Desmond Claude scores a career-high 26 points, Dayvion McKnight adds 20 and Quincy Olivari finishes with 15 as Xavier picks up the 85-71 win over Butler at Cintas Center.
Noticed coach Matta with a limp hope he is doing okay. If it hadn't been for Greg Oden that was the X team that was a final four. Anyhow my take. PA possession at roughly 9:30 remaining in 2nd half hits the impossible 3 may be turning point and season. They could have easily folded. No time out. Olivari picks up his 4th. Went on 13 0 run. Game clearly of runs. Xavier was getting clogged up on the left side of the court in 1st. Showed better spacing. Neither team really played much defense. A lot of room on both sides. Remember James Posey as the sixth man? Hope coach Miller has a better idea of what a rotation should look like and what players work better together. Would like to see Green get more playing time. Saw a stat at the beginning of the game or near the beginning where it showed that 31.6% of time played were by freshman highest amounts since 95-96. Finally, I don't know if it's my eyesight or my TV, but it seems like Cintas was darker tonight? It usually plays pretty bright. Not MSG bright but brighter. Either way, nice to see Claude hit some shots.
Noticed coach Matta with a limp hope he is doing okay. If it hadn't been for Greg Oden that was the X team that was a final four. Anyhow my take. PA possession at roughly 9:30 remaining in 2nd half hits the impossible 3 may be turning point and season. They could have easily folded. No time out. Olivari picks up his 4th. Went on 13 0 run. Game clearly of runs. Xavier was getting clogged up on the left side of the court in 1st. Showed better spacing. Neither team really played much defense. A lot of room on both sides. Remember James Posey as the sixth man? Hope coach Miller has a better idea of what a rotation should look like and what players work better together. Would like to see Green get more playing time. Saw a stat at the beginning of the game or near the beginning where it showed that 31.6% of time played were by freshman highest amounts since 95-96. Finally, I don't know if it's my eyesight or my TV, but it seems like Cintas was darker tonight? It usually plays pretty bright. Not MSG bright but brighter. Either way, nice to see Claude hit some shots.
Claude can play. Versatile scorer that poses a threat no matter how you defend him.