Ritchie's Pregame - Xavier
The Charlotte 49ers take their undefeated A10 Conference record and five game win streak home to Charlotte Saturday night to face the top team in the league, the Xavier Minutemen.
The Niners (10-5 [3-0 A10], 101 Pomeroy, 83 RPI) find themselves in an early season must win game vs the Minutemen (10-2 [2-0], 6 Pomeroy, 60 RPI) in order to assert conference dominance.
Xavier is one of the top defensive teams in the nation, running a style most like North Carolina State (http://www.kenpom.com/stats.php?y=2006&team=Xavier&s=0), playing slow and patient on offense, while being aggressive and stout on defense. Xavier ranks 8th in the nation at defensive field goal percentage, holding their opponents to an average 37.4% from the field. Even more stifling is the Minutemen’s opponents 3-pt percentage, an average of 28.2%.
Xavier leads the A10 in seven categories, scoring margin (+17.8ppg), field goal percentage, 49.6%, 3 point field goal percentage, 39.4%, field goal percentage defense, 37.4%, 3-pt percentage defense, 28.2%, assists , 19.2/game, and assist-to-turnover ratio 1.55. If all of those league leading stats weren’t enough, Xavier also is 2nd in the league in scoring offense, scoring defense, and blocks.
The Minutemen are clearly playing the hottest ball in the A10 right now, and if Charlotte can win this game, the Niners would make a major statement that this team is ready to win the Atlantic 10.
Players to look for Saturday night include Brian Thornton, shooting 64.9% on the season (72-111), leading the team in scoring, rebounding, blocks. The Niners must play better perimeter defense than they have in previous games this season because six Xavier teammates are shooting 38% or better from the 3-pt line, Johnny Wolf (42.9%), Stanley Burrell (42.4%), Justin Doellman (41.9%), Josh Duncan (41%), Justin Cage (40%), and Dedrick Finn (38.5%).
Charlotte must play strong perimeter defense, holding Xavier to under 30% from 3, while also limiting FT opportunities when the Minutemen drive inside. Offensively, Charlotte needs big games from Curt, and Nance to loosen the perimeter for Lee, Mitch, Marcus, and DA to hit some threes.
This will be the toughest opponent the Niners have faced all year, despite Indiana’s national ranking. With a win, Charlotte can finally prove that they’ve turned the corner and that they are ready for a shot at the NCAA tourney.
The Niners (10-5 [3-0 A10], 101 Pomeroy, 83 RPI) find themselves in an early season must win game vs the Minutemen (10-2 [2-0], 6 Pomeroy, 60 RPI) in order to assert conference dominance.
Xavier is one of the top defensive teams in the nation, running a style most like North Carolina State (http://www.kenpom.com/stats.php?y=2006&team=Xavier&s=0), playing slow and patient on offense, while being aggressive and stout on defense. Xavier ranks 8th in the nation at defensive field goal percentage, holding their opponents to an average 37.4% from the field. Even more stifling is the Minutemen’s opponents 3-pt percentage, an average of 28.2%.
Xavier leads the A10 in seven categories, scoring margin (+17.8ppg), field goal percentage, 49.6%, 3 point field goal percentage, 39.4%, field goal percentage defense, 37.4%, 3-pt percentage defense, 28.2%, assists , 19.2/game, and assist-to-turnover ratio 1.55. If all of those league leading stats weren’t enough, Xavier also is 2nd in the league in scoring offense, scoring defense, and blocks.
The Minutemen are clearly playing the hottest ball in the A10 right now, and if Charlotte can win this game, the Niners would make a major statement that this team is ready to win the Atlantic 10.
Players to look for Saturday night include Brian Thornton, shooting 64.9% on the season (72-111), leading the team in scoring, rebounding, blocks. The Niners must play better perimeter defense than they have in previous games this season because six Xavier teammates are shooting 38% or better from the 3-pt line, Johnny Wolf (42.9%), Stanley Burrell (42.4%), Justin Doellman (41.9%), Josh Duncan (41%), Justin Cage (40%), and Dedrick Finn (38.5%).
Charlotte must play strong perimeter defense, holding Xavier to under 30% from 3, while also limiting FT opportunities when the Minutemen drive inside. Offensively, Charlotte needs big games from Curt, and Nance to loosen the perimeter for Lee, Mitch, Marcus, and DA to hit some threes.
This will be the toughest opponent the Niners have faced all year, despite Indiana’s national ranking. With a win, Charlotte can finally prove that they’ve turned the corner and that they are ready for a shot at the NCAA tourney.
posted by 49er Update @ 8:24 PM
1 Comments:
At 8:41 AM,
Anonymous said…
Ritchie,
Umm...the Minutemen are UMASS. You know, Paul Revere and all that history stuff? Xavier is the Musketeers. Just bustin' your chops.
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