So that was an adventure last night and I’m glad you all came along with us. Xavier eventually overwhelmed the Marist Red Foxes after the Musketeers first looked to have put the game away, then very much realized they had not. When it ended, Xavier was the winner, but I’m not certain anyone walked away feeling like things were going in the right direction.
The Musketeers made 18 shots last night. The last time they were that poor was the home opener against Texas Southern. In that one X made 34 free throws and eased to a nine point win because the defense was something less than smothering as the shooting sputtered along. The good guys were 6-23 from behind the arc in that one which is, somehow, better than they were last night.
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But this is what happens everything is new. There was a new coach, all new players, new coaches, and the somewhat new experience of having plenty of good seats still available. It was evident that this team is lacking in on court chemistry. Malik Messina-Moore was very good, but missed some players who were wide open on the back side. Tre Carroll put the ball on the deck way too much, turned it over five times, and missed five threes. Filip Borovicanin looked very toolsy but also almost literally lost on the court and posted an offensive efficiency of 11, which is good if the scale is 10, but not if the average is 100.
All Wright was much better than that. While his interest in defense might best be described as “passing,” he was a threat any time the ball was in his hands. He can shoot, he made good decisions, and he found open teammates for buckets.
Xavier had a 20 point lead and a 99.5% chance of winning early in the second half. They allowed a 13-2 run, then a 13-0 run. During both of those they looked ill at ease on both ends of the floor. The defense was aggressive, fast, hardworking and stridently mediocre. The offense was also fast, it just wasn’t good at all.
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There are going to be a lot more games like this. While it briefly threatened to get boring, it very much wasn’t in the same way that being awake for a vasectomy isn’t. This is how the season is going to go. This team and the way they play is going to give some very good teams headaches. This team and the way it plays is going to give some very bad teams realistic chances to win. Xavier might beat Creighton. Xavier might lose to Old Dominion.
That’s what happens when your team isn’t very good. #NoNegativity is the vibe. Basketball is back, Xavier isn’t boring, the guys seem engaged and likable. Sometimes, that’s the best you can get.
