Here we are in the very impressive TD Banknorth Gardens, home of the 2008 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics, for No. 4 seeded Xavier's 2009 NCAA Tournament East Regional Semifinal match-up versus No. 1-seeded Pitt. Strangely enough, the Celtics' banners have been removed from the rafters for the games this weekend. The national anthem was just played and the teams headed back to the locker rooms. We'll check back in once the game has started!
7:40 p.m. - There are still several empty seats ... those coming for the second game tonight have decided not to take advantage of the doubleheader. Xavier's five-point lead has come courtesy of two free throws from Kenny "The Ogre" Frease and a three from Dante Jackson.
7:50 p.m. - Jason Love reentered the game and is now playing with two fouls but he continues to crash the boards. The Musketeers know they need to get Pitt center DeJuan Blair into foul trouble and Love has put one on him. XU currently holds a 13-9 rebounding margin over Pitt - another point of emphasis in this game for the Musketeers.
7:58 p.m. - A 4-0 run by Xavier was capped off by a dunk from Frease. On the other end a Pitt turnover turned into XU points as Derrick Brown showed his athleticism with a dunk of his own. As if on replay, Pitt turned over again and guess what??? A dunk - this time from Jamel McLean. With that 11-3 run, Pitt is forced into calling timeout and XU fans erupted. Xavier now has nine offensive rebounds to Pitt's six but neither team is shooting the ball well as Pitt is at 36% and Xavier is at 35%.
8:10 p.m. - It was Pitt's turn to go on a run out of the last media break, cutting the XU lead to one, 25-24, and then tying the game with the front end of a one-and-one. Coach Miller continues to yell out plays, tapping his head and making signs with his hands. CJ Anderson made his way to the basket, giving XU the lead back at 27-25, his first points since scoring XU's first two on made free throws. The arena is slowly but surely filling up.
Halftime (8:22 p.m.) - Derrick Brown has shown his versatility in the first half. After slamming home a monstorous dunk his next baskets came from behind the arc - he leads XU with 10. There was a little scuffle at the end of the half as a Pitt player ended up on the floor and then "accidentally" tripped up Frease, causing him to fall as well. It seemed as if the incident was squashed until Pitt's Levance Fields came over to add his two cents. The XU players were turned away and headed into the locker room with the eight-point, 37-29, halftime lead. Andy Katz is making a cameo tonight (standing almost directly behind me!). I wonder, did he pick Xavier or Pitt? And I also just saw Bill Murray across the way - he's sitting in the Xavier section!
8:50 p.m. - The Panthers opened the half with a 6-0 run, slicing the Xavier lead to only two, 37-35. Coach Miller called a TO to regroup the troops and most of the Xavier faithful remain on their feet, hoping to kick start the XU offense. Turnovers have resulted in several Pitt points so far this half. At the first media break, we're tied at 37-all.
8:58 p.m. - Pitt took back the lead, 38-37, for the first time since leading 16-14 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the first half. The frustration seems to be showing as a Musketeer who just returned to the bench threw his water bottle to the opposite end of the bench. XU finally put up some points with a jumper from Derrick Brown at the 13:39 mark. The two squads have traded the lead back and forth but XU holds the 41-40 advantage at the under 12 media.
9:10 p.m. - Levance Fields had to come out of the game for blood on his jersey as he was elbowed by a teammate who came down with a tough rebound. Father Graham stood up to lead the Xavier fans in the X-A-V-IER chant during a timeout. The XU coaches' wives are sitting directly across from me along with Mr. Miller and all look distraught over Dante Jackson picking up his fourth foul.
9:23 p.m. - Seems like we have some unhappy Pitt fans - a couple of guys are heckling the ref standing at the scorer's table. Derrick Brown narrowly got of a shot before the shot clock expired on X's last possession. Out of the media, Pitt was forced into calling timeout instead of turning over the ball on a five-second count. Both teams have only one TO left. Brad Redford just hit his first shot of the night, a clutch three to pull XU to within two, 52-50. Raymond's at the line after the media break.
Pitt 60, Xavier 55 (9:37 p.m.) - Too late baskets from Pitt's Levance Fields gave the Panthers a 57-54 lead with 23.9 seconds left and the Musketeers would not recover. Coach Miller took out his two seniors in order to give the fans a chance to thank them for their hard work.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Xavier vs. Wisconsin Live Blog
We just couldn't resist. Despite NCAA rules that permit only five posts per half and one halftime post, we are going to bring you a live blog of today's Second Round matchup with Wisconsin. I am sure all of you are watching on CBS, so we wil try to limit it to things you can't see on tv and some stats! Go Musketeers!
UPDATE 2:36 (ET) - Nearly eight and a half minutes into the game, only 13 total points have been scored, showcasing the stout defenses both of these teams possess. Wisconsin likes to work the shot clock under 10 seconds and limit the number of possessions for each team. They took 54 shots in their overtime victory over Florida State on Friday, and exactly half of them (27) came from behind the three-point arc, hitting just nine. Being efficient on offense is going to be key for the Musketeers, as will utilizing the few opportunities to get out in transition that are available.
UPDATE 2:49 - As they settle a shot clock dispute, it's impossible not to reflect on how good a player Derrick Brown is, and also how he continues to grow as a player. Since the second half of the Portland State game, he has played with a sene of urgency and the team has benefited from that. When he is flying around grabbing rebounds, throwing down dunks and knocking down threes, the Musketeers are a very, very dangerous team.
