For XU fans only

What do you make of the loss last night? I see both sides of the coin, and when it comes to determining what this outcome -- and this performance -- meant to the rest of the season, you might as well flip it.

Hopeful, rationalizing side: Must win for St. Joe's, emotional night for the Hawks who were playing on Senior Night the last game at Memorial Hall for two years. Meantime, X has been grinding out conference wins for a month, had clinched the reg. season title, tough to win anywhere on the road, shouldnt hurt Madness seeding etc. etc.... all good explanations.

Or...

Concerned, stay away from sharp instruments side: The team of January is a shell in March. Might have peaked too soon. An ordinary D. Lavender equals an ordinary X team. Healthy Drew made the game easier for his mates. Gimpy Drew didnt penetrate once last night, that I recall. His contribution was limited to bringing the ball across halfcourt and giving it to S. Burrell.

What to do about Drew?

Nothing, now. It's too late to rest him, if you want him sharp in 13 days, when all are convinced X will open its tournament run in D.C. Xavier should have sat him as soon as he hurt the ankle, for as long as it took to get him right. Now, there are rumors that his Achilles is a bigger problem than the ankle.

It's an easy second guess, but just because it's easy doesnt mean it's false.

It's also a shame, because this is arguably Xavier's best team. If not, it's in the top three. But without a healthy Lavender, it could be a first-weekend tournament casualty.