Placards on lamp posts around the Xavier campus read “A Better Education For A Better World.”  The weekend’s events provide the Jesuit university with the opportunity to fulfill that motto.

Saturday’s 79th meeting between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers unraveled into a disappointing display of testosterone-driven “one-upsmanship.” Subsequent press conferences and suspensions have fueled public commentary and opinion.

Fans were left to wonder about the culture of the Xavier locker room.  Players chosen to represent the university in Saturday’s post-game press conference used the opportunity to portray the Musketeer team as “gangstas” who don’t back down.

Twenty-four hours later, Chris Mack referred to the press conference as a mistake. That the players should not have been given the opportunity to speak.

A mistake?

The truth cannot be a mistake, and for those young men the words chosen represent their perception of reality, their truth. The conviction in their voices left no doubt. Like it or not, it is also Xavier’s reality.

Hiding from such assertions ignores an opportunity that the Jesuits have encountered for centuries: the chance to teach, to nurture.

Those words brought out into the open a harsh reality facing society. There is a growing number of young people who approach daily challenges with this survival of the fittest mindset.

It doesn’t have to be that way. There are alternatives, and the simplest lesson that can be taught is one at the very core of the Jesuit mission: “Turn the other cheek.”

Many will scoff at such a notion – a further indication of the problem.

From Sunday’s briefing it appears the process has started. Apologies were expressed. Words recanted. Sure, these admissions were scripted, rehearsed and lacked the temerity of the previous day’s contention.  Timing was of the essence.  Learning will require a process.

Those outside the locker rooms can haggle whether or not the suspensions equal the infraction.  The true test of these judgments will come the next time a similar situation arises.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times challenge and controversy.”

Xavier didn’t need to go far to find its challenge and controversy. The Jesuit university found these residing in its own locker room.  The lesson that can be taught will make the world a better place.

CINCINNATI -The No. 11 Xavier Musketeers battled back from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Purdue Boilermakers 66-63 in front of a sold out crowd at Cintas Center Saturday afternoon. Senior Tu Holloway was clutch down the stretch, draining three treys in the waning minutes of the half to lead all scorers with 21 points.

Holloway, who only had four points at half time, scored 17 in the second frame off of 4-of-7 shooting and going 3-of-4 from downtown. Holloway continued to be reliable from the charity stripe, going a nearly perfect 8-of-9 for the game.

Three other Musketeers were in double figures as well, with Mark Lyons scoring 14 and Kenny Frease and Andre Walker each contributing 10 points. Lyons and Travis Taylor led the Musketeers on the glass with six rebounds each.

The Musketeers would finish the game shooting 53.7 percent from the floor to the Boilermakers’ 41.1 percent. XU out-rebounded Purdue 38-29 and scored 28 points in the paint to Purdue’s 26. Xavier took better care of the ball in the second half only having four turnovers for 22 total team turnovers.

The second half began much like the first frame, with Purdue pushing its lead to as many as 19 with under 11 minutes left to play. Xavier held Purdue without a field goal for the last 6:26 of the game, going on a 23-6 run to finish the game.

XU’s come back started at the 7:48 mark off of a layup from Walker. After the media timeout Justin Martin converted on a trey to bring the Purdue lead to 11 with under seven minutes. A shot from downtown by Lyons would cut the Boilermakers’ lead to 10. Xavier would take the 61-60 lead off of a Holloway trey at the 1:05 mark. A Robbie Hummel free throw would tie things back up but Holloway came down the floor and drained another three-pointer to put the score at 64-61 with 39 seconds. The Musketeers would not look back as free throws by Holloway sealed the victory.

The Boilermakers started off the first half going on a 14-2 run and holding the Musketeers without a field goal for over six minutes. Purdue would hit its largest lead of the half, 16, at the 8:56 mark off of a jumper from Lewis Jackson. Xavier would chip away at the lead the rest of the half cutting it as close to nine off of a layup from Holloway.

The Musketeers went on a 7-2 run to end the first half off of a trey from Redford, a layup from Frease and a coast-to-coast layup from Holloway. Purdue’s Robbie Hummel had a tip-in as time expired to bring the score to 33-22 as both squads headed into the locker rooms for intermission.

Xavier had 18 turnovers in the first half, and Purdue capitalized by scoring 14 points. Both teams were almost identical from the floor in the first frame with the Boilermakers shooting 44.4 percent and the Musketeers converting 43.8 percent of the time.

With the win Xavier remains a perfect 6-0 on the season, while the Boilermakers fall to 7-2.

The men’s team is back in action on Wednesday, Dec. 7 as it travels to Butler to take on the Bulldogs at 9 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Stay tuned to GoXavier.com for more information on Xavier basketball.

Courtesy of Xavier athletics

With October comes the official start of the college basketball season as teams begin practices. Follow along as Pickin’ Splinters highlights the incoming classes of the A-10 that are “signed, sealed and delivered.”

Leading it off with the Xavier Musketeers.

The Musketeers have made six consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament taking eight wins during those appearances.  Xavier fell to Marquette in the first round of last year’s tournament.