UPDATE 3:00 - Defensive battle doesn't begin to describe what is going on her in Taco Bell Arena. Both teams are pressuring the perimeter and doing a tremendous job of denying the post. It looks like the Musketeers are more athletic than the Badgers, but Wisconsin's execution has been extremely precise. I don't see either team being able to pull away in this game.
UPDATE 3:12 - At halftime, XU trails by two, 27-25. At one point, the Badgers scored eight straight points, four of which came on free throws, to turn a three-point deficit into a five-point lead. Terrell Holloway hit a huge three there with just under a minute to play and Brown made a nice catch and shot to make this a pretty even contest heading into the break. It's gong to be a great second half!
UPDATE 3:39 - Opportunties are slipping through the Musketeers' fingers right now. C.J. Anderson had two chaces a layup and Jason Love missed a dunk, and the Badgers have opened the biggest lead of the game at seven points, 33-26. Coach Sean Miller called a timeout and will need to regroup his troops and respond to the early second-half surge of Wisconsin.
UPDATE 3:46 - After Wisconsin opened the half with a 6-1 run, the Musketeers have scored four straight to make it a three-point game. Important defensive possession for XU.
UPDATE 3:54 - Make that CONNSECUTIVE big defensive possessions for Xavier. The Musketeers have held the Badgers without a field goal since the 17:13 mark and we are now have 11:32 to play.
UPDATE 4:06 - Blocks by Jamel McLean and Kenny Frease have thwarted the last two attempts on offense by the Badgers. When the Musketeers are playing that way on defense, it often translates to points on the other end as XU is able to get out and run. Obviously, Wisconsin will try to slow the tempo down over the final sevn minutes, but look for Xavier to push it each chance it gets. With the tight schedule after the game, this will be the last post. Check GoXavier.com for results as they become available.
UPDATE 2:36 (ET) - Nearly eight and a half minutes into the game, only 13 total points have been scored, showcasing the stout defenses both of these teams possess. Wisconsin likes to work the shot clock under 10 seconds and limit the number of possessions for each team. They took 54 shots in their overtime victory over Florida State on Friday, and exactly half of them (27) came from behind the three-point arc, hitting just nine. Being efficient on offense is going to be key for the Musketeers, as will utilizing the few opportunities to get out in transition that are available.
UPDATE 2:49 - As they settle a shot clock dispute, it's impossible not to reflect on how good a player Derrick Brown is, and also how he continues to grow as a player. Since the second half of the Portland State game, he has played with a sene of urgency and the team has benefited from that. When he is flying around grabbing rebounds, throwing down dunks and knocking down threes, the Musketeers are a very, very dangerous team.
UPDATE 3:00 - Defensive battle doesn't begin to describe what is going on her in Taco Bell Arena. Both teams are pressuring the perimeter and doing a tremendous job of denying the post. It looks like the Musketeers are more athletic than the Badgers, but Wisconsin's execution has been extremely precise. I don't see either team being able to pull away in this game.
UPDATE 3:12 - At halftime, XU trails by two, 27-25. At one point, the Badgers scored eight straight points, four of which came on free throws, to turn a three-point deficit into a five-point lead. Terrell Holloway hit a huge three there with just under a minute to play and Brown made a nice catch and shot to make this a pretty even contest heading into the break. It's gong to be a great second half!
UPDATE 3:39 - Opportunties are slipping through the Musketeers' fingers right now. C.J. Anderson had two chaces a layup and Jason Love missed a dunk, and the Badgers have opened the biggest lead of the game at seven points, 33-26. Coach Sean Miller called a timeout and will need to regroup his troops and respond to the early second-half surge of Wisconsin.
UPDATE 3:46 - After Wisconsin opened the half with a 6-1 run, the Musketeers have scored four straight to make it a three-point game. Important defensive possession for XU.
UPDATE 3:54 - Make that CONNSECUTIVE big defensive possessions for Xavier. The Musketeers have held the Badgers without a field goal since the 17:13 mark and we are now have 11:32 to play.
UPDATE 4:06 - Blocks by Jamel McLean and Kenny Frease have thwarted the last two attempts on offense by the Badgers. When the Musketeers are playing that way on defense, it often translates to points on the other end as XU is able to get out and run. Obviously, Wisconsin will try to slow the tempo down over the final sevn minutes, but look for Xavier to push it each chance it gets. With the tight schedule after the game, this will be the last post. Check GoXavier.com for results as they become available.
Friday, March 13, 2009
A-10 Semifinal Live Blog (vs. Temple)
Hello ladies and gents! We are roughly 20 minutes from tip-off in the first Atlantic 10 Conference Championship semifinal, featuring Xavier and Temple. Coming into the matchup, the Musketeers are 0-4 in A-10 Tournament play against the Owls, but there's no time like the present to snap that streak. XU looked impressive in the quarterfinal win over Saint Louis and junior Derrick Brown said this team is "on a mission." That mission continues at 6:30 p.m. against Temple. Stay tuned!
6:27 p.m. - Staring lineups...XAVIER, G - 11, B.J. Raymond; G - 25, Dante Jackson; C - 31, Jason Love; F - 5, Derrick Brown; F - 20, C.J. Anderson. TEMPLE, G - 2, Ryan Brooks; G - 22 Dionte Christmas; G - 15, Semaj Inge; C - Sergio Olmos; F - Lavoy Allen.
