X appreciation thread.

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

He has become the PG we have hoped he would since seeing him his FR year. 23 points (13-13 from the stripe), 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 TO's is a stat line worthy of Brandin, Carl and Levance. He is playing good defense, he is dishing dimes, he is playing under control. Despite maybe having the ugliest 3 point shot I have seen by a guard........he has really settled in as the leader of this team.

I think Femi is helping push him also. I have to think practices now are much more competitive for not just X, but everyone.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

It is very clear at this point that Trey McGowens moving on was addition by subtraction. XJ has taken over the reigns and we are playing a lot better as a team.

 

[FireballZ]

It is very clear at this point that Trey McGowens moving on was addition by subtraction. XJ has taken over the reigns and we are playing a lot better as a team.

Absolutely! That was a point some made when the transfer first happened. I think the chemistry is clearly better, although it's always easier when you're winning.

I've watched UNL a few times and he's the same exact guy there...and that team doesn't look to have much chemistry either. At least they got his brother out of the deal.

 

[Pitt2006]

Femi had 8 assists in 20 minutes. Had a chance for 9, but selfishly aggressively scored two instead of kicking it back for the wide open 3 attempt. I kid I kid.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Femi had 8 assists in 20 minutes. Had a chance for 9, but selfishly aggressively scored two instead of kicking it back for the wide open 3 attempt. I kid I kid.

Femi is underrated by some posters. He is a jack of all trades in the mold of a Jaron Brown.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

It is very clear at this point that Trey McGowens moving on was addition by subtraction. XJ has taken over the reigns and we are playing a lot better as a team.

Plus Horton is what we need from a 2, we need a shooter.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Femi is underrated by some posters. He is a jack of all trades in the mold of a Jaron Brown.

He may even be different than JB. I think he is definitely more Wanamaker than JB. He's a guard, a PG first mentality. I think Toney is more like JB.

 

[pittbb80]

X’s improvement within this season has been nothing short of phenomenal. Credit to the kid for recognizing he needed to change his game and the staff for “coaching him up”. Others have accurately pointed out that Femis presence has helped to push him. A deep bench with talent motivates kids to play the right way

regarding Femi let him be his own player. IMO he’s longer and more athletic than either Wann or Brandon and has a much higher upside. It will be fun watching him develop over time. He already looks a lot more comfortable

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

He may even be different than JB. I think he is definitely more Wanamaker than JB. He's a guard, a PG first mentality. I think Toney is more like JB.

JB was a PG in HS and was a very good passer. He was more pass first. Toney is more of a score first guy and never played PG.

 

[deepelemblues]

The hitch in X's three pointer is one of the weirdest shots I've ever seen but dammit it's working

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

He has become the PG we have hoped he would since seeing him his FR year. 23 points (13-13 from the stripe), 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 TO's is a stat line worthy of Brandin, Carl and Levance. He is playing good defense, he is dishing dimes, he is playing under control. Despite maybe having the ugliest 3 point shot I have seen by a guard........he has really settled in as the leader of this team.

I think Femi is helping push him also. I have to think practices now are much more competitive for not just X, but everyone.

He has teammates he trusts to finish and is passing the ball. Femi allows him to play without the ball in his hands 100% of the time.

 

[DT_PITT]

He has become the PG we have hoped he would since seeing him his FR year. 23 points (13-13 from the stripe), 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 TO's is a stat line worthy of Brandin, Carl and Levance. He is playing good defense, he is dishing dimes, he is playing under control. Despite maybe having the ugliest 3 point shot I have seen by a guard........he has really settled in as the leader of this team.

I think Femi is helping push him also. I have to think practices now are much more competitive for not just X, but everyone.

Before last season began, I was told X and Trey were very close friends. But somehow, last year you could "feel" them competing against each other on the court. Right now, it looks like X has become the player he tried to become last year.

 

[Chescat]

X has had games like today in the past. The problem was, he
wouldn't/couldn't sustain it on a continual basis. It seems
like he's now seeing the light. Champ was great today, and
we're seeing IMO, the making of a great player. X however,
is what makes this team go. When he plays like today we're
a different team. He virtually can't be played man to man,
when he's driving and dishing. When he drives goes up and
forces an acrobatic shot (yes, he makes some of them) the
team tends to stand and watch. Result, we get out of sync
and we don't have everyone involved. What I saw from X
today is a true pg leading his team. Full court press?...he handles
it by himself most of the time. When they double him, he gets
it to the open man. Hoping this continues, we need him on a
consistent basis. I gotta believe Capel is getting o him.

 

[Jeffburgh]

X’s improvement within this season has been nothing short of phenomenal. Credit to the kid for recognizing he needed to change his game and the staff for “coaching him up”. Others have accurately pointed out that Femis presence has helped to push him. A deep bench with talent motivates kids to play the right way

regarding Femi let him be his own player. IMO he’s longer and more athletic than either Wann or Brandon and has a much higher upside. It will be fun watching him develop over time. He already looks a lot more comfortable

Agree on Femi being a pretty unique player than we have seen at Pitt.

It is increasingly looking that he will be the full-time PG once X moves on.

 

[Jeffburgh]

BK was still rough around the edges coming into his junior year, too.

He isn't as natural as a PG as BK was, but is a better athlete and quicker.

Also helps that the pieces around him are falling into place.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Agree on Femi being a pretty unique player than we have seen at Pitt.

It is increasingly looking that he will be the full-time PG once X moves on.

What I liked was the plan to put out best defender on boeheim (toney ) and let girard get his points inside
It’s not a coincidence that when toney got a breather femi was given the assignment .

That he is confidently taking those mid range shots in end game situation tells you everything about him being a player with some swagger

 

[pittchagg]

Before last season began, I was told X and Trey were very close friends. But somehow, last year you could "feel" them competing against each other on the court. Right now, it looks like X has become the player he tried to become last year.

Never bought into some of the narrative that Trey was somehow a bad teammate or wasn’t liked by the guys. It’s clear he was - you can still see him interacting with the guys on social media, and everyone seems to like each other.

That said, it was clear that the dynamic on the court wasn’t working and that neither guy was playing to their full potential. Each guy has the best chance possible now to be the best version of themselves as a player. I haven’t watched much Nebraska, but Xavier has been incredible.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Never bought into some of the narrative that Trey was somehow a bad teammate or wasn’t liked by the guys. It’s clear he was - you can still see him interacting with the guys on social media, and everyone seems to like each other.

That said, it was clear that the dynamic on the court wasn’t working and that neither guy was playing to their full potential. Each guy has the best chance possible now to be the best version of themselves as a player. I haven’t watched much Nebraska, but Xavier has been incredible.

He and trey are too similar in style .
So the ball got dribbled flat far too often

 

[TheChair]

BK was still rough around the edges coming into his junior year, too.

He isn't as natural as a PG as BK was, but is a better athlete and quicker.

Also helps that the pieces around him are falling into place.

Completely agreed. I would emphasize that X is helped a lot by the improvement of Champagnie and with Horton now hitting shots. A lot of the stress is off him and the floor has opened some too.

 

[TheChair]

He and trey are too similar in style .
So the ball got dribbled flat far too often

The junior Dribble Brothers without the skill of the real Dribble Brothers (Irving and Harden).

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

There was a play yesterday maybe with about 5 minutes left in the game where X got the ball and initially started sprinting up court. He got past half court and realized we didn't have anything, plus we had a big lead and he pulled it out. That is the maturation we are starting to see.