Andrew Taylor and Jamel McLean graduated from that team. Chris Mack and his staff added three freshmen to this year’s club.

Dee Davis 5’11″ 150lbs. G Bloomington South – Bloomington, Indiana

HONOR ROLL

Davis was ranked No. 22 at point guard by ESPN.com, No. 23 by Scout.com and No. 24 by rivals.com…rivals also listed Davis as the No. 120 player overall.

AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH

Won 4A State Championship as a sophomore and a senior and was named MVP of the state tournament both years…averaged 21.6 points, 5.7 assists and 2.4 steals a game as a senior while leading his team to a 26-2 overall record and the state title…hit 52 percent from the field, including 41 percent from three-point range…a three-time All-Conference Indiana selection and two-time All-State selection…finished his career with 1,582 career points and 471 career assists, while helping Bloomington South compile a 75-3 record during his three season as the starting point guard… the team had a streak of 49 straight wins that ended in the postseason tournament his junior year…scored a team-high 15.7 ppg. and dished off a team-high 5.4 apg. on a 23-1 squad his junior season…averaged 13.1 points and 5.2 assists as a sophomore, while leading his team to a perfect 26-0 record and a No. 3 national ranking in the USA Today’s Super 25 prep poll…among his high school teammates were Spencer Turner (Belmont), Jordan Hulls (Indiana) and Eric Fruman (Butler)…basketball coach: J.R. Holmes.

What they’re saying about Davis – Rodger Bohn/Slam Online : “Super fast point guard who can really run an offense and lock down on D. May struggle against bigger point guards, though. Can definitely see him contributing as a freshman.”

Justin Martin 6’7″ 202lbs. F Lawrence North – Indianapolis, Indiana and Mountain State Academy – West Virginia

AS A MUSKETEER
Practiced last season with the Musketeers and is eager to make a significant impact this season.

HONOR ROLL

Ranked as the no. 87 prospect by scout.com and No. 86 by rivals.com…scored 42 points in leading the Class AA-A All-Stars past their AAA counterparts in the annual Scott Brown Memorial Classic in April, 2010.

AT MOUNTAIN STATE ACADEMY

Averaged 15.9 points and 6.9 rebounds, while leading his team to a 22-4 record and a No. 17 final ranking in USA Today…Team MVP…basketball coach: Rodney Crawford.

AT LAWRENCE NORTH HIGH

Averaged 10.4 ppg. as a junior at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Ind., the same school that sent XU current junior Jeff Robinson…basketball coach: Jack Keefer.

What they’re saying about Martin- Eric Vaughn Coach/Founder of  Blessed IJN AAU Basketball and publisher of The Geeker Report: “N.B.A. or bust. He has tremendous skill. He reminds of a bigger Eric Gordon. If he has learned a work ethic, they have an N.B.A player. He can shoot it. He can handle it. He can pass it. He can post. There’s nothing he can’t do as a two-guard. He’s an A-10 rookie-of-the-year talent. I coached him in a game when he scored 42.”

Rodger Bohn/Slam Online:   “Ton of talent, but the issue is whether or not he will ever put it all together. Great size and stroke for a player who can play either wing position. He’s the type of guy who I feel will either really flourish, or will have a lackluster career.”

Dezmine Wells 6’4″ 220lbs. G/F Hargrave Military Academy Raleigh, North Carolina

HONOR ROLL

Was ranked as the No. 45 player in America by Scout.com…ranked No. 48 on ESPN.com and No. 76 by rivals.com…the MVP of the 2010 NBA Player’s Camp Tournament in Charlottesville, Virginia…a 2010-11 McDonalds All-American Candidate…participated in the 2010 Nike Lebron James Skills Academy, the 2010 Nike Paul Pierce Skills Academy and was a 2010 Nike Global Games Invitee.

AT HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY (CHATHAM, VA)

Team recorded a 28-1 overall record this past season…earned Hoophall Classic MVP honors…played with a long list of talented players, including P.J. Hairston (North Carolina), Robert Brown, C.J. Barksdale, Craig Ponder (UNCW) and Jalen Walker (WVSU)…the same program that has sent Xavier talented players such as David West, Jordan Crawford and Stanley Burrell …basketball coach: Kevin Keatts.

AT WORD OF GOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (RALEIGH, N.C.)

Two-time state champion…averaged 19.8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals as a senior while leading his team to a 28-1 record…teammates included John Wall, C.J. Leslie, Bishop Daniels, Elijah Johnson and Emanuel Chapman…basketball coach: Erasto Hatchett.

What they’re saying about Wells -Eric Vaughn Coach/Founder of  Blessed IJN AAU Basketball and publisher of The Geeker Report  : “He is a Mitch Richmond-type guard with a big-time athletic body. He can play small forward. He has a J.R. Smith body size, but I don’t know if he can shoot it as well.”

Thanks to the Xavier Sports Information Department for background information for each of the student/athletes.