6:29 - The second-leading scorer in the Atlantic 10, Dionte Christmas has been held in single digits the last two games, the only time that has happened this season. The Musketeers contained him in the first matchup between these two teams, a key to tonight's game as well.
6:44 - Derrick Brown set the tone early for the Musketeers, scoring the first five points of the game, and a pair of three-pointers from B.J. Raymond and Dante Jackson have XU in front, 11-4, early in the first half. Right now, the Musketeers are having some trouble stopping penetration, but the bigs have made thing difficult for the Owls once they get in the paint.
6:52 - Six straight points and an offensive drought for XU has this game knotted up at 11, forcing head coach Sean Miller to call a timeout. After a strong start, the Muskteer offense has been slightly off in the last few minutes of action. That is going to prompt the return of Jackson to the lineup as Xavier tries to find flow on the offensive end.
6:55 - At the under 12-minute media timeout, the game is still tied at 11. B.J. Raymond just picked up second foul, presenting a two-fold issue for the Musketeers. He is the team's leading scorer, and has been assigned the task of guarding Christmas tonight. Who steps in for him and how they are able to do against the dynamic scorer will be pivotal for the remainder of the half.
7:06 - Both offenses have woken up, with XU outscoring Temple 14-9 over that four-minute stretch. Brown is the first player in double figures, netting 10 points thus far. Most importantly, he has been active on the offensive glass, grabbing two boards on that side so far.
7:15 - Already dealing with B.J. Raymond's two fouls, the Musketeers will be even further handcuffed after Jackson picked up his third infraction on a charge. Often the team's top perimeter defender, Jackson is also part of the point guard tandem with Terrell Holloway. In a press conference just a few weeks ago, Raymond said at this point in the season the freshman are sophomores, and Holloway is going to have to show that with the increased workload.
7:26 - The Musketeers didn't hit a field goal for the final six minutes of the half, but still trail by only one point, 31-30, going into halftime. Jackson and Raymond were saddled with foul trouble in the first half, playing just a combined 20 minutes. Getting them back with a fairly clean slate in the second half should help energize and clean up the XU offense. Join us back here in 15 minutes for the second half.
7:43 - Terrell Holloway is in the starting lineup for the second half with Jackson on the bench with three fouls. Holloway is no stranger to the first unit, having started 13 straight games earlier this season. He will need to quickly regain his familiarity with the starters as the Musketeers trail 33-30.
7:49 - It's pretty apparent Raymond didn't like watching from the bench in the first half. He has scored all five of the Musketeers' point in the second half, helping XU pull even with the Owls, 35-35.
7:58 - Coach Miller went with a fairly unfamiliar lineup for the Musketeers: Love, McLean, Brown, Anderson and Jackson. On defense, it was nearly impossible for the Owls to penetrate, but on offense, there wasn't quite the flow for XU. That prompted Miller to call a timeout to rotate some new players in and try to refocus his offense.
8:02 - Raymond is carrying the Musketeers in the second half, scoring 11 of his 14 points over the first 9+ minutes of the second half. Those 11 points also account for all but two of XU's points in the second half, giving the Musketeers a 43-40 lead at the 10:54 mark and under-12 media timeout.
8:10 - With the big man trio of Love, Brown and McLean on the floor, the Musketeers have been working the paint much more effectively. Getting both of the past two baskets in the paint (Love and Brown), XU also got a monster block from McLean on defense. Having those three on the floor together gives the Musketeers a unique blend of athleticsm and size most teams can not match.
8:21 - In what can already be labeled a defensive contest, the last three possessions have ended in block, culminating with McLean's athletic rejection and heads-up play to knock the ball off the Temple play he blocked as he was falling out of bounds. As one person said on press row, McLean can "jump out of the gym."
8:30 - Despite Christmas hitting two three-pointers (after starting the game 1-of-7) from long range, Xavier is within three points with just under a minute to play. It's going to come down to an XU staple if the Musketeers want to pull this out: Defense. Check www.GoXavier.com for a recap of tonight's game.
6:27 p.m. - Staring lineups...XAVIER, G - 11, B.J. Raymond; G - 25, Dante Jackson; C - 31, Jason Love; F - 5, Derrick Brown; F - 20, C.J. Anderson. TEMPLE, G - 2, Ryan Brooks; G - 22 Dionte Christmas; G - 15, Semaj Inge; C - Sergio Olmos; F - Lavoy Allen.
6:29 - The second-leading scorer in the Atlantic 10, Dionte Christmas has been held in single digits the last two games, the only time that has happened this season. The Musketeers contained him in the first matchup between these two teams, a key to tonight's game as well.
6:44 - Derrick Brown set the tone early for the Musketeers, scoring the first five points of the game, and a pair of three-pointers from B.J. Raymond and Dante Jackson have XU in front, 11-4, early in the first half. Right now, the Musketeers are having some trouble stopping penetration, but the bigs have made thing difficult for the Owls once they get in the paint.
6:52 - Six straight points and an offensive drought for XU has this game knotted up at 11, forcing head coach Sean Miller to call a timeout. After a strong start, the Muskteer offense has been slightly off in the last few minutes of action. That is going to prompt the return of Jackson to the lineup as Xavier tries to find flow on the offensive end.
6:55 - At the under 12-minute media timeout, the game is still tied at 11. B.J. Raymond just picked up second foul, presenting a two-fold issue for the Musketeers. He is the team's leading scorer, and has been assigned the task of guarding Christmas tonight. Who steps in for him and how they are able to do against the dynamic scorer will be pivotal for the remainder of the half.
