A Diary of Phoenix: The Sweet and The Elite
Doug Tifft
Sports Editor
The 2007-08 season was the most succesful season in the history for Xavier basketball. The team won a school-record 30 games and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in five years. Newswire Sports Editor Doug Tifft was in Phoenix for the NCAA West Regional, and kept a running diary as the season come to a close.
Greg Rust
Wake up at 3:00 AM and make my way in 40 degree temperature and driving rain to CVG.
Take a cramped and rather old fashioned flight to Chicago.
I arrive in Phoenix and take a cab directly to the U.S. Airways Center since I can’t check into my hotel until 3:00, One hour before tip-off. So I have to suffer through having my bags searched by the elderly security guard, to assure that I don’t pack dynamite along with my socks.
I spend most of the day exploring the U.S. Airways Center. The facility is plush to say the least. There is a nice buffet of treats set up here which I am slowly working my way through. Ah, I love my job.
As the game approaches I am struck by how many open seats are available prior to the game. Most people must be awaiting the UCLA game that is to follow, which if Xavier is to advance means that the Musketeers will essentially be playing a road game.
I take pre-game bets with the Xavier writers on how quickly Xavier will fall behind, given their recent history of coming out sluggishly. I say Xavier will be down seven with 12 minutes to play in the first half, and most everyone else agrees that it will be a similar struggle for Xavier.
Greg Rust
In the first of my many failed predictions, Xavier starts the game on a 28-10 run and looks to be in control.
Xavier goes cold, going 2-12 on field goal attempts to close the half. West Virginia takes advantage and cuts the lead to 32-25 at the break.
As the second half begins I make my second bold prediction, not having learned my lesson. I proclaim that Xavier will come out and rectify their shooting woes and build a comfortable 15 point lead once again.
I have officially retired from the prediction business after West Virginia starts the half on an 8-2 run.
Xavier’s cushion is effectively gone, and I am settling in for a nail biting game. I figure this is as good of a time as any to mention that I booked my hotel room and flight as if I was going to be here for 3 days. I know I may have jinxed Xavier, I’m sorry.
With 11:28 to go in the 2nd half, Xavier has been attacking West Virginia’s star Joe Alexander every time down the floor. Alexander has three fouls, and relegating him to the bench would likely stall the Mountaineer offense and swing momentum in Xavier’s favor.
With 7:11 to go Dante Jackson just hit a three from the corner. There is no better way to describe Jackson than to say he is a winner. He does all of the little things needed to win. Clutch shooting, tough defense and leadership (from a freshman) are all qualities that Jackson brings to the floor.
Xavier just missed an opportunity to ice this game as they ran down the clock without running an offensive set, and then had C.J. Anderson throw up a wild driving shot with 26 seconds to play. West Virginia has the ball, and a chance to tie the game. I wonder who they are going to throw the ball to here…… (Hint: not Jamie Smalligan)
Surprisingly WVU gave the ball to Joe Alexander, and he executed the same move that he has all game long. He came off of a cross screen to free himself on the left block, then turned and shot over his trailing defender, banking in the shot as Jason Love fouled him. He is going to the line for one free throw with 14 seconds left to put WVU up one. The good news for me is that perhaps I can find a flight out of town tonight, without actually having to unpack.
The 82.1 percent free throw shooting Alexander missed. Giving Xavier one last chance to win this game. I expect them to go to Duncan since he has been ungaurdable inside for most of this game.
I should have stayed retired. My predictions are dead on once again, as Xavier runs the clock down then has Lavender fire a poor shot as the clock expires. Duncan did not even get a touch on the possession. We go to overtime tied at 64.
4:30 to go in overtime and Joe Alexander just fouled out. WVU had jumped out to an early lead, 67-64 but this changes everything from the standpoint that Alexander has been carrying the WVU offense of late. Duncan went 1-2 at the line. 67-65 WVU
Greg Rust
B.J. Raymond just hit the biggest shot of his life from the corner. Xavier was down 74-72 when Raymond took a pass from Lavender and jacked a three with the shot clock winding down. Raymond did not score in regulation, so his five here in overtime have been unexpected and extremely clutch. 75-74 Xavier 1:22 to go.
Again! B.J. Raymond just drained another three. It looked like Miller drew up a lob for Duncan in the lane out of the timeout, but WVU read it and sent a double team to the paint. As a result of the double team and a screen, Raymond was left wide open in the far court. After an agonizingly long, double bouncing pass from Burrell as the five second count ran down Raymond released his jumper. It may be the dagger as it puts Xavier up four with 30 seconds to play.
Xavier holds on for a 79-75 win. Off to the Elite Eight.
Coming off the court I just passed the UCLA team. Two things struck me: 1. Kevin Love does not look like a guy who should dominate at this level. He looks a little overweight and un-athletic, yet it works for him I guess. 2. Lorenzo Mata Real is even uglier in person.
