By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Even before Saturday night, evidence existed that some Xavier men's basketball players were less than happy.
There were gripes about playing time, sophomore Anthony Coleman left the team, and senior Dave Young wouldn't commit on accepting a fifth year of eligibility next season. None of that is typical of an 8-2 team ranked 21st in the nation.
But after All-American David West lashed out at his teammates for selfish play following Saturday's 84-60 victory over Eastern Kentucky, the internal strife hit a season-high mark. The question now is this: Can coach Thad Matta fix his team before Tuesday, when Xavier hosts No.18-ranked Creighton before traveling Saturday to No.1 Alabama?
West's statements indicated these problems might not be solved overnight.
"It's taken care of," Matta said. "I don't think it was as drastic as it may have appeared. It was part of a team growing, coming together."
Matta didn't make players available to the media Sunday, saying he wanted them to focus on Creighton (10-0).
But there was no muzzle on West Saturday night.
"What helped us win games like Cincinnati?" West asked rhetorically after the EKU game. "Guys have to understand their roles.... We're just not clicking right now. We're struggling to run offensive sets. Coach calls a play for somebody, and guys don't want to run that play because it's not for them."
Matta's analysis of Xavier isn't as stark. He noted that last season, the Musketeers committed 435 turnovers to 400 assists. That number is better this season: Xavier has 149 assists to 127 turnovers.
"At times I thought when we were unselfish, we got great shots," Matta said. "We just have to get back to that."
One player seeing fewer shots and minutes is Young, a former starter, who said after the Mississippi State game Dec.14 that he's not happy with his playing time or his role off of the bench. He played seven minutes and missed two 3-pointers, his only shot attempts, against EKU.
Center Anthony Myles, on the other hand, is scoring more as the season goes on and has also increased his range. Myles has scored in double figures in three of the last four games, including a career-high 14 points against EKU. Myles scored in double figures just once during the first six games. He appears comfortable shooting from 15 to 17 feet.
BIG BREAKOUT: Junior forward Romain Sato finally broke out of his shooting slump and was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after he averaged 28.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games.
SEE CINERGY IMPLOSION
Animation from Enquirer photos
Video from WCPO 
Galleries: Implosion | Crowd | Aerial shots |
Views from Kentucky
CINERGY IMPLOSION STORIES
Cinergy Field down in 37 seconds
Cleanup begins today, will take months
What's next for the Riverfront?
New skyline already earning praise
No hitches, no errors
Partiers impressed by implosion
Fifty-five years that shaped Cincinnati's riverfront
BENGALS
Bengals reach new low in 27-9 loss to Bills
Bengals players, fans wait for Brown to act
Game statistics
Bengals Report Card
Bengals By The Numbers
Frustrated Spikes contemplating future
Bengals Notebook: Kitna misses $1.6M bonus
NFL
Browns make playoffs but lose Couch
Fans can say Browns are back
Jets in; Pats, Dolphins out
Sunday Night Game: Bucs 15, Bears 0
XAVIER MUSKETEERS
After West's outburst, XU circles wagons
Xavier 84, Eastern Ky. 60
Creighton warms up for Xavier with 10th straight win
UC BEARCATS
UC 66, Miami 54
Fouls hurt RedHawks
UC-Miami Notebook: Hicks comes back
DAUGHERTY: What if UC had beaten Ohio State?
WOMEN'S CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT
UC women beat Xavier with defense
Ex-Bearcats, Pirtle say hello
OTHER COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
Miami looks for breather tonight
NKU finally loses a game
Kentucky's confidence shaken
Duke 85, Dayton 74
FIESTA BOWL
Miami: Buckeyes can't match our speed
All-American Wilhelm letting play do talking
Tough ticket may end OSU fans' streak of 335 straight games
OSU antsy after long vacation
OTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
UK will introduce football coach today
Today's Bowl Games
PREP SPORTS
West's Maupin commits to Ohio State
High School Week Preview
LeBron James legend grows
Sunday's High School Results
High School Schedules
Prep sports home page
WHAT'S ON TV
Today on TV
Return to Xavier front page...
