Game Thread: Xavier v Butler (3/6/2024)

[bleedXblue]

If that's all we have returning, that's not a great start. We'd need AT LEAST three more good players to be competitive.

yep.....3 more along with Free and Hunter "returning"

[xuwillie]

Sadly I'm beginning to think Green will not be back.

[XU_Lou]

Other than Free and Hunter, assuming they'll be able to play, do we really want anyone on our roster to be a starter next year? Perhaps Claude will do much better as a 4th or 5th offensive option, but the mistakes he consistently makes is maddening.

McKnight, Swain, Green, and perhaps Ciani and Nzeh would be great back-up players. You could also argue that Dokovic might be effective at some point. So yes, we need to find at least 2 starters in the portal - maybe more.

It feels like the program is at a major pivotal moment this off-season for many reasons.

[Xville]

Miller loves mcknight and is exactly the kind of player he wants in a pg. tough, gritty, experienced and an extremely high a/to ratio. He’s a keeper. One thing I will say about him, he really wanted to transfer to Louisville, but brain dead Kenny Payne never even called him. With a competent coach, maybe he goes there. He really wanted to play in front of his family. I dunno anything beyond that, or if he would want to go there now, but he did last year. Anyways, Claude will be awesome with a good frontcourt. Assuming free is back, just need a olivari replacement, and a legit 5.

Swain
Green
Djokovic
Nzeh
Maybe Ciani

Are backfills for next year. Swain and green are probably starting junior year and nzeh could be too depending on development.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

It feels like the program is at a major pivotal moment this off-season for many reasons.

Yes. Very much so.

[xuwillie]

I def want swain and McKnight back

[Xavier]

Why would people not want Claude back? He definitely makes some maddening mistakes, I agree. But he is a sophomore who was 10th in the league in PPG. That’s with teams knowing they don’t have to worry about 2/5 players on the court and can sag/help all game. He’s going to be an all BE player next year with a summer of improving and the addition of a capable front court.

McKnight is 5th in the BE in assists. (.1 behind 4th place). He fits the system perfectly. I just think people underestimate how the incapable frontcourt impacted everything.

[drudy23]

This team needs Claude and Claude needs a capable front-court to explode next year.

The roster holes are glaringly obvious, and it's pretty much been this way for 5 of the last 6 years. We need MAJOR upgrades in the paint.

I miss Tyrique.

[MHettel]

Yeah, that was my first thought when Tandy left, too. Jacksonville St must have dropped the bag on him.

I’m more thinking about guys that are productive already.

[muskieindent]

Why would people not want Claude back? He definitely makes some maddening mistakes, I agree. But he is a sophomore who was 10th in the league in PPG. That’s with teams knowing they don’t have to worry about 2/5 players on the court and can sag/help all game. He’s going to be an all BE player next year with a summer of improving and the addition of a capable front court.

McKnight is 5th in the BE in assists. (.1 behind 4th place). He fits the system perfectly. I just think people underestimate how the incapable frontcourt impacted everything.

I don't get the beating on Claude either.I mean the guy was expected to be a super star after one year where he was just a role player.Maybe people thought he was going to be Colby 2.0 I think he's about where Colby was in his second year.He's been asked to do a lot.We need him back along with McKnight,Swain ,Green ,Nzeh.I'd like to keep Lazer just to see if he starts to blossom after one year.Abou is ok but not as a starter.