Eggz-avier Cracks Under Pressure

[Woodmania]

From Franny's front page article:

Despite both playing very sloppy basketball, The Ohio State Buckeyes and Xavier Musketeers treated hoops fans to a thrilling battle yesterday as the #1 Seed Bucks defated Xavier in OT, 78-71.

As an Ohio State graduate and fan, I cannot remember a more heart-racing Buckeye sports experience since the 2002 National Championship Game in football. The Buckeyes never seemed to get any momentum going and let Xavier hang around too long. The next thing I knew I was looking up at a 9 point Xavier lead with 2:54 to go in the game. The Buckeyes appeared to be doomed. OSU had shown no indications that they could hit shots all night, Greg Oden was about to foul out and the cheap Xavier fans surrounding me at Buffalo Wild Wings started chanting "Nah Nah Nah Nah Hey Hey Hey Goodbye" in my face. But despite all that - I still sensed Sean Miller wasn't meant to win this game, something crazy was going to happen, and it did.

tOSU somehow creeped back in the ballgame, cutting the deficit by 2 with 10 seconds left. Oden commits his fifth foul and sends Justin Cage to the foul line. After hearing Cage whine all week about Thad Matta's departure from XU, I thought in the back of my mind that this guy may go up there and seal the victory - getting his sweet revenge on old Matta, but he didn't. He missed the second free throw, giving OSU just enough time to storm down the court and make a long 3 pointer to send the game to overtime. Mike Conley Jr scored all the Buckeyes' points in OT to put the Bucks in the Sweet 16. Amazing.

There will be no Cinderella story for Xavier. Ron Lewis' 3 pointer at the buzzer also probably cost Sean Miller millions of dollars in offers for other coaching positions, but he'll still leave. That's the Xavier way right? Make a run in the NCAA Tournament every 3-4 years and have your coach leave for bigger opportunities. Don't be surprised if Miller is coaching the Wolverines next season.

Also - while I am at it I'd like to point out publically just how classless the XU fans were. I realize this game was a heartbreaker but that is not a reason to make statements like "I hope you enjoyed your PUBLIC education, how much did you even pay for that? $7000?" and "I will make more money than you" and "I got a real JESUIT education." I've had a lot of people talk trash to me before but this was just ridiculous. Chances are your doctor, dentist and rich daddy's lawyer are all graduates of tOSU, so don't throw that shit my way suckaz! It is just a basketball game. You are embarrassing your famous alumni, Mike Damone and Bill Cunningham! Go Bucks!

[ndogg810]

Tyza & Woodman, dont worry. i havent gone insane, but after that wonderful loss to ohio state saturday, i actually had a positive comment about xavier. no, not the school, but it's coach, Sean Miller. i am not a sean miller fan, and i think he is somewhat overhyped, but his after game comments really gained some respect. many coaches, great coaches at that, would have spend the entire after game press conf. to blame the loss on the "flagrant" foul by oden. the foul was definitely "hard" but i think it was good no call. sean miller displayed class and respect in accepting the defeat based upon their play and bad playcalling (like...how about fouling the guy before he hits a three, which has been seen to occur in march madness throughout the history of the greatest sporting event of all). it was nice to see someone from xavier, including their fans, that actually presented themselves with class. xavier might be a private and religious school, but their fans, no matter what the sport, use the most degrading and insulting language, full of vulgarity. at least all of xavier fans were back home in time to go to both masses!
i still hate xavier. i still dont like sean miller, but i just had to commend him on his response, because it is rare to see that today. in mick i trust. go bearcats!

[Franny]

i am not a sean miller fan, and i think he is somewhat overhyped, but his after game comments really gained some respect. many coaches, great coaches at that, would have spend the entire after game press conf. to blame the loss on the "flagrant" foul by oden.

I agree, he showed a lot of class, unlike the Xavier fans themselves. He took some heat for not fouling there at the end, but I think he did the right thing. The shot Lewis hit was somewhat of a miracle shot... Destiny??

Also:

Did You Know?: A childhood prodigy who went on to become a star point guard at Pitt, Miller appeared on the Tonight Show at age 9 showing off his ball-handling and shooting skills.

