Xavier Game

[SJU1512]

Two things on the game last night:

(1) We might have been -12 coming out of timeouts. Xavier got 4 layups/dunks inbounding underneath after a stoppage. We come out of a timeout with the ball underneath and - after the obligatory adventure just getting the ball inbounds - look like we need another timeout.

(Speaking of timeouts, the one Mack banged just before the 12 minute TV was masterful. We had just gotten it to 1 on a Jordan layup and the crowd was louder than it had been all game. He completely took the air out of the building, they came out of the TO and hit a 3, and we never got closer than 4 the rest of the way. Not waiting for the 12 minute TV to call one - and then getting the benefit of essentially a double TO with the 12 minute TV included to further deflate the Garden - was really strong coaching.)

(2) If we are going to maximize wins the rest of the season the single biggest issue facing this team is getting more production from Greene and Pointer's minutes. We are locked into 40-50 close to empty minutes from them lately and it's really hurting us. I feel for Lav here because there isn't an easy answer - we don't really have a true college small-forward on the roster. But we have to try something different, and it probably involves some variation of Branch and Sanchez. Those two are playing better than Greene and Pointer right now, and it's not particularly close.

Nice post. I thought to myself at least 10 times last night, "Mack's coaching is the difference right now." Is Xavier anywhere near as talented as we are? I don't think so.

We called a timeout I think with around 8 or 9 minutes left in the game and ended up with DLO heaving a 30 footer to try and beat the shot clock. How does that happen? What the heck is Lav saying during these timeouts that we stood around for 15 seconds with a shortened clock and settled for a shot way behind the NBA line? I don't know but credit Mack. A coach deserves that kind of praise when you know his team wants to play slow, and even though they were sloppy at times he had them playing at exactly the desired pace all game long. Really impressive job by him.

The DLo 30 footer out of the timeout was definitely the low last night strategically. That was incredible.

Great point on coaching last night. Lavin has been coaching his tail off the last month (both on the court and keeping this group together mentally after the slow start), but he got worked out by Mack last night. Xavier was dreadful offensively for the first 34 minutes of this game, but just look at the play-by-play and how many "Timeout ----->made shot by Xavier" sequences there were. The back to back dunk and layup by Reynolds and Stainbrook - when we were in zone! - under the 3 minute mark were really well drawn up plays too, and were backbreakers as we had just scored to get it to 4 both times.

But the players also didn't show up. Give Christon a lot of credit too - he broke us down off the dribble 3 straight possessions for layups/dunks when we got it close in the last few minutes. If we get stops on 1 or more of those possessions game could have gone a different way and he made it look easy.

Is it me or does Christon drive the lane a lot more than Jordan. I pin most if not all of it on our 'offense'. Jordan has all the physical abilities of Christon and drives honestly feel few and far between.

He definitely did last night. Overall I think Jordan's penetration has been a huge part of our resurgence. But teams know it's coming now, and Xavier was particularly geared up for it last night, really packing it in when Jordan had the ball in his hands. For his part Jordan has done a nice job adjusting to this: he's mixing in some really nice pull-up jumpers while still trying to attack and be aggressive.

So I'm with you that it's on the "offense" to counterbalance a team loading the paint against Jordan. Not just in terms of the sets we run but probably more importantly the personnel we have on the court. For example, when Dom is on the wing his man barely pays any attention to him.

By contrast we were really soft in the middle last night in terms of help D. 3 plays in a row down the stretch Christon got dribble pen, drew help off of a big, and dumped it off for an easy basket. There was little/no rotation from us after the initial help.

 

[SJUalum98]

Two things on the game last night:

(1) We might have been -12 coming out of timeouts. Xavier got 4 layups/dunks inbounding underneath after a stoppage. We come out of a timeout with the ball underneath and - after the obligatory adventure just getting the ball inbounds - look like we need another timeout.

(Speaking of timeouts, the one Mack banged just before the 12 minute TV was masterful. We had just gotten it to 1 on a Jordan layup and the crowd was louder than it had been all game. He completely took the air out of the building, they came out of the TO and hit a 3, and we never got closer than 4 the rest of the way. Not waiting for the 12 minute TV to call one - and then getting the benefit of essentially a double TO with the 12 minute TV included to further deflate the Garden - was really strong coaching.)

(2) If we are going to maximize wins the rest of the season the single biggest issue facing this team is getting more production from Greene and Pointer's minutes. We are locked into 40-50 close to empty minutes from them lately and it's really hurting us. I feel for Lav here because there isn't an easy answer - we don't really have a true college small-forward on the roster. But we have to try something different, and it probably involves some variation of Branch and Sanchez. Those two are playing better than Greene and Pointer right now, and it's not particularly close.

Nice post. I thought to myself at least 10 times last night, "Mack's coaching is the difference right now." Is Xavier anywhere near as talented as we are? I don't think so.

