I love this team. Have I said that before?
Remember that video of that Dayton guy guaranteeing they would make it to the Elite Eight? Ha. Well, I’m sure he really meant Xavier.
We go to the game.
I really felt the ghosts of our recent Tournament tries and losses with me all day before the game, then especially during as I watched our giant lead slowly diminish. I hated doing it, but I kept seeing us lose controversially to Duke, lose a close one to Gonzaga when we were like a 27 seed, and lose controversially to Ohio State(a team that is having an EXCELLENT run in the NIT). Then, with less than 20 seconds left on the clock and the good guys up by 2, Joe Alexander hits a good shot AND the refs call what was frankly a light (bullshit) foul on Jason Love, giving WV a chance to take the lead with mere seconds left in one of these teams’ season.
My heart sank. Me face fell into my hands. Joe Alex shoots over 80% from that line. It was the ever-hated Duke. Then it was that annoying guy with the ugly mustache. Then guy who used to coach Xavier. And it was 1 free throw and about 12 seconds of defense from being BOB F’N HUGGINS. I would NOT have been able to handle that. Not this way. I just wanted to crawl in a hole and never watch sports again.
But wait. HE MISSED. YES!
Overtime.
Still Hope.
Our defense has been lacking, as we are in terrible foul trouble and letting them take easy jumpers and layups. Down 6 with about 3 1/2 minutes left. Heart starts sinking again. But, Stan hits a nice layup after some chump Mountaineer flopped. Drew Lav hit a BIG 3, then they get back up by 2. What a game.
Then, out of nowhere.
BJ Raymond.
BJ made those ghosts of Tournament past go away. At least for this round. And I couldn’t be happier. His nasty 3’s all but sealed the deal, putting us up by 4 with 24 tics left. We held on, won, and I was the loudest guy at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Rocky River, Ohio.
The feeling I sat with after the game was so great. I was exhausted, but I was ever so satisfied. It was like I just had great sex. I enjoyed a tall victoryBudweiser, put my XU flag back on my shoulders, and left a very happy fan.
So proud. Same ol’ story with our team, and it never gets old. Team effort. Yes, Duncan stepped up bigtime, but everyone contributed big in crucial parts of the game. I even think Kevin Waymire drew a foul in there. BJ hadn’t scored ALL GAME until overtime, yet his number was called and he WON US THE GAME. And, perhaps the best part, we did it beating Huggins. Oh god, I think this was better than great sex.
So for now, this magical season continues after the 30th win for the Musketeers this season. UCLA it is, Saturday at 6:40. I heard rumors that they have a guy named Love, too. Weird.
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