Last Night- A Great College Basketball Game

[Masterofreality]

Last night's XU/Rhodee game was just a great college basketball game. It had it all, packed, loud house, play at a high level, clutch performances on both sides, fine coaching, and kids who made plays despite great defense on the other side. Even the officiating, for a change in the A-10 was about as good as the play.

What a refreshing change from the pap that the national public is continually fed by the ESPN Family of Networks or CBS, that poses as "big time basketball". What do we see on those places? Big name schools involved in ugly slugfest games that the apologist commentators call "defensive struggles". I mean, can 8 win Michigan be shown on any more lousy national TV Sunday games on CBS? Doesn't ESPN ever get tired of showing imposters like Syracuse on "Big Monday"?

At least last night's game was shown in parts of the country- although not up here in Cleveland. It was pre-empted for a (ha-ha) Lake Erie Monsters triple A hockey game! Thank Gawd for the link that xuab provided on the URI TV thread. Really appreciate that, man. You saved me from throwing my beer bottle through my computer screen after Channelsurfing wasn't coming through.

Anyway, we all know it, but most of the general public who are casual basketball fans don't. Much of the crap that is shoveled down the broadcast lines can't match up with the true great games that are played and not shown. There was no doubt by anyone going into the year that the Xavier-Rhode Island game was going to be a great one because both teams were deep and experienced with senior leadership. It should have been on a featured network, but was not.

Another case of the conference leadership selling its members short by agreeing to a second rate TV deal. With the lack of national TV game coverage that Xavier has had to deal with this year, it is even more of a testament to the program that we are in the Top 10. Here's hoping that a more media savvy commissioner is appointed to replace Blutarsky. I'm tired of seeing more Pac 10 games in Ohio on FSN than X games.

[Mr. Neutral]

Daniels and Bitee could play on a LOT of big-time teams. Anyone who actually watched last night's game would conclude that URI is an NCAA-worthy team.

And X, with another gutsy performance, found a way to win a game they easily could have lost. (Wish they wouldn't make these games so friggin' close, though!)

[coach]

Daniels and Bitee could play on a LOT of big-time teams. Anyone who actually watched last night's game would conclude that URI is an NCAA-worthy team.

And X, with another gutsy performance, found a way to win a game they easily could have lost. (Wish they wouldn't make these games so friggin' close, though!)

I too have grown weary of these tight games, but I am encouraged by the fact that we are finding ways to win them. How many times in the past have we lost games we should have won (i.e., OSU)? This just may be a special team, a team of destiny, especially if they can get thru the first weekend of the NCAA. Pray for a good match up in the Dance.
Until then, keep sharp objects out of sight during the rest of the games.

[XU84]

It was a great game, and more entertaining than the IU-Purdue game tonight.

[southernmuskie]

Speaking of crap basketball, did anyone see Marquette and Pittsburg last Friday night. What a joke that was. Run & gun sloppy ball and no one could make a shot.

I've never felt as strongly about Xavier basketball and their ability to match up against anyone in the country as I do right now.

[wkrq59]

Agree..It was one great ballgame. The hypercritical will always find something they don't like. But that's life