7:06 - Both offenses have woken up, with XU outscoring Temple 14-9 over that four-minute stretch. Brown is the first player in double figures, netting 10 points thus far. Most importantly, he has been active on the offensive glass, grabbing two boards on that side so far.
7:15 - Already dealing with B.J. Raymond's two fouls, the Musketeers will be even further handcuffed after Jackson picked up his third infraction on a charge. Often the team's top perimeter defender, Jackson is also part of the point guard tandem with Terrell Holloway. In a press conference just a few weeks ago, Raymond said at this point in the season the freshman are sophomores, and Holloway is going to have to show that with the increased workload.
7:26 - The Musketeers didn't hit a field goal for the final six minutes of the half, but still trail by only one point, 31-30, going into halftime. Jackson and Raymond were saddled with foul trouble in the first half, playing just a combined 20 minutes. Getting them back with a fairly clean slate in the second half should help energize and clean up the XU offense. Join us back here in 15 minutes for the second half.
7:43 - Terrell Holloway is in the starting lineup for the second half with Jackson on the bench with three fouls. Holloway is no stranger to the first unit, having started 13 straight games earlier this season. He will need to quickly regain his familiarity with the starters as the Musketeers trail 33-30.
7:49 - It's pretty apparent Raymond didn't like watching from the bench in the first half. He has scored all five of the Musketeers' point in the second half, helping XU pull even with the Owls, 35-35.
7:58 - Coach Miller went with a fairly unfamiliar lineup for the Musketeers: Love, McLean, Brown, Anderson and Jackson. On defense, it was nearly impossible for the Owls to penetrate, but on offense, there wasn't quite the flow for XU. That prompted Miller to call a timeout to rotate some new players in and try to refocus his offense.
8:02 - Raymond is carrying the Musketeers in the second half, scoring 11 of his 14 points over the first 9+ minutes of the second half. Those 11 points also account for all but two of XU's points in the second half, giving the Musketeers a 43-40 lead at the 10:54 mark and under-12 media timeout.
8:10 - With the big man trio of Love, Brown and McLean on the floor, the Musketeers have been working the paint much more effectively. Getting both of the past two baskets in the paint (Love and Brown), XU also got a monster block from McLean on defense. Having those three on the floor together gives the Musketeers a unique blend of athleticsm and size most teams can not match.
8:21 - In what can already be labeled a defensive contest, the last three possessions have ended in block, culminating with McLean's athletic rejection and heads-up play to knock the ball off the Temple play he blocked as he was falling out of bounds. As one person said on press row, McLean can "jump out of the gym."
8:30 - Despite Christmas hitting two three-pointers (after starting the game 1-of-7) from long range, Xavier is within three points with just under a minute to play. It's going to come down to an XU staple if the Musketeers want to pull this out: Defense. Check www.GoXavier.com for a recap of tonight's game.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A-10 Quarterfinal Live Blog
Moments from tip-off, the Xavier men's team will open Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament play with against Saint Louis, which beat La Salle in the opening round, although the game went to overtime. In the press conference following the game, SLU head coach Rick Majerus called C.J. Anderson a lottery pick (because of his talent), but it's the prevailing belief he meant Derrick Brown, who he has been high on all season. Either way, both players (along with senior B.J. Raymond will be key to today's game. Tip-off in just over five minutes!
12:03 - An impressive Xavier contingent is here to support the Musketeers. During introductions, there was an obvious difference in the vocal support for the two squads, with the XU faithful making their presence known. As soon as we get the go ahead from CBS College Sports, we will be underway!
12:08 - Derrick Brown has had two WIDE open three-point looks, draining the first one to give Xavier the early lead. Against the Saint Louis zone, there are going to be some opportunities from beyond the arc.
12:23 - Had some problems with the Internet for a moment, so we apologize for the gap in posts. Xavier has shown great intensity over the first eight minutes, especially on defense. Led by the seniors (Anderson and Raymond) and Brown. In the second media timeout, XU looks like the loss to Richmond has refocused the team. Coach Miller has talked about that in most of his interviews this week, and it's safe to assume he emphasized to his team.
12:35 - Saint Louis has pulled within eight, mixing up its defense between man-to-man and zone. After getting some early looks from outside in the early going, a few misses seems to have caused the Musketeers to be shy from long distance. Getting Raymond or Redford a look could help change that very quickly, however.
12:49 - Three-point shooting has made this a five-point game, as the Billikens have taken advantage of some good screens to get open looks from long distance. Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch have led the charge, but Brown responded with an aggressive drive to the basket. He was noticeably amped up in practice yesterday and has shown flashes of that today.
12:58 -The epitome of Xavier basketball just allowed the Musketeers to regain the 10-point lead. After forcing a shot clock violation on the defensive end to stop the clock with two seconds on the clock, B.J. Raymond banked in a long-distance three as time expired in the half. That is the burst XU needed.
1:24 - XU has used the momentum of Raymond' buzzer-beater to build a 17-point lead just over four minutes into the second half. The Musketeers' defense has been noticeably better in this game and is has led to more transition opportunities, as well. With the high level athletes on this team, that is going to be dangerous for any opponent.
1:36 - Through nearly nine and a half minutes of action in the second half, the Musketeers have outscored SLU 28-9. They must have enjoyed some of that special juice Michael Jordan had in Space Jam during halftime!
