Xavier Post Game Thread

[HCCForever]

Good to see Solo shooting well. Ross had great game. Smith did well with extended minutes. Reed with very nice game. I was impressed with Mullins looking to pass more. He also knocked one Xavier on his butt in the backcourt with aggressive pick. Not much to criticize.

 

[gsmooth]

Well done UConn. The bench was very effective and they need to bottle this up for future games. I look forward to Silas rebounding from today's performance.

 

[jdb50]

Won big with less than stellar Silas and Mullins games. Smith really brought the force tonight. Thank you Malichi! And Ross. Great effort tonight.

 

[Gutter King]

We got good games from our two X-factors:

Ross had the exact line you want from. Very nice game.
Ball had a good game particularily in the first 8min. Attacked the rim on the baseline, nailed a 3 and kept the ball moving. He did take two pretty bad threes, but overall did a lot and wasn't a huge liability on D.
Malachi had one wild rollercoaster of a game. He had 2 ast gift wrapped, but rifled the ball away...then had a nice drive and dump off. When he sees extended playing he manages to can a couple 3s.
AK had an AK game.
Tarris getting warmed up.
Riebe seemed to have horrible position on rebounds the entire game, the ones he did get were shaky as well. He needs to hold onto that ball on the PnR, it's there because the defense sleeps on it as Tarris is a complete diff big man.

Overall, could have done without the extended sloppy play out of the gates in the 2nd....but we just took an L at Marquette and we are in win and move on season.

 

[SportsFan88]

Ross really is that X-factor, he has been so solid all year but I’m seeing more confidence, more swag; his ability on the defensive side of the floor truly changes games

 

[Donyell 360]

All that potential for Ross that Dan Hurley talked about is really starting to come on strong. So inspiring to see his perseverance paying off big time. He adds an incredible dimension to us at exactly the right time of year and building wonderfully for next year. What an exciting set of skills and hustle. All in and leading by example.

Yes, exciting to see him finally develop. Having Stewart out doesn't hurt him with a few less minutes to share. He is making the most of it. Two knocks on his game: He still bites too often on head fakes on the perimeter. He hasn't got the confidence yet to drive the ball to he basket. He will put it on the floor and go by you but he wont' take it all the way to the rim unless there is a wide open lane. Next year!

 

[JustbrewitMan]

I've seen enough alley oop pass attempts this year that I'm ok with them never attempting another one. Even the wide open fastback ones somehow end up in the 3rd row

Yep, sad but true.

We probably run the worst fast breaks of any of the Top 10 teams.

We bungled another easy one late in the 2nd half of this game. Comical only because the game was out of reach.

 

[SportsFan88]

I've seen enough alley oop pass attempts this year that I'm ok with them never attempting another one. Even the wide open fastback ones somehow end up in the 3rd row

So that’s why Silas didn’t even attempt to toss one to Ross on his pull up 3 LOL

 

[EnochRoot]

How is Gus Johnson not even 60 yet but deteriorating at a rapid pace while Raftery is 82 but still sharp? Gus used to be one of my favorite play by play callers during his CBS era and has a long list of classic calls, but he is unlistenable now and turned into some zany cartoon character.

Raftery to a fault tolerated Johnson's zany antics tonight..But man, I've been watching him cover NCAA basketball since he retired from coaching Seton Hall back after the '81 season. He needs a quality play by play guy, but he's a really solid analyst / color guy.

SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!

 

[jorge34]

Mullins was better on defense. He’s still going to be overmatched at times due to his slight build, but it was more than acceptable. Not worried about his shot, it will come back around soon.

9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists 3 steals for Ross was tremendous.

Opening of the second half was putrid. Don’t think they can address the turnover issue, but they have to limit them.

The lapses in defensive effort can be addressed, and must. I think Hurley was making that point by who he pulled early in the second half.

Overall, encouraging

 

[slepers]

How is Gus Johnson not even 60 yet but deteriorating at a rapid pace while Raftery is 82 but still sharp? Gus used to be one of my favorite play by play callers during his CBS era and has a long list of classic calls, but he is unlistenable now and turned into some zany cartoon character.

We got to only post 17 before we discuss/trash announcers not sure if a record but……..

 

[Donyell 360]

I've seen enough alley oop pass attempts this year that I'm ok with them never attempting another one. Even the wide open fastback ones somehow end up in the 3rd row

It's true, they are not a great fast break team. They do it so rarely they are not polished.

 

[aceboon]

We got to only post 17 before we discuss/trash announcers not sure if a record but……..

You will be ok

 

[Dove]

We had 20 less free throws. Unsustainable.

 

[Donyell 360]

Mullins was better on defense. He’s still going to be overmatched at times due to his slight build, but it was more than acceptable. Not worried about his shot, it will come back around soon.

I am worried about Mullins shot. We are running out of runway for him to take off. I'm beginning to think we have already seen his best game. Even at his reduced contribution he is still a weapon. He can score in multiple ways, not just a shooter. Would like to see him get to the line a little. Check that, I would like to see any of us get to the line. It is just not a strength of this team, although they shot their free throws well tonight so there is that.

 

[Drfla]

Team dominated the first half. Got punched down early in the 2nd half but quickly composed themselves and ended it early. That’s how to respond!

