Tired of Dow and the Enquirer...

[michiganXman]

making such a big deal out of Drew's ankle and how it affects Xavier.

If we've learned anything this year, it's that this team will do whatever it takes to be successful. I have no doubts we will overcame even if Drew isn't at full strength.

Dow acts like Drew has a broken leg and is out for the year. He hasn't missed any games and will be full strength come tourney time. I feel he is blowing it way out of proportion and writing so much about it so he and everyone can use it as an excuse should Xavier falter.

He did a similar thing in regards to the Arizona State game. He spent a week writing about how tough the travel was and how it was on the heels of a tough game with UC...basically used it as an excuse (for about 10 days in a row). I feel this kind of stuff from our beat writer makes us look bad.

Fact is, tough stretches of the schedule pop up for every team a few times a year, as do injuries. You just play through it. Xavier has been very fortunate on the injury front over the past couple of years, as no one has missed significant time. We have also benefitted numerous times from playing teams that were injured/short-handed. It's part of the game and the local media needs to stop making such a big deal out of it. It makes us look soft.

[gundun]

I am sorry, but I think Drew's ankle is important to the team's performance

Besides, as a person who goes all the way back to the coverage we got from the local rag when Bill Ford was our beat-writer, DD is the greatest thing since popcorn.

Just my opinion.

[Wisexuowl]

Michigan, come inside and get warm. Your thinking is frozen.
a) You don't like reading DD, then don't.
b) DD is a reporter covering XU, the number one team in the city and state, and the number 8 team in the nation. XU and other interested readers DO want to keep up with Drew's injury, progress or lack thereof, and DD is their best source.
c) And, FYI, DD's coverage of college basketball throughout the country is as good as it gets.
d) But, don't hestitate to exercise (a).

[X Factor]

This is one of the dumbest posts ever on this board. Thanks for a terrible post, michigan.

Xavier is fortunate to have a writer like Dow covering the team. He is excellent.

You said Xavier has been fortunate when it comes to injuries. Let's see, Lionel Chalmers-broken foot, Brian Thornton-broken foot, Brandon Cole-torn ACL, Boubacar Coly-2 torn ACL's, not to mention Duncan, Lavender and all the other more minor injuries to other guys. So that point gets a big NOT TRUE.

You also said Xavier's been fortunate to have faced "numerous" teams with injuries and who were shorthanded. Who? Another big NOT TRUE.

Absolutely no one is using Drew's ankle as an excuse, Dow or otherwise. Dustin is simply reporting information that is very important to Xavier fans.

Sounds to me like your trying to take very subtle jabs at Xavier in the same way Prop used to.

[michiganXman]

The Coly injuries were devasting...I also said the past "couple" of years. This year and last year XU has been injury free.

Indiana, Dayton, K-State, Auburn, Cincinnati, and Virginia all had key members of their rotation missing when we played them this year. If Dow was the beat writer for these teams...we would have certainly heard more about it.

Why would I take jabs at X? I've attended every single game (home and away) in person this year. Don't think you can say the same Mrs. Factor.

X Factor...you are still a turd my friend.

[xcellent]

Some teams may have had some injuries this year, but IU still had Gordon, K-State still had Beasley, UVA still had Singltary, and Dayton still had BRob. Only Dayton the first time we played them had very significant injuries.

[somebody]

Let's face it ... the news I want right now is what the situation on Drew's ankle is! Being out of the area there are only so many places where I can go to find out. I personally have been glad that Dustin is keeping us as informed as he can. I really don't get the impression that he is trying to use it as an excuse when we don't do as well in the games. But he is reporting the facts from the best sources that are available to him, Sean, Drew, the trainer and doctors etc. I think he is doing a good job. The problem is that the messages he is getting are mixed and it is still seems to be something of a tossup what is the best way to proceed. He may say that Xavier will have more trouble as long as Drew is not 100% ... duh ... but like most of us I have not heard him say it is all over if that is the case.

And I sure do wish Johnny had stayed!

Go Muskies! Kill the Hawk!

[jamal4xu]

You aren't going to find a better college beat writer than Dow. Granted the Enquirer does give more coverage to other schools/teams, but that is not his fault. That decision is made by the editors and market/consumer research.

I think Dow's ability to analyze and breakdown the game, engage readers via his blog and in-game commentary, as well as his feature pieces (ie Stanley and the comparison to U of FL) are top notch and VASTLY better than prior people who covered Xavier.

In fact, the only reason he is covering X and not UC is b/c their beat writer has more tenure and is the "featured" writer. Dustin has more talent...plain and simple.

I'd be curious to see if anyone has ever compared the column inches (story size) X & UC get during baskteball season. I think part of the reason we feel UC gets an unfair amount of coverage is because they get ample coverage for the two big sports (football and b-ball) while X gets the one.

The impression may be X gets less coverage, but when you compare apples to apples, I would imagine it is quite similar.

[Biff Tannen]

Dow is a talented writer, but I think he writes too much as a fan, and doesn't take it objectively enough. Dow will be good if he ever a gets a collum, not quite as good as Doc or Sully (who really is?) but that is where his strength as a writer will be. Right now he is trying to get more involved in his writing than "just the facts."

Bill Koch does an excellent job of just saying what happened, then giving quotes to fill in the void. Dow tells what happens, throws in his own perspective and gives the quotes. Sometimes reading Dow's stuff is just like reading this board, which isn't what I am looking for from the Enquirer game summary.

I know some people will disagree but that is my opinion and I can understand why others have the sentiment that Dow isn't worth reading. I also admit he is a talented writer and thats why people seem to like him. Just an opinion.

[Wisexuowl]

<I sure do wish Johnny had stayed!>

He'd be out #3 PG behind Drew and Dante, and our number 3 SG behind Stan, and BJ.

Now wouldn't that have been sad to watch?

Also, Drew will be fine. If not tonight, then next week. In the meantime watch Sean make whatever adjustments are necessary, and watch Dante GROW. I am very, very impressed with his progress, both O&D.