xavierhoops

It was the overarching theme for many months that Xavier will struggle and entering a multi-season rough patch because it would take a number of years to get out of a bad cycle with recruiting. There were even multiple posts debating "momentum." How Xavier has lost it's momentum as a program (even though coming off yet another Sweet 16 just 9 months ago) and even more so it's "recruiting momentum"... whatever that means. The last 3 months has shown that to absolutely not be the case, picking up some big commitments from all over the nation.

Now as for original thoughts from myself and your longing for me to post my thoughts about the 2012-13 UD Flyers- I have said it before, and I'll say it again. I think UD got a steal with Archie Miller, and definitely a major upgrade from Gregory. Miller is a great coach, and I think he will eventually turn the program around and move on to a BCS gig. As for 2012-13, I would think they'd finish somewhere between 3-7. I also think they have a good shot to make the NCAA. It'd be a shame to have a player like Dillard in your program, yet never play in a single NCAA game.

But as has stated so many times here, UD always underachieves in A-10 play, so who knows where they will finish.

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Chris Mack in 3 years at Xavier has had twice the NCAA wins (4) of the entire Dayton coaching staff in the modern era of NCAA basketball (2).

TheCobra

OK, so a couple of things are established:

1. People predicted Xavier would take a step back (not a crazy prediction under the circumstances), and APPEAR to have been wrong.

2. You still don't have anything to say. Thanks for your insights on UD - Archie is good, they might make the NCAA, but they also might underachieve in league play. If Archie doesn't turn out to be a "great" coach (which appears to be the only statement you made unequivocally), expect me to ridicule you about it for months.

xavierhoops

Given Xavier's history of sustained high-level success over the past couple decades, I'm not sure making the prediction of a major downward cycle in recruiting that would take years to recover from and a multi-year rough patch was the most prudent repeated prediction to make.

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Chris Mack in 3 years at Xavier has had twice the NCAA wins (4) of the entire Dayton coaching staff in the modern era of NCAA basketball (2).

TheCobra

Well, everyone knows this message board is a place for only the "most prudent" of predictions, so I guess you have a point there.

XH, there is no denying that XU took a hit in the offseason. Even you have to admit that. Can you imagine this year's team with the two freshman, Mark Lyons, and Dez Wells? They would have Dee Davis and Justin Martin coming off of the bench. They would be really good. The team is worse this year than they have been in quite some time. I think people were justified in commenting on that. As of now, it appears to be a "single-year rough patch." But you aren't out of the woods just yet.

FlyingElvis

X appears to be really hurting for some offensive talent right now. As good as Semaj is in the open court and driving to the basket, he is a non-threat on the perimeter. Players are laying off of him, waiting for him to make a predictable drive and drawing charges. They are challenging him to hit from outside, and he can't take advantage of it.

They are playing decent defense, but it is demoralizing to have to be perfect defensively all the time when you struggle to score so often. So it will be hard to sustain the defensive effort as the season wears on, IMO.

As for "waiting for next year", who is leaving and coming in (or becoming eligible for X) next year?

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"US Bank Arena can't be that bad"

Flyer75

I think they only lose Robinson, Redford and Taylor. Robinson and Reford...meh. Taylor, a loss. X's success next year will depend on the development of their players in the off season...I know that's a duh statement but all the hoopala around the freshmen is just that...they are freshmen. X's has ALWAYS won with seniors who developed throughout the program. Raymond, Anderson, Burrell, Tu, Cage, ect, ect, ect.

Biggest addition for X next year...Stainbrook.

Muddy Waters

Semaj has played in 11 games for Xavier so far.

He has attempted only 13 three-point shots this season, and only 2 of those have gone in.

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xavierhoops

Who is denying this was a horrible (or great for UD fans) offseason, or this is the worst X team in a long time? I don't think any X fans on here.

Lyons is a hell of a player. Look what he is doing at Arizona. I think him playing for Miller is a great fit, but would have loved to have him at X. Dez- I think I made my opinion pretty clear that Xavier's administration really screwed up majorly on that. And the 2 frosh- I think it's also been made clear the NCAA is truly an inept organization.

