Two Step

Big big big time week for Xavier basketball. Xavier completed it's big three game road trip with a HUGE win down in Gainesville on Saturday night. They catered pure excellence to a national audience. Xavier wasn't scared of the Gator chomp. A full week of practice showed they were truly prepared for a big time non-conference road game late in the season. Just when things looked bad after getting smoked last Saturday up at Dayton, Xavier bounced back with a big time resume win. The NCAA is going to see this game, late in the season, road win, and be like, "yup, Xavier, we're going to invite you back to the tournament. You once again prove to us with a lethal schedule and tough conference play that you deserve to be playing with the big dogs." Not to say Xavier isn't a big dog, but year after year, Xavier proves they deserve national recognition for scheduling ambitiously and doing what they do, compete and win. A stellar effort by Jason Love lead the way for Xavier. Jamel McClean was a maestro on the glass and a destructor of iron as he rocked the rim a few times. Jordan Crawford took over when he had to and proved why he is an elite player. His growth throughout the season is phenomenal. You have to hand it to the Muskies for scheduling this game in the thick of conference play and getting the job done. That marks two wins against SEC foe this year. Their RPI and SOS are again tops in the country. Do I need to say anymore about how strong this basketball program is? I think they are starting to speak for themselves. They set the standard when it comes to drawing up blueprints for making the NCAA tournament and making deep runs into March. They prepare themselves during the season so that they are playing at their best when it counts! That being said, Xavier needs to take care of business in conference this week. Tomorrow they play St. Joe's at home, obviously Xavier needs to win that game to keep the A-10 Title hopes alive. An even bigger match up this week down in Charlotte will really set the table for the A-10 crown. If Xavier wins both these games this week they should be sitting in the driver's seat controlling their own destiny. We need big time efforts this week from the team, staff, and us fans. Let's go X!

I would like to compliment Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes of ESPN for calling a great game. Xavier seems to have drawn the lower tier commentators this year on the ESPN family of networks. Finally, they got a big time duo and they did not disappoint. Nessler and Dykes both had high praise for the University, program, and staff! Dykes is such a wizard when it comes to basketball knowledge and Nessler is a prime time MC on the mic. He is great in college football and basketball alike. Good job fellas.

I have to give a shout out to Kevin McGuff and the Xavier women's basketball team. McGuff has the ladies playing at a very high level. How high level you ask? How about #6 in the country high level. After last year's crushing loss in the NCAA tournament it looks like McGuff has been on a mission this year establishing the women as not only tops in the A-10 but a force to be reckoned with nationally. Are they UCONN, I can't say they are, but shoot, #6 in the country is pretty impressive. I'm looking forward to seeing the women do damage come March!

Ohio State got a real solid W at Illinois on Sunday. They are tied for first in the Big Ten with some big time games coming up against Purdue and Michigan State. These two games will certainly set the field apart. You have to think the way the Bucks are playing they could make a push at least into the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. Evan Turner, in my mind, is without a doubt the most rounded and arguably the best player in all of college basketball this year. At 6'6", he's running the show for Ohio State. He leads in all the key categories: scoring, rebounding, and assists. His game is just so silky smooth. It's "nasty" to quote my friend Jay (although he has never said that about Evan, it's just his phrase).

How can this time of year not be everyone's favorite time of year? It's unreal. You have college basketball revving the engines for the home stretch, NBA basketball heating up, NBA trade deadline, and right now the Olympics are alive and kicking. The Cavs have won 13 in a row and are looking to make BIG TIME plays when it comes to the trade deadline. Multiple sources are trying to gather information on the rumors swirling about regarding a possible deal to lande my main man Amare Stoudemire in Cleveland to help LeBron really do the baddest things in the playoffs. Amare may be that missing link the Cavs need to raise the trophy in Cleveland. Not only that, but landing Amare would all but guarantee LeBron stays in Cleveland and continues to give us chills everytime he steps on the court. I've really been pumping the USA this year in the Olympics. Of course Shaun White is going to own on the slopes and you know I'm pulling for USA hockey even though they are up against nearly impossible odds but so was the USA team in 1980. If Canada doesn't win the gold this year that entire country may just implode. They have Sid the Kid and are playing on home ice. Let me remind you though that Team USA beat Canada to win the World Juniors. Perhaps another sign is that this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Miracle on Ice! Maybe with a little karma on their side a young USA team can make plays. Let's not forget Alex Ovechkin isn't going to let this happen if he has anything to say about it. All eyes will be on the pond as hockey brews up.

I'm headed up to Boston this weekend to watch my brother play one last time at Gordon College. It's senior night this Saturday and the team is really balling. They are currently 19-4 and 10-1 in conference. This weekend should seal the deal on a conference championship and hopefully they have enough fuel to win the conference tournament in order to make the D3 NCAA Tournament. If you're feeling it, tune in at 3pm to see if they lay the wood Saturday. I know X plays at Charlotte at 2pm but maybe at half you supporters can check out Big Ben and the Fighting Scots.

A little intramural basketball update for Smokin' Trees and Strokin' Threes. We are 3-0 and prior to last night's 27 point smashing we were ranked 10th out of 54 teams. I'm pretty sure that beat down we served moved us up in the rankings. Stay tuned as tournament play approaches!

-'Killa