1:44 - The lead is over 20 points now and the Musketeers appear to have found the mojo they had during the Dayton victory on Senior Night. It's been a team effort, led by the standout performance of Raymond.
1:53 - With just over a minute to play, reserves will enter for both teams and XU will open their tournament with a decisive victory. They will await the winner of the next quarterfinal, featuring Temple and St. Joe's.
12:03 - An impressive Xavier contingent is here to support the Musketeers. During introductions, there was an obvious difference in the vocal support for the two squads, with the XU faithful making their presence known. As soon as we get the go ahead from CBS College Sports, we will be underway!
12:08 - Derrick Brown has had two WIDE open three-point looks, draining the first one to give Xavier the early lead. Against the Saint Louis zone, there are going to be some opportunities from beyond the arc.
12:23 - Had some problems with the Internet for a moment, so we apologize for the gap in posts. Xavier has shown great intensity over the first eight minutes, especially on defense. Led by the seniors (Anderson and Raymond) and Brown. In the second media timeout, XU looks like the loss to Richmond has refocused the team. Coach Miller has talked about that in most of his interviews this week, and it's safe to assume he emphasized to his team.
12:35 - Saint Louis has pulled within eight, mixing up its defense between man-to-man and zone. After getting some early looks from outside in the early going, a few misses seems to have caused the Musketeers to be shy from long distance. Getting Raymond or Redford a look could help change that very quickly, however.
12:49 - Three-point shooting has made this a five-point game, as the Billikens have taken advantage of some good screens to get open looks from long distance. Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch have led the charge, but Brown responded with an aggressive drive to the basket. He was noticeably amped up in practice yesterday and has shown flashes of that today.
12:58 -The epitome of Xavier basketball just allowed the Musketeers to regain the 10-point lead. After forcing a shot clock violation on the defensive end to stop the clock with two seconds on the clock, B.J. Raymond banked in a long-distance three as time expired in the half. That is the burst XU needed.
1:24 - XU has used the momentum of Raymond' buzzer-beater to build a 17-point lead just over four minutes into the second half. The Musketeers' defense has been noticeably better in this game and is has led to more transition opportunities, as well. With the high level athletes on this team, that is going to be dangerous for any opponent.
1:36 - Through nearly nine and a half minutes of action in the second half, the Musketeers have outscored SLU 28-9. They must have enjoyed some of that special juice Michael Jordan had in Space Jam during halftime!
1:44 - The lead is over 20 points now and the Musketeers appear to have found the mojo they had during the Dayton victory on Senior Night. It's been a team effort, led by the standout performance of Raymond.
1:53 - With just over a minute to play, reserves will enter for both teams and XU will open their tournament with a decisive victory. They will await the winner of the next quarterfinal, featuring Temple and St. Joe's.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Xavier at Richmond Live Blog
Pre-Game
6:45 - Although Rhode Island lost to Massachusetts to ensure Xavier the outright regular season conference title (its third in a row), there is plenty of motivation for the Musketeers tonight in Virginia. Taking momentum into the postseason is always helpful, but also on the line, and perhaps more importantly, is seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Comedian/Actor Eddie Griffin (Double Take, Undercover Brother, Norbit, etc.) did his part to motivate the Muskies. At the team hotel for reasons unknown, Griffin jumped on the team bus just before departure and said: "Undercover Brother just wanted to wish Xavier good luck tonight. Not that you'll need it, 'cause I've seen you on tv. Do your thing tonight. You know I'll be watching." Thanks, Undercover Brother!
6:55 - Here are tonight's starters: Richmond 4 - Jarhon Giddings, 5 - David Gonzalvez, 12 - Kevin Smith, 14 - Kevin Anderson, 44 - Ryan Butler; Xavier 5 - Derrick Brown, 11 - B.J. Raymond, 20 - C.J. Anderson, 25 - Dante Jackson, 31 - Jason Love.
First Half
7:06 - Coach Sean Miller has emphasized in the short preperation time the uniqueness of the Richmond offense. Based on the Princeton offense, there is a lot of movement and virtual interchangability in among the perimeter players. How the Musketeers deal with ball screens and back door cuts will go a long way to the team's success tonight.
7:10 - It isn't the first time the Musketeers have dealt with the situation, but C.J. Anderson just picked up his second foul less than four minutes into the game and will have to take a seat. This may mean more run for Jamel McLean in the first half.
7:12 - At the first media timeout, Richmond holds an 11-8 advantage. XU has done a tremendous job on the offensive glass, getting four second chance points off three offensive rebounds. With a decisive size advantage, look for the Muskies to continue to exploit the Spiders' smaller front line.
7:21 - Despite entering the game hitting just over one-third of its three-point attempts, Richmond has already hit a pair and now cling to a two-point lead, 18-16. Second chance points update: XU 7 - RU 2.
7:27 - Coach Miller is showing his trust in the older players right now, leaving Jason Love and C.J. Anderson both on the floor despite them both having two fouls. It paid off for the Muskies, with Love going to the line with a chance to hit a free throw for the three-point play.
7:31 - For those watching on tv, you just saw one of the quickest coaching adjustments possible. Seeing the Spiders were going to a 1-3-1 zone, coach Miller knew just the play to call and, after a nice pass by Terrell Holloway, it resulted in a three-pointer by Raymond that made it 27-23 in favor of Richmond.
