Chief’s Briefs - Xavier Edition

[Chief00]

Good tough win with strong second half defense late. 27 Xavier to 14 UConn foul shots. Just another night in the Big East. It is embarassing.

Great shooting by Karaban (14), Spencer (19) and Newton (16). Tonight was small ball out of necessity and we have no Double Big rotation. Karaban, Newton and Spencer all made three 3’s. Diarra had two 3’s.

Johnson is hurting us playing so far away from the basket on both offense and defense. The result is often a foul. We only have one big, we need our lone Big in the paint where they are killing us posting up. We were outrebounded by double figures (12) and second chance points hurt.

Our last recruiting class wasn’t balance, not one true power Big Guy. We are paying for it with Donovan injuried. Danny threw up a zone look early in the second half because they were posting in the paint. I like Stewart and think we need him but he has to reduce mental errors such as not boxing Out on a foul shot.

The 50% foul shooting doesn’t cut it, especially on the road. Alex and Tristen were the only players who shot over 50% from the line.

Diarra is a candidate for 6th man award this year. It is amazing how he has improved his 3 ball and foul shooting. He helps us play uptempo, which we need to play without Donovan.

 

[TeasenDonut]

Stewart was impressive in his minutes at the 5. He uses his body better than Alex down low. Will be a really good depth piece as the season continues.

 

[Palatine]

We took a big powerful inside guy in our last recruiting class.

 

[GHSWolverines]

The pros
1. Well balanced scoring.
2. HD is a dawg!
3. Xavier for a good stretch did not know how to play against the small lineup.
4. Another win on the road.

The cons
1. Poor foul shooting
2. Samson needs to stay out of foul trouble. No need to defend by the 3 point line.
3. DC still out

 

[Chief00]

We took a big powerful inside guy in our last recruiting class.

Who was that? Are you talking 2 years ago with Donovan?

 

[todbo]

"The 50% foul shooting doesn’t cut it, especially on the road. Alex and Tristen were the only players who shot over 50% from the line."

Improve our team foul shooting today to 75% and the outcome would never have been in doubt.

 

[Chief00]

"The 50% foul shooting doesn’t cut it, especially on the road. Alex and Tristen were the only players who shot over 50% from the line."

Improve our team foul shooting today to 75% and the outcome would never have been in doubt.

I agree, and we start with the Commissioner Val Big East FT handicap of less foul shots, then we miss front end of 1 on 1’s. We need to be better in this area.

 

[Sibeerian]

Good points Chief. Cam was the man but Karaban the unsung hero mattresses when you get attached wanna sit here I’ve been sitting all night I have a tournament. I’m gonna get out of here with Samson on the bench due to foul trouble.

 

[BigFanCT]

Hit free throws please. Like WTF.

 

[Fan1978]

"The 50% foul shooting doesn’t cut it, especially on the road. Alex and Tristen were the only players who shot over 50% from the line."

Improve our team foul shooting today to 75% and the outcome would never have been in doubt.

The 4th foul on samson was invisible foul. There was not a foul and the phantom foul was certainly not on Johnson but the player closer to the basket. Meanwhile karaban looks like rocky balboa. Big east refs absolutely suck

 

[Chief00]

Good points Chief. Cam was the man but Karaban the unsung hero mattresses when you get attached wanna sit here I’ve been sitting all night I have a tournament. I’m gonna get out of here with Samson on the bench due to foul trouble.

I think I know what happened, after the game I gave up my seat for a couple at bar so they could sit together and my knee was stiff so wanted to loosen it up. They then said something about them having a tight back and needed a firmer mattress. Some fragments got in the post as I was editing with phone in my hand.

 

[MJKI]

What, no need for mattresses this time chief?
Just playing. Great write up as always

 

[RichZ]

"The 50% foul shooting doesn’t cut it, especially on the road. Alex and Tristen were the only players who shot over 50% from the line."

Improve our team foul shooting today to 75% and the outcome would never have been in doubt.

That would be a big 3point difference. Would still have been a close enough game to make me nervous.

 

[Sibeerian]

I think I know what happened, after the game I gave up my seat for a couple at bar so they could sit together and my knee was stiff so wanted to loosen it up. They then said something about them having a tight back and needed a firmer mattress. Some fragments got in the post as I was editing with phone in my hand.

Just having fun, that stuff happens!

 

[T-Squared]

When the Huskies needed mattresses in the 2nd half Diarra stepped up huge.

 

[alphasigko]

SJ looks lost out there... Hardly had any Rebounds or Points... It seems like his game has regressed and we played better without him on the floor. What was his +/-?

 

[caw]

"The 50% foul shooting doesn’t cut it, especially on the road. Alex and Tristen were the only players who shot over 50% from the line."

Improve our team foul shooting today to 75% and the outcome would never have been in doubt.

