Banter on the Parkway

Richard Pitino is Xavier's new coach. Currently, he has three players. We discuss those three along with the introductory press conference as we also struggle to make sense of the end of this season and just what Kevin Willard was thinking.

Xavier won a play-in game and lost in the first round. The excitement of the comeback against Texas was almost instantly relegated to the background when Sean Miller decamped for... Texas. Xavier has been left in the lurch again, and now hits portal season without a coach or a roster.

We break down every region in detail. Teams to watch, upsets on the way, and who the favorites are. We also look at Xavier's matchup with Texas, how to stop Tre Johnson, and why we think Xavier can win. It's the most wonderful time of the year for the longest podcast of the year.

Xavier is right on the very edge of the bubble as the conference tournaments approach. They need at least one won, but is that all? We get into that, who can help us, who can hurt, where Utah St plays, and a ton of other bubble chat on this episode of Banter.

Xavier was on life support five weeks ago; today they are on the right side of the bubble. We break down the massive win over Creighton and the slightly less massive but equally important win over Butler. With that comes talk of Freemantle, Swain, and Conwell. There's bubble chat aplenty, the Villanova coaching problem, and how to be a hater this March on this episode of Banter.

Xavier plays another great 30 minutes of basketball in a 40 minute game, but they're one step closer to a bid. We discuss how they can lock up an at large bid and exactly what a win over Creighton would mean. There's also a violation of walk-on code, Alabama going crazy, and UC winning an (almost) Q1 game on this episode of Banter.

Xavier is still in the hunt, and they have Dailyn Swain and Dante Maddox to thank. The Musketeers spurned their last good chance, but have bounced back with three vital wins. We discuss them, Xavier's bubble status, and how John Calipari isn't at fault for the things he does on this episode of Banter.

There's one big game remaining as Xavier enters a stretch where they just can't afford to lose. Creighton is very good, but Xavier struggled with a bad Georgetown team. Ed Cooley is fighting mad, the backcourt is struggling, but X has course corrected. We get into all of that on this episode of Banter.

Xavier had to make something special happen to save their season, and they just about did. Wins over Marquette and UConn were vital and only Brian O'Connell could prevent this being a full-on run. What does that do for Xavier's tournament chances? What do they need the rest of the way? We take all that on in this episode of Banter.

Xavier desperately needed to win two games this week, and they did. Ryan Conwell was the guy they brought him in to be. Does that mean they have an at-large chance? We spend a lot of time talking about that, the defense, and Mick Cronin managing to make himself more unlikable on this episode of Banter.

Xavier beat a pitiful Seton Hall team, but then lost the two games they desperately need to win. There's blame to go around, and we try to apportion it, try to decide if Dailyn Swain is playing well, look at the Big East, and laugh at Tennessee in this episode of Banter.

We're full of holiday cheer as we discuss another Xavier game that got away and try to decide if there is any hope left for this season. We look at what Xavier has to do to rescue any at large chances and what they can do to get that done. It's not a positive outlook, but there's no need to let that dampen the Christmas spirit on this episode of Banter.

Xavier has lost two in a row. Zach Freemantle is hurt so badly they can't even image him. The Musketeers are 8-4 and way off the bubble. Is there any reason for hope? The guys think the UConn game gives the plan forward, but there are caveats. We discuss that, answer your questions, and clown on Doug Gottlieb on this episode of Banter.

Xavier finally, finally, blows out a buy game opponent. Does that make up for fumbling the game away against TCU? Not really, but it cleanses the palette before the biggest non-conference game of the year, the Crosstown Shootout. We preview the Shootout, talk about Trey Green, answer some questions and get ready for Saturday on this episode of Banter.

The holidays are here and Xavier looks bad. What else is new? We get into the Michigan loss, the SC State sort of win, Xavier's frightening lack of depth, and all the other things going wrong. We also break down all the reasons for hope, mock UC, laugh at/with Dan Hurley, and ponder where this season will go on this episode of Banter.

Xavier finally plays a decent opponent and shows no serious trouble in taking them down. With Wake out of the way, when will the Musketeers be tested again? We talk that, three point shooting, Xavier's MTE, and when to throw Wooga Poplar under the bus on this Episode of Banter

Xavier started hot, sort of. The first two wins featured great offense and basically no defense. Jackson St was the full effort. Can Xavier put it all together or will defense be an issue? Is there a way to stop getting beaten from deep? That, Auburn fights, Todd Golden leers, and more on this episode of Banter.

