Coach Theo has been a head coach at the class AAA high school level and was also employed by a D1 college program. This is what he saw against Xavier:
The first 10 minutes was ugly. Xavier was more physical to start, as they say in the NHL, they finished their checks.
Nunge was very good, Boum was very quick. Nunge looked like an NBA player.
I try not to be a ref hater but damn I thought we could get more calls.
There is some room for improvement playing off a ball screen:
(Providence) needs to recognize on-ball screen action when they’re going to get into the lane but not get to the basket. Square up and take a jump shot rather than the floaters we’ve been seeing.
Re: Hopkins, in the first half Xavier didn’t do much (other than the occasional double team) to take him away. I’m at a loss as to why he didn’t score more. Although late in the game the double teams came more frequently and those bothered him
But a simple explanation for tonight, Xavier outplayed Providence for too much of the game. Xavier played harder and was sometimes a step ahead.