By Paul Casey Gotham

Gone to the guards

A quick look at some statistics reveals that a few teams are doing their scoring from the outside – in. The highest scoring big man in the country is Vlad Moldoveanu from American who is averaging 20.8 a game. That ranks 13th in the country. Gary Flowers (So. Miss.) is 13th with 20.6 and Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson is 15th with 20.5.

It will be interesting to see if this trend continues as teams get deeper and deeper into conference play. When March comes, usually the teams that can rebound and score around the basket survive the longest. Unless, of course, you are the 2009-10 Duke team. But then you need three perimeter scorers.

Maybe this year will be different.

Here are the top ten scorers in the nation.

For the complete list, click here.

Like father, like son Part II

Part I of this ran a couple of weeks ago. Click here to go to it. I was surprised by the tepid response to the possibility of a Rochester hoops discussion.

A few more to add to the list. Ray McCallum  Jr. received scholarships from UCLA and Arizona. Instead, McCallum chose Detroit where he is playing for his dad. The younger McCallum has range. Trey Ziegler plays for his dad, Ernie, at Central Michigan. Doug McDermott is lighting it up for his dad and the Creighton Bluejays.

This week’s Game Day Thread

Last week we had a nice crew watching the Temple-Xavier game and adding in-game comments on The Pine. This week we are going for a Saturday brunch with two games: Temple-St. Joe’s 11 a.m. on ESPNU and Xavier-Richmond noon on ESPN2. Join in the analysis.

Friendly fire

When the Xavier Musketeers played at St. Bonaventure last week, the contest brought together a group of coaches who are more than familiar with each other. Bonnies’ coach, Mark Schmidt spent seven years as an assitant under the late Skip Prosser at Xavier. Schmidt was responsible for putting the likes of Brian Grant, David West and James Posey in Xavier uniforms. Musketeers’ current skipper, Chris Mack was XU’s director of basketball operations for the last two years Schmidt spent with the X-Men.  XU’s associate coach, Pat Kelsey was a backup point guard from 1995-98 at Xavier. SBU assistant, Jeff Massey played guard at Xavier from  1993-95.

“He’s my best friend in the business,” Mack said of Schmidt.  “A guy I really look up to and admire. It’s hard to play against him.”

“If we weren’t in the Atlantic 10, we wouldn’t be playing against each other,” Schmidt added. “We were friends after the game. We’ll be friends after the game.”

Familiarity breeds…

Teams are knee deep into conference play, and that means familiarity. Guys who have seen each other on a regular basis are less likely to be fooled on the court.

How else can one explain that Pittsburgh entered play Monday averaging 80 a game, and Notre Dame boasted 75.5 an outing. The final score between Big East rivals? 56-51.

Some other low-scoring conference games of note:

West Virginia 56 South Florida 46

Texas A&M 64 Kansas State 56

Arizona 65 Washington St. 63

Cincinnati 53 St. John’s 51

Florida 45 Auburn 40

Tennessee 59 Georgia 57

Rebounds & Putbacks

Take a tour of Western New York hoops with Bob DiCesare and Rodney McKissic.

Zach Hayes offers some love for Xavier’s Chris Mack in his Ten Tuesday Scribbles.

Mike DeCourcy offers his preview of the week ahead.

Who are your candidates for coach of the year? SI’s Seth Davis has his top ten.

They said it

Xavier coach, Chris Mack, on St. Bonaventure forward, Andrew Nicholson: “Probably talk to him about entering the draft early.”

Terrence Jones:  “My coach isn’t the first coach to cuss. That didn’t even bother me.”

Calipari:  “There are times when I just look at him and I go, ‘I love you, you know, and he says, ‘I know you do, I love you too.”

Fairfield Coach Ed Cooley on seeing the new press conference room at Canisius College: “Yeah, I like this room. That’s the first comment I like to tell y’all. Man, that’d look nice in some red with a little stag on it. Much love to your A.D. and administration there. I gotta catch my breath.”

Courtesy of Xavier athletics

1st Team All-Casey

G Kemba Walker – UConn

G Jimmer Fredette – BYU

SF Kyle Singler – Duke

PF Marcus Morris – Kansas

C Jared Sullinger – Ohio State

2nd Team All Casey

PG Tu Holloway – Xavier

SG Corey Stokes – Villanova

SF Kahwi Leonard – San Diego State

PF  Chris Wright – Dayton

C JaJuan Johnson – Purdue

Got any college basketball splinters? Share them here.

Ogo Adegboye

By Paul Casey Gotham

St. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — For twenty minutes, the St. Bonaventure faithful had reason to believe. But hope can prove itself to be a fleeting object.

Tu Holloway tallied 22 second-half points as the Atlantic 10-leading Xavier Musketeers rallied for a convincing 79-65 victory over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at the Reilly Center, Wednesday night.

Holloway finished a perfect eight-of-eight from the free throw line to go with five-of-six from the field including three behind the arc to pace the Musketeers.

“He’s a heckuva player,” Bonnies’ coach, Mark Schmidt said of the Xavier point guard. “We knew going into the game that people talk about him as one of the top five point guards in the country. He may be. He hit some tough shots. We had a hard time stopping him off the bounce.”

