xfactor9600

As I noted on Xavierhoops, why in the world would this "new" A-10 keep schools like Fordham at the expense of Saint Louis. It makes no sense from an athletics or facility standpoint. I think the guy put together the other conferences the way he wanted them and then cobbled all of the left overs into this "new and innovative" conference. I doubt we see anything like this. Also I don't see Marquette leaving the Big East unless forced by gunpoint. Those fans are fanatical about playing in the Beast (as they call it). Don't believe me? Go check out muscoop.com.

X doesn't have any scholarships open for next season. I'm also not sure they need another PG.

For making the finals of the CBI. The extra practice time and game experience is going to pay dividends next season for you guys. Now if we can just get a home and home between X and SLU every year instead of an alternating schedule. Good luck!

I'm not as down on him either. But he's frustrating. He'll have a "breakout" game and then will play the next three or four as if he's 4'11 instead of almost 7 foot.

I suspect at the very least he will test the waters and see where he is projected. I'm not hopeful that he'll be back. Depending on who you ask that's a blessing or a curse. Who do we have to replace Love? That's an excellent question. The hope is that Frease will continue to develop and that the income recruits will help a little as well. But the answer right now is "I don't know". Many question marks for X next season.

Illinois for whatever reason always wanted to play in the United Center when they scheduled with X. I don't recall ever playing at Assembly Hall. I don't believe they ever agreed to a return game at Cintas either (the may have played us once at US Bank Arena or something). I'd think playing the Illini in Chicago would be a better recruiting strategy than playing them on their campus though. It looks like SLU is putting together a decent non-con for next season. I know the going has been slow, but from an outsider the program is being built the right way (good recruiting, commitment to facilities, and increasing non-con exposure). I would think you guys would be one of the top contenders for the league title next season.

I will not be rooting for Minnesota to win.

As an X fan I would agree that Xavier, Dayton, and SLU should all be podded together (or whatever the A-10 calls the scheduling) so they play a home and home each season. However, I expect that SLU will come to Cintas if there is no home and home (as I think they try to rotate). I can remember a couple of years back where X went to on the road to Rhode Island (?) in consecutive years. So it's possible we could make a return trip to Saint Louis.

I have seen SLU play three times this year, including last night. I came away impressed each time. Your program is developing and is already a force to be reckoned with in the A-10. Think of what the team can accomplish next season. The future is bright for SLU from this outsider's perspective.

Great Game guys. You're going to be a force next year for sure. Good luck the rest of the way.

Redford played the last game, so I suspect he will play at reduced minutes. Jeff Robinson does not play anyway (except mostly in mop up time).

Cool. Halftime entertainment? Good luck tomorrow guys. Hope to get a great game in and get both teams to the locker room with no injuries (it's tourney time).

I do not relish X having to play you guys.

Congratulations Billikens. Great win.

Wow... tuned this in as X isn't on yet. C'mon Billikens beat the flyers.

Dayton shot lights out compared to X in the rematch. If they get hot in that Barn early. Watch out.

Xavier has it's own share of problems getting the students to literally walk across the parking lot into Cintas Center from the dorms. There are many non prime-time games where the student section isn't full till about 10 minutes before half-time. If you guys figure out how to do it, let us know how to do it in Cincy. Honestly I loved going to basketball in college (I had to drive to Cincinnati Gardens), and can't understand why the students don't get behind an on-campus team more. So while winning does help with student attendance. It still doesn't assure you of packing the arena with them.

It doesn't appear so. The one I was most concerned about was Derrick Brown as Miller and he were very close. I'm sure it helped that Mack was in on recruiting most of last year's freshman.

Coach Mack has been telling all of the Booster clubs that Derrick has informed him he's gone for the past couple of weeks. Sad to see him go. I hope he gets drafted. X's season just got even more interesting.

Looks like a genuine effort to get people into the arena. That's one of the areas that X struggles with. I'm a Preimium season ticket holder and there are plenty of good seats in front of me that weren't spoken for last season at Cintas. Which means I had tons of UD fans in my section for the UD game. I was not pleased. SLU will be doing itself a world of favor by making that place a sellout. I can't wait for my first trip to X v. SLU in the new arena.

I think many schools are sending out renewals earlier this year (cash on hand for the university during these hard economic times). Non-premium renewals went out to X season ticket holders in late April. I think we also have a drawing for a free pair of season tickets if you renew early. $135 is a great deal for college basketball tickets.

Could go a JUCO route or bank the scholarship I guess. Much will depend on what Brown decides to do.

Parrom has narrowed his to Arizona and Pitt (eliminating X and Va Tech).

That's definitely the concern right now. I'm not sure I like any of the options.

Not quite sure who the replacement is honestly. It Could be Chris Mack, or someone else. Of course the more worrisome fallout is potential transfers and the like. Obviously the replacement is crucial in that regard. It's an alarming situation however. The UK contract fallout has begin in my opinion. X offered clost to 2 million per season to keep him. Arizona reportedly gave him 18 mil over five years. That's more than most of the A-10 can afford. If Cal is worth 5 mil per year and Miller 3 mil per year without a national title, what's a guy like Izzo worth. Today was not a good day for College Basketball or conferences like the A-10.