I made my way down to the Xavier locker room and discover the whole team jumping up and down and chanting (what they were chanting I have no idea). I think the closeness and chemistry of this team does not get enough attention, but it is safe to say that everyone on the team genuinely likes each other and gets along. That helps a team that has been with each other day to day for going on 6 months.
As I am walking around the locker room I see Joe Hughes enjoying some chocolate chip cookies, as he surveys his teammates going through media interviews. He spots me and offers me a cookie, which was as delicious as he made it look.
After getting some quotes I leave the locker room and check my phone. I find about 35 missed text messages, 15 missed calls and 6 voicemails. I guess the game was equally as exciting on TV.
I head back to my hotel and fall asleep rather quickly after a being awake for what seems like 20 hours.
I get up reasonably early for a college student at noon according to my watch. Yet it is only 9 here in Phoenix and I can still catch the continental breakfast.
I head off to a press conference at U.S. Airways Center.
I ask Burrell a question during a media conference, followed by 15 text messages telling me that my voice just made ESPNNEWS.
After some interviews and media odds and ends I head back out for some dinner.
After a sound night of sleep I headed over to the Media Work Room at the U.S. Airways Center. Again I am the first one in the place, besides the Cincinnati TV guys who I am suspicious may be sleeping here.
I head out to the floor, maybe because I got here so early and maybe because it is the biggest game I have ever covered, but it seems like this day is dragging on. Let’s gat this thing started already!
The UCLA cheerleaders are set up directly in front of me. This means I can make a strong case for having the best seats in the house. Although the girls are extremely attractive, I must say that if I ever had a son I would not let him sit courtside at a UCLA game with some of the dances/outfit combinations these girls are pulling out here. Not that I am complaining.
The crowd here seems to be pretty strongly in favor of UCLA. Xavier has a respectable rooting section, but it is just that, a mere one section of the arena. Many Bruins fans have taken advantage of the 6 hour car ride, or short flight. There are even enough of them to do a U-C-L-A cheer that goes around the stadium like ‘the wave.’
One notable UCLA fan is “Rental Man.” This guy is seated, or standing, directly behind the UCLA band. He has brought a bag full of hats, facial features, and other props to wear at various times. Whenever there is music this guys goes absolutely nuts. Take the most crazed fan you have met in your life, remember his most ridiculous moment, and then double it. That is what “Rental Man” has been producing for the last 15 minutes straight. This guy has to be on something.
Finally, introductions and a national anthem.
During introductions I notice that Kevin Love, listed at 6’10, is much shorter than Lorenzo Mata-Real, listed at 6’9. He is in fact only slightly taller than 6’5 Josh Ship.
Derrick Brown came to play today. He has started the game off with two infactic dunks on Kevin Love.
Xavier is suffering from severe ball pressure at the moment and struggling to get the offense going. UCLA has scouted Xavier well and knew that a hard double team on Jason Love a moment ago will produce a turnover 9 times out of 10. Still Xavier's defense is keeping them in this game. 18-15 UCLA
Xavier is down 33-24 at the half. They are 03 from the line and UCLA is 5-7. Brown currently has 10 of Xavier’s 24.
Greg Rust
UCLA just went on a 7-0 burst to extend the lead from 38-24 to 45-24.
Xavier put together a 7-0 run of their own, but it might be too little too late. ULA 51 Xavier 37.
UCLA is pulling away Kevin Love is just too hard to handle and has 10 rebounds, five on the offensive glass.
UCLA just had too much tonight. 76-57 Bruins final score.
After the game I headed to the locker room. As I arrive outside I notice Stanley Burrell stumbling his way to the locker room, weeping. Stan gives his heart and soul to this Xavier team, and so I was almost expecting this emotion from him.
As I am waiting here outside the Xavier locker room for the 15 minute cooling off period to end some people are starting to exit the locker room one by one. First it was some assistant coaches, then Fr. Graham, then some managers. All of them had the same look on their faces. One of grief, disbelief, emotional fatigue, all of it transpired to produce this memorable look by these men.
Once inside the locker room, the scene was equally as bleak. Players sit at their lockers silently staring off into the distance. The most shaken of the group seemed to be the youngest: Dante Jackson. Jackson was rolled up in a ball in the corner of the locker room, too emotional even to answer reporters’ questions.
Miller was able to give the reporters something to work with when he arrive. His most memorable proclamation was looking a Brad Johanson in the eye and saying “I will be back at Xavier.” Let’s see if he holds up to it.
After a tough game it is time to grab a bite to eat, and then I have a plane to catch.
Musketeers struggle against non-conference opponents
Baseball team records 4-5 week, starts season 4-2 in Atlantic 10 play
Emily Neubauer
Sports Writer
goxavier.com
Sophomore Bobby Freking.
As Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds kicked off the 2008 professional season, Xavier turns its attention from the 2008 NCAA men’s basketball tournament to the sport most identified with the spring season: baseball. The men’s baseball team, owners of a 6-13 record, look to improve upon a 29-31 2007 season. The Musketeers opened up the last week in March with a three game series against the A-10 rival Dayton Flyers.
The team began A-10 play with a bang, blanking the Flyers 9-0 on March 22 at Time Warner Cable Stadium in Dayton. Every player contributed to the landslide victory. Xavier out-hit the Flyers 10-3 in the contest with sophomore second baseman Drew Schmidt going 2-for-5 on the day for the Musketeers, collecting one RBI and scoring a run. The first run for the Muskies came in the second, with two players crossing home plate in the third and two more in the sixth.
Dayton players weren’t on their game. In the third inning, two walks, a passed ball and a hit batsman led to both runs scored. In the seventh, a throwing error, a walk and a wild pitch allowed two more runs to score.
Senior Mike Creevy (3-1) notched the win for the Musketeers after relieving junior Charlie Leesman in the fourth following a 40 minute snow delay as the two combined for the shutout. Creevy struck out five, walked none and allowed no runs in six innings of work.
Chris Beesley (2-2) took the loss for Dayton (10-6, 0-1 A-10) after throwing four innings and striking out only one batter.
The second game of the series wasn’t quite so lopsided. Dayton quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead but Xavier scored two in both the sixth and the seventh to win the game by a final score of 4-2. Designated hitter Zac Richard was 2-for-4 on the day, which included a single and a two-run homer, his team-leading fourth of the season.
Richard knotted the game up in the sixth with a one-out, two-run homer to right field for XU, which scored junior right fielder Sean Farrell who had doubled earlier. Heading into the bottom of the sixth the score was knotted at two runs apiece.
Musketeers’ junior center fielder Adam Pasono was walked in the seventh and then stole second to move into scoring position, setting up a two-out, bases loaded RBI single up the middle by Richard to give Xavier a 4-2 victory.
Senior right-handed pitcher Michael Lucas (1-1) got the win for the Musketeers after putting in six innings of work while striking out four and giving up only two hits. Junior shortstop and right handed pitcher Jordan Conley (1) notched the save after the last four Flyer batters of the game were put out.
Lucas Farden (2-2) took the loss for Dayton after giving up two runs in the seventh inning. He struck out five batters while walking three in 3.2 innings of work.
Since then, things have been downhill for the Musketeers. They dropped the last game of the series against Dayton by a score of 5-3 on Monday afternoon.
Xavier was the first team to cross home plate on a double down the left field line by Farrell and a single by Richard. Dayton answered with two runs of their own in the second on two hit batsmen and a double scoring both.
The score remained the same, 2-1, until the seventh inning when Xavier notched two more. A three run seventh by the Flyers sealed the victory for Dayton in the bottom of the frame.
Freshman lefty Ben Thomas (0-1) took the loss for the Musketeers after giving up two runs in 0.2 innings of action. Starter sophomore Danny Rosenbaum put in six innings of work, striking out seven batters and giving up two runs off one hit.
Burny Mitchem (1-1) got the win for the Flyers after striking out six and walking one in 2.2 innings of action.
Things got harder for the Muskies as the week went on, facing the No. 8 team in the country, the 20-2 Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington. Sophomore second baseman Drew Schmidt and junior center fielder Adam Pasono each had multi-hit games, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Xavier starter freshman left-handed pitcher Tom Shirley (0-1) lasted six innings, allowed four runs, walked two and struck out four. Junior righty Joe Kohler worked the final two frames, allowing two hits and one run.
Kentucky scored in the first and Xavier followed in the second, leading the Wildcats, 2-1. UK regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth with two runs on four hits. They never looked back, scoring two more in the seventh and securing the victory.
Tyler Henry (1-0) picked up the win for Kentucky after striking out six XU batters and giving up only two hits.
On March 26, Xavier took on the Indiana Hoosiers and banged out an impressive 11 hits but it wasn’t enough as they fell to IU by a score of 11-4. Schmidt went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss.
Xavier scored one run in the first on a single, an error, a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Indiana responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring two runs. Xavier would score two runs of their own in the second, but it wasn’t enough. IU scored the go ahead run in the fifth, with five more crossing home plate in the sixth.
Freshman righty Brian Muransky (0-2) took the loss for the Musketeers after striking out four while walking one over 5.1 innings of work.
Chris McCombs (1-0) notched the win for the Hoosiers as he struck out three XU batters while walking one in 1.2 innings of relief.
Xavier then traveled to Massachusetts to take on U-Mass Minutemen on Saturday, March 29. They fell by a score of 7-1. Schmidt and junior Jordan Conley were both 2-for-4 on the day for XU.
Leesman (0-3) went four innings for Xavier (6-13, 2-2 A-10), allowing four runs, three earned, on 10 hits to take the loss.
XU’s single run of the game came in the fifth when junior Adam Pasono singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Schmidt’s base-hit to left.