After letting the game come to him before the break, Holloway took charge. When he wasn’t leaving defenders behind and getting into the lane with a series of shoulder jukes, the junior was knocking down threes.

Dante Jackson found him open on the right side, and Holloway pulled the Muskies within one at 39-38. He followed with a steal at the opposite end and led Jeff Robinson for a dunk and Xavier’s first lead of the game four minutes into the second half. Holloway proceeded to steal the ensuing inbound and get to the line where he hit his first of eight free throws.

“I’ve grown used to him as a coach,” noted Xavier head coach, Chris Mack. “He really shines in big moments and made some tough shots tonight.”

Bonaventure refused to give in. Demtrius Conger made it 44-41 with a pair of free throws.

Xavier would not be denied.

Kenny Frease split a double-team in the post and found Jeff Robinson at the free throw line. When Robinson’s attempt caromed to the left, Frease fought off Marquise Simmons with a left arm-bar and gathered the offensive rebound with his right. Frease found Holloway open behind the arc. The junior point guard returned the ball to Robinson who finished with his second attempt.

Holloway led a 22-8 run and put the game out of reach at 70-53 with a step-back trifecta twenty-five feet from the basket.

The Bonnies came out of the locker room with defensive intensity at the opening tip and rode hot shooting from behind the arc to a five-point edge at half.

Five Xavier turnovers in the game’s opening moments spurred a 14-3 Bonnie run to start the game.

Da’Quan Cook took a pass just inside the arc and drove to the basket. When the defense sagged to take away the penetration Cook pitched to Ogo Adegboye for the senior point guard’s first of four 3s in the first half.

On the next trip, Adegboye fed Andrew Nicholson in the post for a dunk and a quick 5-0 advantage.

Michael Davenport made it a seven-point edge when he used the basket as a screen and drove across the lane to finish with his left.

Adegboye gave the Bonnies a ten-point lead when he hit from the left side. With the defense doubling down on Nicholson, the forward kicked it to Matt Wright at the top of the key who found Adegboye for the 17-7 lead.

The Musketeers’ front court sparked a 19-9 run from there.

Robinson came off the bench and made an immediate impact. The sophomore forward scored six straight for the X-Men. After tipping in a missed lay up, Robinson followed with a steal and lay up the next trip down the floor. The Indianapolis, Indiana native made it 19-9 with a drive and finish from the left.

“Jeff’s play sort of inspired his teammates a little bit,” Mack commented. “We needed that because Bonaventure came ready to play.”

Jamel McLean and Frease took turns from there.

McLean scored the next four. The senior forward grabbed an offensive rebound and finished off the glass. One possession later, he scooped up a loose ball and finished inside again.

Frease slipped a ball screen and Mark Lyons led him for a layup. The 7′ center delivered with another deuce next time down the floor to draw Xavier within three at 20-17.

Davenport responded with a pull-up jumper from the right elbow.

Lyons took over for the Muskies.  The red-shirt sophomore found his spot just to the right of the top of the key and nailed back-to-back threes.  Holloway led Lyons with the first from behind the arc. Two trips later, Frease relocated the ball from the post, and Lyons connected again.

Holloway and McLean went to the bench with a pair of fouls apiece.

Lyons and Andrew Taylor helped Xavier keep pace.

Taylor tied the contest at 26-26 with a pair of free throws.

Conger found Adegboye in the right corner, and the Bonnies led by three.

Lyons knocked down a pull-up jumper from the left baseline, and Xavier trailed by a point.

Xavier’s defense was forced to shadow the hot-shooting Adegboye along with keeping track of Nicholson in the post. Wright took advantage of the opportunity and buried back-to-back treys to close the half.

Xavier finished the game shooting better than 58 percent (7 of 12) from behind the arc, but their effort on the defensive end proved to be the difference. They limited St. Bonaventure’s leading scorer, Nicholson, to just 13 points and two rebounds. The junior forward entered play averaging 20.9 and 7.9. Xavier guard’s, especially Holloway and Lyons, routinely harassed Nicholson in the post keeping the native of Mississauga, Ontario from putting the ball on the floor to create space and get to the basket. Nicholson fouled out with two turnovers after 23 minutes of play, but Schmidt refused to blame the referee’s for the game’s outcome.

“If we can play well, and they don’t play as well, we have chance,” noted the Bonnies’ head coach. “I said it before the game if they play their A-game, and we play our A-game, we’re not going to win. In the first half, we didn’t play our A-game, but they probably played their C-game and gave us a chance.”

Lyons finished with 15 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Robinson added 12 while Frease and McLean scored 10 apiece.

Xavier out-rebounded Bonaventure 31-17.

Xavier improves to 4-0 in the A-10 and remains in a tie with Duquesne as the top. St. Bonaventure falls to 1 and 3 in the league and 9 and 8 overall.

The Bonnies play at George Washington on Saturday before returning to the Reilly Center to host Massachusetts next Wednesday.

