Saturday, February 19, 2000
Critical game for Xavier
Muskies need to beat Virginia Tech for NCAA points
BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Two days after Xavier's Feb.5 loss at George Washington, in which XU squandered a 15-point halftime lead, the Musketeers met at length, watching the entire second half of that game on tape.
During the team gathering, coach Skip Prosser told his players: “The window is closing, but there's a crack, and we're fighting to keep the window open.”
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XU at VA. TECH
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• When: 2 p.m. today
• Where: Cassell Coliseum (10,052), Blacksburg, Va.
• Records: Xavier 16-8 (6-5 Atlantic 10), Virginia Tech 12-13 (5-7)
• TV: None
›Radio: WLW-AM (700)
BY THE NUMBERS
• 12-1: XU's record when four or more players score in double figures
• .857: XU's free throw percentage over the last two games (60-of-70)
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LEFT BEHIND
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Xavier centers Obi Harris and Marcus Mason did not make the trip to Virginia Tech for today's game because of academic reasons.
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Recovering nicely from a disastrous 3-5 January, the Musketeers' goal of earning an NCAA Tournament bid remains alive but with little margin for error.
Xavier has five regular-season games left against teams with a combined record of 60-56, starting with today's 2p.m. matchup at Virginia Tech (12-13).
Of the remaining foes, only St.Bonaventure (15-7) has a winning record. George Washington is 12-12, St.Joseph's 11-12 and LaSalle 10-12.
LaSalle and GW already have defeated Xavier; the Musketeers have not lost to the same team twice in a season since 1996, their first year in the league.
Atlantic 10 Conference division leaders Temple (East) and Dayton (West) should end up with NCAA bids. St.Bonaventure was the front-runner for a third A-10 berth but has lost five of eight.
“We never thought we had no shot (at the NCAA),” Kevin Frey said. “That never crossed our minds. Worse comes to worse, we just have to do it in the A-10 tournament.”
Xavier enters today tied with George Washington for second place in the West Division at 6-5, a game and a half behind Dayton. GW plays host to Rhode Island today, then plays at Xavier on Tuesday.
The Musketeers' closing stretch is not easy. They play three times on the road (today, at LaSalle, at St.Bonaventure), where they are just 1-4 in Atlantic 10 play and 3-6 overall this season.
That's why Prosser says: “Right now everything's got to be about getting to 17 wins, because if we don't get to 17 wins, all of that other stuff is meaningless. The challenge for us still is to get a big road win.”
Virginia Tech has split its last six games and blew nine-point halftime lead and lost at George Washington (71-68) on Thursday night, committing 24 turnovers.
XU has won seven straight against the Hokies.
A couple things to consider as far as the league standings:
• If Xavier can finish second in the A-10 West, it would be seeded in the same bracket with probable East champion Temple. The good news, XU would get a first-round bye. The bad news, Temple is the only team ever to beat the Musketeers in the A-10 tourney, knocking them out three of four years. Afterthought: Playing Temple at least would give XU a chance for a high-quality victory that could get the NCAA selection committee's attention.
• If Xavier finishes third in the West, it would have to win four games to win the conference tournament, which no team has ever done. On the other hand, it might give Xavier a path without Temple until the finals and a chance to add to its victory total.
The Musketeers have won five of six, and a strong finish, plus victories over Cincinnati and Louisville, could help them come Selection Sunday.
The catch, of course, is that Xavier has to win most — if not all — of its remaining regular-season games.
Prosser said his team is rebounding, playing defense, sharing the ball and taking care of it better. It has improved in every area except shooting, but senior Darnell Williams is playing some of his best ball of the season.
“There are a lot of doubters out there, and there's always going to be,” XU sophomore Lloyd Price said. “As a team, we have to stick together and know we only have each other. Now things are falling in place for us; we just have to keep going with the run.”
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