As an aside, you kind of made my point when all the doomsday recruiting predictions for X were going around this fall and bold statements about how bad of a recruiting Mack is- all of those situations outside of Lyons were outside of Mack's control and unforseen. This year's team isn't indicative of how bad of a recruitier UD fans want to portray Mack as. Can you imagine the X team with Dez, Semaj, Dee Davis, Justin Martin, Travis Taylor, Myles Davis, Jalen Reynolds, Philmore, Redford. Would likely be, yet again, an NCAA team.

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Chris Mack in 3 years at Xavier has had twice the NCAA wins (4) of the entire Dayton coaching staff in the modern era of NCAA basketball (2).

xavierhoops

Redford, Robinson and Taylor graduating.

Matt Stainbrook, Chris Cantino, Jalen Reynolds, and Myles Davis will become available, as well as new recruits Brandon Randolph out of California(4 star) and Kamall Richards (3 star).

Additionally, Melvin Swift out of Texas committed for 2014 (another 4 star).

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Chris Mack in 3 years at Xavier has had twice the NCAA wins (4) of the entire Dayton coaching staff in the modern era of NCAA basketball (2).

REF

Focus guys - at X we don't talk about next year until this one is done. ;-)

MudFlap

I believe the posts were in response to Flyin' E's question.

FlyingElvis

It might help ease the pain. There is a long layoff before Temple, and you can only analyze Jeff Robinson, Landon Amos, Brad Redford and Erik Stenger so much before the eyes begin to gloss over.

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"US Bank Arena can't be that bad"

Muddy Waters

Mack on Xavier: 'We've just got to stick with it' (Shannon Russell, Cincinnati Enquirer - Dec. 30, 2012)

Loss at Tennessee dropped Muskies to 7-5

Opponents have found ways to expose Xavier’s offensive inconsistencies and capitalize on its scoring woes.

In losses against Vanderbilt, Wofford, and Tennessee, the Musketeers led by 13, 14, and 10 points but fell flat in second halves.

Second halves in general have not been Xavier’s fortes. The team has been outscored in every second half of every game it has lost.

The recent stretch has been tough for Xavier’s young backcourt. Freshman Semaj Christon turned over the ball 10 times against Wofford and Tennessee and has struggled to re-establish the offensive stride he had against Drexel and Purdue.

Sophomore Dee Davis played well at Tennessee but has missed 67 percent of his field goal attempts in the last six games.

Wake Forest 66, Xavier 59 (ESPN Box Score - January 2, 2013)


The Loss to Wake Forest (Shannon Russell, Cincinnati Enquirer - January 2, 2013)

To put in perspective, it was by far Wake Forest’s best win of the season following victories over Radford (298th in the RPI among 347 teams), Mercer (165), William & Mary (259), High Point (309), Furman (345) and UNC-Greensboro (336).

Wake entered the game ranked 205th in the RPI. Xavier was 103rd.

The defeat marked XU’s fourth straight, and the team really could have used a confidence-builder heading into the start of Atlantic 10 play next week (against Temple, no less).

The Musketeers looked like they finally found their stride when they took a 49-48 lead with 6:58 to play, only to give up 12 straight points and ultimately the game.

Dee Davis and Semaj Christon fouled out.

Travis Taylor had a great first half but was neutralized in the second, and Isaiah Philmore scored five points and grabbed just three rebounds after averaging 6.3 points/5.8 boards in the last eight games.

Xavier Musketeers - RPI Breakdown (CBS Sports)

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TheCobra

XH, sorry I didn't see this until now. But we are talking past each other. To answer your question, you are denying that it was a horrible offseason for X, or at least, the way you are acting indicates you are in denial. Because you continue to bring up the fact that a rival school's fans predicted gloom and doom during that same offseason as if it was some blasphemous statement and breaking news. It was not unreasonable for them to predict X might take a step back - when power teams take a step back, it often happens after offseasons like the one Xavier just had. Now, I'm sure Adam and whoever else said this also WANT X to take a step back (as I do), but that prediction does not warrant you bringing it up every week. If we lost FOUR players who were supposed to suit up this year (say, Kavanaugh, Dillard, Pierre, and Robinson), I would think it would be justified for people to say we could be in for a multi-year swoon.

And guess what? X STILL might take a step back. Just because you sign highly rated recruits doesn't mean they will be great D1 players.

LabRatScott

Just a plain awful year for XU. Losing to arguably the worst BCS team is indefensible. Hopefully Mack can retain his job if all hell breaks loose and the season spirals out of control.