We're back with all the details on a much changed Xavier team. What is the key? Who will step up in the big moments? Can these guys stay healthy? We get into all that and find some time to make fun of the Yankees in this episode of Banter.

Xavier has three players returning from last season's roster. Has Sean Miller done a good job putting the roster back together? Has X lost too much? Are the portal and NIL ruining college basketball. We get into all that and profile the new additions on this episode of Banter.

Xavier's season came to an end in the NIT, but it's the transfer portal that is the big news now. We discuss what Xavier has lost, what they can gain, and who may yet still leave. There's plenty of time for the NCAA tournament, the mess at Louisville, and our player of the year on this episode of Banter.

Xavier had to do something to help themselves last week and didn't. Instead of dwelling on that we talk Quincy Olivari's snub, the Big East bubble picture, and all the goings on during the best time of the year.

Two wins on the trot, two dominant performances, and one Brad Colbert three have everyone feeling a little better as March hits. Xavier still has a chance, but there's work to do. We'll discuss that, your questions, and the bubble today on Banter.

Sean Miller isn't happy with his team and isn't afraid to express it. Xavier collapsed in games they needed to win and is now off the bubble. We get into the coaches comments, the losses, the bubble, and your questions about this team on this episode of Banter.

Xavier's chances for an at large are all but gone. A week ago the Musketeers needed five wins from eight games. Now, they need five from six. It's all still there, but we have to mine deep into your questions to find a silver lining.

X has played themselves into contention, as has most of the Big East. We dig into the tournament scenarios, talk about Quincy's big game, and discuss whether you should attempt a game tying shot or just let the clock run out.

We could dwell on a 43 point loss, or we could choose to stay positive. Xavier is still in a decent spot and they picked up a win they desperately needed last night. We talk about three games, the bench, and the unsung hero of Xavier's season in this episode of Banter.

It's three on the trot for Xavier, who are playing their way back into contention. We break down the last vital week and look ahead to another one. There's also questions, court storming, Mick Cronin being a goof, and the trash fire at DePaul in this episode of Banter.

Xavier picked up the Q1 they needed and has a chance to consolidate their position this week. We break down what they need to do to get themselves into the at-large conversation, praise Steven Izzo, laugh at Mick Cronin, and talk about six Big East teams in the field in this episode of Banter.

Xavier picked up a nice win before Christmas, but came two Des Claude misses short of another. We talk about Des, Xavier's resume, and the weird world of Mick Cronin on this episode of Banter.

Xavier dispatched Winthrop, but the start of Big East play could hardly have gone worse. We break down a bad loss, the problems with the offense, and try to find a way back into the at large race for X.

Want to spend an hour talking about Xavier winning the Crosstown Shootout again? We did.

One Q3 loss is bad, two can doom a season. Xavier looked good against Houston but somehow dropped two potentially season ruining games to Oakland and Delaware. We discuss those, your questions, and how this team can win the Shootout in this episode of Banter.

Things started late and poorly, but Coach Miller rallied X for two crucial wins. We recap those three, talk rotations and depth, and try to figure out what's going on with Abou Ousmane in this episode of Banter.

Xavier punched with Purdue gamely for all but a stretch of the first half and in doing answered some questions about a callow team. They get a chance to kick on this weekend in their MTE. We discuss that, Ed Cooley losing a lot, and Pitbull in this episode of Banter.

After two games you can't ask for more than two wins. Xavier isn't in top gear yet, but they're winning with a team that is just coming together and getting to know each other. It's good so far, but a seriously stern test awaits.

It's finally time to start talking college basketball again. Xavier is back, but not at all how you remember them. The Musketeers have completely retooled under Coach Sean Miller after losing 10(!) players from last season. We'll break down the roster and talk about how we see it playing out in our season preview episode.

Xavier went back to the Sweet 16 where... things could have gone better. Still, this season was a return to doing what Xavier does. The train is back on the tracks. We discuss that, name an MVP, talk about the impact Sean Miller had, and break down what we know of the roster. There's all of that, and plenty of discussion of the NCAA tournament that gave us more great moments, on the season finale of Banter.