The Musketeers host Temple, Saturday and George Washington on Wednesday.

By Paul Casey Gotham

Setting: The Blackburn-McCafferty Trophy is on the line at the Cintas Center as Brian Gregory brings his Dayton Flyers (14-4/ 2-1) south on I 75 for a clash with Chris Mack and his Xavier Musketeers (10-5/ 2-0). The trophy honors former Dayton coach Tom Blackburn (1947-64) and Xavier coach and athletic director, Jim McCafferty (1957-63).

Plot: Position in conference standings is on the line. Along with the Musketeers, the Flyers trail three other unbeaten teams in the conference – Temple, George Washington and Duquesne.

There will be a plenty of energy on campus and plenty more on the court. Dayton will look to take advantage of Xavier’s short bench.  Ten Flyers average 10 or more minutes per game. Because of injuries, the Musketeers have nine scholarship players.

Sub-plot: Both squads enter play coming off a win. Chris Wright scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Flyers defeated the St. Joe’s Hawks 65-59. Tu Holloway led five Muskies in double figures as Xavier trounced UMass 79-50. Dayton has not won on Xavier’s home court since 1981.

Flashback: Holloway scored 22, and Jason Love corralled 10 rebounds as the X-Men advanced to the A10 semi-finals with a 78-73 triumph over the Flyers at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Dayton leads the series 82-63. Xavier has taken eight of the last nine meetings.

Xavier has earned 21 NCAA Tournament berths, including last year’s Sweet Sixteen run and Elite Eight showings in 2008 and 2004. Dayton’s resume includes 14 appearances in ‘The Dance.’ Brian Gregory took the Flyers to the tourney in 2009 and in 2004.

Foreshadowing: Sixteen Flyers have gone on to enjoy careers in the NBA, including Jim Paxson Jr. and Johnny Davis.  Seventeen Musketeers have played in the Association, including current stars Derrick Brown, Jordan Crawford, James Posey and David West.

Conflict: Both teams play games in the 60s. Dayton scores 66 while surrendering 62. Xavier scores 69 and gives up 64.  The Muskies hold a slight advantage in field goal percentage (44 percent to Dayton’s 39). Turnovers are a near wash. UD creates as many as they commit. XU has a slight advantage (.8). The Flyers take and make slightly more free throws per game than their adversaries as do the Musketeers.  But the Flyers have an edge on the boards. Their 5.6 rebounding margin ranks in the top 50 nationally.

Dayton’s Chris Wright and Xavier’s Jamel McLean could be the individual match-up of the night. Both average a near double-double (Wright 13.3 ppg/ 9.2, McLean 11.3 / 9.5).

Wright will end Dayton’s drought when he plays in the N.B.A. next year.  Wright can overpower with brute strength. He has developed a mid-range game that makes him difficult to guard. Opponents can not lay off him from 15 feet. Get too close though, and Wright will blow by a defender with one dribble and a dunk.

McLean’s back-to-the basket game has quietly matured. He is patient with the ball in the post allowing the play to develop and finding open teammates. At the same time, he can finish with either hand. When the ball goes in the air, McLean is difficult to keep in check.

Dayton’s freshman point guard, Juwan Staten, and Xavier’s Tu Holloway are primarily responsible for feeding the ball into the post.

Staten hands out more than six assists per game and he possesses a better than 2:1 assist to turnover ratio . For a freshman, he has an uncanny ability to play within himself.

Holloway has the talent to be the best point guard in the country, when he keeps his emotions in check. The Xavier junior could dominate Staten. But he also could lose sight of winning the game and turn the point guard battle into a personal confrontation.

Dante Jackson hit five of eight shots from long range when the Muskies beat Dayton at Cintas last year. Chris Johnson averages two threes a game for the Flyers. Jackson and Johnson could tip the scales in the game. Whoever of these guys gets hot will affect floor spacing and the length of passing lanes to be defended.

Xavier’s Mark Lyons and Kenny Frease have played inconsistently this year. Both are capable of big performances. It is also possible for them to be a liability.

At 7′, Frease is a difficult match-up. Add to that a baby hook he has developed and Frease can get 22 like he did against Wake Forest. The following game he accounted for zero at Gonzaga.

Lyons averages 12 a game. He scored 11 in a loss to Cincinnati and two in a loss to Florida. His assist to turnover rate is one to one, but those numbers do not include shots that Lyons forces.

Paul Williams provides a deep threat for the Flyers. The junior guard hits almost 49 percent from long range.

Dayton’s Josh Parker, Devin Searcy and Josh Benson combine for 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Conflict: After limping through the end of December and an emotional game at Cincinnati, the Musketeers seemed to have found their just in time for conference play. The Flyers will take this game to final minutes, but Xavier’s play-makers will be too much. Staten will put up a struggle, but Xavier’s experienced back court will outlast the freshman. Xavier will come away with with a five-point victory.

AP Photo/Al Behrman

By Paul Casey Gotham

Setting: NCAA tournament contenders collide when Chris Mack brings his Xavier Musketeers (7-2)  to Spokane, Washington for a battle with Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs (6-5).

