The Classic

TheLivingLegend · 12-10-2013, 08:53 PM

Thoughts on the game?

My biggest concern is fouls... This game is going to be called tight as is. Add in the fact that their best player simply puts his head down and runs into people.

Saw tonight semaj got to the line 17 times. That cant happen for UC.

I expect UC to win this game, they are the better team imo... But with this rivalry you never kno what is going to happen.

JumpinJack5 · 12-10-2013, 09:05 PM

The big key is to not let up on the press. I think if we can press well the whole first half, Semaj, Dee Davis, etc. will start to cramp up again. We should try to get Semaj in foul trouble and while I don't want him to go to the line 17 times, it is okay to foul him sometimes since he has had past struggles at the line.

#BearcatNation · 12-10-2013, 09:36 PM

I don't know much about their team (other than Semaj and a couple others), but I do know they were already getting cocky chanting "BRING ON CINCY!" tonight. You'd think after losing 3 games in 3 days, then squeaking past a couple garbage opponents at home, they'd be a little more humble. Then again, we are talking about X fans.

I love this rivalry. I can't wait to be downtown all day bar hopping (don't worry, I won't be that drunk belligerent fan making us look bad) then walking over to US Bank. If we win, we'll have taken 3 in the last 4 years, which when compared to the last 20 years, is really good. Yeah, its just a rivalry, but there's nothing I'd love more than for UC to start taking control of it. This city is UC's. You ask fans across the country where Xavier is, and they'll say "Uhhh, no idea. Philly?"

Robert · 12-10-2013, 10:00 PM

It's too early to call this a "must-win" game, but when I look at our schedule and search for tournament resume wins, I see a top-heavy AAC, Xavier, and Pitt. Unless we improve dramatically, I don't see us stealing many wins from Louisville, Memphis, and UConn, and SMU looks like the only other team in our conference that might be worthy of the big dance. These next two games are about as important as a 2-game non-conference stretch could be. If we lose the next 2 games, we're going to have to go 3-3 against the top of the conference and not slip up against the rest to be considered for an at-large bid, so it's very important we win these games.

Bearcat_NTS · 12-10-2013, 10:30 PM

Xavier has struggled with Bowling Green and now Evansville. For some reason, I expect them to play their best game of the year on Saturday. Cincinnati is definitely the better team but Stainbrook and Philmore do kind of worry me inside. I think that New Mexico game was a nice wake up call to the weak defensive rebounding, UNM missed 22 shots and got 11 offensive rebounds.

As good as Christon is (I think pretty highly of him), I am not as worried about him. Cincinnati has good enough perimeter defenders to make it difficult for him to score.

On offense, Xavier is going to pack it in like last year and they always do a good job of helping off the ball. Cincinnati is going to have to stick to running offense as opposed to the one-on-one stuff we saw last game.

Overall, the score should be fairly similar to last years game. I'll say Cincinnati wins 61-52.

Scheids21 · 12-10-2013, 11:31 PM

Yeah I couldn't believe they were chanting that either after being down a dozen to Evansville. I hope we shut them up. Its like last year though: We are a better team right now. It all comes down to whether we play like it.

UCalum08 · 12-11-2013, 06:54 AM

I think everyone is on point with their assessment of the game. I hope UC takes care of the ball. We must win the turnover battle. I have seen 2 X games this year, one was the Iowa game in which X did well in transition mainly bc of semja. I think X plays good help defense but I also think they foul every time on defense lol. We should def win this game but we got to enforce our style of play on them.

#BearcatNation · 12-11-2013, 10:18 AM

Anyone know what the line is?

~~coachpipe~~ · 12-11-2013, 10:29 AM

well stupid me planned a ski trip this weekend to snow shoe. Does anyone know if this game will be on Iheart radio? and watch station? And does anyone know if fox sports 1 is available around that area?

Bearcat22 · 12-11-2013, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLivingLegend

Thoughts on the game?

My biggest concern is fouls... This game is going to be called tight as is. Add in the fact that their best player simply puts his head down and runs into people.

Saw tonight semaj got to the line 17 times. That cant happen for UC.

I expect UC to win this game, they are the better team imo... But with this rivalry you never kno what is going to happen.

I'm hoping SK and TC can draw some fouls of their own to balance out the FT total. I wouldn't mind seeing KJ get a chance to defend semaj.