Reed was a monster. Unstoppable in the paint and owned the boards

Ross, Reibe, Malachi excellent off the bench. Ross especially had an amazing game

Karaban calm cool and collected. Did a little bit of everything

Solo got going in the second half and finished with a team high 19 points on 40% three point shooting

Great win. Bring on Nova. Let’s go Huskies!

Solo can make threes efficiently when he is set. The problem with his percentage is the threes when he is forcing and not set. Very nice game from him today.

 

[Dove]

Ross was supreme. I have no doubt he will bring it every game.

 

[Deepster]

We got to only post 17 before we discuss/trash announcers not sure if a record but……..

There is not an announcer alive that is unanimously liked here.

 

[campcalhoun2009]

I can’t wait until we never have to play a Big East game again.

This conference is such a joke.

Xavier was in the bonus in the 2H with 14 min left. In the double bonus with 11 min left. They shot 14FTs before we shot 1 in the 2H.

They shot 20 more FTs than us in a blowout. This is disgusting.

Can’t wait to not be associated with catholic schools from fly over country.

 

[FreeDogs]

That was B-E-A-UTIFUL. Time to root for Georgetown now.

 

[Donyell 360]

Smith 2-2 from 3. Didn’t see that coming. Huge help.

He has actually shot well from 3 all year. It is the one part of his game that has been a constant. He still plays out of control and doesn't run the offense well. He had a couple nice assists but I felt he was out of control and got lucky finding someone to bail him out.

 

[Gutter King]

Ross really is that X-factor, he has been so solid all year but I’m seeing more confidence, swag; his ability on the defensive side of the floor truly changes games

Not many things change the momentum than a pick six hammer. Feels like we need that.

The inbound with 4 seconds left in the first half: you're dang right the refs would have sent them to the FT line for any reason possible. Ross played that perfectly. +2 Uconn.

We just need more winning plays like that, and he's starting to pile em up.

 

[imno1]

Smith 2-2 from 3. Didn’t see that coming. Huge help.

Why? He was shooting 50% from 3 entering the game.

 

[Donyell 360]

Good to see Solo shooting well. Ross had great game. Smith did well with extended minutes. Reed with very nice game. I was impressed with Mullins looking to pass more. He also knocked one Xavier on his butt in the backcourt with aggressive pick. Not much to criticize.

How about Mullins shooting 1-6 from 3?

 

[FreeDogs]

Not many things change the momentum than a pick six hammer. Feels like we need that.

The inbound with 4 seconds left in the first half: you're dang right the refs would have sent them to the FT line for any reason possible. Ross played that perfectly. +2 Uconn.

We just need more winning plays like that, and he's starting to pile em up.

Ross is playing like how Dan Hurley has been saying he can the past two years....in the last two weeks.

 

[RuffRuff]

Not many things change the momentum than a pick six hammer. Feels like we need that.

The inbound with 4 seconds left in the first half: you're dang right the refs would have sent them to the FT line for any reason possible. Ross played that perfectly. +2 Uconn.

We just need more winning plays like that, and he's starting to pile em up.

100% - why we can’t not continue to find the dogged athlete that can make special defensive plays. Hurley keeps talking about shooters and offense but it’s this kind of profile that ignites kill shots and energizes a team. It’s teams that can create offense off defense that are often the most dangerous.

 

[Donyell 360]

We had 20 less free throws. Unsustainable.

Maybe. but it is who we are. Not changing that at this point. If we don't turn it over, shoot our average and rebound the ball we have a chance.

 

[Drfla]

I am worried about Mullins shot. We are running out of runway for him to take off. I'm beginning to think we have already seen his best game. Even at his reduced contribution he is still a weapon. He can score in multiple ways, not just a shooter. Would like to see him get to the line a little. Check that, I would like to see any of us get to the line. It is just not a strength of this team, although they shot their free throws well tonight so there is that.

Mullins 3 point shot has been off the last two games but tonight he took the ball to the basket effectively and had 3 rebounds, 3 nice assists and 3 blocks. Good all around. If the law of averages apply he’s got some good 3 point shooting nights coming.

 

[RuffRuff]

Mullins was better on defense. He’s still going to be overmatched at times due to his slight build, but it was more than acceptable. Not worried about his shot, it will come back around soon.

9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists 3 steals for Ross was tremendous.

Opening of the second half was putrid. Don’t think they can address the turnover issue, but they have to limit them.

The lapses in defensive effort can be addressed, and must. I think Hurley was making that point by who he pulled early in the second half.

Overall, encouraging

Nice game - we’ve beat this bad team up 3x. Are able to over power them as they have zilch inside. I’m not getting over confident off this one.

 

[jorge34]

I can’t wait until we never have to play a Big East game again.

This conference is such a joke.

Xavier was in the bonus in the 2H with 14 min left. In the double bonus with 11 min left. They shot 14FTs before we shot 1 in the 2H.

They shot 20 more FTs than us in a blowout. This is disgusting.

Can’t wait to not be associated with catholic schools from fly over country.

I don’t understand how they can call such divergent games from one half to the next. Either let them play, or don’t, but be consistent both halves. That’s not a hard ask