We called a timeout I think with around 8 or 9 minutes left in the game and ended up with DLO heaving a 30 footer to try and beat the shot clock. How does that happen? What the heck is Lav saying during these timeouts that we stood around for 15 seconds with a shortened clock and settled for a shot way behind the NBA line? I don't know but credit Mack. A coach deserves that kind of praise when you know his team wants to play slow, and even though they were sloppy at times he had them playing at exactly the desired pace all game long. Really impressive job by him.

The DLo 30 footer out of the timeout was definitely the low last night strategically. That was incredible.

Great point on coaching last night. Lavin has been coaching his tail off the last month (both on the court and keeping this group together mentally after the slow start), but he got worked out by Mack last night. Xavier was dreadful offensively for the first 34 minutes of this game, but just look at the play-by-play and how many "Timeout ----->made shot by Xavier" sequences there were. The back to back dunk and layup by Reynolds and Stainbrook - when we were in zone! - under the 3 minute mark were really well drawn up plays too, and were backbreakers as we had just scored to get it to 4 both times.

But the players also didn't show up. Give Christon a lot of credit too - he broke us down off the dribble 3 straight possessions for layups/dunks when we got it close in the last few minutes. If we get stops on 1 or more of those possessions game could have gone a different way and he made it look easy.

Is it me or does Christon drive the lane a lot more than Jordan. I pin most if not all of it on our 'offense'. Jordan has all the physical abilities of Christon and drives honestly feel few and far between.

Because Xavier has an offensive system. We don't.

They do a nice job of cutting their bigs into the lane. And when Christon plays off the ball, they (gasp), run plays for him. Sheed seems to only penetrate when he realizes no one else on the floor has a clue what to do. His spin move on Christon was brilliant.

We are a Pick & No Purpose team. People think it's a system because there's activity but nothing is really going on. This is not a motion offense because no one gets open. Maybe they think if they screen the other team to death, they'll get dizzy or something.

And how dare I forget Phil's alley oop to Dom.

 

[GardenCity62]

I had a dream last night that on next Sunday' senior send off SJU announced that Pointer, Greene and Branch all had accumulated enough credits to graduate. The entire coaching staff then took off to the Mid- West with scholarships in hand and promises of playing time for a few much needed offense minded Juco recruits.

 

[Moose]

I had a dream last night that on next Sunday' senior send off SJU announced that Pointer, Greene and Branch all had accumulated enough credits to graduate. The entire coaching staff then took off to the Mid- West with scholarships in hand and promises of playing time for a few much needed offense minded Juco recruits.

There are no JUCOs left really.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Two things on the game last night:

(1) We might have been -12 coming out of timeouts. Xavier got 4 layups/dunks inbounding underneath after a stoppage. We come out of a timeout with the ball underneath and - after the obligatory adventure just getting the ball inbounds - look like we need another timeout.

(Speaking of timeouts, the one Mack banged just before the 12 minute TV was masterful. We had just gotten it to 1 on a Jordan layup and the crowd was louder than it had been all game. He completely took the air out of the building, they came out of the TO and hit a 3, and we never got closer than 4 the rest of the way. Not waiting for the 12 minute TV to call one - and then getting the benefit of essentially a double TO with the 12 minute TV included to further deflate the Garden - was really strong coaching.)

(2) If we are going to maximize wins the rest of the season the single biggest issue facing this team is getting more production from Greene and Pointer's minutes. We are locked into 40-50 close to empty minutes from them lately and it's really hurting us. I feel for Lav here because there isn't an easy answer - we don't really have a true college small-forward on the roster. But we have to try something different, and it probably involves some variation of Branch and Sanchez. Those two are playing better than Greene and Pointer right now, and it's not particularly close.

Nice post. I thought to myself at least 10 times last night, "Mack's coaching is the difference right now." Is Xavier anywhere near as talented as we are? I don't think so.

We called a timeout I think with around 8 or 9 minutes left in the game and ended up with DLO heaving a 30 footer to try and beat the shot clock. How does that happen? What the heck is Lav saying during these timeouts that we stood around for 15 seconds with a shortened clock and settled for a shot way behind the NBA line? I don't know but credit Mack. A coach deserves that kind of praise when you know his team wants to play slow, and even though they were sloppy at times he had them playing at exactly the desired pace all game long. Really impressive job by him.

The DLo 30 footer out of the timeout was definitely the low last night strategically. That was incredible.

Great point on coaching last night. Lavin has been coaching his tail off the last month (both on the court and keeping this group together mentally after the slow start), but he got worked out by Mack last night. Xavier was dreadful offensively for the first 34 minutes of this game, but just look at the play-by-play and how many "Timeout ----->made shot by Xavier" sequences there were. The back to back dunk and layup by Reynolds and Stainbrook - when we were in zone! - under the 3 minute mark were really well drawn up plays too, and were backbreakers as we had just scored to get it to 4 both times.

But the players also didn't show up. Give Christon a lot of credit too - he broke us down off the dribble 3 straight possessions for layups/dunks when we got it close in the last few minutes. If we get stops on 1 or more of those possessions game could have gone a different way and he made it look easy.

