I respect Temple. They are the only A10 team we have a losing record against (8-10) since joining the conference. The atmosphere was the best I have seen in Cintas Center this year tonight. You could feel the energy. Also Dave Parker aka 'The Cobra' sat right behind me in section 207. I so badly wanted to tell him about the first Reds game I attended circa 1985. He hit a home run two rows behind us in the green seats in the first inning off of Mike Bielicki. One of my personal favorite moments in all the sporting events I have attended. But alas I wanted to leave him and his wife alone. They were there to watch CJ play.
Back to the game: BJ Raymond has scored 20 points + in our last four games. Has there been a better two guard in college basketball recently? He was 5-7 from three point land and scored in a variety of ways. He cashed in on a wonderful opportunity tonight in front of 22+ NBA scouts. He also guarded Dionte Christmas most of the night and we held him down fairly good as he ended up with 12 hard earned points. Brad Redford rediscovered his shooting touch going 4-7 from behind the line. His teammates were looking for him more tonight. Also DBrown had a solid overall game. Thirteen points and 8 boards. 'Big Lovely' was a perfect 6-6 from the field to contribute to a 83-74 victory. Jamel McLean needs mention as he scored five and recorded 6 rebounds in 10 minutes. Four of his six rebounds were of the elbows above the rim variety. X has a real chance to move up further in the rankings considering Wake Forest's recent struggles. However we have work to do in Pittsburgh Saturday night. My boy Dustin Dow stated recently that the Dukes wanted to play this game early in the afternoon. I bet they did. A real challenge as they have one of the most underrated players in all of college basketball in Aaron Jackson aka 'AJAX'.
This X team has reached 20 victories faster than any team in history of Xavier basketball. It is too bad the clowns on local sports talk radio aren't giving it as much play as they should. BUT who really cares. We know where to get our fix for X basketball. And it ain't 1530 homer. Maybe the producers will finally realize we want to talk sports and not worry about how we feel about television shows, just a thought.
Fran Dunphy (Temple head coach) mentioned earlier this week that Xavier is 'a team on a mission' and I am starting to feel the same way. The goal is a national championship my friends. How about those Muskies!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Yes The Bearcats Are Good
A few weeks ago I wasn't sure what to think of this Bearcats team. I'm still not totally sure but I do know a few things I didn't know then.
1. This team is tough. I'm not sure what happened but it seems like they all of a sudden realized what it takes to play in this league. They'll have to prove it against some VERY tough competition in the next few weeks for sure. I am willing to bet they win at least one they shouldn't.
2. Deonta Vaughn isn't just the leading scorer and best player. He is this teams leader. His toughness and determination is what makes this team better than it should be. His on court poise and his quotes in the media of late tell me he finally gets it.
3. If he keeps his mind on the game and concentrates Yancy Gates is as good as anyone in the Big East. What he lacks in experience he can make up for in talent. If he learns from Vaughn how to lead this team the skies the limit.
4. The Bearcats have an outside shot at meaningful post season play(I wont say it yet). With 5 of there losses coming against teams in the top 25 in both major polls. Six of 8 losses against teams in the top 30 in RPI(realtimerpi). The other 2 against #64. Two wins against teams that have spent time in the top 25 and the very real possibility that they finish with 19 or 20 wins in the top half of the Big East. A few planets may have to align just right but.......
One last thing. Its been exciting to be a Bearcat fan this year. I love being able to say that.
Regarding Nancy Z
I don't want to spend to much time or energy on the topic so here is my very quick take. I am not and have never been a fan of her or the way in which she held the basketball program hostage. She turned a national power into 2nd fiddle in its own city. She robbed the guys on the team at the time of the kind of experience they envisioned when they came to UC. She pissed off every fan of UC basketball and turned many away for good.
I am not one of those fans obviously and I actually think that those fans need to grow up or move on. He's not coming back. Ever. Never. Ever. She is leaving.
Now maybe you can come back and support a damn good basketball team.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monday Afternoon Delights
Overall a 'good news' afternoon for Xavier basketball:
- Announced (finally) a ten year home and home series with Wake Forest beginning next season. The long rumored series will be titled the 'Skip Prosser Classic' and rotate each season between Cincinnati and Winston Salem. Excellent deal for us and kudos (again) to 'Bobo' for getting it done. I couldn't think of a more fitting tribute for Prosser.
- X inched up to #9 in both rankings that come out this afternoon. It will be hard for the Muskies to climb much higher playing in the 'average' 10 of a conference that we do. BUT there is hope that UD (sitting just outside of the top 25) will string two wins together this week and join us in the national rankings. That would make our 2/11 game up north all the more interesting.
