An Interrogatory with: Xavier University
January 14, 2010 Tom Blackburn 
The guarantees in life are death, taxes, and Xavier beating Dayton in Cincinnati. It's science. There have been years when Dayton is the better team and then shits the bed. There have been years where players like David West have had monster games that give me nightmares for the rest of my life. This "rivalry" is so one-sided that it makes the Washington Generals blush. Before the season started, the gang at the BR agreed that if there was ever a year that Dayton could end the curse, it would be this year. Well, call me crazy, but I think we will have to wait until next year.
Don't call me a Negative Nancy. Call me a realist. Seriously, fuck Xavier. I hate everything about them. Which makes writing this post so difficult. I actually found a nice XU fan that was shockingly informative, funny, and GASP...nice! Joining us today is X.U., a blogger from A Fan's Note (on Xavier Basketball). He wanted to remain anonymous because like Blackburn and O'Brien, he has a budding law degree that he does not want to jeopardize. Enjoy!
Yes!!! Xavier fans pretty much feel sorry for us!BR: First and foremost, do you or any Xavier alums consider UD to be their #1 rival? Most of the opinions I’ve heard would probably place Cincinnati in the top spot.
XU: I think that's the consensus view. In the 1990's and the early 2000's, the Xavier-UC game was not only the most anticipated game of the year, but also the most important for XU from an RPI/NCAA perspective. XU at the time had a hard time convincing name-brand teams to play them (sound familiar?) and UC was a Top 10 team every year. I think the UC game will always be the more heated and intense of the two rivalries because of the city bragging rights, the public vs. private aspect, etc. The XU-UD games seem more like a sibling rivalry. With that said, I think in recent years the UD games have become more important to XU's postseason destiny than the Shootout owing to UC's slide into mediocrity and UD's improvement.
BR: What were the expectations for this Xavier team coming into this season?
XU: If you asked me ten minutes after the Pitt game, assuming Miller on the bench, Derrick Brown in the lineup and several recruits providing depth, I'd have said Elite Eight with a chance for something truly special. But (as you are aware), we've had kind of an emo offseason which threw everything off kilter.* I had no clue whether they'd be good or not. And to a certain extent, I still don't.
* I can joke about this now but at the time I actually said things like "the dream season is turning into a nightmare." Someone should have stabbed me with a lawn dart.
BR: How would you grade Chris Mack's coaching performance thus far?
XU: It took Sean Miller two seasons to "get it." I think Mack is on a more rapid learning curve and I think he's eventually going to enjoy similar success. Just as an illustration, against La Salle last Thursday X was up 3 or 4 points with about 90 seconds left and the ball. Dante Jackson, for reasons known only to himself, dribbled wildly into the lane and threw up a horrible shot with 20 seconds on the shot clock. Against GW three days later, in the same situation, the Muskies ran 30 seconds off the clock on each possession under 2 minutes, shortening the game and frustrating the Colonials. It's a minor, elementary tactical issue but it's good to see the coaching staff address a problem and get tangible results.
BR: XU only has 5 losses this year and some could point out that they are all against good teams (even if the Butler loss was complete bullshit). Yet, despite these 5 losses, people are saying this is a down year for the Muskies. You have to laugh at this assertion, no?
XU: If there is a consensus that this is a down year for XU, it's a tribute to the program's achievements in past seasons. I'm glad that expectations are high.
BR: Let's quickly talk about Kenny Frease. I for one thought that this would be a major break out year for him. What are your thoughts on his year and a half in Cincinnati so far? Too early to tell, a bust, simply overrated? What are your predictions of him over the next two and half years?
XU: I think he's shown flashes of the potential that made him such a highly touted recruit. He's not the second coming of David West, but there's nothing wrong with the Jason Love development arc. I expect Frease to be a consistent double-double threat starting next year.
Not going to slow down J CrawBR: Did you know Jordan Crawford dunked over Lebron James? In all seriousness though, Crawford is having a monster year (19.2 ppg, 43.9% from three). What, if any, are his weaknesses and what does Dayton need to do to slow down this guy? Sneak him an extra helping of Skyline Chili with his Wheaties?
XU: LeBron's posse turning into the Nixon Administration was one of the more bizarre plot twists of the summer. By the time the tape leaked, I think everyone expected some sort of Dominique Wilkins tomahawk with Crawford hanging from the rim bellowing like Hacksaw Jim Dugan while LeBron wet his pants in fear. As it turns out, it was basically the Erin Andrews tape all over again -- grainy, disappointing, yet sensual.
As with any talented scorer, Crawford has a tendency to force the issue and overextend himself. You can't do anything about his fallaway jumpers and 3-point shots, if they are falling he's impossible to stop. The place I would focus on were I an opposing coach is limiting dribble penetration, because that opens up Redford and Jackson on the wings.
BR: Talk briefly about the play of Terrell Holloway. After an inauspicious freshman year, he seems much improved. Is it simply a case of more playing time, or has Holloway made significant strides in his game?
XU: Three observations. First, Holloway played most of last season with a stress fracture in his foot. Before I started treating Bud Lite as a food group, I was a long-distance runner. I developed stress fractures in my shins and it made every movement painful. Second, according to media reports and Mack's interviews, Holloway worked tirelessly this summer to improve his ballhandling, fitness, and shooting. Third (and we're venturing into message board conjecture now), Sean Miller--himself a former standout PG--was very hard on Holloway during his freshman year. I think Miller leaving was a weight off Terrell's shoulders and has allowed him to play with more freedom and confidence.