Plot: Atlantic 10 meets the West Coast Conference with tournament resumes on the line.

Sub-plot: The game is the second of four in thirteen days for the Muskies. Xavier knocked off Wake Forest over the weekend. Xavier hosts Albany on Tuesday and Florida, New Year’s Eve. Gonzaga trimmed Baylor on Saturday. The Zags take on Oklahoma State on the 31st.

Background: The match-up is part of the Jesuit Spotlight project using basketball to promote Jesuit education across the United States. Xavier and Gonzaga are two of 28 Jesuit universities in the country.

Flashback: The schools have split a pair of meetings in the past. Gonzaga defeated Xavier in the first round of the 2006 NCAA tournament 79-75. The schools first met in 1960 with Xavier laying claim to an 87-82 triumph.

Coach Few has led Gonzaga to 11 of its 13 NCAA tournament appearances including Sweet Sixteen showings in ’00, ’01, ’06, and ’09.   Seven different coaches have led the Musketeers to 21 NCAA tournament appearances including Eight Eight showings in ’04 and ’08.

Foreshadowing: Eight Bulldogs have gone on to play in the National Basketball Association including current players Austin Daye and Ronny Turiaf. Seventeen Musketeers have suited up in the National Basketball Association with Derrick Brown, Jordan Crawford, James Posey and David West holding down current roster spots.

Conflict: Gonzaga scores nearly 79 points per game while giving up 70. Xavier fills it up at a rate of 70 per contest but keeps opponents to 68. The Bulldogs finish 48.7 percent from the field and allow a rate of 42.2 percent. The Muskies hit 43.5 percent and give up 40 percent.

Gonzaga’s schedule is ranked 21st in the country. Xavier weighs in at 26th.

What gives?

On the surface, Gonzaga earned a big win over a ranked opponent in Baylor. But the Bears have not played much of a schedule and lacked an edge. Baylor came out and used a two-three zone to defend the Zags. Gonzaga took advantage of the comfortable space afforded on the perimeter for the win.

Gonzaga’s Steven Gray left Saturday’s game with back spasms. The 6’5″ shooting guard averages 15 points per game.  He leads the Zags in three point attempts (70) and makes (29). Gray will be hard pressed to continue his 41 percent rate from behind the arc with Xavier’s Tu Holloway up in his grill. Holloway will not allow Gray any comfort on the perimeter. Gray will be forced to go off the dribble, and Holloway is the quicker of the two. On the other end, Gray will have his hands full trying to limit Holloway. With Duke’s Kyrie Irving out because of injury, Holloway is the best point guard in the country. His performance Saturday might have been a turning point as the junior from Hempstead, New York accumulated more assists than points. He became a point guard’s point guard distributing to his teammates. Holloway scored five of twelve points late in the game as the Wake Forest defense was forced to extend on his teammates.

Elias Harris was hampered by early injury early in  the late. Harris scored 19 in Gonzaga’s loss to Notre Dame. He followed with anther 19-point output against Lewis-Clark State. His best asset is the ability to put the ball on the deck and take his man to the rim.  At 6’7″ he creates mis-matches for opposing forwards that have to defend him on the perimeter. Xavier’s Jamel McLean is more than athletic enough to neutralize Harris on the offensive end.

Baylor let Robert Sacre catch the ball in the post all day. The 7′ center is adept and catching and scoring. He has the tendency to put the ball to floor and cause turnovers. Kenny Frease poses a formidable adversary. For the first time this season, Sacre will find an opponent just as big as he. The difference is the Frease can finish around the rim. Sacre spent most of Saturday’s game in foul trouble. Frease scored a career high 22 points against Wake Forest. The emergence of Frease as a scorer could be the missing link for the X-Men. Frease will need to deny Sacre the ball as much as possible and play straight up when the Gonzaga center gets the ball.

Xavier’s Dante Jackson will match-up with Matthis Monninghoff. Monninghoff has a size advantage but that is it. Jackson is accustomed to playing in the post. Mack will go to his bench when needed, and 6’9″ Jeff Robinson will tilt the advantage back to the Muskies.

Mark Lyons will have the responsibility of defending Gonzaga’s point guard, Demetri Goodson. This might be Xavier’s biggest advantage. Lyons is capable is putting immense pressure on the ball. If he forces Gonzaga to start their offense further from the basket, he will neutralize any advantage Sacre might have in the paint.

Both coaches aren’t afraid to go to their benches. Kelly Olynyk, Sam Dower, and Mangisto Arop give the Zags a boost. Robinson, Andrew Taylor, and Jay Canty provide the Muskies will valuable minutes.

Resolution: Xavier’s having to travel cross-country would usually cause problems, but classes are not in session. The Muskies should be able to adjust to the different time zone. With that, Xavier’s defense will make Gonzaga play at an uncomfortable pace. The Muskies have shown the ability to change speeds easily. They can get out and run full court. At the same time, with the ball in Holloway’s hands, he is making decisions as to when Xavier needs to run half-court. Gonzaga’s injury woes will continue to plague them, and Xavier will get an important victory.

