Xavier's inexplicable lost season continues

Coach Bobby Knight said it best: "A lot of people have the will to win. Not everyone has the will to play defense."

Xavier appears to have lost its will. How else to explain Chaz Williams scoring a career high 29 points Tuesday night in the University of Massachusetts's 80-73 win over visiting Xavier.

Having watched Xavier gut out an 85-83 overtime win over visiting Dayton Saturday, two things were evident: If Tu Holloway isn't scoring, XU is in trouble. And Kenny Frease has lost his mojo. His body language Saturday as Xavier struggled against the Flyers was of a man defeated. His slump shouldered exit from the Dayton game after fouling out was fairly typical of his season. His senior season! Uninspired, unenthused.

Then came Tuesday night when Kenny scored 12 points and led the Muskies with 8 rebounds. Tu Holloway should have been so good. The A-10 co-player of the week after scoring 32 points against Dayton, he was 2-11 versus the Minutemen. Mark Lyons, who scored 20 Saturday, made 6 of his 18 shots. So he and Tu combined to make just 8 of 39 shots.

Down by 12 at the half to a team with a nearly identical record coming in, Xavier fell behind by as many as 20 in the second half. They cut it to five only to lapse into the traits that have dogged them all season, most notably failing to defend.

Were it not for Dezmine Wells with 19 points and 3 steals Xavier would have been embarrassed. As it is, they only lost by 7 points, 80-73. Their chances at an NCAA at large bid continue to deteriorate by the game. Running the A-10 tournament table to gain the leagues automatic bid appears their only chance. And that as it stands now, appears highly unlikely.