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Post by wtm97 on Jan 23, 2014 6:03:46 GMT -5
Men's Basketball Team Has Won 10 Of Its Last 11 Games
XU Heads To Providence For Saturday Showdown With Friars Jan. 22, 2014
Xavier University Musketeers (15-4, 5-1 BIG EAST) vs. Providence College Friars (14-5, 4-2 BIG EAST) Sat., Jan. 25, 2014 at 12 p.m. ET Dunkin' Donuts Center (12,400) in Providence, R.I.
The X factors...IN 140 CHARACTERS OR LESS
• Xavier, 15-4 overall and 5-1 in the BIG EAST, has won 10 of its last 11 games, including an 84-74 win at DePaul this past Monday.
• Xavier is 24th in the latest Official NCAA RPI Rankings (1-20-14); Providence is 48th.
• Xavier has all five starters averaging in double figures in scoring in BIG EAST play.
• Xavier is scoring 81.3 ppg. in BIG EAST play, shooting 50.5% FG and 76.9% FT.
• Xavier is first in the BIG EAST in rebound margin at +7.0 rpg. and has outrebounded 14 opponents, including the last 9.
• Xavier jr. Dee Davis is 2nd in the BIG EAST in assists at 4.6 apg. and soph. Semaj Christon is tied for 6th at 4.0 apg.
• Xavier sophomore All-America candidate Semaj Christon leads XU in scoring (6th in BE at 16.9 ppg.), incl. 24 ppg. over the last 5 games.
• Xavier's Semaj Christon has averaged 21.7 points, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals in BIG EAST play, while shooting 63.5% FG.
• Xavier`s Dee Davis had 17 points and 7 assists vs. Georgetown that earned him a spot on the five-member BIG EAST Honor Roll.
• Xavier junior Matt Stainbrook leads XU in rebounding (3rd in BIG EAST at 8.5 rpg.) and is second in scoring (10.8 ppg.).
• Xavier senior Isaiah Philmore has passed the 1,000 career point mark.
• Xavier soph. James Farr is tied for 2nd in the BIG EAST in field goal pct. (.570) and is 14th in rebounding (5.5 rpg.).
• Xavier junior Justin Martin has averaged 15.3 ppg. and 7.2 rpg. in BIG EAST play, ranking t-10th and 4th in the league.
• Xavier has made two NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances in addition to three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in the last 10 years.
• Xavier is one of 14 schools to make at least 7 NCAA Tournaments in the last 8 years.
• Xavier is first in the BIG EAST and ranked tied for 12th in the nation in the latest NCAA Graduation Success Rate at 97 percent.
• Xavier has graduated the last 91 men's basketball players that have played as seniors, including Isaiah Philmore and Erik Stenger.
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Post by wtm97 on Jan 24, 2014 9:22:18 GMT -5
Obviously one of the biggest games in recent times looms tomorrow. Not sure what the early line is but would not be surprised to see Xavier with the edge here. Hope to see a big crowd at the Dunk despite the 12 noon start and it sure would be nice to see STUDENTS in attendance...have to think this team believes in themselves and they will D it up to give Xavier some looks they have not seen. Meanwhile, holding serve (like Creighton - Butler), the X-Factor dudes have yet to see those dog sized rats at the Dunk so...
I say PC wins the game and this improbable iron-men adventure continues...(at least for now)
What say you?
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Post by friar71 on Jan 24, 2014 9:42:01 GMT -5
I think the safest way to bet on these games is on our own Friar Pick-Em. The PC/Nova,Creighton/PC and Creighton/Nova games this month tell you how crazy these games are.
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Post by dmac80 on Jan 24, 2014 9:44:38 GMT -5
I hope there is a huge and boisterous crowd at the Dunk. Cooley is calling on all fans to come out and make some noise.
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Post by cbeane51 on Jan 24, 2014 10:01:40 GMT -5
If they can keep Christon from going off they have a good shot. He would seem to be a very tough match-up; too quick for Fortune and too long for Cotton.
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Post by TheInfoMan on Jan 24, 2014 10:59:37 GMT -5
If they can keep Christon from going off they have a good shot. He would seem to be a very tough match-up; too quick for Fortune and too long for Cotton. True. Dunn would have been on him in a perfect world.
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Post by wtm97 on Jan 24, 2014 11:27:12 GMT -5
Have to say after the Creighton game was listening to Assistant Coach Brian Blaney break down the game prep for that contest. It was really impressive - and he was quick to point out the Friars executed the game prep plan to perfection. Even still, makes for some interesting speculation as to how they plan to handle Christon tomorrow - hey maybe they let him score but shut down others? Against Creighton it was 'tough two's NO threes"...
Point is the staff works hard on a PLAN...that alone is a major upgrade from PB&J days. Seems to me this team is listening and responding given our recent spate of success.
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mikemc
Friar Fanatic
Posts: 3,240
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Post by mikemc on Jan 24, 2014 12:17:45 GMT -5
I'll be at Muldowney's for 11:15 for a pre-game warmup..