7:35 - Richmond is shooting the lights out right now, hitting on 11 of their 16 attempts (68.8 percent for those of us who can't do that in their head). It's still only a five-point lead for the Spiders, so it's safe to say that if the Musketeers can shore up the defense, this came could turn around.
7:41 - The lead has balloned to eight, 37-29, for Richmond after Justin Harper hit his second three-pointer, giving him 12 points already. He has shown a great inside-outside ability for a 6-10 sophomore.
7:45 - Holloway has four assists in nine minutes of action thus far, three of which have been on "Wow" plays. His ability as a passer and growth as a player will go a long way to the Musketeers' success in the postseason.
7:52 - Richmond will take an eight-point lead into halftime, 45-37, after an absolutely scorching performance from the field in through the first 20 minutes. But if there is one thing Xavier fans are familiar with, it's the team's ability to dramatically change the course of the game with its defense.
8:19 - The lead has been whittled down to six, thanks to improved intensity on defense for the Musketeers. Richmond has hit just two of its five second-half attempts. One area XU can certainly improve is second-chance points. After holding a 7-2 advantage in that category early in the first half, Xavier is only ahead 11-5 in the category now.
8:21 - Holloway shows his stuff again with that alley-oop to the high-flying Brown. That's five assists to two turnovers for the freshman point guard.
8:28 - Since David Gonzalvez hit a three-pointer with 17:50 on the clock to give the Spiders a nine-point lead, 48-39, the Musketeers have gone on a 14-6 run to pull within one point and have the ball with a chance to take the lead.
8:38 - Brad Redford just hit his first three-pointer of the night to cut the deficit to eight. He has had a couple rim out tonight, but that could heat up the sharp shooter a time when XU needs some offense.
8:41 - With the action heating up here in Robins Center, so have the Spiders' shooters once again. After hitting just three of their first nine attempts in the second half, the Spiders have hit seven of the their last 11 and have increased the margin to eight with just under six minutes to play.
8:46 - Coach Miller has used his last timeout, facing a nine-point deficit after a 5-0 run by Richmond. A pair of free throws by Holloway had pulled the Musketeers within four, but a three-point play by Kevin Anderson and a put back by Jarhon Gidings has pushed the advantage back to nine for the home team.
8:49 - We are in the last media timeout with XU trailing by six after a dead-on three-pointer by B.J. Raymond. He leads the Musketeers with 15 points. That will be our last point with 2:39 to play. Be sur to check www.GoXavier.com for the final results and a recap of tonight's action.
6:45 - Although Rhode Island lost to Massachusetts to ensure Xavier the outright regular season conference title (its third in a row), there is plenty of motivation for the Musketeers tonight in Virginia. Taking momentum into the postseason is always helpful, but also on the line, and perhaps more importantly, is seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Comedian/Actor Eddie Griffin (Double Take, Undercover Brother, Norbit, etc.) did his part to motivate the Muskies. At the team hotel for reasons unknown, Griffin jumped on the team bus just before departure and said: "Undercover Brother just wanted to wish Xavier good luck tonight. Not that you'll need it, 'cause I've seen you on tv. Do your thing tonight. You know I'll be watching." Thanks, Undercover Brother!
6:55 - Here are tonight's starters: Richmond 4 - Jarhon Giddings, 5 - David Gonzalvez, 12 - Kevin Smith, 14 - Kevin Anderson, 44 - Ryan Butler; Xavier 5 - Derrick Brown, 11 - B.J. Raymond, 20 - C.J. Anderson, 25 - Dante Jackson, 31 - Jason Love.
First Half
7:06 - Coach Sean Miller has emphasized in the short preperation time the uniqueness of the Richmond offense. Based on the Princeton offense, there is a lot of movement and virtual interchangability in among the perimeter players. How the Musketeers deal with ball screens and back door cuts will go a long way to the team's success tonight.
7:10 - It isn't the first time the Musketeers have dealt with the situation, but C.J. Anderson just picked up his second foul less than four minutes into the game and will have to take a seat. This may mean more run for Jamel McLean in the first half.
7:12 - At the first media timeout, Richmond holds an 11-8 advantage. XU has done a tremendous job on the offensive glass, getting four second chance points off three offensive rebounds. With a decisive size advantage, look for the Muskies to continue to exploit the Spiders' smaller front line.
7:21 - Despite entering the game hitting just over one-third of its three-point attempts, Richmond has already hit a pair and now cling to a two-point lead, 18-16. Second chance points update: XU 7 - RU 2.
7:27 - Coach Miller is showing his trust in the older players right now, leaving Jason Love and C.J. Anderson both on the floor despite them both having two fouls. It paid off for the Muskies, with Love going to the line with a chance to hit a free throw for the three-point play.
7:31 - For those watching on tv, you just saw one of the quickest coaching adjustments possible. Seeing the Spiders were going to a 1-3-1 zone, coach Miller knew just the play to call and, after a nice pass by Terrell Holloway, it resulted in a three-pointer by Raymond that made it 27-23 in favor of Richmond.
7:35 - Richmond is shooting the lights out right now, hitting on 11 of their 16 attempts (68.8 percent for those of us who can't do that in their head). It's still only a five-point lead for the Spiders, so it's safe to say that if the Musketeers can shore up the defense, this came could turn around.
7:41 - The lead has balloned to eight, 37-29, for Richmond after Justin Harper hit his second three-pointer, giving him 12 points already. He has shown a great inside-outside ability for a 6-10 sophomore.
