Sunday, March 12, 2000
Ten reasons why XU crashed
Chalmers' loss hurt the most
BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When the 64-team NCAA Tournament field is announced tonight, Xavier (20-11) expects to be left out for the second year in a row — the first time that's happened since before Pete Gillen arrived (1984 NIT, 1985 no postseason).
Though a National Invitation Tournament berth is anticipated, sixth-year coach Skip Prosser said he and his staff must figure out what they can do to help the Musketeers be more consistent. The players, he said, have to do the same.
Here are 10 reasons why XU will be left out of the NCAA:
• 1. No Lionel Chalmers.
The surprising ineligibility of the freshman changed everything. It gave Xavier just one point guard. It took away a scorer. It eliminated Prosser's option of playing Chalmers and McAfee together and of resting McAfee much.
• 2. Lack of depth.
Xavier played mostly with seven guys. Only on occasion did Reggie Butler play significant minutes. Brandon McIntosh, Marcus Mason and Obi Harris did not develop enough to help. Prosser thought those three showed little in early season practices, and they never got much-needed game experience in November and December. “You can't just give out playing time like Halloween candy,” Prosser says. The top five or six Musketeers knew they were going to play no matter how many mistakes they made.
• 3. No Sixth Man.
No one emerged in that role this season. Alvin Brown averaged 9.6 points and shot 50 percent over the first nine games. But since then, he's averaged 5.3 points and shot 35.3 percent from the field.
Kevin Frey, who started 16 games, has shown flashes of stardom — 29 points at Central Michigan, 20 against Duquesne — but he has shot just 39.8 percent from the field and made only 10 of 42 3-point tries.
• 4. Lack of development.
Some players did not improve. Aaron Turner has not progressed offensively. Brown and Frey were inconsistent. Lloyd Price showed the most improvement from last season by becoming more of a perimeter threat, but he is too talented to produce almost nothing for 20 minutes at a time.
Worse than a lack of physical progress, the team continued to make the same poor decisions at crucial times in March that it did in January. Alley-oop passes into traffic. Bad choices on fast breaks. Off-balance shots without giving the offense a chance.
• 5. Struggling Darnell Williams.
XU needed a good season from Williams. What it got was a nice run at the end. The fifth-year senior, who sat out last year with a knee injury, averaged 11.5 points and shot just 35.3 percent over the first 21 games. Over the last 10, he's averaged 17.6 points and shot 44.5 percent and looked much better.
6. Blown lead.
Xavier led Marquette 41-23 with 19:33 left and lost 65-63. A victory would have sent the Musketeers into conference play at 10-2, and they would have been 12-2 and possibly ranked in the top 25 after beating Virginia Tech and Rhode Island. Blowing that lead was the turning point in the season. XU lost five of seven from Jan.2-25.
• 7. Another blown lead.
Still in position to battle for the West Division title and certainly for second place and a first-round bye in the conference tournament, XU went to Washington, D.C., for a game with George Washington. It led 39-24 at halftime, then watched GW rally for a 78-67 victory.
• 8. Paging Mr. Consistent.
No one player was able to produce consistently night in and night out. Each of the top seven players in the rotation this season had their moments, but each also had nights — or halves — where he did little.
• 9. What full-court press?
Xavier's defensive pressure was not as effective this season as in recent years. The result: Fewer easy baskets after opponents' turnovers. Left to score in a half-court offense, Xavier too often struggled.
• 10. Passing makes perfect.
This team was at its best when it moved the ball, creating better shots and a more balanced attack. When the Musketeers totaled more than 15 assists, they were 13-2. When point guard Maurice McAfee had more than five assists, XU was 9-1; when he had three or fewer, XU was 6-7.
Join the discussion in our College Sports forum
Xavier Stories
 Ten reasons why XU crashed
|
Bearcats: We deserve No. 1 seed
UC players sense improvement in practice
UC can still make a tourney run
This March will be madder than most
Martin's injury clouds NBA draft
Griffey shows off glove, arm
'Other' hometowner longshot to make roster
Reds Game Report
Loria brings Expos hope
Selig: Realignment options still being considered
Committee strives for best brackets
Was UK rusty, sleepy or cocky?
NKU men meet Waterloo
NKU women win region
ABC will find it hard to revive MNF
Big bucks fuel success on NASCAR circuit
Michigan 5, Cyclones 4
Portland 2, Mighty Ducks 1
Stuff 101, Trenton 83
Madeira girls on to state
Mason escapes regional upset
Elder bombs Lakota West
St. X muscles into regional
Hamilton, once 6-10, makes regional
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Ohio girls state semifinals
Central wins Christian state title
Colerain relay teams honored
NewCath headed to Sweet 16
Brossart wins 10th Region
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
N.Ky. girls basketball schedule