JL could do some good things in this one, X doesn't have anyone like him. Shaq would be the same, but you don't know what to expect from him.

My prediction is this one is close at halftime and UC wears them out in the 2nd half. 64 - 50 Cats win.

12-10-2013, 08:53 PM	#1
TheLivingLegend Epic Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Nati Posts: 3,837	The Classic Thoughts on the game? My biggest concern is fouls... This game is going to be called tight as is. Add in the fact that their best player simply puts his head down and runs into people. Saw tonight semaj got to the line 17 times. That cant happen for UC. I expect UC to win this game, they are the better team imo... But with this rivalry you never kno what is going to happen. __________________ ""eating dirt" is constructive criticism to becoming a better person."

12-10-2013, 09:05 PM	#2
JumpinJack5 Epic Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 2,207	The big key is to not let up on the press. I think if we can press well the whole first half, Semaj, Dee Davis, etc. will start to cramp up again. We should try to get Semaj in foul trouble and while I don't want him to go to the line 17 times, it is okay to foul him sometimes since he has had past struggles at the line. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." -Winston Churchill

12-10-2013, 09:36 PM	#3
#BearcatNation Epic Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2,120	I don't know much about their team (other than Semaj and a couple others), but I do know they were already getting cocky chanting "BRING ON CINCY!" tonight. You'd think after losing 3 games in 3 days, then squeaking past a couple garbage opponents at home, they'd be a little more humble. Then again, we are talking about X fans. I love this rivalry. I can't wait to be downtown all day bar hopping (don't worry, I won't be that drunk belligerent fan making us look bad) then walking over to US Bank. If we win, we'll have taken 3 in the last 4 years, which when compared to the last 20 years, is really good. Yeah, its just a rivalry, but there's nothing I'd love more than for UC to start taking control of it. This city is UC's. You ask fans across the country where Xavier is, and they'll say "Uhhh, no idea. Philly?"

12-10-2013, 10:00 PM	#4
Robert Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,030	It's too early to call this a "must-win" game, but when I look at our schedule and search for tournament resume wins, I see a top-heavy AAC, Xavier, and Pitt. Unless we improve dramatically, I don't see us stealing many wins from Louisville, Memphis, and UConn, and SMU looks like the only other team in our conference that might be worthy of the big dance. These next two games are about as important as a 2-game non-conference stretch could be. If we lose the next 2 games, we're going to have to go 3-3 against the top of the conference and not slip up against the rest to be considered for an at-large bid, so it's very important we win these games.

12-10-2013, 10:30 PM	#5
Bearcat_NTS Epic Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: #DumpMick Posts: 7,333	Xavier has struggled with Bowling Green and now Evansville. For some reason, I expect them to play their best game of the year on Saturday. Cincinnati is definitely the better team but Stainbrook and Philmore do kind of worry me inside. I think that New Mexico game was a nice wake up call to the weak defensive rebounding, UNM missed 22 shots and got 11 offensive rebounds. As good as Christon is (I think pretty highly of him), I am not as worried about him. Cincinnati has good enough perimeter defenders to make it difficult for him to score. On offense, Xavier is going to pack it in like last year and they always do a good job of helping off the ball. Cincinnati is going to have to stick to running offense as opposed to the one-on-one stuff we saw last game. Overall, the score should be fairly similar to last years game. I'll say Cincinnati wins 61-52.

12-10-2013, 11:31 PM	#6
Scheids21 Epic Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 1,692	Yeah I couldn't believe they were chanting that either after being down a dozen to Evansville. I hope we shut them up. Its like last year though: We are a better team right now. It all comes down to whether we play like it.

12-11-2013, 06:54 AM	#7
UCalum08 Epic Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 6,827	I think everyone is on point with their assessment of the game. I hope UC takes care of the ball. We must win the turnover battle. I have seen 2 X games this year, one was the Iowa game in which X did well in transition mainly bc of semja. I think X plays good help defense but I also think they foul every time on defense lol. We should def win this game but we got to enforce our style of play on them.

12-11-2013, 10:18 AM	#8
#BearcatNation Epic Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2,120	Anyone know what the line is?

12-11-2013, 10:29 AM	#9
~~coachpipe~~ Banned Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1,335	well stupid me planned a ski trip this weekend to snow shoe. Does anyone know if this game will be on Iheart radio? and watch station? And does anyone know if fox sports 1 is available around that area?