7:45 - Holloway has four assists in nine minutes of action thus far, three of which have been on "Wow" plays. His ability as a passer and growth as a player will go a long way to the Musketeers' success in the postseason.
7:52 - Richmond will take an eight-point lead into halftime, 45-37, after an absolutely scorching performance from the field in through the first 20 minutes. But if there is one thing Xavier fans are familiar with, it's the team's ability to dramatically change the course of the game with its defense.
8:19 - The lead has been whittled down to six, thanks to improved intensity on defense for the Musketeers. Richmond has hit just two of its five second-half attempts. One area XU can certainly improve is second-chance points. After holding a 7-2 advantage in that category early in the first half, Xavier is only ahead 11-5 in the category now.
8:21 - Holloway shows his stuff again with that alley-oop to the high-flying Brown. That's five assists to two turnovers for the freshman point guard.
8:28 - Since David Gonzalvez hit a three-pointer with 17:50 on the clock to give the Spiders a nine-point lead, 48-39, the Musketeers have gone on a 14-6 run to pull within one point and have the ball with a chance to take the lead.
8:38 - Brad Redford just hit his first three-pointer of the night to cut the deficit to eight. He has had a couple rim out tonight, but that could heat up the sharp shooter a time when XU needs some offense.
8:41 - With the action heating up here in Robins Center, so have the Spiders' shooters once again. After hitting just three of their first nine attempts in the second half, the Spiders have hit seven of the their last 11 and have increased the margin to eight with just under six minutes to play.
8:46 - Coach Miller has used his last timeout, facing a nine-point deficit after a 5-0 run by Richmond. A pair of free throws by Holloway had pulled the Musketeers within four, but a three-point play by Kevin Anderson and a put back by Jarhon Gidings has pushed the advantage back to nine for the home team.
8:49 - We are in the last media timeout with XU trailing by six after a dead-on three-pointer by B.J. Raymond. He leads the Musketeers with 15 points. That will be our last point with 2:39 to play. Be sur to check www.GoXavier.com for the final results and a recap of tonight's action.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Xavier vs. Dayton Live Blog
Welcome to the final GoXavier.com live blog from the Cintas Center this season. The Musketeers will host the Dayton Flyers tonight to close out the home schedule in Cintas Center. The game is being televised on ESPN2. Prior to tipoff, seniors BJ Raymond and CJ Anderson will be honored during the Senior Night celebration.
First Half
19:06 - There wasn't a person in Cintas Center sitting for the first XU basket, a three from Dante Jackson. Jackson has now score XU's first five points.
17:51 - The stat sheet is all Dante Jackson so far. He has all eight of Xavier's points, including two three-pointers. In four years, this blogger has never heard the Cintas Center this loud to open a game. Many of the crowd (not just students) have yet to take their seats.
16:06 - If this was the video game NBA JAM, Dante Jackson would have flames coming off of him. All 11 of Xavier's points are from Jackson after he hit his third straight from downtown. The score: Jackson 11, Dayton 5.
11:37 - A series of calls by the officials unfavorable to Xavier have given the fans something to boo at other than Dayton. XU has not scored in the last four minutes, a drought featuring several missed shots. Thankfully, the Flyers have not fared to well either. XU leads 13-7.
9:08 - Jamel McLean has grabbed three straight rebounds for XU, including an offensive putback for two. Unfortunately, the last rebound was thanks to a hook move. Dayton missed the opening shot on the 1-and-1 opportunity.
8:36 - Kenny Frease just made a BACKCOURT steal. The ensuing fast break resulted in a foul on Dayton. McLean made both free throws. XU leads 21-10.
7:33 - Frease is the focus of the action now after hitting both of his free throw attempts and taking a charge on the other end. The freshman is making his mark on this game.
4:55 - The Musketeer reserves are showing Dayton just how much depth Xavier has. On three straight possessions, McLean had a commanding dunk.. followed by a break-away layup from Terrell Holloway.. followed by yet another authorative dunk from Jamel McLean. The crowd is on their feet going into the final TV timeout of the half. Xavier still leads 32-22.
2:01 - The Flyers cannot stop McLean on the boards. He has four rebounds and is now 4-4 in the game with his last three baskets being gigantic slam dunks.
Halftime - XU ends the half with their largest lead of the game, 40-27. Neither team scored in the final minute.
Second Half
15:30 - The first TV timeout of the half is here after Mickey Perry fould Dante Jackson on a drive. What Cintas fans on that end of the floor noticed was the additional hand checking by Perry that followed the call. That, on top of a young Dayton fan being ejected from the Xavier student section, added a little something extra to the break.
15:07 - On senior night, sophomore Dante Jackson is having one of his best all-around games. Jackson just dove into a pile of Flyers for a loose ball, corralled it, and managed to call the timeout. XU leads 43-35.
13:41 - Dayton had smothered C.J. Anderson's scoring attempts until the previous possession, when his power move in the paint resulted in two points for XU.
11:56 - The Xavier lead is down to six points (47-41). London Warren committed his third foul before the TV timeout
11:16 - Brad Redford just hit a wide open three from four feet beyond the arc. The spark is exactly what XU and the Cintas Center fans were looking for. Xavier now leads 50-41.
9:19 - Redford, running the point guard position, just shook his defended and nailed another trey from exactly the same spot. The threat from Redford at point is very real: One crossover-shake and the space for his shot can be created.
