No worries, we’ll break out the Delaware Blue Hens alternate jerseys.Not sure Xavier will swap uniforms w Fordham though
Xavier, Wed., Dec. 20, 7p, FS1
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
I would like that, means Vegas values us a little. Thinking 1.5. I didn't see the earlier post about the spread just took a guess.
I don't gamble but I am always amazed at how the gamblers and bookies are in the know. How do they gather and analyze all the data.
Matchup predictor is higher on us. 67.5% chance of victory, as of now.
Xavier is an extremely young team. They have 6 freshmen and several sophomores, including their second leading scorer.
They don’t have a lot of size, but I did really like their North Texas transfer center last year. He’s very solid but not spectacular. We should be able to destroy them on the offensive glass. That is where this game will be won.
I watched them play Houston and they looked extremely well coached. They manufactured a lot of baskets with good ball movement and motion.
League play is here so our hero ball has to stop and we need to manufacture some looks for our best shooters and make the extra pass.
They don’t have a lot of size, but I did really like their North Texas transfer center last year. He’s very solid but not spectacular. We should be able to destroy them on the offensive glass. That is where this game will be won.
I watched them play Houston and they looked extremely well coached. They manufactured a lot of baskets with good ball movement and motion.
League play is here so our hero ball has to stop and we need to manufacture some looks for our best shooters and make the extra pass.
SJUDave
Well-known member
my guess is SJU opens as a -2.5 favorite. It'll be a sell out. And it's a game SJU really needs to win considering you have UConn following and Xavier is down their two best players. Miller is a hell of a coach and will have his guys ready, Rick will have to do the same. 1-0 in conference play is a huge confidence boost, build on the Fordham drubbing and then survive through Hofstra.
Will also add…need to get their lone big man in foul trouble early. He’s had 4 PFs basically every game and they don’t have a decent backup. He fouled out in 10 minutes against Purdue.
Feed Soriano. Let Taylor, Dingle, and Ledlum take it at him.
This should be a Ledlum top 3 game of the season here. Zuby should be on high alert too.
Feed Soriano. Let Taylor, Dingle, and Ledlum take it at him.
This should be a Ledlum top 3 game of the season here. Zuby should be on high alert too.
Agree. Would also expect to see a lot of Alleyne guarding Olivari.
carmineabbatiello
Well-known member
'Jenkins is the most important player for St. Johns. Soriano is their best player but Jenkins is there most important.' 'Jenkins is their team leader and like another coach on the floor.' 'Pitino asks for a lot from Jenkins, and he embraces that role.' - TT
IMO the Xavier, Providence, Butler and Nova games are swing games for SJU.
Against Marquette, U Conn and Creighton if they win 2 it will be impressive. Steal 1 is most likely outcome.
At the other end they can't drop games to Georgetown or DePaul, that has to be 4 wins. Seton Hall should also be 2 wins but if it's 1 and you steal an extra against the top of the league, it's a wash.
The remaining 4 matchups, starting with X are ones where you have to (a) hold serve in your home games and (b) find a win someplace on the road - with X being your most likely sweep this year.
Do all that, stay a bit above.500 in the league, hope for a little chaos elsewhere, and you can be a bubble team.
OTOH if they lose to X at home it could get late a lot earlier than we would like. And RP is entirely correct about Miller's coaching competence, which is off the charts. He will absolutely exploit the weaknesses that are evident on tape. Let's see if we can adjust and match that. Showtime.
Against Marquette, U Conn and Creighton if they win 2 it will be impressive. Steal 1 is most likely outcome.
At the other end they can't drop games to Georgetown or DePaul, that has to be 4 wins. Seton Hall should also be 2 wins but if it's 1 and you steal an extra against the top of the league, it's a wash.
The remaining 4 matchups, starting with X are ones where you have to (a) hold serve in your home games and (b) find a win someplace on the road - with X being your most likely sweep this year.
Do all that, stay a bit above.500 in the league, hope for a little chaos elsewhere, and you can be a bubble team.
OTOH if they lose to X at home it could get late a lot earlier than we would like. And RP is entirely correct about Miller's coaching competence, which is off the charts. He will absolutely exploit the weaknesses that are evident on tape. Let's see if we can adjust and match that. Showtime.
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Hah. Delaware would have given us a game yesterday. They are a very decent team.
Ok, then we can get Max Hooper and the real Larry Wright to send us some Oakland jerseys.
The bottom line is that this team needs to take a big step forward on Wednesday. I don’t want to hear about getting RJ Luis back either. We can’t count on that. You play with the guys you have. Dingle has to be more aggressive looking for his shot and both him and Jenkins need to play more downhill and attack the rim more and draw fouls on the opponents big men. Especially in this game where Xavier is not deep in the front court.
RedStormRising
Well-known member
No game at this point of the season is a must win, but at home against a young team who figures to be at the bottom half of the league is as close as it gets. This is could be the soft landing we need as we enter Big East play.
Jenkins is Tarik Turner with no conscience. Turner shot 34.8% from three for his career and only took 1.5 treys a game.
If we can get Jenkins to shoot as little as Turner did, we can win.
carmineabbatiello
Well-known member
My memory is not so great so please provide me with the date that Tarik was leading the big east in assists and steals and the season in which he was St. Johns second best player.
Redenbacher
Well-known member
Yes, Xavier is playing without 2 of their starters. I don’t want to hear about Luis either.
Since the new Big East formed, I feel like it always gets late early for us, seriously what is our best start in conference play since reformation? I feel like nearly every season we are 0-4, 1-5 in Big east play and have to climb out of a hole.
Hopefully it doesn't happen this year. This is a huge game
Well, hello Lazarus.