Extra, extra! Bonus page of fun stuff
You know where I'm most comfortable? Behind a camera, not in front of it. Otherwise I'm liable to talk about how I missed the One Direction phenomenon or my affinity for Diet Coke. I make weird faces (see left). But here it is, the video introducing me to the Courier-Journal's Louisville basketball fans. Dominique Yates did a great job with it.
You know where I'm most comfortable? Behind a camera, not in front of it. Otherwise I'm liable to talk about how I missed the One Direction phenomenon or my affinity for Diet Coke. I make weird faces (see left). But here it is, the video introducing me to the Courier-Journal's Louisville basketball fans. Dominique Yates did a great job with it.
The results are in! Check out our all-encompassing highly unscientific survey on the state of the Xavier men's basketball program. More than half the poll takers want to resume a home-and-home series with Dayton. Careful what you wish for, people. Find out what others think about the gameday experience at Cintas Center, their favorite all-time players and more.
Big-time games bring back former Xavier players, which is why Tim Stainbrook, Alex Bergen and Cullen Barr swung by practice Feb. 21 at Cintas Center. The current Musketeers were inside preparing for No. 12 Villanova. The trio pulled up in the back of the arena just as Xavier students started building their tent city in front. Asked if they planned to camp out too, the answer was no - but I got the sense that Cullen was overruled on the matter.
Less than 24 hours after scoring 10 points with five rebounds and four assists in the Indiana Pacers' 116-105 win over the Bulls in Chicago, former Xavier guard Edmond Sumner returned to Cintas Center for the Jan. 11 Big East showdown between XU and Creighton.
His Pacers teammate, former Creighton start Doug McDermott, scored 16 points with four rebounds in the Bulls' victory. Although Doug's dad, Greg, was going for his 500th overall college hoops win and 220th as Creighton's coach, Doug was not in attendance.
Ed said he lobbied for days for Doug to make the road trip, but in the end Doug was too tired. Or...afraid of the Cintas? You be the judge.
Sloane Frey was so enamored with the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout that she spent a good amount of it playing with my chair. Future journalist? Hope not, for her sake. Accounting is a much more stable career, if you know what I mean. And I think you do.
The 2019 Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout was a who's-who of alumni players, including Kevin Frey (left) with his wife Jessica and kids Kody, Knox and Sloane. Also in attendance: Tim Stainbrook, Cullen Barr, Malcolm Bernard, Stanley Burrell, Brandon McIntosh, Alex Bergen., Drew Lavender, CJ Anderson. Justin Doellman, Dee Davis. Andrew Mitchell. James Farr. Michael Davenport, Kevin Frey, RaShid Gaston and Ryan Caldwell. It was so great seeing so many familiar faces.
Griffin McKenzie's time at Xavier was short - he spent two years with the program before transferring in the spring of 2012 - but the 6-foot-9 former forward has enjoyed much success since then. He went on to Denver and then Vanderbilt and now works on Wall Street. The former Moeller player and his girlfriend, Vanessa, returned to Cintas Center for the Lipscomb game. It was fun to catch up with McKenzie, who arrived at XU underweight and toothless after a horrific beating at a summer party. His jaw was broken in three places. Glad to report he has a fancy set of new front teeth (thanks to his girlfriend's sister, a dentist). He can pop those choppers in and out, which he did upon request Saturday.
Griffin McKenzie's time at Xavier was short - he spent two years with the program before transferring in the spring of 2012 - but the 6-foot-9 former forward has enjoyed much success since then. He went on to Denver and then Vanderbilt and now works on Wall Street. The former Moeller player and his girlfriend, Vanessa, returned to Cintas Center for the Lipscomb game. It was fun to catch up with McKenzie, who arrived at XU underweight and toothless after a horrific beating at a summer party. His jaw was broken in three places. Glad to report he has a fancy set of new front teeth (thanks to his girlfriend's sister, a dentist). He can pop those choppers in and out, which he did upon request Saturday.
When you don't want your picture taken but the reporter won't leave you alone. (RaShid Gaston and Malcolm Bernard were actually having fun here during Xavier's overtime defeat of Missouri.) Gaston has been rehabbing his knee after surgery and Bernard is seeking his next opportunity in the game.
When you don't want your picture taken but the reporter won't leave you alone. (RaShid Gaston and Malcolm Bernard were actually having fun here during Xavier's overtime defeat of Missouri.) Gaston has been rehabbing his knee after surgery and Bernard is seeking his next opportunity in the game.
Melanie Moore was preparing for her debut game as Xavier's women's basketball head coach when there was a knock on her office door. Her husband of 11 years, Joe, popped in with a bouquet of flowers for her milestone day. Red roses, a baker's dozen, with sprays of Baby's Breath, all wrapped in lovely paper. A good luck charm? Perhaps. Moore led the Musketeers to a 70-63 win over Utah several hours later.
Melanie Moore was preparing for her debut game as Xavier's women's basketball head coach when there was a knock on her office door. Her husband of 11 years, Joe, popped in with a bouquet of flowers for her milestone day. Red roses, a baker's dozen, with sprays of Baby's Breath, all wrapped in lovely paper. A good luck charm? Perhaps. Moore led the Musketeers to a 70-63 win over Utah several hours later.
It's always fun to see former Xavier basketball players back at Cintas Center for games. They're usually a lot more relaxed than they were during their playing days. Such was the case at XU's season opener against Jacksonville when former walk-on Kevin Coker and point guard Dee Davis made their way to the arena. Coker went to law school after XU and works for a law firm downtown while Davis, at last check, was still pursuing his professional basketball career. Fans and even players on XU's bench welcomed them back.
Tyrique Jones wore No. 0 for three seasons at Xavier but bequeathed it to freshman Daniel Ramsey. The duo acknowledged that changing of the guard in XU's preseason media day at Cintas Center, where the team participated in photos and videos for in-house productions. So why 4 for Jones? He said he'd explain it at some point. He later said on Instagram that it's an homage to his late father, Lester Jones.
Xavier's FOX commercial shoot for the Big East Tournament was an exercise in entertainment. Not sure the theme - maybe early 90s New York? - but Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Naji Marshall, Tyrique Jones and Zach Hankins seemed to dig it.
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Xavier snapped a six-game skid the night a few programs alums were in town. The Musketeers outlasted Creighton in an overtime thriller as Malcolm Bernard, Josh Duncan and Maurice McAfee (not pictured) sat courtside. Duncan and his wife Ashley were a bit jet-lagged after arriving from Japan, where he was playiing. Bernard, recovering from a torn Achilles, organized a mini-reunion with some of his 2017 Elite Eight teammates (Kaiser Gates and Trevon Bluiett, who had not yet arrived). Malc looks super happy, no?
In the fall of 2017, my sister and I visited Maui for a few days. The trip coincided with the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and college players and coaches were all over Lahaina. My sister and I waited for (see: stalked) Jay Bilas as he completed a couple interviews with players in the field. The very next year, Xavier played in the tournament and Bilas filmed a spot with Quentin Goodin as they strolled down the beach. |
I don't know how this happened, but a game of word association broke out after a BeDFRNT podcast. Ladies and gentlemen, Brad Redford and Matt Stainbrook. |
