No. 25 Xavier, Virginia Tech both coming off first loss
Protection and three-tips have been staples for No. twenty five Xavier in the course of the year.
In their opening match of the NIT Period Idea-Off in Brooklyn, the Musketeers went flat in both of those classes as they fell 82-70 to Iowa Point out on Wednesday. Xavier (four-1) will meet up with Virginia Tech, a sixty nine-sixty one loser to No. 9 Memphis, in the consolation match Friday evening.
Xavier authorized Iowa Point out to strike fifty one.five % of its pictures and 50 % (ten of twenty) from three-level territory.
Therefore, the Musketeers couldn’t obtain their shooting contact, as they produced only three of 21 three-level attempts and shot 43.three % from the area. They were 9 of twenty five all round and 1 of 9 from outside of the arc in the next fifty percent.
Head coach Travis Steele realized his club’s defensive breakdowns would be a massive obstacle to conquer.
“You fellas talk to issues about the defensive close and you are 1,000 % suitable,” claimed Steele. “This is the initial time I failed to sense like we played in direction of our identification this calendar year. Iowa Point out was the tougher enjoying crew. They were the extra physical crew. They were the harder crew tonight. That is why they won the match. Stage blank. Conclusion of tale.”
Jack Nunge came off the bench and poured in a career-higher 24 details and Colby Jones experienced a double-double with eleven details and twelve rebounds. Foremost scorer Paul Scruggs struggled by changing just 1 of fourteen pictures, and he skipped his remaining thirteen attempts to finish with just a few details.
Adam Kunkel, the team’s 3rd-primary scorer, failed to perform on Wednesday because of to an ailment. His enjoying position will be decided at idea-off.
Steele watched his club reduce momentum following they held a 39-38 direct at halftime. Iowa Point out opened the next fifty percent with a 9- run.
“I thought our fellas missing their minds a little little bit in the next fifty percent,” Steele claimed. “Skipped a layup early. Skipped a few broad-open threes. They went on their run and punched us in the mouth. And I thought that definitely affected our offense.”
Virginia Tech (five-1) stayed close in the course of its contest with No. 9 Memphis, but the Hokies couldn’t finish. The Hokies experienced won their initial five video games by an common of 28 details.
The Memphis protection held Virginia Tech to just 33.9 % shooting from the area, and 33.three % (seven of 21) from three-level selection. Nahiem Alleyne scored 21 details and Keve Aluma added fourteen.
“We weren’t quite ourselves offensively,” claimed Virginia Tech coach Mike Younger. “Memphis is a incredibly very good defensive club, and they were scrappy offensively.”
Whilst Memphis led for most of the match, the Tigers couldn’t put the Hokies away, and Alleyne produced a three-pointer with four:36 still left to give Virginia Tech a 56-fifty five edge.
“Typically (we) have a significantly superior rhythm,” added Younger. “Typically we get some things — and we experienced cracks at it — all around the rim. That was the initial time we weren’t quite ourselves offensively. Again, Memphis experienced a good deal to do with that.”
–Field Level Media
