long... Congrats... Dan

[Xfan1970]

Great win by a strong team, congrats.

[lionelchalmers0]

I think Jay wright has just about perfected recruiting in the one and done era.

Find a couple very highly rated recruits and mix them with 4-5 non one and dones that will stick around to be seniors.

Add to that making sure every guy on the floor can shoot 3s which are so important nowawdays. Add to that you have a couple capable slash and kick guys.

That's what success looks like in 2018, certain young coaches could learn from this.

[XU80]

Wow what a statement. Your leader, POY, goes out with 11 minutes to go and you extend the lead and don't need Brunson to win the game.

Not sure any other team could have played without their star and performed at the level of Villanova last night. No seniors on the team, even if they lose Bridges and Brunson, they will be tough to beat in the BE next year.

[longliveskip]

the only negative thing i see from this - Xavier will NEVER pass Nova as a program. not in my lifetime, at least.

look how long it took us to pass UC as a "better" program simply because of their 1992 FF run. it took over 15 years.

how are we gonna pass 2 National Titles? guess what. we won't.

[Lead Guitar]

Terrific team game. Good for the Big East.

Wright changed the game and truly adapted to the 3-pt shot. (Mack did a similar move when he recruited, Trevon, JP, Sumner and even London.) Go with multi-positioned, 6'4" and above players that can shoot and dribble and gang rebound. One player does not have to bring the ball up the floor every time. The days of the John Thompson and Bob Huggins strong weight-lifters with no smooth that start the offense with a lob to the basket and then everyone hit the boards, is done. With Nova and even Loyola's and UMBC's success, more teams will follow Wright's philosophy. The conventional two forwards and big center might be soon gone. (Remember the day when there was a right guard and left guard?)

Recruit the unselfish players that want to win and don't care who is the leading scorer and who aren't auditioning for the NBA. Putting the ball in the basket still makes the coach look good, but it starts with recruiting. I love the style of play in the Big East. Teams like Nova, X, Creighton, St. John's advance the ball quickly, take the open 3 on the break. If it is not there, they run a set play. You don't score 90 points by taking 30 seconds to shoot. Nova is best at controlling the tempo, because the recruit smart players with terrific basketball IQ's.

This board complained about our 3-pt D when we played Nova. Michigan, Kansas, A & M fans are probably saying the same thing. Common denominator--Nova's shooting.

DiVicenzo was our JP. Not afraid to take a shot at any time; can jump; can rebound; makes the occasional bad pass, but only because he is aggressive. He will not be fun to watch for two more years, except when they play someone else.

I am hoping that Brunson, Pascal, and Spellman follow Bridges to the NBA---why experience another championship? Go ahead, guys, leave!

Let's teach Tyrique to hit the 15 footer this year and the 3-pter next! Q has Brunson's body (but a bit larger), so learn that little post up fade away and Naji could be our Bridges with work on his 3 pt release.

As my wife commented when we lost, November will be here before you know it. Hate to see the season end. Go X!

[muskieman]

Michigan 3 point defense was touted as one of the bests until they played Nova. Nova had the lighting most of the year with their 3 point shooting failing them mostly in their losses but they were not just a three point shooting them. As for their D it seems like if not everyone can block shots. Face it, how many times have you seen blocks like DiVincenzo made last night and they do it on a regular basis. Spellman at 6'10 and 245 but athletic beyond all imaginations and a redshirt freshman. Who on Xavier roster match these two players forget the 3 Bs ?

[longliveskip]

Michigan 3 point defense was touted as one of the bests until they played Nova. Nova had the lighting most of the year with their 3 point shooting failing them mostly in their losses but they were not just a three point shooting them. As for their D it seems like if not everyone can block shots. Face it, how many times have you seen blocks like DiVincenzo made last night and they do it on a regular basis. Spellman at 6'10 and 245 but athletic beyond all imaginations and a redshirt freshman. Who on Xavier roster match these two players forget the 3 Bs ?

none do. that's why they beat us so bad.

before i said that it was Brunson, Bridges, and Devincenzo > Goodin, Tre, and JP

but the other guys were better than ours as well.

better at every position normally = winning. and they did. A LOT.

[bluegrass]

Once Coach K retires,Wright will be regarded as the best coach in the game,if he isn't already.Ultimately that's great for our league.