College
Notes: Love returns to form
By Paul Dehner Jr., CNATI.com Posted March 21, 2010 8:38 PM ET
MILWAUKEE - Jason Love was visibly exhausted and frustrated after the win against Minnesota. While happy with the team's victory, he admitted his own discouragement in starting the game 0 for 7 and only totaling seven points to go with his eight rebounds.
He said after the game, "Sunday is another opportunity."
Saturday, Chris Mack sat down with Love to check his morale.
"He was really down," Mack said. "I told him, 'Hey, you have had a tremendous senior year, all time winningest player in the school's history, take a deep breath, get in there, be poised, trust your talent."
Love trusted and his talent delivered. He chalked up six quick points and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
The first shot was a smooth jump hook.
"He has worked on his jump hook more than anyone I have ever been around," Mack said. "It showed tonight."
After back to back games with seven points, Love earned some long-awaited redemption.
"I just kind of wanted to see the ball go in, even though I kind of airballed the second one, we won't talk about that one," Love said. "I bounced back and made the third, it is all good."
UP NEXT -- The next game will be at 9:37 p.m. on Thursday against Kansas State in Salt Lake City.
Xavier lost to Kansas State 71-56 inside the Octagon of Doom on Dec. 8.
It will be the second consecutive game looking for some form of revenge after exorcising last year's Sweet 16 loss to Pittsburgh.
LOVING MARCH -- Dante Jackson earned the nickname "Big Shot Dante" from his teammates here over this freshman and sophomore seasons. And his consequent appearances on both One Shining Moment videos has become a point of contention among his teammates.
On Sunday, he added to the lore.
Jackson opened the game 3 of 3 from 3-point range, including back to back triples at the centerpiece of Xavier's 16-0 first-half run.
Following the second shot, which prompted a second Pittsburgh time out in as many minutes, he ran toward the Xavier fan section and pumped his fist to push them on.
Jackson didn't made more than three 3-pointers in a game only once this year - that coming in a home win against Dayton when he was 5 of 8 - but back in March again, he knows it is his time.
He finished with nine points and three rebounds.
However, what haunted him after the game were the two free throws he missed to allow Pittsburgh a chance to hit the game-tying bucket.
It came only one week after he missed a free throw that could have put away Richmond in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
"I am disappointed in that, I really am," Jackson said. "I pride myself in being a guy that closes out games. The fact I wasn't able to do it here, I didn't do it in Atlantic City, the rest of these guys picked me up. Because of that I may have another opportunity in Salt Lake City and you better believe I am going to take full advantage of it."
STOPPING GIBBS -- If it were not for the hot hand of Ashton Gibbs, Xavier could have all but put the game away in the first half. Gibbs dropped in 18 of Pitt's 28 first-half points.
He hit four 3-pointers, the only triples Pitt made all half.
Yet, in the second half, Gibbs didn't manage one field goal. He finished with 19 points.
Terrell Holloway was mainly responsible for the assignment and said he didn't do anything different.
"I just love to go out and compete with somebody," he said.
CRAWFORD WITHIN THE FLOW -- Jordan Crawford took the most shots he had in any regulation game during the opener against Minnesota.
Coming into the second round game Mack gave him the green light to fire whenever it was needed, as long as within the scheme of the offense.
Crawford did just that. He dropped in 9 of 15 shots to finish with his 27 points, adding three assists.
"He's awfully talented," Mack said. "The thing I like about him is he is not trying to take over on every catch."
He did find his time to take over when he ran off eight points to put Xavier up 50-37 midway through the second half.
"That is just what great players do," Jamel McLean said. "Great players want those big shots. He went on a stretch where he made eight in a row out there,that really lifted us."
SCOOP, PART II -- Crawford made highlight reels nationwide with his wild scoop move in the win against Minnesota. In the second round victory, he added a second one that brought an approving Bradley Center crowd to its feet.
Though, it didn't compare for the redshirt sophomore.
"It was a little weaker today," Crawford said.
Categories: College, Featured Stories, Men's Basketball, News, Xavier Musketeers
Tags: Dante Jackson, Jason Love, Jordan Crawford, NCAA Tournament, Xavier
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