Saturday, January 12, 2002
College hoops e-mail with Perry and Schmidt
Xavier fans adjusting to Matta
By Micheal Perry and Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Now the Xavier fans are loading up our inbox and we're not hearing from many UC fans. Maybe it's because there's no tinkering to talk about when a team wins 14 in a row. Certainly, there's little room to complain.
Q, from Tom in Marietta, Ohio: How many passes would be ideal for the involvement of Xavier's offense each time down the court — except for breakaway layups, etc.?
A: “The first open, high-percentage shot is what we want,” coach Thad Matta said. “It usually takes two to five passes to get an open look. Sometimes it's there right away, and sometimes it's right before the shot clock expires.”
Q, from Nick in Maineville: What happened to the alley-oop dunks that the Musketeers used to do? I was wondering if it's the coach that said no more of that, or if it's just not happening.
A: That's all Matta's influence. He wants high-percentage shots, and trying to time lob passes near the basket is a tricky proposition.
Q, from Cathy in Mount Washington: Matta said when he took over for Skip Prosser that this team can make the Sweet 16. Do you think Matta will jump ship if it does? A lot of skeptics are saying he's using XU as a springboard to bigger and better things.
A: Matta never said publicly that this team could make the Sweet 16, but he told the players that they should set that as their goal. As for leaving, Matta has given every indication he plans to stay awhile. The key to these things is: Can he remain happy here, and how successful can this program be with him in charge?
Q, from Jack in Centerville: Matta has instilled a disciplined offense and a tenacious defense, and many of us notice better team unity. Can he match the Prosser/Gillen recruiting with this style vs. the more glamorous run-and-gun style?
A: Time will tell if Matta's recruits are as celebrated as some past signees. This much is sure: He had little trouble filling the five scholarships available for next season, doing so before the summer was over. Matta's first class of players certainly reflects a focus on deliberate, half-court offensive sets, as four of the signees are muscular post players. Past Xavier teams were built around swift forwards and quicksilver guards.
Q, from Jim in Overland Park, Kan.: What happened to WLW broadcasting games on the Internet? In December you mentioned that it would again begin Internet streaming of its broadcasts.
A: You out-of-town fans certainly have this on your mind; three other readers e-mailed the same question early this week.
WLW-AM (700) resumed round-the-clock streaming of its signal this Tuesday. The only time it must discontinue its signal is during Cincinnati Reds broadcasts because Major League Baseball now licenses those broadcasts on its own Web site. But for XU and UC games, go to www.700wlw.com to listen live. Take note that it doesn't air commercials on the Internet, so don't panic if you log on and don't hear anything immediately.
When XU games are on WKRC-AM (550), like today's game is, those broadcasts won't be available on the Internet. The other two games scheduled for WKRC are next Saturday at La Salle and March 2 vs. Massachusetts. WKRC will go to streaming audio in time, but not before the end of this season.
Q: From Norm in Anderson Township: I enjoyed your writeup (Dec.29) on (Eric) Hicks and (Armein) Kirkland, but I missed the one on Chadd Moore (four) weeks ago. Could you update me? I noticed he wasn't in Oak Hill's starting lineup at the start of the season. Also, who do you think UC is looking at for the next scholarship? Do you think they will give two, or will B.J. Grove get one?
A: Moore is coming off the bench for Oak Hill Academy, the top prep team in the country. The team is loaded with Division I players, including Justin Gray, a Wake Forest signee who starts at point guard. Often when Moore comes in, Gray moves to shooting guard.
UC's next scholarship is going to Tony Bobbitt, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from the College of Southern Idaho, who orally committed Jan. 2. The Bearcats will not sign a fifth player unless they think he can help. What will happen with Grove is up in the air. He returned to the team as a walk-on but is still not in good enough physical condition to really help.
Q: From Bob in Canton, Ga.: Why wasn't it a TD when (Ray) Jackson appeared to have control of the ball for an instant? He was in the end zone.
A: Ah, another football question sent to basketball@enquirer.com. The key word, Bob, is “appeared.” Obviously to the officials, it “appeared” Jackson did not have possession. That's all we can say.
Q: From Michael in Columbus: Has the University of Akron basketball team coached by Bob Huggins ever played the University of Cincinnati basketball team.
A: No, in Huggins' five seasons as the Zips' coach they never faced the Bearcats. They did, however, get two shots at Ohio State (both Buckeye victories). The Dec.29 game in the Rock-N-Roll Shootout — a 73-57 UC victory — was Huggins' first against Akron as the Bearcats' coach. Prior to that, the schools had not met since the 1982-83 season.
Q: From Ron in Toledo: Is there anything that can be done to force teams from the six highest-rated conferences to play better non-conference schedules? Look at Georgetown. They can play 10 cupcakes in the preseason and then go .500 in the conference and then get a No.7 seed in the NCAA.
A: First, let's deal in facts: The Hoyas were 25-8, 10-6 in the Big East last season. So they did not go .500 in the league and get a No.7 seed.
The Ratings Percentage Index is designed to do exactly as you wish — penalize teams for weak scheduling. It's why Georgetown was No.100 in the RPI on Thursday despite having played three ranked teams (Virginia, UCLA, Miami — all losses) in their last four games. It's not that Georgetown doesn't play anyone good, it's that it plays so many bad teams (seven opponents were higher than 220 in the RPI).
The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee has penalized bubble teams with weaker schedules by leaving them out of the field.
E-mail your questions about Xavier and Cincinnati to basketball@enquirer.com.
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College hoops e-mail with Perry and Schmidt
