Agreed 100%. The immense talent is actually part of the reason why this team has tested our undying love as fans, haha … ALL of the tools are there for a deep run, and it will come down to mental focus, effort and execution. And while you always expect hiccups with a young team and we’ve had things outside of our control derail our progress, it’s time for our fully healthy squad to step up.
While I am a metrics believer, I don't understand how Arkansas beat Kansas. (not a believer of Cal) The fact that Xavier played tough with Marquette in their last three games makes me think this is going to be a tough game.
Get your kicksWould be great to get a rout as a 66th birthday gift.
I agree it will be a tough game; and, while I am someone who obviously loves reviewing and compiling stats/data, I am also firmly against treating statistics as anything other than good predictive information ... it's not gospel. In a funny example of how sometimes stats just don't help you all that much, consider that Xavier averages 39.1% from three on the year, and Marquette allows opponents to shoot 31.8% from three. Below are Xavier's three-point shooting percentages in their three games vs. Marquette, lol:
I don't know enough about Marquette to know if they are a good comparison to us in ways other than NET/KenPom rankings, but I do still think that if we play good enough defense to limit Xavier's threes and can make a decent number of our own shots, we will win.Heard somewhere that Xavier is not a high volume 3pt team. They don't necessarily have to win by three. And our defense... that's really what bothers me.I agree it will be a tough game; and, while I am someone who obviously loves reviewing and compiling stats/data, I am also firmly against treating statistics as anything other than good predictive information ... it's not gospel. In a funny example of how sometimes stats just don't help you all that much, consider that Xavier averages 39.1% from three on the year, and Marquette allows opponents to shoot 31.8% from three. Below are Xavier's three-point shooting percentages in their three games vs. Marquette, lol:
31.6% vs. Marquette on 12/21 (L 70-72)
11.8% at Marquette on 1/18 (W 59-57)
47.8% vs. Marquette in BET on 3/13 (L 87-89)
So they shot almost 70% below their average in the one game they won, and they shot 22%+ above their average in the game they most recently lost.
What bothers me is we are kinda a jump shot team but not a great one. i think we need to cut/pass more.
Don’t forget coaching- flexible, timely adjusting to opponent, adjusting to our teams level of mental focus, effort, and execution
Wow! 66 gifts?Would be great to get a rout as a 66th birthday gift.
www.si.com
Nice!!!! Her greatest moment in that series
I’m in Centerville, just south of Dayton about 40 miles north of you. Was at the game and Xavier can play. Miller is such a solid coach. I’m worried about their 3’s tonight. But I’ve got the good guys winning 90-84.
That's a bit worrisome with Lunardi's reputation for not getting anything rightESPN's Joe Lunardi Makes Bold Proclamation About Illinois in NCAAs
Against many expectations, the bracketologist guru foresees a deep tournament run for the Illini
I’ll have what he is drinking, smoking, injecting between his toes….
That and he had a couple questionable lines in the article such as brads proven success in March other then last year Elite 8 many people were wondering if he had the chops to make a deep run in march.hopefully lunardi is right and we make another elite 8 that would be truly awesome after a up and down season riddled with injury and sickness
