Couldn't watch this anymore....

[wkrq59]

I could chorttle and say "Ye of little faith," but several things are noteworthy.
1)Every single member of this board (trolls excluded) is a Xavier fan who can not stand the idea of the Musketeers losing and thus looks for any reason why they are losing and does become extremely frustrated.
2)This is the NCAA tournament. It is completely different from the regular season and the Atlantic 10 Tournament. This is the biggest deal for every player on that team, especially the seniors.
3)Some great things about today:
*Dante Jackson, the freshman with ice water in his veins and guts galore.he was not afraid to take that three off the feed from Stan, a three that gave X its first and last lead of the second half. If he misses he's the goat. If he makes it he's the hero. AND HE'S LOVED EITHER WAY. He got the game-winning goal.
*JoshvDuncan. Let's everyone take back anything we said bad about him, ever;. especially when he missed those free throws in the first half. He got rid of that big white stiff Bliss, who should have been teed out of the game in the first half and surely early in the second.
*Cj didn't let a bad half get to him. The harder they hit him the more he came back harder.
*BJ wanting it so bad did everything he could, including hit the three and late in the game put one back after Josh got molested.
*Derrick Brown.Today I think he became a complete player at both ends of the floor, scoring, rebounding and yes, defending.
*There isn't too much you can say that justly praises Stanley and Drew. When he had to drive Drew was fearless and often suffered for it. Stanley worked so damned hard and so emotionally that he needed a break and Dante didn't let him down. I think Gaines was surprised as hell when Dante facilitated that steal.
*Finally, Xavier kept its poise despite the fact that most of the Georgia team should have fouled out in the first half. A lesser team, a lesser Xavier team might have panicked and not come back from that 11-point deficit. But like the St. Joseph's game at Cintas, Xavier has been to the well, been down and come back.
It would be very normal to lambast Mr. Neutral for his frustration, but how can you hammer someone who cares so damn much that he risks the scorn of everybody here? You can't and I won't.

[Mr. Neutral]

All good points, Q, and thanks for going easy on an excitable, worried fan like me. If the team would just get out to an early lead and hold it for the rest of the game, I'd live longer.

On the other hand, maybe these games are good cardiac workouts!

[wkrq59]

Gary, you ain't the only one with your aorta in your nasal passages. Yikes. Maybe, just maybe this will toughen 'em up even more and be a spur for the much tougher games ahead. I figure if Xavier can survive a physical beating like that and come back for a "W", they can do damn near anything. Also, I thought Sean called a helluva game. Gotta keep him.

[Filthy Chilean]

My emotions got the best of me today. Thank god my month old daughter slept through my cursing.

Keep the heart boys, this could be something special.

[Mr. Neutral]

If X has gotten its jitters out of its system, and if Raymond can start hitting shots again, this team can go places-and not home.

[Xman95]

Gary, I let my emotions get me a little too. Sometimes it's difficult to deal with a situation where you really want something to happen but have zero ability to make it happen. All we can do is sit and watch. Of course, as much as we wanted a "W," I'm sure the players wanted it even more. That may not have been evident in the first half - jitters, caught by surprise, playing the first game, whatever - but it was obvious in the second half. The way the team played defense and just had that attacking quality...WOW!

I actually didn't know what happened until about an hour after the game ended. I had to pick my son up from preschool and attend his Easter "party" so I left my house with about 10 minutes remaining. I was able to listen to a little on the radio on the way, but refused to listen to anything on the way home because I was recording that last part on TV. I got home, started in the tape, and watched it unfold as if it was happening live.

Josh came through in a big way and showed the kind of game we all know he's capable of playing. You know, Stan gets so much credit for adjusting his game and he deserves it. But I'm not sure we give Duncan his due. We all assumed that, with his body, he would be a great post player. But his game is more of a perimeter style. However, this year he has transformed into a tougher version, one that finally seems comfortable banging down low for rebounds, playing tough interior defense, attacking the rim on offense and willing to sacrifice his body for the good of the team. Just like Stan, I think Duncan has taken more charges this year than his other three combined.

How great will it be to watch Dante for three more years? He hasn't had a great year when you look just at numbers, but his development has been obvious and he clearly has the approach of a winner and a leader.

Well, it's late and I'm going to relax by watching the remainder of the WV/AZ game. I have a busy Friday so, if I don't post, I'll be back with everyone Saturday for Purdue.

[Gorilla '69]

Gary, I'll admit I thought you were giving up with your post, but early in the second half, I was thinking, "This is the worst loss I've ever experienced as an X fan". Thank God we were both wrong.

[Mr. Neutral]

And we avoided being THE story of the opening day. With no upsets to speak of, Duke's near-loss is the only game people are talking about this morning. If we had lost, THAT would have been the big story, and that's not the way this season should end for X.