I didn't get a chance to see the whole game but I got a chance to catch the end of it, and that Eugene kid really raised his stock in this one. He saved his team by coming back and winning from what seem to be the opposite after half time. You couldn't ask for a better picture perfect ending in a great overtime thriller. I was just wondering if anybody really knew about this kid. I am from Ohio and I haven't heard of him till now. Anybody????
First the kid's name is B.J. Raymond. Eugene is his middle name. He was a great high school player for Toledo St. John's Jesuit. He was a huge part of trips to the Division 1 state semi-finals and finals that included teammates Brian Roberts (Dayton) and Zach Hillesland (Notre Dame). He was also an first team All-Ohio performer I believe. He was quiet in his first two years at Xavier until making a huge impact this year.
It was a terrific game and XU stepped up big time. They hit three-pointers better than they hit free throws, which by the way, was embarrassing. Still, the Musketeers lived, died and then lived on the three-pointers.
But can someone tell me why Xavier doesn't have a better "final seconds" play than Davenport dribbling down the clock to three seconds and then taking some crappy one-on-one shot? He did it in the first half, in the final minute.... oh well! Big win for Xavier and Bob Huggins goes home.
Xavier came up huge with 3 pointers at the end of the game. There are a lot of what-ifs, as a Mountaineer fan/alum but I believe, unfortunately the better team won.
I also believe Huggins did an amazing job this year with a team built soley for outside shooting. I was surprised when they were in the running for the tourney; and the Sweet 16 is great for the program and recruiting.
First off, his name is Lavender, not Davenport...and I agree that our last play of the game needs to be something a little bit more precise and not Drew just dribbling down, waiting for the clock to tick and throwing up a prayer. I would like to think that if Alexander had made the free throw, X's next offensive series would have shown a little bit more urgency, but who knows.
We'll take the win and go from there. Hopefully next time we won't lose an 18 point lead...
Sorry bball1003, your right his name is Brandon Davenport, I miss read the article. Also muskiechic17, your thinking of there terrific point guard Drew Lavender. He has been around a couple of years. I know some a about Xavier because I live like 45 min. from Xavier's campus. That is why I was wondering about Davenport, I never really heard of him, but he made the biggest shot of his life in overtime, and that kind of play is what makes you a first round selection. I don't know if he is that good, but I think he will stay till his senior year, because he could only get better from it. As long as they keep winning in the tourny.
I would first like to offer my congrats to the Musketeers on a great finish and win. I tink by and large, the fouls were about even and I think by and large this game was even going in and the outcome proved that to be very true.
I think WVU played well enough to win, but youth did not serve us in overtime with Smith, a red-shirt freshman, leaving BJ wide open with a 2 second shot clock inbounds play. Smith is a good player and he will be a great player, his block was the reason the shot clock was at 2 seconds and the inbounds play was even being attempted, but it is the second time this year he has produced this kind of result (a 1 point loss to Pitt at Pitt when he left his man and a game winning trey was made with the game clock expiring).
Alexander fouling out was also a boon for the Musketeers, and Duncan not fouling out on a double foul on Wellington Smith when another Xavier player got the foul was also a key moment.
Shooting 1-11 from three point range, while also helping, did not keep WVU from winning the game. Some will point to the foul shots missed in OT as well, but the Musketeers missed more than we did in this gane from the foul line.
No, I prefer to give all of the credit to Xavier for making the critical shots in OT to pull out a gutsy win against a dangerous but young team. WVU will have more chances with Huggins at the helm, but there cannot be a disatisfied Mountaineer Basketball Fan this year for nobody expected this kind of season in Huggs first year without any of his recruits.
Sean Miller is a great young coach and I hope that Xavier can hang onto him, unlike Prosser, his predecessor and Sean's predecessor. I wish Xavier good luck in the upcoming elite 8 game and will be cheering for you against the Bruins. Prosser was my oldest son'e basketball coach at Wheeling Central Catholic, and we send alot of kids over to Xavier as students. So again, good game and good luck!
Congrats to Xavier, but I'm also proud of my Mounties. To be down 28-10, with Xavier making every shot in sight and the WVU offense completely lost (6 turnovers early in the first half), it says something that WVU battled back to take the lead (and had only two turnovers, one in overtime, the rest of the game). But Alexander fouled out, they missed free throws and defensive assignments in OT (Alexander missing a go-ahead one with 14 seconds in regulation), and Xavier showed tremendous character. Once the game got close, both teams made big shot after big shot (Alexander and Duncan were awesome), but in the overtime, B.J. Raymond nailed the critical three-pointers (and Xavier hit three in a row overall). That's what great teams do, they make the plays, and Xavier did it. Good luck against UCLA!
To the Mounties, thanks for a great season. Under a new coach with a totally different philosophy, picked to finish 10th in the Big East, and instead going to the Sweet Sixteen and playing to an overtime loss for a trip to the Elite Eight, you made us proud with your grit and heart. Joe Alexander, stick around for next year and we can be right back there!
As a huge X fan, I'd also like to offer my congratulations and props to WV. Huggins was able to come in and reshape that team quickly and make them so successful this year. They had a great year and could be elite 8 bound if they had managed to sink some of those final free throws. X really blew it big time because of WV's zone defense. The few times X has looked bad this year has come against an aggressive zone defense (Ariz. St. and Temple both pulled off big wins against X because of that). Anyway, it looks like Huggins future will be bright, and I'm glad because, unlike most X fans, I'm also a big Huggins fan.
As far as the player of the game for X, it has to be Josh Duncan. He put the team on his back. He had 4 fouls and yet was utterly aggressive going after rebounds, guarding, and playing down in the paint. I think this was his 3rd game this season where he had substantial playing time after committing his 4th foul. It seems to energize him. Josh usually plays with little emotion. It was great last night seeing him be so passionate. He is definitely the MVP for X's season.
Here's hoping they can pull off their biggest upset of the year and beat UCLA tomorrow.
Terrific game. Although I'm a UNC alum, I have family in Xenia, Ohio who are Xavier fans and family that went to WVU.
Congrats to both schools and programs. However, did anyone feel like near the end of regulation there were a number of odd foul calls against Xavier? Again, I have no bias here....it seemed like the charging calls vs blcoking calls were out of whack at the end of regulation. I guess they won, so it really does not matter. Congrat sagain to WVU and XU for fine seasons.
Great game last night. As a Mountaineer, I was sad to see WVU lose, the team seemed to have a lot of momentum, but my hat is off to Xavier. That is a very good team. Balanced, good shooters, they work hard on the boards, and they handle pressure well. Good luck to the Musketeers.
