Ugly but typical Conference Road Win

[Masterofreality]

First of all, here's a quote from Bobby Lutz on the Charlotte radio network post-game show.

" We got pushed in the back on rebounds all night long. We don't get the respect in this league like we used to get in the other leagues".

Well, Bobby, welcome to a league with the worst officiating in college basketball, but, at least, tonight it was equally bad on both sides. The two worst calls, at least somewhat evened out, although the one where they called a touch "push off" against Drew Lavender right before he hit a 3 then called the tech on Sean costing another point added up to a loss of 4 points to XU. The "push off" on Goldwire in the second half only cost Charlotte 2, maybe 3 if they give him a bucket and a foul. There are other calls too numerous to mention on both sides, including a horriffic call where DBrown got a clear rebound, was pushed down and then Derrick was called for a foul for undercutting someone when was on the floor.

This game was just ugly and Xavier just could not score- other than JoDu. What a great game by him-after he was reamed out by Sean and quickly removed after his first minute on the floor for not rebounding or boxing out. If you had told me before the game that A) Drew Lavender would not score at all, B) Leemire Goldwire would score over 30 C) That Stanley Burrell would have to sit out about half the game because of foul trouble, I would have told you that there was no way that XU would win this game.

Here was the key, especially after Stanley got in foul trouble. Sean had Xavier play a lot of zone and Charlotte, other than Goldwire, can't hit the broadside of a barn with a baseball from 10 feet. Charlotte's offense consisted of three ally-oop slams and Leemire Goldwire, who for most of the game, stood on his head and made ridiculous shots. One shot right below us, I swear that all he did was redirect the pass to him and swished a 3 from the corner, his release was so quick. Xavier did not play well, but found a way to win. And talk about going "all-in"? JuDo's 3 at the games end was a designed play, no doubt about it. It was set up that way and the dagger was in the hands of the hottest shooter for XU on the court. He didn't miss the mark, but how about having the outcome rely on a top of the key 3? For JuDo tonight, however, it was routine.

Charlotte has a beautiful arena, and an enthusiastic crowd. However, I was disappointed in the attendance. I would say that there might have been about 6,500-7,000. Certainly not near a sellout. It was raining like hell a little before game time. Good turnout by XU fans- maybe a couple hundred and about 50-60 at the pre-game.

In summary, another typical conference road game. You just want to sneak out of the arena with your team having 1 more point on the board than the home team. Xavier did that 1 better, and I'll take it.

[danton3]

well said MOR -

as skip and gomuskies would say (in past tense)

GOT IN, GOT A WIN, AND GOT OUT

[WCWIII]

Record in the last 10 games matters! 1-0 so far.

[Mr. Neutral]

Yes, it was a tough, hard-fought, gutsy, sometimes sloppy, but well-earned road win.

Having watched the CSTV feed, I have to say that I can see where the Charlotte fans may feel like their team got jobbed a little on the calls. X got some bad calls, too, no question, but the 49ers had almost every big call go against them in situations where you'd think the home team would get the call.

Good for us, bad for them.

[Nildogg]

how are you guys in the top 25 with a garbage WIN like that??
(cough, cough...)

[Mr. Neutral]

Well, if you knew anything about college basketball, you'd know that Charlotte beat #24 (RPI) Clemson on the road by 10, they beat Wake Forest, they beat #41 St. Joe's, and they lost to Maryland by 4.

Was tonight an artistic masterpiece by X? No, hardly. Was it a good, tough road W? Yep.

[champNiner]

Wow, exciting game, I wished the refs let the two teams run. X is deep and has many weapons and our supporting cast (Mack, Wilderness, Gerrity and Dewhurst) couldn't put the ball in the basket. That was just a typical game for Lee, #5 over the 30 mark, he can shoot the basketball with so little space. I was encouraged by our effort and D, and it is always great to see Halton rocking, but the better team won tonight. Best of luck.

[Shadow]

how are you guys in the top 25 with a garbage WIN like that??
(cough, cough...)

At least you were kind enough to capitalize the key word for tonight.

[Nildogg]

it was a tounge in cheek reference to what some of your fans are saying about Butler in another thread...

I found it funny that you are here justifying your "tough" "conference road game" WIN, yet some are trying to smack Butler for the SAME thing.

I don't question that you have a very good team, and winning any conference road game is not easy. And I'm sure you deserve your ranking as well. (What the hell do rankings matter, anyways??)

[wkrq59]

Observation. The A10 must start paying its referees top tier wages to it can at least attract a few top tier referees. I doubt any of the referees who have worked the past three games will qualify for NCAA tournament assignments.
Not having seen this game --WHY?--But having watched the previous two and having seen the quality of A10 officiating over the past 10 or 15 years both as a sportswriter and a fan I can say this: The A10 officiating in general is decidedly substandard. It's oficials are almost always out of position and making calls based on what they think they see when in reality there is another member of the crew closer to the action who swallows his whistle. How many times this yseason have we seen a Tim Higgins quality of a Jim Burr or a Hightower or Steve Welmer or please, anybody but the OJT trainees who when they get some experience will go with Big 6 conferences to earn more money. I swear to heaven these A10 crews are pathetic with their inconsistency. I never thought I'd say this but overall the officiating in the MAC is for the most part superior to the A10. Hopefully this will be one thing that will radically change after Blutarsky leaves.
Oh, and I don't believe there is such a thing as an ugly or pretty win. Any win on the road for Xavier is a thing of beauty.