Hot take, players were making sure Hurley got another close game road win. Padding those stats for Coach. /jk

 

[bendm]

Who was that? Are you talking 2 years ago with Donovan?

singare was a 4* 7 footer he was the best big we could get.

 

[EnochRoot]

singare was a 4* 7 footer he was the best big we could get.

He seems awfully raw for a 4* recruit. But what the heck do I know.

 

[REB1094]

He seems awfully raw for a 4* recruit. But what the heck do I know.

247 has him as the #139 recruit. The 3 star players start at 142

He’s given some decent minutes this year and some not so decent minutes. Definitely not a bruiser big and will take some time to get up to speed as a BE center

 

[todbo]

That would be a big 3point difference. Would still have been a close enough game to make me nervous.

3 points is a full possession. We would have never trailed and I could have done without Xanax in the final moments.

 

[coachn]

This team plays with a lot of heart and grit. It will be great to get DC back. On the bench but seamingly not as engaged. Time to get him engaged again. No NC without DC.
Lot of motors on this team. Good statement win in BE.
Chief your the best.

 

[Khal Drogo]

singare was a 4* 7 footer he was the best big we could get.

I would say they’re looking to red shirt him

 

[Khal Drogo]

I would say they’re looking to red shirt him

He’s played in 10 games. Never would have guessed it. Not eligible .

 

[Excalibur]

SJ looks lost out there... Hardly had any Rebounds or Points... It seems like his game has regressed and we played better without him on the floor. What was his +/-?

He was fine the previous 3 games, minus the foul trouble. He’s not and never has been a good rebounder.

 

[Excalibur]

3 points is a full possession. We would have never trailed and I could have done without Xanax in the final moments.

It would have been more than a 3 point difference given the number of front ends we missed.

 

[Excalibur]

Good tough win with strong second half defense late. 27 Xavier to 14 UConn foul shots. Just another night in the Big East. It is embarassing.

Great shooting by Karaban (14), Spencer (19) and Newton (16). Tonight was small ball out of necessity and we have no Double Big rotation. Karaban, Newton and Spencer all made three 3’s. Diarra had two 3’s.

Johnson is hurting us playing so far away from the basket on both offense and defense. The result is often a foul. We only have one big, we need our lone Big in the paint where they are killing us posting up. We were outrebounded by double figures (12) and second chance points hurt.

Our last recruiting class wasn’t balance, not one true power Big Guy. We are paying for it with Donovan injuried. Danny threw up a zone look early in the second half because they were posting in the paint. I like Stewart and think we need him but he has to reduce mental errors such as not boxing Out on a foul shot.

The 50% foul shooting doesn’t cut it, especially on the road. Alex and Tristen were the only players who shot over 50% from the line.

Diarra is a candidate for 6th man award this year. It is amazing how he has improved his 3 ball and foul shooting. He helps us play uptempo, which we need to play without Donovan.

Johnson’s fouls are occurring at the rim or within 6 feet.

As for recruiting, I still think Hurley wanted a depth big in the portal but could find one who was interested.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

A few comments:

How is it possible that Xavier had three fouls fifteen minutes into second half? Granted they played a lot cleaner than they did in first half but in the first half they committed three fouls for every one that was called. In the second half it appeared that only our fouls would be called.

At least two of SJ's fouls were reach ins, after it was far too late to try to defend. At least in games DC is out he needs to use far better judgement.

I believe we missed four front ends (three in the first half), which in all candor should count as two misses. This absolutely needs to be cleaned up.

I loved that X had no answers for our five guard lineup (after Karaban took the elbow). This is a testament to our coaching staff and in all candor, any opponent who saw this is likely scared beyond description with what we'll be able to do with a healthy Clingan.

 

[Blue Idiaco]

the execution the last three minutes was terrible. 3-4 poor possessions that resulted in last second contested three point shots from perhaps worst shooter on floor or a turnover or a tough Newton miss. Triston plays like he did in November and Uconn is elite. Played like he did last night and close game against a mediocre team.

 

[Ricker]

As I whined about in May, June, July, August, and every month since, we chose to sit on our last scholly rather than recruit a 'physical' power depth player in the 6'8 to 6'10 range. A team has to have at least 4 players who can give you defense and rebounding in the lane without playing other players out of position, In the frontcourt, we have lost at least some time every year to injury or illness. Johnson last year, Akok, Sanogo missed games, etc. Missing games is inevitable, yet we roll out a team with championship dreams with only 3 bigs. Singare would have been a surprise to be impactful as a freshman, Clingan and Johnson were our only 'bigs'.and Johnson has an injury history. What could gone wrong? We have an excellent 'small ball' team, but that isn't going to get us #6. Gonzaga was doomed when Timme left the court, Miami, Florida Atlantic, and San Diego St advanced, but we owned them inside, and they needed more size to compete to win. OK, now I've whined in January too., to keep my streak going.