Usual Weekend Hunt for Poster Nigel

[FlyersFan]

any reason you think X doesn't win this game tomorrow over the Spiders and cover that number. Opened at -6 and has been bet up to -7 in most places. I think X leaves with a nice win tomorrow, but the A-10 is probably one of the conferences i care about and follow the least (outside of X). Thoughts?

[BUNK MORELAND]

tough game

Richmond hasn't lost a road game since january 9th..

Impressive run for richmond over the last two months

especially roadies ..

looking forward to nigels take for sure ..

good luck if you play x

[Nicky Santoro]

Richmond hasn't lost a road game since january 9th..

Just because of that I'd play Xavier. Really, I would. Sounds immature but that streak will come to a close and hopefully it's today. :thumbs:

[Nigel Tufnel]

BIG, BIG game today @ the Cintas Center. Richmond is a very good team, but I'm not sure how well they match up with Xavier's frontcourt. Richmond has the best backcourt tandem in the league with Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalvez. X has the best frontcourt in the league with Love, McLean and Frease. I'm not convinced they cancel one another out though, as I think X's backcourt with Holloway and Crawford will be able to keep up with Richmond's backcourt. Slight edge to Richmond in the backcourt, huge edge to Xavier in the frontcourt. Richmond has a rebounding margin of -4.6 this year. Richmond will want to slow the tempo, but exactly how do they go about doing that? Do they send extra guys to the offensive glass to try to get some rebounds? Or do they abandon the offensive glass to get guys back on defense to prevent the transition game? Tough situation to be in, IMHO.

For X, this game is essentially for the regular season A10, unless X somehow figures out a way to lose @ Fordham or @ home against St. Bonnie on Senior night...neither of which are likely to happen.

The Cintas should really be rocking today....Spring Break started for the students this weekend...in response, in a pretty much unprecedented move, Coach Mack went to Xavier's fan message board and posted this....

100% Coach Mack, Asking
for the LOUDEST game ever in the history of the Cintas Center. You say NO students. I say NO excuse. We need our fans to be a TRUE 6th man this Sunday at 1pm. Our team needs you early. Our team needs you loud. If you're just going to come to the game to watch, give your tickets up. Heck, you can WATCH from home. I want our arena rocking!! Calling all PARTICIPANTS. This isn't a marketing ploy. This is your head coach, sitting at his home computer asking for the best fans in the country to come alive for 40 game minutes on Sunday LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

A-10 teams dis-like coming to our incredible arena. They need to FEAR it. I know the 5 guys on the floor and our bench will play very hard for you on Sunday. We need the 10,250in blue seats to be one big, living, breathing, loud and raucous 6th man. I want EVERYTHING you have. I want a curfew of midnight for all ticket holders. You're going to need your rest. Sunday will be the most fun you've ever had at a Xavier game. On our end we are working with marketing to make sure the pre-game intros, music, etc are ON it this Sunday.

My staff asked, "How will the fans know it's really you posting on the boards?" I told em that I'll confirm it on twitter. So if you're not a follower, no big deal but that's where skeptics can go. No marketing gimmick here. Wear blue. Stand. Be loud. Get it done. I realize not all Xavier fans come to message boards. That's okay. Copy and paste this and email your X friends. I'm giving the same message to Shannon Russell at my 2:40pm press conference tomorrow. I want to win. Our players want to win. Help be the reason we win! Let's get it!!!!!


Needless to say, Xavier's fans have been completely whipped into a frenzy by this. Its not as if X needs more of a home court advantage. Further, this is only X's second home game in the entire month of February....so I think the kids will be pretty stoked to be back at home, playing in front of a crazy crowd, for what could essentially be for an A10 regular season championship or co-championship with Temple.

Guess it should also be noted that this is one of those games where an unranked team is giving points to a ranked team....not just that but 7 points?

Here is my final conclusion on this game...7 seems a bit high, but I think it was set high for a reason. I think Love, McLean and Frease dominate down low and Crawford does what Crawford does. I just don't think Richmond has enough to win this game @ the Cintas. As for covering? That's a little tougher....I think X should win by DD's today, but a backdoor cover isn't out of the question with Richmond's guards hitting some late game threes.

I know one thing....there is no way I would take Richmond today. Play on X or no play for me...which means I will take X giving the points.

GL!!

[Nigel Tufnel]

Mack actually got some pretty positive pub for his message board post....any national pub for X is good pub.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/12980514/friday-look-ahead-xaviers-mack-goes-on-attack-to-rock-arena?tag=untagged

Xavier coach to fans: Midnight curfew so you'll be rested, loud - The Dagger - NCAAB Blog - Yahoo! Sports

[Nicky Santoro]

:thumbs: to Nigel for a great review. You always come through on your Musketeers.