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Post by thewalk on Jan 24, 2014 13:09:49 GMT -5
shoot 50% and outrebound by 7....impressive #s....this team reminds me of marquette over the last few years....good and tough...and historically a terrible match up for us...
hopefully this year's friars have different spots...hardest game of the 3 imo....
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Post by wtm97 on Jan 24, 2014 13:31:21 GMT -5
Well yes, in hindsight walk but if we don't win vs. Creighton/Butler this would simply be an isolated game win or lose. Going in, Creighton presented the major hurdle as they had won 10 straight by an AVERAGE of 19.2 ppg. Pregame Creighton, I witnessed die hard Friars moaning, expecting us to be dwarf-tossed as they could not see how...best for me was I did think we had a legit shot joking we should drop some dog-sized rats in the choirboys locker room before the game. Also said (with a straight face) that Creighton would probably move on and put it to Nova...my point is hardly to crow - it is just that this initial season of the new BE is filled with uncertainty and opportunity. Look at all the close and OT games that have been played...last night was another with SJU/Hall going right down to the wire. Right now, I agree Xavier presents the biggest hurdle match-up wise for our team of improbables. We have to be up and on once again executing the staff's game plan and do it very well. Turn it around and ask this question - how do they deal with the Friars, also a team with starters approaching double figures many nights? How do they handle a Cotton? In any event it sure is nice to have this chance and to be playing meaningful basketball on January 25 - even if it has to be at 12 noon. And there is more - read this: Weekend Homework: Friars big for Big East
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Post by thewalk on Jan 24, 2014 13:57:50 GMT -5
i think xavier is a tougher team than creighton (not better) and we also got creighton at the perfect time with an eye on Nova.....i actually don't think mcdermott minded losing the game...he emptied the bench with 2:37 and then realized about a minute later the friars we're trying to give it back...and clearly had their full attention for monday night...
Xavier's history with cincy tells us they'll be ready for a fight...a chance for first in the league..Mack's been on their for basically week....with another upcoming week off...the last thing they want is to have to deal with their coach for an entire week after losing a noon game in friartown...
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Post by pc1971 on Jan 24, 2014 15:21:04 GMT -5
Walk---I do not recall you posting here before the game that PC was going to beat Creighton on 1/18/14 and/or that Xavier would be the toughest of the upcoming three games.Hindsight or foresight?
Xavier is a very good team. No doubt about it.PC could very well lose tomorrow. But-- they could very easily win also.Why do you think they are tougher than Creighton?Did not the Jays handle them pretty easily [double digit win] in their head-to-head?
Going into this three game stretch---in terms of toughest of the three games for PC to win [from toughest to least tough] I would have gone Creighton, Xavier, Butler.
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pcdad
Friar Fanatic
Posts: 3,707
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Post by pcdad on Jan 24, 2014 17:02:17 GMT -5
agree
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Post by thewalk on Jan 24, 2014 18:04:35 GMT -5
Walk---I do not recall you posting here before the game that PC was going to beat Creighton on 1/18/14 and/or that Xavier would be the toughest of the upcoming three games.Hindsight or foresight?...don't believe i was asked...did i think PC was going to beat Creighton?....i'm not sure...guess i was pleasantly surprised...home upsets happen all the time in college hoops....plus we caught them 2 days before nova...it's only natural that they'd be looking ahead...i will be shocked if we're inside 20pts at creighton.
Xavier is a very good team. No doubt about it.PC could very well lose tomorrow. But-- they could very easily win also.Why do you think they are tougher than Creighton?...a basketball question. I love it....1) mentoned above - we got creighton at the best time. No such luck tomorrow...2) Creighton's best scorers are forwards where we have a couple options and ours can score so they have to play D....Also, X is a better rebounding team and more athletic...plus i think mack is a fantastic coach...and as mentioned above - not someone i'd want to deal with for an entire week after a loss...
Did not the Jays handle them pretty easily [double digit win] in their head-to-head? NO - they won by 6 at creighton. I think X wins at home (assuming they have the same team)....
Going into this three game stretch---in terms of toughest of the three games for PC to win [from toughest to least tough] I would have gone Creighton, Xavier, Butler....did you post this beforehand?
Now 71 - put away the "i told you so" post if we win. i am not rooting for the friars to lose unless it helps uconns rpi. it happens all the time in college basketball.
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Post by wtm97 on Jan 24, 2014 18:55:58 GMT -5
At today’s pre-Providence press conference, Chris Mack arrived with his very own Bobblehead figure, which he propped up on the table next to him. The Bobbleheads will be distributed to the first 3,000 fans at the Feb. 19 game vs. DePaul at Cintas Center. Mack asked all questions be directed to himself and not the Bobblehead. Here is the official transcript from that part of the interview. Is it like looking in a mirror? CM: I think they did an excellent job with the biceps. The hair, I think the color’s a little bit different. Other than that, it’s spot on. Looks like a nice Ivan Drago flattop going…: CM: That was really popular in the late ’80s, early ’90s. This is more popular today, in 2014, the look I have now. Do you plan to have a fleet of Chris Mack bobbleheads in your office or anywhere on display? CM: They’re mandatory for each room of the house. I make my kids go to school with them. They’re awesome. I think 3,000 is not enough. We need a lot more than that.
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