Xavier (MSG), Wed., Jan. 22 , 7p, FS-1
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
I guess that means he is out. Did Pitino say he was out for the Seton Hall game or was less explicit. Hopefully this doesn't drag on.
The only reason I'm slightly more optimistic than not is that we are a huge matchup nightmare with them. They average the second to last amount of blocks per game, and we dominated them in the paint. If we're also hitting threes, it will be really tough for them.
Xavier's resume is right on the borderline. Outside of losing big to Michigan, their resume is very similar to ours. Their Big East schedule thus far will be ours in February, which is why I found all of these games super important. Their losses are: @UConn by five, vs. Marquette by two, @Georgetown by six, and vs. STJ by 10.
They beat Nova, Marquette, and have STJ/UConn/Creighton as their next three games. They probably know they need to somehow go 2-1 to set themselves up for a big run in February to be on the right side of the bubble.
Biggest part of losing Smith is him setting tempo at both ends of court. That said, this is a confident, physical bunch. Kadary got off early recently setting the stage for success and hope he can do that again. RJ, Zuby & a bouncing back Scott are also pieces Xavier will find challenging. Let’s grab this one and continue our January roll.
It’s possible he might have injured it again in practice .
Playing a injured player before healing isn’t good Medically and when does a Coach let a player overrule him on such a situation .
I may be wrong but , hasn’t Smith had shoulder problems previously in his career ?
I thought he needed some sort of surgery this past off season ?
We have Snow in Charleston and Hilton Head . Only 2 nd time in last 15 years that’s happened .
About 5 inches . Nothing by NY standards but , here it’s a big deal . Why? No plows , no Salt trucks ,
Lots of black ice too . No traffic .
We definitely can win but the games without Smith are slower even the portion of the Georgia game where he was benched and Seton Hall where he was hurt. Have to tough it out.
I think a win tonight is a statement that we are truly in the top tier of the league and won't lose these kinds of matchups. It is not a gimme, but really good teams win these games, especially at home, and I think we will. Would be a huge win for X on the road.
Queens_Ball
Well-known member
Put me in the camp of being nervous but cautiously optimistic about this game. Xavier is coming off a good win with a few in a row now, they know they’re approaching bubble territory & another road game against a ranked team is a massive opportunity for them (it is weirdly flattering that St. John’s has become an opportunity for a big, resume win) Miller is going to have them focused & hungry.
We’re down Smith & if we’re being honest the team has been getting their butts kissed in the media all week (first time in a bit) with the win streak and now the ranking. Feels like this game provides a good opportunity to demonstrate the Pitino effect. Keeping them focused, on track & winning this game would be Exhibit A of the difference between Pitino & some of the other coaches over the past few decades. Pitino isn’t happy with having a great month that can propel you into the tournament. He’s looking for a great SEASON that builds.
We’re down Smith & if we’re being honest the team has been getting their butts kissed in the media all week (first time in a bit) with the win streak and now the ranking. Feels like this game provides a good opportunity to demonstrate the Pitino effect. Keeping them focused, on track & winning this game would be Exhibit A of the difference between Pitino & some of the other coaches over the past few decades. Pitino isn’t happy with having a great month that can propel you into the tournament. He’s looking for a great SEASON that builds.
Agree. I was told an hour before the Seton Hall game that it was likely we would not see Smith until Georgetown. So, who knows.Yeah, out is the word, but same guy I heard from was wrong last week on Smith’s status. Don’t shoot me please.
yup I'm not coming out of our house for 2 days
My take: if Wilcher, Kadary and RJ can limit over dribbling, and staying out of traffic we will win this game. They all have a tendency of driving into traffic for no reason.
Make the extra pass instead and we win.
Zuby will be big this game and Aaron is rounding into form. X can't stop those two.
Make the extra pass instead and we win.
Zuby will be big this game and Aaron is rounding into form. X can't stop those two.
Goose
Member
Can't afford another slow start at home like we had in the G'Town game. X won't let us get back in it the same way G'Town did.
Definitely not a "must win" or "can't lose," but nonetheless an important game if we want to keep the momentum going (i.e., staying in T25, getting back pages and eyeballs, etc)
Definitely not a "must win" or "can't lose," but nonetheless an important game if we want to keep the momentum going (i.e., staying in T25, getting back pages and eyeballs, etc)
We're the Q1 opportunity. They're only Q2!Perhaps Xavier is looking past us to their big game at home vs. Pukon on Saturday night. We can hope.
SJUWillRockNYC
Well-known member
DEFENSE!!! DEFENSE!!! DEFENSE!!!
Keep them in the low 50s and RJ & Zuby will ball out, our leaders.
Looking for Wilcher to know and not hope that he's going to get his tonight, just gotta make it happen.
SJUWillRockNYC
Well-known member
Some how I forgot Scott, we got the pieces to get this game, it's all about our defense baby!!!!!