- ESPN reported that 'Tutu' Holloway did not practice today due to his ankle. The good news is that tests revealed no fracture. I believe Terrell will play Thursday and this is simply the staff giving him a rest and a chance to heal. Not sure if he is 100% and don't look for Sean to be completely accurate on his radio show tonight. In the spirit of gamesmanship he will be guarded in his response one would think.
- Also I would like to comment on the marketing departments idea for Thursday's night game. They are asking that we wear a white shirt if we sit in an odd numbered section and wear a blue if we park in an even section. I don't like it. The only way I will like it is if shirts (XL please) are given out at the door. We tried this a few years ago for the Temple game. Many might remember it: a day or so before the game John Chaney blamed southern Ohio for re-electing W. to a second term. It didn't go over well then what makes them think it will go over now? I admit it is a cool concept but come on. The X fans aren't interested in a 'white out', 'blue out', 'blue/white out' ad nauseum. A BLOW OUT will suit us just fine.
- Announced (finally) a ten year home and home series with Wake Forest beginning next season. The long rumored series will be titled the 'Skip Prosser Classic' and rotate each season between Cincinnati and Winston Salem. Excellent deal for us and kudos (again) to 'Bobo' for getting it done. I couldn't think of a more fitting tribute for Prosser.
- X inched up to #9 in both rankings that come out this afternoon. It will be hard for the Muskies to climb much higher playing in the 'average' 10 of a conference that we do. BUT there is hope that UD (sitting just outside of the top 25) will string two wins together this week and join us in the national rankings. That would make our 2/11 game up north all the more interesting.
- ESPN reported that 'Tutu' Holloway did not practice today due to his ankle. The good news is that tests revealed no fracture. I believe Terrell will play Thursday and this is simply the staff giving him a rest and a chance to heal. Not sure if he is 100% and don't look for Sean to be completely accurate on his radio show tonight. In the spirit of gamesmanship he will be guarded in his response one would think.
- Also I would like to comment on the marketing departments idea for Thursday's night game. They are asking that we wear a white shirt if we sit in an odd numbered section and wear a blue if we park in an even section. I don't like it. The only way I will like it is if shirts (XL please) are given out at the door. We tried this a few years ago for the Temple game. Many might remember it: a day or so before the game John Chaney blamed southern Ohio for re-electing W. to a second term. It didn't go over well then what makes them think it will go over now? I admit it is a cool concept but come on. The X fans aren't interested in a 'white out', 'blue out', 'blue/white out' ad nauseum. A BLOW OUT will suit us just fine.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Game Recap: UMASS
X escaped with victory Saturday afternoon at Cintas Center. The Minutemen kept it interesting all the way down to a final tip. 82-80 was the final with the trio of Anderson, Brown, and Raymond having 64 of those points for the Muskies. And we needed all of three of them to be on because we surrendered 23 turnovers that gave UMASS 36 points. Way TOO MANY turnovers. Unfortunately 'Tutu' hurt his ankle and we probably won't learn the full extent until Coach Miller's show on Monday night. We need the kid because he gives us a bonafide option at point guard for a good run in March. This is starting to feel like 'deja vu all over again' with the Lavender injury last year. Overall I thought Dante' played poorly and Redford has now gone three games without scoring.
UMASS is an enigma. They seem to play up to their level of comp. We were lucky that Tony Gaffney didn't hit a tip off Lowe's missed free throw at the end. Not sure we could have survived overtime with these guys. Overall if Gaffney would have brought his 'A' game this could be a different story. But it's not and the X men now sit at 19-2 overall and 7-0 in the A10.
Temple is coming to town Thursday night in what will be one tough matchup. They are very skilled and very long on the perimeter. X will need to take better care of the ball (duh!) to beat this team. They added a point guard named Fernandez at the winter break who compliments them very well. The Owls are well coached and remain in the top 50 of the RPI. A win on the road against the Musketeers would make them bubble worthy.
UMASS is an enigma. They seem to play up to their level of comp. We were lucky that Tony Gaffney didn't hit a tip off Lowe's missed free throw at the end. Not sure we could have survived overtime with these guys. Overall if Gaffney would have brought his 'A' game this could be a different story. But it's not and the X men now sit at 19-2 overall and 7-0 in the A10.
Temple is coming to town Thursday night in what will be one tough matchup. They are very skilled and very long on the perimeter. X will need to take better care of the ball (duh!) to beat this team. They added a point guard named Fernandez at the winter break who compliments them very well. The Owls are well coached and remain in the top 50 of the RPI. A win on the road against the Musketeers would make them bubble worthy.
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