AP Photo/Al Behrman

By Paul Casey Gotham

It is that time again. Let’s hear from you readers. We had another week of stellar performances. Pick the ONE (1), UNE, UNO that stands out to you, and tell us a story.

Tu Holloway gets my POTW.

On a night where Xavier University inducted their latest hall-of-fame class, the junior point guard had his own HOF performance with a triple-double as the Musketeers burned the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 83-75. Holloway posted career highs of 10 rebounds and 14 assists to go with 14 points on the evening.

Holloway dished out more helpers than the entire Wake Forest team with 11.  He had seven assists by half-time as Xavier grabbed a 39-30 lead. When the Hempstead, New York native fed Jamel McLean for a dunk, the Muskies held 14-point edge with less than 2:20 remaining in the game.

Xavier enshrined the late Skip Prosser, Lauren Clary, and NBA star, David West.  West was the last Musketeer to turn the triple-double at the Cintas Center. West finished with 15 points,  10 rebounds, and 10 assists on December 8, 2001 as the Muskies downed Long Island.

Who gets your POTW?

Jamel McLean takes it strong to the cup. AP Photo/Al Behrman

By Paul Casey Gotham

Setting: Batten down the hatches as Jeff Bzdelik brings his Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-4) north to the Cintas Center for a tilt with Chris Mack and his Xavier Musketeers (7-2).

Plot: Atlantic Coast Conference meets Atlantic 10 in the second annual Skip Prosser Classic. The late Prosser coached  both programs.

After starting 2-3, Wake Forest has taken four of five, but Bzdelik crew needs consistency. The Deacs have wins over Iowa, Hampton, and most recently, UNC-Greensboro. Losses to UNC-Wilmington and Stetson are cause for concern.

Fans of the Muskies should not be surprised by the team’s two defeats. Xavier had three losses this time a year ago.

Sub-plot: Wake Forest freshman, Melvin Tabb, was recently re-instated to the lineup after taking time to address academic concerns.  After sitting out a year due to his transfer from Georgetown, Nikita Mescheriakov made his debut two games ago for the Deacs. The red-shirt junior came off the bench and scored seven points with four rebounds.

The Muskies continue to evolve after the graduation of Jason Love and departure of Jordan Crawford.

Xavier has Gonzaga, Florida, and Cincinnati in the near future. Wake tussles with Gonzaga and Richmond in the next two weeks.

Flashback: “Call me” Ishmael Smith scored a career-high 28 points, and Al-Farouq Aminu added 26 with 17 rebounds as the Demon Deacons took a double-overtime thriller a year ago, 96-92 at the Joel Coliseum.  Saturday’s night’s meeting is the third between the inter-conference rivals with each school taking one. The Muskies downed the Deacs in the second round of the 1999 NIT Tournament, 87-76.

Wake Forest has punched 22 tickets to the NCAA tournament including an appearance in the 1962 National Semi-finals and Elite Eight showings in ’39, ’61, ’77, ’84 and ’96. Seven different coaches have led the Musketeers to 21 NCAA tournament appearances including Eight Eight showings in ’04 and ’08.

Foreshadowing: Twenty-seven Deacs have moved on to careers in the National Basketball Association including currently Al-Farouq Aminu, Tim Duncan, Josh Howard, James Johnson, Chris Paul, Darius Songaila and Jeff Teague. Seventeen Musketeers have suited up in the National Basketball Association including current stars Derrick Brown, Jordan Crawford, James Posey and David West.

Conflict: Wake Forest averages 74 ppg while allowing 73.  Freshman, Travis McKie leads a quintet of Deacs in double figures with more than 13 and a half points. Ari Stewart and J.T. Terrell also chip in 13 apiece. Gary Clark adds 11.8 and C.J. Harris gets 10.8.

Clark has hit 20-30 from behind the arc. Stewart and Terrell have hit 17 and 18 from long range.

Xavier is 4-1 when holding opponents under 70. The Muskies score 69.2 and give up 67.1. Last time out, the X-Men showed they can go toe-to-toe in a defensive battle beating national runner-up Butler, 51-49. But the targets were easy to find – Shelvin Mack from the perimeter, stop the dribble of Ronald Nored and take away Matt Howard. Wake has a variety of weapons.

Can Xavier make this a half-court game?

Xavier has struggled against the 2-3 zone. Will Wake go away from man-to-man?

The good news for Xavier fans is that Tu Holloway leads the team with 22.3 ppg. The bad news for Xavier fans is that Tu Holloway leads the team with 22.3 ppg.

The Musketeers have struggled to establish an offensive identity. Besides Love and Crawford, Xavier lost 3pt. specialist Brad Redford for the season with an injured knee. Senior forward, Jamel McLean then broke a bone in his eye socket. McLean is playing with protective goggles but is not 100 percent. Redford’s loss creates spacing problems. His absence is noticed most when the Musketeers lack a player capable of knocking down a 3 in transition.

Holloway is Xavier’s best three-point threat. The junior point guard needs a teammate to open the floor.

