Tuesday, March 14, 2000Price: 'I needed some time to think'
XU sophomore back with team
BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati EnquirerLloyd Price could not get out of the First Union Spectrum fast enough last Thursday night.
Frustrated by his play in the Atlantic 10 tournament, the sophomore forward made a hasty exit after Xavier's 72-69 quarterfinal loss to St. Bonaventure that knocked the Musketeers out of NCAA Tournament contention.
Price went home to Wilmington, Del., roughly 30 miles from Philadelphia, and did not return to Cincinnati until Monday evening, after the team had finished practicing. He also missed Sunday's workout.
“I needed some time to think,” Price said. “It was obvious I was one of the reasons we didn't win the game. It really hurt me as an individual because of my performance. I know it's all a "we' thing, but I let myself down, as well as the team. It was right there in our face to be had.”
Price scored seven points — only two in the second half — on 3-of-11 shooting in 38 minutes against the Bonnies.
In two A-10 tournament games, he averaged just 5.5 points on 5-of-20 shooting with nine turnovers and dropped to third on the team in scoring (13.1 ppg).
A second-team all-league pick, Price has scored in double figures in 22 of 31 games and is Xavier's No. 2 rebounder (6.1). He has tripled his total of 3-point field goals from last season (from 10 to 30) and leads the team with 53 steals.
He has high expectations for himself.
Coach Skip Prosser said Sunday and Monday that Price missed flights back to Cincinnati and acknowledged that Price took the A-10 tourney loss hard.
“I think he felt personally responsible because of the way he felt he played,” Prosser said.
The Musketeers flew back from Philadelphia on Friday. Price expects to return to practice today in preparation for Wednesday night's first-round National Invitation Tournament game against Marquette at the Cincinnati Gardens (7:30 p.m.).
“It was immature,” Price said of his delayed return. “You've just got to learn from your mistakes. I needed some time, but in reality it was the easy way out. You can't run away from trials and tribulations; you've just got to meet 'em head on.
“I'll be back giving my 110 (percent). I've got to just put everything behind me. It's a new season now, as we all know.”
Prosser would not comment on whether Price, who has started 30 of 31 games, would be in the starting lineup Wednesday night.
Senior Darnell Williams participated in some parts of practice Monday. His sprained right knee is still sore, but trainer David Fluker said he expects Williams will play against the Golden Eagles.
OTHER MATCHUPS: The NIT opens tonight, with NC State (17-12) at home against Tulane (20-10), and Wake Forest (17-14) at Vanderbilt (19-10).
Virginia (19-11) is home for Georgetown (18-14) on Wednesday night, when 10 games will be held. Other first-round matchups Wednesday: Princeton (19-10) at Penn State (15-15); Bowling Green (22-7) at BYU (20-10); New Mexico State (22-9) at Arizona State (18-12); UNCC (17-15) at Mississippi (17-13); South Florida (17-13) at New Mexico (17-13); and Long Beach State (24-5) at California (16-14).
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