Should Xavier panic about Travis Steele

[bigeastbiggerstage]

https://thebrokenanchor.com/is-it-time- ... is-steele/

So Xavier is two years in with Steele. Should they panic because of how the last two years have gone?

NO. Here's why.

[Xudash]

I’m in “full buy mode” on Travis.

Mack’s tenure at the end, with respect to recruiting, cannot be regarded as a success - 2018 Class anyone?

Travis had to go to the transfer portal.

The turnovers, poor decision-making, and truly bad shooting percentages made for a very frustrating season. I cringed every time Gooden thought it was time to “add value” to the proceedings. I also truly believe that Naji was a problem child last year. The price a new coach pays in terms of player relationships as he moves to the #1 seat.

Travis is a very strong recruiter. He is a very good person who truly cares about his players. I have no doubt that recruiting at Xavier will grow stronger with program success under Travis.

This team is his now. It’s time to get back to Xavier-level performance in an even stronger BE Conference.

[Django]

The only fans in this league who should be comfortable with their coach staying are Villanova Fans... And they should be worried about Jay leaving.

[DudeAnon]

The only fans in this league who should be comfortable with their coach staying are Villanova Fans... And they should be worried about Jay leaving.

Yea but thats really a different topic. Its one thing to be worried about your coach sucking and needing to be fired, its another that hes so good the blue bloods come approaching.

[Hall2012]

I agree there's nothing for X fans to panic about. Author's getting way ahead of himself with that last statement though lol

[GumbyDamnit!]

This article had some doozies...

First, players are never expected just to do one thing. Author mentioned that the reason that X was offensively challenged is because the players were brought in for different roles. Like Naji was expected to just be a defensive stopper and Jones just rebound. Huh? These players were in the program for 3 and 4 years. I don't think it's too big an expectation for them to develop across the board. TJ couldn't learn to hit a foul line jumper? Naji couldn't improve his shooting or shot selection? Etc.

Second, for this year the author is just assuming that all the new players are just going to not only replace but far exceed what NM and TJ provided. "No big deal, KyKy and Free will just score a whole lot more than the other guys," completely ignores that KyKy is not a great defender at this point (and clearly a step down from NM) and Freemantle might be more well rounded but for what he provided Jones was an absolute beast in the middle. Those 2 provided 31 PPG and 17.5 rebounds per game. That's a whole lot of production.

As Hall said, the last paragraph... huh!!?? So he starts with "should we worry," and ends with "Steele is one of the best young coaches in the land?" Quite the journey he took in a small piece...

At this time last year I worried about X's ability to shoot the ball. That turned out to be a legit concern. This year, maybe addition by subtraction works and the offense is more free flowing. But X lost their two best players and both were very physical presences. No idea how some of the transfers and frosh are going to pan out. It's a crap shoot with both usually. So the core of KyKy, Free, Scruggs and Carter is what you have to judge them on at this point. Probably good enough to be in the .500 range in conference, maybe a bit better, or a bit worse. Add that to Steele's 18-21 conference record and the X fans will have to be the judge on whether or not that is acceptable. He seems to be bringing in talent so maybe we'll see a shift to a team construction better suited for how he wants to coach. What I'm most interested in seeing is on the development side. Mack seemed to help his players improve YOY. X needs Travis to do the same.

Not trying to throw cold water on the X fans. This is just one man's opinion without pride or prejudice.

[Xudash]

I don't see it as you throwing cold water our way Gumby.

We do lose a lot of production when it comes to Naji and TJ exiting stage right.

I do, however, believe chemistry issues existed, and that Naji contributed to them. Something just wasn't cricket last year. Too much experience to experience as many turnovers as that starting crew managed to artfully produce. Bad decision-making, and Gooden possibly checked out a little due to a prior injury and becoming a parent.

Either way, I am looking forward to Travis growing into the First Chair. He certainly has brought in some serious freshman talent to go with the roster that comes forward from last year and as combined with the transfers.

Hopefully, we'll see if it all gels. Last year was cringe worthy.

[Xuperman]

Let me go on record, this Broken Anchor guy is a limp noodle...weak knowledge, nothing intriguing and NO INTERESTING insight. Give me a Gumby or GTMO take on the pulse of the BEast ANYDAY!!!

[GumbyDamnit!]

I don't see it as you throwing cold water our way Gumby.

We do lose a lot of production when it comes to Naji and TJ exiting stage right.

I do, however, believe chemistry issues existed, and that Naji contributed to them. Something just wasn't cricket last year. Too much experience to experience as many turnovers as that starting crew managed to artfully produce. Bad decision-making, and Gooden possibly checked out a little due to a prior injury and becoming a parent.

Either way, I am looking forward to Travis growing into the First Chair. He certainly has brought in some serious freshman talent to go with the roster that comes forward from last year and as combined with the transfers.

Hopefully, we'll see if it all gels. Last year was cringe worthy.

Totally reasonable take. I've heard you guys say that often last year and there did seem to be something a little off with chemistry. You had a lot of talent that couldn't figure out how to mesh. I recall at Nova last year you guys were down 5 or 6 with 1:30 left and KyKy was wide open on the wing and Naji decided to jack up a 25 footer. Missed, game over.

As mentioned addition by subtraction often works. I remember the X team of '16 I think and Jalen Reynolds left with a year of eligibility left. It became Trevon, Ed and JP's team and you guys took off. Perhaps that what is needed again. I'm rooting for you guys. A good X makes the league much better and more interesting.

[Hall2012]

I don't see it as you throwing cold water our way Gumby.

We do lose a lot of production when it comes to Naji and TJ exiting stage right.

I do, however, believe chemistry issues existed, and that Naji contributed to them. Something just wasn't cricket last year. Too much experience to experience as many turnovers as that starting crew managed to artfully produce. Bad decision-making, and Gooden possibly checked out a little due to a prior injury and becoming a parent.

Either way, I am looking forward to Travis growing into the First Chair. He certainly has brought in some serious freshman talent to go with the roster that comes forward from last year and as combined with the transfers.

Hopefully, we'll see if it all gels. Last year was cringe worthy.

Totally reasonable take. I've heard you guys say that often last year and there did seem to be something a little off with chemistry. You had a lot of talent that couldn't figure out how to mesh. I recall at Nova last year you guys were down 5 or 6 with 1:30 left and KyKy was wide open on the wing and Naji decided to jack up a 25 footer. Missed, game over.

As mentioned addition by subtraction often works. I remember the X team of '16 I think and Jalen Reynolds left with a year of eligibility left. It became Trevon, Ed and JP's team and you guys took off. Perhaps that what is needed again. I'm rooting for you guys. A good X makes the league much better and more interesting.

Another example of addition by subtraction is 2014-15 --> 2015-2016 Seton Hall. Lose Gibbs and Sina, jump from 6-12 7th place in conference to 12-6 3rd place and BET Champs. It can certainly happen, though I think the league as a whole is much stronger now so it'll be more difficult.