There are only 16 teams left in the NCAA tournament, and Xavier is one of them. This episode focuses on that pivotal Xavier-Texas matchup, how Xavier can win it, and where the danger lies. We'll also look at Xavier's last two wins, coaching changes galore, and preview the other seven games as quickly as we can. Have you remember to tag Coach Miller in your favorite transfer's announcement? Don't worry, we got you.

It's nearly a full hour of breaking down every game Xavier could possibly play both this weekend and all the way through the region. We get into all the detail we can fit in that time, and talk about why every team terrifies us on this episode of Banter.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! We break down each region and tackle the favorites, players to watch, the best matchups, and which teams you can pick to spring big upsets. We leave no stone un-turned in the first of our two preview specials.

There's less than three hours until tip, and we've got the perfect way to fill half of one of them. We talk about how these teams got here, how to defend Marquette, and the one number that will decide whether or not Xavier walks away with their first ever Big East Tournament Championship.

It's March! This episode we focus on Xavier and the Big East tournament. The Musketeers haven't won a game here since 2019, but are poised to do so this season. We break down the loss of Zach Freemantle, the emergence of Cesare Edwards, and what impact that has on Xavier's chances of a deep run. We'll give our predictions for the tournament, the awards, and a piping hot take about Providence on this episode of Banter.

The Musketeers capped off the month that has tripped them up recently by hammering Seton Hall on the road. That leaves X in a great position entering March and gives us a chance to peak ahead to the conference tournaments. There are big comebacks to discuss, Nate Oats being a coward, Fran McCaffery doing God knows what, and your questions on this episode of Banter.

Xavier is down to six players and has dropped three of four. The Musketeers are fighting fatigue and their own propensity for throwing the ball to the wrong team. We've got three game breakdowns, a discussion of Cesare Edwards, why being good at basketball means you can do crimes, and how Mick Cronin can't wait to tell you Die Hard is his favorite Christmas movie. All that and all your questions on this episode of Banter.

Xavier lost against Butler in large part because of their own efforts, but also due to the stylings of a tragicomic officiating crew. We know 15.2.a, but they evidently don't. You will know it better after this pod. Souley Boum is getting tired and Xavier is struggling over the last seven. We discuss whether either is worth worrying about. There's that, some NSFW hazing at New Mexico St, yet another campus shooting canceling games, and your questions on this episode of Banter.

Losing Zach Freemantle wasn't a good thing, but Xavier grabbed two more wins in his absence. Jerome Hunter stepped up, Colby Jones, just kept being himself, and Souley Boum iced the wins. There's our breakdown of that, players punching fans, a bizarre clash in Iowa, and more Bison Dele chat that you probably bargained for. Throw in your questions and you have this week on Banter.

It wasn't a great end to the week, but Xavier still sits in a really good spot... unless Zach Freemantle is hurt. He may be, which puts the Musketeers February in jeopardy. We break down each power conference to see how strong they are and where that could put X, answer questions about the (lack of) depth, and get into the ridiculous schedules refs choose to work on this episode of Banter.

Xavier had their worst week in quite some time in losing to DePaul before playing badly enough to lose but getting bailed out by it being Georgetown. The Musketeers defense is still a serious problem and the offense can't be electric every time. We tackle all that, a travesty in New Mexico, Brad makes a bold prediction about Georgetown, answer your questions, and finally clear the air on the "nuclear winter" tweet... sort of.

Xavier is on fire right now. We break down two big Q1 wins, talk about Souley Boum and Jack Nunge, and get into where this team is in bracketology and why that's different from last year when we were in close to the same place. There's all that, your questions, the Darius Miles tragedy, cursed arenas, and why we think Pat Kelsey would be the perfect coach with just one little rule change. That's all on this episode of Banter.

Xavier has ripped off a 5-0 start and has one of the best offenses in the nation. The defense and depth, though, are not nearly so good. How do teams that profile like X get on at the pointy end of the season? We'll discuss that, Zach Freemantle, and answer all your questions on this episode of Banter.

Xavier knocked off UConn in a huge Q1 home win. Resume burnished, the Musketeers now sit 21st in the NET, where the Big East is rising rapidly. Georgetown remains a whole landfill fire, College of Charleston is, somehow, ranked, and the Big East is breaking into tiers. We discuss all of that, onanism (?), Jerome Hunter, and yell loudly about Dylan Sinn in this episode of Banter.