Matrim55
Why is it so hard To make it in America
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2013
- Messages
- 6,022
- Reaction Score
- 55,546
No. 1: We're better than I thought we would be. Obviously it's inconsistent, obviously the offense can disappear, obviously we leave points on the table with missed bunnies and, uh, let's call it "questionable" guard play. But if you'd offered me these kinds of games – legitimate dogfights against top 25 teams with experienced guards and true Big East big men – before the season, I'd have taken it.
Honestly I thought we were going to lose this one by 10. And at halftime I thought we were going to lose by 20.
We're not particularly smart* or talented, but we've become tough. Let's hope that lasts.
* I am worried that our lack of late-game smartness isn't solely coming from the kids. Some of Hurley's rotations and play calls are pretty, pretty bad. Pretty bad!
No. 2: Unless you're snagging top 50 recruits left and right, in the college game you are who your upperclassmen are. And our upperclassmen are four 3-star recruits (Carlton, Vital, Whaley, Polley) and a high 4-star who, for various reasons, has never been able to live up to his ranking.
Xavier's best players tonight were Scruggs (top 40 recruit), Marshall (top 60) and Jones (top 100).
We are at a talent deficit and an on-court knowhow deficit against good teams. It's just reality for this year, and I suspect we'll lose more of these games than we'll win because of it. It's frustrating, but that's life.
For now.
No. 3: I told y'all a year ago that Bouk was a 5-star recruit the services had underranked b/c of the injury he suffered as a junior – he just wasn't on the circuit as much so folks didn't get to see him.
He's going to be special on both ends.
Honestly I thought we were going to lose this one by 10. And at halftime I thought we were going to lose by 20.
We're not particularly smart* or talented, but we've become tough. Let's hope that lasts.
* I am worried that our lack of late-game smartness isn't solely coming from the kids. Some of Hurley's rotations and play calls are pretty, pretty bad. Pretty bad!
No. 2: Unless you're snagging top 50 recruits left and right, in the college game you are who your upperclassmen are. And our upperclassmen are four 3-star recruits (Carlton, Vital, Whaley, Polley) and a high 4-star who, for various reasons, has never been able to live up to his ranking.
Xavier's best players tonight were Scruggs (top 40 recruit), Marshall (top 60) and Jones (top 100).
We are at a talent deficit and an on-court knowhow deficit against good teams. It's just reality for this year, and I suspect we'll lose more of these games than we'll win because of it. It's frustrating, but that's life.
For now.
No. 3: I told y'all a year ago that Bouk was a 5-star recruit the services had underranked b/c of the injury he suffered as a junior – he just wasn't on the circuit as much so folks didn't get to see him.
He's going to be special on both ends.