Is it me or does Christon drive the lane a lot more than Jordan. I pin most if not all of it on our 'offense'. Jordan has all the physical abilities of Christon and drives honestly feel few and far between.

One of our big problems is that our guards are not good at using pics. And our offense is built up around ball screens. Makes sense right?? Finally at one point last night, about 35 minutes into the game, Jamal Branch told the big man to get away so he could go at his defender alone. The result was a bucket.

 

[SJUISBACK]

Bottom line: This team, in its 3rd year, is a complete and utter disappointment and failure to have to settle for an NIT berth.

This season, from the Europe trip to September claims of gelling come February, has been a joke.

I'm sick and tired of the "wait til next year" speeches.

NIT = complete failure

I`ll wait till the end of the year to claim failure
They don`t look like a ncaa team, but i`ll wait and see.

 

[ct_redstorm]

Honestly I don't understand how quick this fan base can turn on a team. We lose to a top 10 team by three on the road and then lose to Xavier which is obviously disappointing but suddenly we don't look like an NCAA team at all!? This was a very, very dangerous game for us given the circumstances. With everything that has gone on around this team in the past week we didn't have 1 practice to fully prepare for Xavier. Rysheed didn't have ANY and he still put up 11 points, Orlando as well but it speaks to why our offense and defense looked unprepared last night and to me looked out of character compared to our recent play. To me it looked like our worst game of the year but I understood the circumstances as well. To write this team off completely is just pathetic to me. I believe they will win these two games and make some noise in the BET as well.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

Agreed. I hope and think we have a chance to go to and even win the final in the BET, why not.

Having said that, we can't give up so many dunks, geeze.

 

[SJU14]

The overreaction by many fans here is crazy. We win 9 out of 10 and everybody gets back on the wagon saying that this team is finally at it's potential. Then we lose two games (one to a top 10 team on the road by 3 and then one to a similarly ranked team that seems to have our number) and everybody is saying how this team is terrible, not coached well, and the season is over. How about thinking what the team has been going through. For many of the games on the winning streak, we had a few days to a week to prepare. This time we had a quick turnaround with a few missing pieces in practice and the game plan wasn't put in correctly. You could tell this team knew how to stop our offense and Semaj Christon ripped apart our defense. The effort seemed to be a little light at the game as well. But then again, the effort from fans to go to a big game like this was also a little lackluster. Either way, this isn't the end to the season and shouldn't be the end to Lavin's tenure like many people are calling for. He might not be a great in-game coach but he has brought the talent here and that's a hell of a lot more than previous coaches have done. Just let the season play out before you start judging (UCONN '11). There's still a good chance we get 3rd/4th place in the BE which should get us in.

 

[Section3]

At the game tonight. Interesting.. I am less pissed watching live then watching on tv. Anybody see d angelo. Man.. he was complete no show tonight. Kid is so good at times and then in games like tonight he just cant deliver a high quality game. He couldn't shoot at all tonight. Gods gift.. 3 missed free throws and phil green cant shoot. Overall very disappointing game.

Got to credit Xavier's coach for his switching defense. Every move Harrison made he was doubled teamed. Stop Harrison and you beat the Johnnies.

Harrelson had plenty of open shots, I dont think he hit any. I was watching him in practice tonight before the game, he wasnt hitting those either and no one was in his face. He had a bad night. They should have sat him for 15 minutes and let him watch

I watched them warm up before start of 2nd half...they missed at least 8 in a row...nobody had it

 

[monte]

The overreaction by many fans here is crazy. We win 9 out of 10 and everybody gets back on the wagon saying that this team is finally at it's potential. Then we lose two games (one to a top 10 team on the road by 3 and then one to a similarly ranked team that seems to have our number) and everybody is saying how this team is terrible, not coached well, and the season is over. How about thinking what the team has been going through. For many of the games on the winning streak, we had a few days to a week to prepare. This time we had a quick turnaround with a few missing pieces in practice and the game plan wasn't put in correctly. You could tell this team knew how to stop our offense and Semaj Christon ripped apart our defense. The effort seemed to be a little light at the game as well. But then again, the effort from fans to go to a big game like this was also a little lackluster. Either way, this isn't the end to the season and shouldn't be the end to Lavin's tenure like many people are calling for. He might not be a great in-game coach but he has brought the talent here and that's a hell of a lot more than previous coaches have done. Just let the season play out before you start judging (UCONN '11). There's still a good chance we get 3rd/4th place in the BE which should get us in.

All of the previous coaches except for NR brought talent here. Even BM and MJ. I'd like a coach here who can bring in talent and make the tourny on a consistent basis. I don't think that's asking for to much. Time will tell if Lavin is that guy.

 

[stjohnnie75]

In the biggest game of the year, crowd is dead. I'm the only one in Section 120 opening my mouth. We played awful. Need Harrison to have a big 2nd half. Never took advantage of the big guy out.

The rest of us in Section 120 enjoyed your in-game commentary.