By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Often there is little reassurance for coaches and players in reflecting on a disappointing start.

Missed opportunities and feelings of falling short of preseason expectations linger for teams such as Xavier University, which is off to a 5-4 start.

Xavier has lost four of its past six games - all on the road - but has not been completely outplayed in any of its losses.

In its most recent setback, 68-61 to Iowa State Tuesday, Xavier had numerous chances to take control of the game but failed to hit a momentum-changing shot or get a key defensive stop.

The Musketeers are running their offense correctly and playing defense, just neither at a high enough level to win big games. That at least gives players something on which to focus as Xavier begins a three-game home stretch at 2 p.m. today against Elon University at Cintas Center.

Xavier needs to win at least two of the next three games against Elon, Morehead State and Alabama to avoid falling to .500 when Atlantic 10 Conference play begins Jan. 11 at Rhode Island. The Musketeers haven't been .500 or worse entering the Atlantic 10 season since 1995-96, Xavier's first year in the league. The Musketeers finished 13-15 that season.

"Right now we haven't been getting the (defensive) stop, that one stop that we need," senior guard Lionel Chalmers said. "That is the difference. I think you have to understand what the situation is at the time. Our guys are just out there playing sometimes and don't realize we're down three with two minutes, 15 seconds left. We need a stop right here to turn this thing around. I think we're just playing sometimes and not seeing what's going on."

That is directed more at Xavier's defensive effort. Offensively, the solution is much simpler. Xavier players have to start making the wide-open shots they are attempting.

Xavier is getting the shots it wants from its perimeter players, supposedly the best available scoring options on the court, but the inability to score from outside has been alarming. Players such as Romain Sato and Chalmers are shooting less than 40 percent from the field and less than 33 percent from 3-point range.

"Look at the Iowa State game. We got some unbelievable looks, and they didn't go down for us," Xavier coach Thad Matta said. "I think our shot selection is getting better."

Now, Matta wants to see a better effort, all the time.

Xavier's coach hasn't changed the starting lineup through nine games, but Matta said Saturday he told the players that the practices leading up to today's game would determine the starting lineup.

Struggling start

For the first time since 1995-96, Xavier (5-4) could go into the A-10 season without a winning record. A look at its starts since that season:

2002-03	10-3
2001-02	8-3
2000-01	9-2
1999-2000	9-3
1998-99	8-4
1997-98	8-2
1996-97	9-0
1995-96	4-5

Xavier vs. Elon

Tipoff: 2 p.m. today, Cintas Center (10,250).

Records: Xavier 5-4, Elon 4-5.

Radio: WKRC-AM (550).

TV: Fox Sports Net Ohio.

Series: First meeting.

Line: XU by 22 1/2 points.

XAVIER

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Anthony Myles	Sr.	6-9	7.9
Will Caudle	So.	6-9	5.4
Lionel Chalmers	Sr.	6-0	13.7
Romain Sato	Sr.	6-5	15.3
Dedrick Finn	So.	6-1	10.0

Coach: Thad Matta (57-16, third season; 81-24 overall).

ELON

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Gary Marsh	Jr.	6-6	7.4
Jackson Atoyebi	Jr.	6-6	13.0
Ryan Jones	Fr.	6-3	2.7
Scottie Rice	So.	6-4	11.4
Steven Harvin	Jr.	5-11	10.7

Coach: Ernie Nestor (4-5, first season; 72-86 overall).