Mark Lyons might be the candidate. The red-shirt sophomore, though, has only hit 10-35 from long range.  He is averaging 16.5 over the last four contests. Lyons is also handing out 3.5 apg.

McLean averages 10.4 ppg and 9.9 rpg. The senior is difficult to keep away from the offensive glass leading with 23 offensive boards.

Kenny Frease can provide a spark. The junior recorded a double-double (12p/10r)in the win over Butler. He averages 10.6 ppg and 7.9rpg. He has developed an effective jump hook, but his conditioning (or lack thereof) is a problem late in games.

Dante Jackson gets 7.5ppg and 2.9rpg. The senior is the team’s best all-around defender.

Jeff Robinson has shown flashes of brilliance.

Resolution: Both teams enter play with a rebound margin of just +1. Xavier has established that stat against a tougher schedule. Wake has been hitting from the field at a rate of 46 percent. Xavier will trim that number with a stiff defensive performance. The Deacs will struggle to keep Xavier off the glass in particular McLean. The senior forward has shown a tendency to rise to the occasion. Saturday’s game will be no different. McLean will record his fourth double-double of the season, and the Muskies will win a close one.

By Paul Casey Gotham

Setting: It’s a “White-Out” at the Cintas Center as Brad Stevens and his Butler Bulldogs (4-3, 1-0) renew their rivalry with Chris Mack and his Xavier Musketeers (5-2). Fans will be clad in white tee shirts for the evening.

Plot: Horizon League meets Atlantic 10 in this battle of NCAA contenders. The Bulldogs reached last year’s finals. The Musketeers are one of only two schools to reach the Sweet Sixteen each of the last three seasons.

Sub-plot: Butler is coming off a loss to national champion Duke over the weekend. Xavier lost at Miami of Ohio in their most recent contest. Butler point guard, Ronald Nored, suffered a concussion on November 27th vs. Evansville. The point guard played against the Blue Devils but looked less than 100 percent. Xavier’s Jamel McLean continues to play while recovering from a broken bone in his eye socket.

Flashback: The Muskies rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit but lost a wild one at Hinkle Fieldhouse last year, 69-68. Xavier took a late lead only to come up short when Gordon Hayward hit a chip shot. The final play involved an incorrect stoppage of time and a possible blown over and back call.

Xavier holds a 28-16 edge in the all-time series.

Seven different coaches have led the Musketeers to a total of 21 NCAA tournament appearances including Eight Eight showings in ’04 and ’08. Xavier and Michigan State are the only schools in men’s division one basketball to reach at least the Sweet Sixteen each of the last three seasons.

Butler has made 10 trips to the dance including Sweet Sixteen showings in ’62, ’03, and ’07 to go with last year’s finish in the finals.

Foreshadowing: Seventeen Musketeers have suited up in the National Basketball Association including current stars Derrick Brown, Jordan Crawford, James Posey and David West.

Four Butler Bulldogs have graduated to the National Basketball Association including Gordon Hayward who currently plays with the Utah Jazz.

Conflict: Both squads face the struggles of re-incarnation. Butler needs to redefine themselves after Gordon Hayward. Xavier is struggling with their offensive identity minus Jordan Crawford and Jason Love.

Tu Holloway can create offense for the Musketeers, but it didn’t take long for opposing defense to figure out a scheme. Seton Hall went zone in the second half to turn a double-digit lead into a single-possession game at the Paradise Jam. One night later, Old Dominion played 40 minutes of 2-3 match-up,  and the X-Men ran out of answers.

Holloway’s teammates looked more intent on watching their  point guard play instead of making plays.

Mark Lyons (14.1), Jamel McLean (11.0), and Kenny Frease (10.4) have added to the Musketeers’ output. The trio needs to dictate the flow of the game.

Senior, Dante Jackson adds 7.6 a game.

Jeff Robinson scored 15 off the bench against Iowa, but has been quiet since then.

Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack are scoring 15 apiece for the Bulldogs. Shawn Vanzant adds eight with Zach Hahn and Andrew Smith add seven each.

Howard’s biggest challenge is staying on the floor. The senior forward routinely gets in foul trouble in Butler’s biggest contests.

The Bulldogs have a rebound margin just under five entering play tonight. That mark will be put to the challenge against Xavier’s front line. McLean is just the type of player who causes trouble for Howard. McLean moves quickly around the paint and will force Howard into foul situations.

Butler will not play zone. Rather, the Bulldogs will play man to man inside the three-point arc taking away Holloway’s opportunities for dribble penetration. Lyons and Jackson will need to extend Butler’s defense with shots from behind the arc.

Vanzant showed his ability to slash versus the Blue Devils. Xavier will need to keep the shooting guard out of the paint. If Mack can avoid persistent leg cramps, his inside-outside game will be the focus for Butler’s offense.

Resolution: Jackson will slow Mack enough to make a difference. Xavier’s interior will create too many problems for Howard and Smith.  Xavier has the second-longest home winning streak at 27. That number will increase by one tonight.