Welcome to this LIVE blog of the Xavier vs. George Washington match-up in Cintas Center this Sunday afternoon. The Musketeers are set to take the floor in their retro jerseys from the 1994-95, 1995-96 seasons (Skip Prosser's first year as XU Head Basketball Coach). The jerseys will be available for purchase on http://www.goxavier.com/.
Introdctions - The retro jerseys look fantastic. This blogger will be very jealous of the lucky Musketeer fans that win them in the GoXavier.com auctions.
First Half
19:18 - The Musketeers have opened with two straight turnovers, both of which credited to CJ Anderson. The fans are still standing for the first basket.
18:16 - Jason Love took a charge down low, giving the fans a little extra to clap about. The Colonials have come out with a full-court press...
17:52 - Rb Diggs for GW stole a Xavier pass and reverse-slammed the ensuing fast break opportunity. Thankfully, BJ Raymond sank a jumper for XU's first basket, tying the game at 2-2. A lot of sloppy play from both sides to open the half.
15:44 - Jason Love stole an errant GW pass, the fifth turnover of the game already, and took the fast break attempt on his own. Like Pau Gasol running the Lakers' break, Love sprinted down the floor for the lay-up. His shot was blocked, but GW goaltended, giving XU a 6-2 lead at the first media timeout.
14:23 - There's a trey from Dante Jackson. He's playing the two guard with Holloway on the floor as well. GW is still searching for their second basket.
13:02 - GW found its second basket in the form of a giant Damian Hollis dunk. Hollis started his move from the baseline, taking off just inside the paint. Musketeer fans boo'd as Hollis threw the ball back towards the XU baseline after his lame, earning a warning from the officials.
12:36 - Brad Redford hits from WAY downtown. There's a good start for the freshman.
11:44 - What a play! Derrick Brown sailed high above the rim to block a GW shot against the basket. On the ensuing fast break, Dante Jackson found Redford on the wing WIDE open for his second three of the game. GW immediately took a timeout. Once again the freshman is left open by opposing defenses. They must have film on him by now, and if not, they can check out youtube for his high school shooting resume.
11:09 - Xavier is enjoying a healthy 18-6 lead thanks to 4-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Dante Jackson hit yet another, making the Redford-Jackson combo 4-5 on the day so far.
8:31 - Six-of-nine three point shooting for XU is leaving GW in the dust. XU now has a 26-10 lead after GW broke into double digits with a Tony Taylor jumper.
6:02 - Derrick Brown just claimed his fourth rebound of the game. The junior seems to be having his way with the Colonials on the boards.
5:26 - While Brown is going hard to the hoop, the Colonials won't have it. They've fouled him very hard on several attempts now rather than let up the easy slam. Brown is 3-4 on his free throw attempts.
4:36 - Redford got a steal on one end, took the lead on the fastbreak, let everyone clear through around him, saw that none of the Colonials decided to guard him, and drained his third three of the game. He's the game's leading scorer with nine points and has only shot the ball three times.
3:13 - C.J. Anderson just drove the lane and had his shot blocked out of bounds. Karl Hobbs could be very clearly heard yelling to his players, "WHAT DOES CJ DO? WHAT DOES CJ DO? HE DRIVES!!"
2:22 - Derrick Brown took the lead on a fast break, with the crowd moving to the edge of their seats, and gave one of his best dunking performances of his career. The junior took off from the A-10 logo, displayed incredible hang time WAY above the rim, and gave the ball an authorative tomahawk slam home. Let's hope the photographers got that one in frame, he may have been above the frame of the backboard cam. Look for this one on ESPN's Sportscenter tonight.
Halftime - Xavier leads 36-20 at the half. Redford is still the leading scorer for XU, going 3-4 from deep.
Second Half
18:03 - Raymond is great at the pump fake. His fake beyond the arc on the left wing sent a Colonial sailing by while he took another dribble, reset himself, and sank the open jumper.
17:14 - Dante Jackson read the GW lob inbounds pass perfectly, jumping like a defensive back to knock it free and drain the breakaway layup.
15:47 - At the first media timeout of the half, the XU lead has ballooned to 44-23. At this rate, the potential to double GW's score is very real. The Colonials have three points so far in the half.
14:59 - There's another triple for Redford. After Kenny Frease made an attempt that hit the rim well short, the ball found its way to Redford yet again. The freshman regains his place as the game's leading scorer.
12:32 - Dante Jackson and Katuka for GW have been assessed technical fouls. There was a little pushing and some aggressive words exchanged. Katuka has been getting into it with Frease, Love, and CJ Anderson most all of the game.
10:51 - While XU is well in control of the game, CJ Anderson is having a rough day. The senior is now 0-3 on field goals and 2-3 from the charity stripe. Both him and Kenny Frease have yet to make a bucket from the field.
10:10 - The Musketeers are getting free throws, but have not scored a field goal since the 15:04 mark. The lead is now 16. Make that 13, Witherspoon just sank a three.
9:04 - There we go: Dante Jackson drained his third trey in four attempts. The GW run is no more.
7:03 - CJ made a great spin move and floater over two GW defenders... But the officials called traveling. Anderson is now 0-4 from the field with four made free throws.
6:51 - Jason Love went down on the last play grabbing his shoulder. Head Trainer Mike Mulcahey looked him over on the bench, and he elected not to bring him back to the locker room. Love seems to be alright.
5:41 - There's a basket for Anderson - the senior is on the board from the floor after a driving layup hit the bottom of the basket.
4:55 - The full-court press is on for GW. Xavier has yet to make a turnover, breaking it consistently, but the Colonials are certainly making it a rough going from baseline to baseline.
The Musketeers can't seem to get a rhythm going in their half-court offense though. The lead is now 11.
1:26 - Even with a 17-point lead with less than two minutes left, Sean Miller has elected to keep all his starters in. A blowout victory may be just what the doctor ordered for the Musketeers.
0:15 - CJ Anderson just hit the second three-pointer of his career. Way to go CJ!
Final Score - Xavier wins 71-53. Be sure to check www.GoXavier.com for all the recap information for today's game. Thanks for visiting the X-Blog!
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1 comment:
Is it just me or do other X fans think that B Redford needs to be getting much more playing time? I've watched every game this year and am tiring of those scoring lulls when there is only one perimeter shooting threat in the game. The best squad on the floor for X appears to be when BJ and Brad are both in the game and Dante is at the point. Whether we are getting 3 pointers or not, the middle is opened up and we can score inside without turning the ball over by forcing it inside against a packed in defense. If I was Coach Miller I would be stealing more of Holloway's playing time in favor of Redford.
I love the muskies and Coach Miller but am growing tired of being able to predict when the offense will turn stagnant, because of lack of an outside threat.
Go X!
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