With the Muskies headed to Olean, New York to take on the revamped Bonnies we here at the MB decided to ask the guys over at Bonnies Basketball Blog a few questions concerning Wednesday nights game. I answered a few questions for them as well if you’re curious to see what they wanted to know about X.
Musketeer Blogosphere: I think I speak for almost every Xavier fan when I say I know almost nothing about the Bonnies. Tell me about the team. What is their style of play? What defense do you predominantly employ?
Bonnies Basketball Blog: The Bonnies are led by their interior duo of Maurice Thomas and Andrew Nicholson. Nicholson is one of the best freshman in the country, he was recently mentioned in an article on cbssportsline which discussed him as a player to watch. The Bonnies are weak at the point, as Malcolm Eleby struggles to score and at times to take care of the ball. Ray Blackburn is hurt for us, he plays with a lot of heart and sometimes not as much with his head. Chris Matthews is a good shooter who at times can take the ball to the hole and score. Jonathan Hall is a player that is versatile and does a lot of good things, but can also do a lot of bad things and can lose his temper. Michael Davenport is a young player who is athletic. D’lancy Carter, Daequan Cook, and Tyler Benson also play limited minutes, and are pretty much non-factors.
The Bonnies employ a basic motion offense, and change up defenses. They most often play man-to-man.
MB: Most Xavier fans are aware of Mark Schmidt and the years he spent as an assistant under the late Skip Prosser. Are the Bonnie fans excited about the future with Schmidt as coach? Does he have the full backing of the fans like my main man Sean Miller?
BBB: Bonnies fans are ecstatic with Coach Schmidt. Speaking for myself and both of my parents who are Bonas alums, we believe that Coach Schmidt is the one to take this program to the next level. Coach Schmidt is a good coach and person, and does his job well and with a passion that was not seen before he arrived.
MB: Who do we Muskie fans need to be worried about when the Bonnies have the ball? A quick glance at the season stats shows 5 players averaging at least 10 points a game. What has been the key to that kind of balanced scoring?
BBB: Xavier needs to defend the interior against the Bonnies. If the Bonnies are allowed to get into the lane, Xavier will have problems with them. Xavier needs to make the Bonnies a perimeter team in order to beat them. The Bonnies have balanced scoring because they do not have one scorer who can take over the game.
MB: I’m very interested to see what the atmosphere in the Reilly Center will be like Wednesday night. Are you all expecting a sell out? Historically, I know it’s a very tough place to play.
BBB: The Reilly Center will be sold out. I don’t know if you remember this, but when Xavier had the nation’s longest winning streak 8 years ago it was the Bonnies that ended that streak at the RC. On any given night, especially with the students in town, the Bonnies can win in that building. It is a very tough place to play.
Thanks again to the guys at Bonnies Basketball Blog for answering our questions.
