ST JOHNS GAME THREAD

[Michigan Musketeer]

Even Elite programs struggle at some point but (4)Yrs of the same results calls for a change hopefully with a coach with head coaching experience. I guess for some making the NIT in Yr 2 is good enough.I just don’t see things changing must the rest of the season. Will beating Georgetown twice be enough?

[joeabe]

Its almost scarry how this team repeats its previous performances. With that in mind I placed a small wager getting 3 points with the Johnnies in the first half. Also, took the Johnnies with 6.5points for the game. The line opened at X-8.5 but was bet down to -6.5 at the tip. All the money was bet on the Johnnies. The bookies believe Xavier is much better than they are playing as they have been favored in many games which surprises me and I'm sure you all? I certainly was pulling for a X victory just did not think they could beat the spreads.
Regarding the game....Looked to me like St Johns fast play sapped all our energy. Right before the end of the first half we looked as though we quit playing D?? This lack of energy continued the entire second half. Don't know if it is attitude or conditioning or even a combo? Did not like our effort last night. Also, I don't see team speed.....we were getting blown away on fast breaks. Too slow defending in the half court....sad how we struggle from 3.
Good news, heading to Tuscaloosa to see our Muskies take on Bama this weekend!! its only been since 1970 my absence from X baseball.

[longliveskip]

Its almost scarry how this team repeats its previous performances. With that in mind I placed a small wager getting 3 points with the Johnnies in the first half. Also, took the Johnnies with 6.5points for the game. The line opened at X-8.5 but was bet down to -6.5 at the tip. All the money was bet on the Johnnies. The bookies believe Xavier is much better than they are playing as they have been favored in many games which surprises me and I'm sure you all? I certainly was pulling for a X victory just did not think they could beat the spreads.
Regarding the game....Looked to me like St Johns fast play sapped all our energy. Right before the end of the first half we looked as though we quit playing D?? This lack of energy continued the entire second half. Don't know if it is attitude or conditioning or even a combo? Did not like our effort last night. Also, I don't see team speed.....we were getting blown away on fast breaks. Too slow defending in the half court....sad how we struggle from 3.
Good news, heading to Tuscaloosa to see our Muskies take on Bama this weekend!! its only been since 1970 my absence from X baseball.

this should read "the entire first half after we got up 6-2"

the lack of energy part was the entire first half and then again after we got up 57-56.

[thecoach]

The one thing I find interesting on this team given Steele has been coaching long enough to not use the new head coach excuse is that Nunge the transfer seems to be the best player. Fortunate this year he has stayed healthy, and without him my guess is the coach's job security would be severely tested. That said, with the recruits he's gotten, it's kind of ironic he's been their brightest light. However, ZF has(if he's healthy) take a step back from what i've watched. It doesn't really look physical to me either. He seems less engaged than his first couple years aka more of a mental thing. I wonder if having Nunge do well at the 5 has somewhat gotten into ZF head and or his perception of his role. The way this team shoots they need both of them on many nights.

[Xavier2005]

You mentioned the recruits coming next year. If X falls flat and does not make the Dance. X might see some or all the recruits choose to go elsewhere. They do not have to come, they can change their mind.

[bluegrass]

I've seen it brought up elsewhere that Xavier rarely has the best player on the court. We have a lot of good players but no marquee guy. No one like Crawford or Holloway or Blueitt who can hit a big shot.Last night starting around the 11 minute mark we had numerous possessions with wide open looks and didn't hit any. It's been a constant issue with this team since Steele took over.

[SC in DC]

Steele's four years---Wash, Rinse and Repeat!

[joeabe]

The one thing I find interesting on this team given Steele has been coaching long enough to not use the new head coach excuse is that Nunge the transfer seems to be the best player. Fortunate this year he has stayed healthy, and without him my guess is the coach's job security would be severely tested. That said, with the recruits he's gotten, it's kind of ironic he's been their brightest light. However, ZF has(if he's healthy) take a step back from what i've watched. It doesn't really look physical to me either. He seems less engaged than his first couple years aka more of a mental thing. I wonder if having Nunge do well at the 5 has somewhat gotten into ZF head and or his perception of his role. The way this team shoots they need both of them on many nights.

I agree with your opinion on ZF, he seems disengaged. Not certain why? Nunge's success has bothered him I believe. But u are correct it would be nice having both firing away together.

[kyzrex]

You mentioned the recruits coming next year. If X falls flat and does not make the Dance. X might see some or all the recruits choose to go elsewhere. They do not have to come, they can change their mind.

If a new coach comes in it would be up to him to re-recruit the players. That happens quite often. He might not get all 3 to recommit, but he also might be able to bring some other players too. In any case, the potential of the recruits is no reason in my mind to base the decision on. You’d have to consider that potential verses the actuality of the coaching situation.

[xavier71]

I don't post very often, and when I do it's usually the next day so I won't let emotions run wild. While driving home from the game I listened to TS describe how good St. John's were. They're big, they're athletic, they're fast, they shoot well, they defend and on and on and on. If you didn't know he was talking about St. John's, someone might have thought he was describing Gonzaga. Note to Travis: They've lost 11 games, their below 500 in league play, this was a must win, your team was not ready to play and that's on you. Right before the season started, a friend who is very, very close to the program described the team this way, "we are loaded, we have no excuse this year".

I doubt you're going to get a coaching change until his contract runs out. I have to smile, just a little, when I think back to the posts I sent right after he was hired saying it was the wrong move, and how I was bombarded by people saying how the next man up philosophy had worked in the past. My answer was always that it might have worked in lesser conferences, but this is the Big East. There is not time for on the job training for a 9 year assistant coach.