For the second time in three games, Oakland got hammered. Last night, it was #23 Xavier’s turn. The Musketeers pounded this Grizzlies 93-68. There’s no way to look at this but just as a good old fashioned woodshed beating.
While a 2-4 record doesn’t exactly warm the heart of Grizzlies Nation on this cold Michigan evening, the record can’t be unexpected. In fact, I believe I predicted this would be OU’s mark when I did my game-by-game preview in October. That hardly makes me Nostradamus, as anyone with a cursory knowledge of college basketball could see Oakland versus Duquesne, at Michigan State and at Xavier on the schedule and pencil in three losses, however, it doesn’t make me feel good to see it on paper.
The three straight losses to impressive competition has done something else I suggested it might over a month ago — it makes Saturday’s game with Bowling Green kind of big. A home win stops the bleeding and brings the Grizzlies within a game of .500. Another loss, well, let’s not talk about that. Hopefully, OU will be able to come out with the same level of intensity against BG that they did at the Breslin Center last Saturday.
As for the Xavier game, I know CBS Sportsline selected Derick Nelson as OU’s player of the game, but I’ll take Shane Lawal. Lawal had 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting. The junior also collected 6 rebounds and 6 blocks. To me, Lawal’s continuing emergence up-front has been the story of the year so far.
Nelson had another double digit point night and scored 14. However, the junior foward shot only 3 of 12 from the field. Nelson did grab five boards and had five assists. Johnathon Jones had 17 to pace OU.
In other good news from a rather poor game, Erik Kangas saw his first action since getting injured in the opener. Kangas played twelve minutes and was 2 of 4 from the floor. I think everyone in Grizzlies Nation is hoping Kangas’ shoulder is feeling well today and that OU’s best shooter will be able to log even more quality minutes versus BG.
I should give some love to the incredible Musketeers. The problem is trying to figure out where to begin. Their starting five all scored in double digits. Three of the X-Men pulled down eight boards a piece. Everybody in an Xavier uniform had a solid game. Josh Duncan was the high point man with 18 and Stanley Burrell followed with 15.
I tip my cap to Xavier and look forward to Saturday’s opportunity against Bowling Green. They jump at The O’Rena at 4:00pm. Full audio coverage — 1310 AM & WXOU — plus Fox Sports Detroit providing pictures, so plenty of chances to tune in the game. Go Grizzlies!
Tags: Derick Nelson, Erik Kangas, Greg Kampe, Johnathon Jones, Josh Duncan, Shane Lawal, Stanley Burrell, Xavier