Outlook: Three years ago, Musketeers came within

For those who missed it - here are the last 9.3 of regulation. Classic stuff:

YouTube Video

[JMart]

Franny you have zero room to talk, based on the way OSU fans treat people Michigan fans attending the game at Ohio Stadium. Talk about classless, I think the Bucks fans take that to previously unknown levels.

Nice generalization by the way. Here's a generalization on the same level as yours: all OSU fans are dumbasses...I mean, they must be, their school is an academic joke, right?

[Franny]

Originally Posted by JMart

Franny you have zero room to talk, based on the way OSU fans treat people Michigan fans attending the game at Ohio Stadium. Talk about classless, I think the Bucks fans take that to previously unknown levels.

Nice generalization by the way. Here's a generalization on the same level as yours: all OSU fans are dumbasses...I mean, they must be, their school is an academic joke, right?

Why am I being singled out here? (ndogg post):

xavier might be a private and religious school, but their fans, no matter what the sport, use the most degrading and insulting language, full of vulgarity. at least all of xavier fans were back home in time to go to both masses!

[Franny]

Jmart continues his attacks against Franny for no reason. Just so you know too... All Lance McAllister is talking about is how Sean Miller is now set up to leave XU because he made a statement in one NCAA game. I already wrote this same shit up and it offended you! Call up Lance and bitch! This is the XAVIER WAY. Why is that soooo hard to swallow? It's not belittling, it's the truth.

From Lance's Blog:

Quote of the day
"Sean almost coached himself to the Michigan job. Who better for Michigan to hire than the guy that beat OSU?"
-Coach I talked to last night

[david aka the TYZ]

Originally Posted by ndogg810

Tyza & Woodman, dont worry. i havent gone insane, but after that wonderful loss to ohio state saturday, i actually had a positive comment about xavier. no, not the school, but it's coach, Sean Miller. i am not a sean miller fan, and i think he is somewhat overhyped, but his after game comments really gained some respect. many coaches, great coaches at that, would have spend the entire after game press conf. to blame the loss on the "flagrant" foul by oden. the foul was definitely "hard" but i think it was good no call. sean miller displayed class and respect in accepting the defeat based upon their play and bad playcalling (like...how about fouling the guy before he hits a three, which has been seen to occur in march madness throughout the history of the greatest sporting event of all). it was nice to see someone from xavier, including their fans, that actually presented themselves with class. xavier might be a private and religious school, but their fans, no matter what the sport, use the most degrading and insulting language, full of vulgarity. at least all of xavier fans were back home in time to go to both masses!
i still hate xavier. i still dont like sean miller, but i just had to commend him on his response, because it is rare to see that today. in mick i trust. go bearcats!

As much as I hate Xavier -- and it's a really, really lot -- I have to agree. Xavier has always been a class organization and plays by the rules and plays the game the right way. That is why they give good teams fits all the time, including my beloved Bearcats. I have found their fans to be rude at times. Fran-man the comments directed at you were classless and unintelligent. All I can say is be the bigger man and let it slide. I hate when fans of rival teams make things personal. Let things happen on the field of play, nothing wrong with a little friendly trash-talking, but keep it friendly. I have friends that went to X and Miami and OSU. Sure I'll rub it in when my team beats them, but I don't think less of them because they chose a different school than me. Back to post-game comments. Miller did say the right things and I really enjoyed the comments from players quickly backing their teammate up and not blaming the missed foul shot as the reason they lost. I'm glad Xavier did not make the Sweet 16 and look forward to the Shootout next year. Hopefully Miller bolts, they get a hack in there to replace him, no good players to replace the ones leaving and they suck miserably next year.

[Franny]

All I can say is be the bigger man and let it slide. I hate when fans of rival teams make things personal.

For the record, I just laughed. I was outnumbered and was getting shit from everyone all night. The best comeback is always to go Adam Morrison style:
"SCOREBOARD."

If these guys aspire to "make more money" than poor Franny, they'll probably still be pretty poor