‘Everybody is looking at the stat sheet.’ Xavier coach Sean Miller on Musketeers’ ‘virus’

There was seemingly a plethora of positives from Xavier’s 80-55 victory over Siena Wednesday night at Cintas Center, which moved the Musketeers to 5-0 for the first time in four years.

Xavier kept up its impressive three-point shooting (11-of-24), had nine players make a field goal, won the rebounding battle (35-29), had a 33-4 edge in fast-break points, a 20-point advantage in the paint and forced 16 turnovers.

But a fixation on the box score might just be a problem, according to head coach Sean Miller.

“We have a virus that everybody is looking at the stat sheet, trying to get as many points as they possibly can,” Miller said in his postgame press conference Wednesday. “They want to win; but they really want to win and score. We need a couple of guys that are willing to rebound, defend, make the extra pass, play at a high level defensively and understand what makes a team great.”

Xavier head coach Sean Miller after the Musketeers’ 80-55 win over Siena: “In this conference, in order to achieve the goals we have, you need guys that are willing to do it on the defensive end.”

Xavier has gone from bad to good in the seven months since the program posted a 16-18 record and lost in the opening round of the NIT.

Now it must go from good to great and its starts with unselfishness and effort.

PHOTOS: Xavier Musketeers take on Siena Saints at Cintas Center.

“Your effort level really does have to be perfect. You have to fly around and play as hard as you can to the point that you can’t breathe and you need a sub,” Miller said. “The next step is, when we go to Florida, we have to have more defined roles. If you don’t play with all of your heart and soul for Xavier University on defense, you are not playing. You will not see that guy check in. I think that’s the standard.”

Miller didn’t specify which players sparked his frustration, but he did shout out Jerome Hunter for his role on the Sweet 16 team in 2023 and Dayvion McKnight’s play last season as players who embraced a team-first…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/everybody-looking-stat-sheet-xavier-153840378.html

Author : Cincinnati.com | The Enquirer

Publish date : 2024-11-21 15:38:00

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