7:49 - Brian Gregory was forced to take a timeout now that XU has opened a 55-44 lead. The Musketeer fans have been standing for the last ten straight minutes at least. Cintas Center is electric like a thunder storm.
6:35 - Cintas Center will certainly miss BJ Raymond. He just hit back-to-back three pointers that opened up a 63-49 lead for the Musketeers. His face was a mirror image of the classic roar following his overtime treys that led XU to the Elite Eight last season.
3:56 - Dante Jackson and Kenny Frease just ran a perfectly-executed pick-and-roll. The result: a Frease slam that once again reminded Dayton just how many weapons Xavier has.
2:45 - Derrick Brown just one-handed a rebouned and slammed it home all in one move. He followed the play with a block on the other end that created a loose ball which Kenny Frease corralled on the deck. With a timeout called, XU earned possession.
0:19 - Sean Miller called a timeout to get CJ Anderson and BJ Raymond out of the game so the fans could give them the final applause they deserved. Both were critical to the win this evening.
Final - Xavier wins 76 - 59. Thanks for reading, the Musketeers will now cut down the nets to celebrate their three-straight A-10 regular season championships. Be sure to check GoXavier.com for all the post game recap information on tonights game.
First Half
19:06 - There wasn't a person in Cintas Center sitting for the first XU basket, a three from Dante Jackson. Jackson has now score XU's first five points.
17:51 - The stat sheet is all Dante Jackson so far. He has all eight of Xavier's points, including two three-pointers. In four years, this blogger has never heard the Cintas Center this loud to open a game. Many of the crowd (not just students) have yet to take their seats.
16:06 - If this was the video game NBA JAM, Dante Jackson would have flames coming off of him. All 11 of Xavier's points are from Jackson after he hit his third straight from downtown. The score: Jackson 11, Dayton 5.
11:37 - A series of calls by the officials unfavorable to Xavier have given the fans something to boo at other than Dayton. XU has not scored in the last four minutes, a drought featuring several missed shots. Thankfully, the Flyers have not fared to well either. XU leads 13-7.
9:08 - Jamel McLean has grabbed three straight rebounds for XU, including an offensive putback for two. Unfortunately, the last rebound was thanks to a hook move. Dayton missed the opening shot on the 1-and-1 opportunity.
8:36 - Kenny Frease just made a BACKCOURT steal. The ensuing fast break resulted in a foul on Dayton. McLean made both free throws. XU leads 21-10.
7:33 - Frease is the focus of the action now after hitting both of his free throw attempts and taking a charge on the other end. The freshman is making his mark on this game.
4:55 - The Musketeer reserves are showing Dayton just how much depth Xavier has. On three straight possessions, McLean had a commanding dunk.. followed by a break-away layup from Terrell Holloway.. followed by yet another authorative dunk from Jamel McLean. The crowd is on their feet going into the final TV timeout of the half. Xavier still leads 32-22.
2:01 - The Flyers cannot stop McLean on the boards. He has four rebounds and is now 4-4 in the game with his last three baskets being gigantic slam dunks.
Halftime - XU ends the half with their largest lead of the game, 40-27. Neither team scored in the final minute.
Second Half
15:30 - The first TV timeout of the half is here after Mickey Perry fould Dante Jackson on a drive. What Cintas fans on that end of the floor noticed was the additional hand checking by Perry that followed the call. That, on top of a young Dayton fan being ejected from the Xavier student section, added a little something extra to the break.
15:07 - On senior night, sophomore Dante Jackson is having one of his best all-around games. Jackson just dove into a pile of Flyers for a loose ball, corralled it, and managed to call the timeout. XU leads 43-35.
13:41 - Dayton had smothered C.J. Anderson's scoring attempts until the previous possession, when his power move in the paint resulted in two points for XU.
11:56 - The Xavier lead is down to six points (47-41). London Warren committed his third foul before the TV timeout
11:16 - Brad Redford just hit a wide open three from four feet beyond the arc. The spark is exactly what XU and the Cintas Center fans were looking for. Xavier now leads 50-41.
9:19 - Redford, running the point guard position, just shook his defended and nailed another trey from exactly the same spot. The threat from Redford at point is very real: One crossover-shake and the space for his shot can be created.
7:49 - Brian Gregory was forced to take a timeout now that XU has opened a 55-44 lead. The Musketeer fans have been standing for the last ten straight minutes at least. Cintas Center is electric like a thunder storm.
6:35 - Cintas Center will certainly miss BJ Raymond. He just hit back-to-back three pointers that opened up a 63-49 lead for the Musketeers. His face was a mirror image of the classic roar following his overtime treys that led XU to the Elite Eight last season.
3:56 - Dante Jackson and Kenny Frease just ran a perfectly-executed pick-and-roll. The result: a Frease slam that once again reminded Dayton just how many weapons Xavier has.
2:45 - Derrick Brown just one-handed a rebouned and slammed it home all in one move. He followed the play with a block on the other end that created a loose ball which Kenny Frease corralled on the deck. With a timeout called, XU earned possession.
0:19 - Sean Miller called a timeout to get CJ Anderson and BJ Raymond out of the game so the fans could give them the final applause they deserved. Both were critical to the win this evening.
Final - Xavier wins 76 - 59. Thanks for reading, the Musketeers will now cut down the nets to celebrate their three-straight A-10 regular season championships. Be sure to check GoXavier.com for all the post game recap information on tonights game.
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