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Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here....I hope everyone has a safe, relaxing wonderful day.
YTD: 1-1
I'm sure today's pick will be a shock to most....
Xavier -5.5 -- 3 units
OK, I'll admit that X hasn't played anyone this year. They pummeled Youngstown State, Bowling Green and Sacred Heart....but they looked pretty damn good doing it. Marquette has taken the same route....beating up on Centenary, MD Eastern Shore, Grambling State and South Dakota.
Both teams are supposed to be having rebuilding years this year. However, I'm not sure that's the case with X. They lost CJ Anderson, BJ Raymond, Derrick Brown and Sean Miller....but they return Dante Jackson, Jason Love, Jamel McLean, Terrell Holloway, Kenny Frease and Brad Redford. Throw in redshirt freshman Mark Lyons and Jordan Crawford and Xavier all of a sudden has a pretty athletic and deep team. Chris Mack has decided to release the hounds this year....X, with their athletic guards, has decided to get up and down the floor.
While Marquette has a nice combo with Jimmy Butler and Lazar Hayward, I see the difference in this game being decided in the paint. Marquette lost their starting center, Chris Otule, for the year earlier this week. This leaves Marquette with one player over 6'7" on their roster...that's 7'2" freshman center Mbao, who averages .5 ppg. I think Xavier's size and experience in the paint with Love, Frease and McLean will really make the difference today. If Marquette decides they want to sag and double, X has the guard play to make them pay, with Crawford, Holloway, Redford and Jackson shooting from outside.
And last, but not least, X finally has a "go to guy." In year's past, X has never really had a guy who could create his own shot and take his defender one on one. If X needs a bucket, Crawford is the man. I've really been impressed with his ability to spot up, take his man off the dribble and post up on smaller guards.
At this point in the early season, I think X's size and experience leads them to a cover. I'd like to think X can win today by DDs.
X 82 Marq 70
GL!!
YTD: 1-1
I'm sure today's pick will be a shock to most....
Xavier -5.5 -- 3 units
OK, I'll admit that X hasn't played anyone this year. They pummeled Youngstown State, Bowling Green and Sacred Heart....but they looked pretty damn good doing it. Marquette has taken the same route....beating up on Centenary, MD Eastern Shore, Grambling State and South Dakota.
Both teams are supposed to be having rebuilding years this year. However, I'm not sure that's the case with X. They lost CJ Anderson, BJ Raymond, Derrick Brown and Sean Miller....but they return Dante Jackson, Jason Love, Jamel McLean, Terrell Holloway, Kenny Frease and Brad Redford. Throw in redshirt freshman Mark Lyons and Jordan Crawford and Xavier all of a sudden has a pretty athletic and deep team. Chris Mack has decided to release the hounds this year....X, with their athletic guards, has decided to get up and down the floor.
While Marquette has a nice combo with Jimmy Butler and Lazar Hayward, I see the difference in this game being decided in the paint. Marquette lost their starting center, Chris Otule, for the year earlier this week. This leaves Marquette with one player over 6'7" on their roster...that's 7'2" freshman center Mbao, who averages .5 ppg. I think Xavier's size and experience in the paint with Love, Frease and McLean will really make the difference today. If Marquette decides they want to sag and double, X has the guard play to make them pay, with Crawford, Holloway, Redford and Jackson shooting from outside.
And last, but not least, X finally has a "go to guy." In year's past, X has never really had a guy who could create his own shot and take his defender one on one. If X needs a bucket, Crawford is the man. I've really been impressed with his ability to spot up, take his man off the dribble and post up on smaller guards.
At this point in the early season, I think X's size and experience leads them to a cover. I'd like to think X can win today by DDs.
X 82 Marq 70
GL!!
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