Recognize mother fuckers!BR: What concerns you most about this year’s UD team?
XU: Aggressive team defense and Chris Johnson. As to the latter, he appears to be some sort of hybrid basketball monster created by Brian Gregory and a team of crack biologists after extracting DNA from Chris Wright and Marcus Johnson.* Johnson's ability to clean the boards and step out behind the arc creates matchup problems for any team.
*Hypothesis: Wright and Marcus Johnson have failed to regenerate this critical genetic data, explaining their disappointing seasons. More research needed.
BR: How much of an impact does Mark Lyons’ absence have on the team, how was this changed the team’s chemistry?
XU: Last I heard, Lyons practiced Thursday and hopes to feature against Dayton, but we'll see how things go. Lyons' quickness makes him a weapon at both ends of the floor. His absence makes Holloway the only true PG on the roster, shortens the bench, and deprives XU of a key cog. That said, I'm not going to complain about an injury like this, having watched a deathly ill Brian Roberts stagger around the Cintas Center like Gary Busey a few years back. It's a setback if Lyons can't go, but not insurmountable.
BR: It seems like it’s a typical Xavier season. They suffered a couple of tough losses to quality opponents, got some decent wins and appear like they are already rolling in conference play. The Musketeers are about to go through the toughest part of their schedule this week: vs. Dayton, at Temple, and back home to face Rhode Island. Go 2-1 and the Muskies are looking at a 5-1 conference record with little challenges ahead. I think if XU gets two wins they are a lock for a tournament bid. Your take?
XU: Well, there is one dirty secret as of right now, and I'm afraid it affects both our teams. Neither Xavier or Dayton really has a marquee non-conference win. Cincinnati and Georgia Tech are frauds. Creighton sucks. Both UD and XU need to rack up a lot of wins in the A-10 this season to make up for those early missed opportunities. I think 2-1 in this stretch keeps XU on pace for a tournament bid. I don't think it makes them a lock. Xavier has to eat the Fordha
Sure to be a familiar sight on Saturdaym Computer Ranking Shitbomb twice this season. If XU finishes the regular season 21-9 they are probably in. 20-10 or worse and they'll need to perform well in AC.
BR: Admit it, you sneak a glance at Arizona every once and a while.
XU: I look to see how some of the former XU recruits (Kevin Parrom, Kyryl Natyazhko) are getting on, but I'm pretty much over it.
(By the way, there's no effing way that shot should have counted against Lipscomb).
BR: Prediction time. We're not going to ask you who wins, just tell us what Xavier’s margin of victory will be.
XU: Xavier by 9. I'd like to finish by saying thanks to the BR staff for inviting me to speak to your vast readership, I expect that my participation in this Q & A will increase my site traffic exponentially (i.e., 2 views per day to 4). I apologize for being long winded.
Reader Comments (20)
I can not understand why you think that the X got robbed against Butler. They should have had a chance to throw the ball in, but did you honestly think they would drain a shot with .3 or whatever should have been left on the clock? Screwed on the clock, yes, robbed of a win, no.
Donoher is a closet Xavier fan.
The new shithouse quote is probably the best one yet.
This game last season is when I questioned whether or not BG was insane for giving Luke Fabrizius a scholarship. Xavier made him look like a fool, especially on the defensive end.
It seems to me that UD has also suffered horrible shooting slumps at Cintas (attribute some of that to Xavier) which get them down by about 15. They then start playing like little brother and Xavier wins. If UD wins, I think it is because the man with no fear, Chris Johnson, continually t-bags the entire front court while grabbing ridiculous boards and being simply unstoppable.
@Adam....agree.
@X.U.: Hey thanks again for helping us out. You're my new favorite Xavier fan, and by new I mean only. Great job.
I have a question for all of you gentlemen out there. I think tonight Chris Johnson will be the best player on the court. When was the last time XU and Dayton met, and we had the best player on the court?
It's not news that Dayton was mentioned in the friday chat on midmajority, but i thought i'd pass it along... someone stole an idea (hint: the only woman that reads this blog)...
Question:What do you think of UD's Chris Johnson this year? Freak of nature? Natural talent, or his he a DNA hybrid of Chris Wright and Marcus Johnson developed by some rough UD students in the bio lab.
Answer: Girl, you're getting all cyber sci-fi on that a**. I only got to see him in person at Miami, he didn't have that good of a game, missed him (of course) vs. App State, but he played great in that game at The (Other) Pit. He's the reason they almost won, he was hitting his 3's! I think UD has enough "characters" that someone could make a comic book. Maybe the Blackburn Review people.
Boys, a challenge has been thrown down.
I told Kyle Whelliston that line about CJ being a genetic hybrid, and he commented that "UD has enough "characters" someone should make a comic book, maybe the Blackburn Review people."
I would take up the challenge if I had any drawing ability. Or photoshop skills.
Fuck Xavier.
@juliaflyer: Me so confused. UD has enough "characters?" What the hey does that mean?
if xavier was a president, it would be millard fillmore.
this is not a compliment
@vern: If Xavier was a president, i would assassinate the fuck out of him (or her).
Fuck Xavier.
If Xavier were a president, he would be William Henry Harrison. Or Buchanon...
History nerd burn!
Insert Barry Goldwater reference.
your sidebar is fucked up
it's showing code...
sancho is the new swampy meadows.
Xavier : shit school :: cantankerous : bellicose
godfuckingdamnit...
really? really?
fuck this yankee shit
@Blackburn You can't deny we have characters. London, CW, CJ, Marcus, Kurt (the lost kitten). That's what he was talking about.