A loss to SJHS

[D West]

St Joe's basketball program and especially Martelli deserve a better arena than a small expansion and a facelift of the current gym.

It's too bad that they can't/won't build something like Rhode Island or even St. Louis. It would add to the A10.

A friend of mine from Chicago watched the game and told me he couldn't beleive they didn't play it at the Palestra or somewhere else. Can't they get 8,00-10,000 out for a game like this?

Regardless, it's a big win for SJ. Hopefully they make the tournament.

[wkrq59]

Take a look at the attendance line in the box score. That says it all. 3200.
As far as the effort is concerned, I don't agree with the idea that the effort was lacking. Question the effort to Stanley's face, to Josh, to BJ, to Derrick and even to Drew.
Could Xavier have made more free throws? Hell yes.
Could Josh and Love have finished better despite the hacking they got? Certainly.
But I take exception to the idea that effort was lacking, that Xavier played poorly, that by implication Xavier's players didn't try.
Face it people, Xavier just ran out of time. St. Joseph blew the big lead and all you had to do was look at Martelli's face after the 3-minute mark.
I know it's almost cliche-like to point out the effort and emotional high of the St. Joe's players. It reminded me of 1985 when the Chicago Bears went into Miami undefeated to play the Dolphins. They had everything but the ghost of Flipper Past down there. Last night St. Joe trotted out all the old folks including Jack ramsey, who looked older and worse than Keith Richards.
To be honest, that gym is worst than Schmidt if that's possible. Renovating it will be putting lipstick on a pig.
Face it, St. Joe's team just played better and still Xavier almost won the game.I suspect St. Joe will lose to Dayton and fall right out of the NCAA picture.
Face something else. This conference will stay like it is until it gets a commissioner who is dynamic and can wheel and deal with the Big 6 boys.
The new commissioner will have to protect some schools besides the three Philadelphia schools, LaSalle, Temple and St. Joe's Right now, Xavier and UMass are the only two schools going to the big dance, and UMass is squarely on the bubble. Dayton, St. Joe and Rhode Island are headed for the NIT but Dayton has to win tomorrow to get to .500 in the league or its no NIT. But there is always the new 16-team tourney.

[muskieman]

"Q"right on. I agree that the new commissioner needs to protect all the schools. I also think they need to give due respect to their flag ship program and stop saddling X with refs that are below par...and that is putting it nicely.

This conference will not get the respect it might be due when the constantly under pay refs so they get the one not busy or not acceptable to the big 6 schools.

[XU84]

I'm betting Ramsay is older than Keith Richards since Ramsay was born in 1925 and Richards in 1943. Keith is uglier, but still younger. And why do we get so bent out of shape when someone questions the teams or a players effort? You certainy see Mller take a guy out of a game when they just don't seem in sync with the game or to dive after a ball or maybe even let someone out rebound them or blow by them for an easy bucket. It happens to players and sometimes an entire team just as getting hot and make 3's can be contagious. If we're willing to say that St. Joe's used the emotions of the night to play beyond their talent level isn't possible X played below theirs?

[wkrq59]

No, 84, I don't think X played below it's level. Sean may take a player out for defensive lapses or what he perceives to be less-than-stellar efforts, but he almost always puts him back in the game a few dead-ball stops later.
If Xavier's effort had been poor last night, the margin of defeat would have exceeded that of either ASU or Temple. The idea that if you try so hard it almost kills you, you'll get stronger and win is nonsense.
Give St. Joe's players and coaches credit. They played above their skill level with superior effort and still almost lost the damn game. To say Xavier's players didn't give effort, didn't try is just plain BS. It's just another excuse that fails to acknowledge the play of the opponent.

[wkrq59]

Oh, and I was referring to the fact that Keith Richards obvious abuse of his body should make him look old. It's a joke Robin Williams, David Letterman and Jay Leno make all the time. And I still believe immitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[XU84]

Ok, well the humor was lost on me, or it JUST WASN'T FUNNY. And yes you're so correct, everyone on our team always plays to the very best of their ability in every game from the start to the end of the season. Thank goodness, we established that fact. I know I haven't had an off day in several decades but I thought I was just exceptional. Oh, and this is sarcasm in case you didn't know. It can be funny also. Leno uses it sometimes, as does Letterman. I never thought Robin WIliams was funny. Now George Carlin, theres a comedian.

[CarlosTheJackal]

Mr N , Finally after 12 games, something to really get into the dumps over.

What I like is that we made a game of it after being down 15, no body quite, only a few moments of lost composure. Nice, if not ultimately successful, comeback, even on a night when the 3 was not falling consitently.

Sean kept drawing up plays, and our guys wanted to win.

I'm surprised there is no Fire Miller thread, ironic or otherwise, no one has exactly said "choke" -- yet -- and I havent seen a "good loss" thread yet. Perhaps I need to go back and look closer.

Overall, a push on losing composure vs. staying the course. The team is 24-5, the board about 17-12 for the season. Board SOS about 150 (obsession with Dayton still pulling us down), RPI (Ratings Posting Index) in the 50s, clearly on the bubble.

[xuhuh!]

Mr N , Finally after 12 games, something to really get into the dumps over.

What I like is that we made a game of it after being down 15, no body quite, only a few moments of lost composure. Nice, if not ultimately successful, comeback, even on a night when the 3 was not falling consitently.

Sean kept drawing up plays, and our guys wanted to win.

I'm surprised there is no Fire Miller thread, ironic or otherwise, no one has exactly said "choke" -- yet -- and I havent seen a "good loss" thread yet. Perhaps I need to go back and look closer.

Overall, a push on losing composure vs. staying the course. The team is 24-5, the board about 17-12 for the season.

i felt better after hearing sean put things in post game perspective, especially the way he dislikes poor perfomance and L's..the emotional level of the 2 teams was a bit skewed..................NOW to start a new streak!

[Mr. Neutral]

Carlos, my concern is that you're supposed to be playing your best ball in March, and we played our best ball in January. I just don't like the way the team is trending. It could change, of course.