I'd be very careful about under estimating Xavier. They are very very good at home. This is the 14th season at the Cintas Center and their record in the building is 181-25 for an 88% winning percentage. The place holds over 10,000 fans and the game will be sold out. (there are less than 50 tickets left as of today) Even in a down year last year at 17-14, 9-7 A10 they beat Butler, Temple, LaSalle, Memphis and St.Louis.
Xavier game
- Thread starter tom in salem
- Start date
NYCRedmen
Well-known member
Excellent point. If we can pull out the victory it's going to be a street fight type of game, probably decided in the final minute. Of course if we come out of the gate slow, as has been the case too many times this year, we will be in for a long day. Free throws may be the X factor (no pun intended) in this game. Good thing is that Xavier is also not a great free throw shooting team.
Yeah very impressive that 181-25 record, and a very hostile crowd but so what. As freshmen 2 years ago our juniors played in Lexington, and Camerron. Also played in the yum.
It`s the same game as they always played since they were little kids, the only difference is the crowd.
You tune them out and it`s just another game.
Yeah you gotta respect them but don`t fear them either.
Lets this this game, and welcome Xavier into the B.E.
They are a top 15 program nationally the last 15 years. Before last year, they won an incredible 5 straight A-10 regular season championships. The A-10 is no slouch...most years it is as good or better than the Pac12 or SEC, and the top half of that league can play with anyone. They have made 13 NCAA tournament appearances in the last 16 years. They have advanced in the tournament five times since 2007, four trips to the Sweet 16, and one of those trips ending in the Elite 8. The had another Elite 8 trip in 2004. They also sellout most home games.
All three new schools are very solid programs whether or not they are fielding their best teams in recent years. Solid programs are never easy to beat.
They should use the crowd as a motivational factor. These people have never seen us play in person before. Let's show them what we've got.
We get up and down in a hurry as well. It is going to be a track meet! I believe we have more athletic ability and will be the victor. Of course that is only my opinion.
TRabinowitz
Member
Xavier was picked to finish 7th in this conference. If they finish around that projection and dont make the NCAAs im not sure if you can call this a "quality win" for the resume if we were to win it.
tom in salem
Well-known member
Marquette was picked first in that same poll.
5 point dogs.
This would be a nice win, best of the year.
Statement Game
We are underdogs for the next 3. Backs to our wall in a hostile environment. We have to come out swinging and maintain that effort from tip off to the final whistle.
I cant even focus at work. I am just waiting for 11:40 so I can leave and go watch the game. Go REDMEN!!!!!!!
We are underdogs for the next 3. Backs to our wall in a hostile environment. We have to come out swinging and maintain that effort from tip off to the final whistle.
I cant even focus at work. I am just waiting for 11:40 so I can leave and go watch the game. Go REDMEN!!!!!!!
This will be a very tough game. As Marillac said earlier, they are a proven program playing at home. I have no idea what to expect because I have no real feeling for this team. No consistency, very good at our best, very bad at our worst, too many stretches of lackluster intensity and unintelligent play. As much as I hate to say it, our lack of consistent shooting and rebounding do not give me a warm feeling going into conference play; athleticism will only take you so far. I think we will win some we maybe don't expect to and lose some we shouldn't. Very much hope I am wrong but I think this a .500 team in conference play. I think the X factors are Jordan and Sanchez; if they can stay on the court and gain some consistency I think we become a different team. From where I sit they are our best players, Harrison's ability to score notwithstanding.
beast of the east
Active member
This will not be an easy game to win, and I am 60/40 thinking we won't win. While they may be picked for 7th in conference, their crowd will be very loud and wanting to come away with their first win in a big time conference. This is a winnable game, and the type of game to win if we expect to be near the top of the conference. We have to sweep most of the bottom rung teams if there are expectations of 12 or 13 wins
Lawmanfan wrote: IMHO we need to win all three games to finish in the top 3 in the league and have a shot at the NCAAs. If we don't then we will need to win the conference tournament. I think that either of those (or both) is possible.
As per Steve Lavin:
“We open with as challenging a schedule as anyone has in the Big East,” Lavin said. “It will give us a chance to assess where things stand for us, where we are in our development.”
I am not sure I agree with the need to go 3-0 here. This is the beginning of the road not the end. While I would love for us to go 3-0 I believe we are still developing as a team. A loss or even two in this three game stretch is only a piece of the whole. How we play throughout the rest of conference play is just as important in February as in this opening stretch. Lavin believes we are a work in progress and I agree with this. We can finish high in the conference and get a bid without blasting out of the gate at 3-0. That being said 3-0 is great but the sky will not fall on the season if it does not happen.
As per Steve Lavin:
“We open with as challenging a schedule as anyone has in the Big East,” Lavin said. “It will give us a chance to assess where things stand for us, where we are in our development.”
I am not sure I agree with the need to go 3-0 here. This is the beginning of the road not the end. While I would love for us to go 3-0 I believe we are still developing as a team. A loss or even two in this three game stretch is only a piece of the whole. How we play throughout the rest of conference play is just as important in February as in this opening stretch. Lavin believes we are a work in progress and I agree with this. We can finish high in the conference and get a bid without blasting out of the gate at 3-0. That being said 3-0 is great but the sky will not fall on the season if it does not happen.