Advanced Statistics: Xavier vs. Wake Forest

This was obviously a game of two halves, and I wish I could break down by half the advanced statistics, because that would likely be more telling than just looking at overall box scores/advanced stats, but c'est la vie. The Deacs led by 15 at halftime, but Xavier used a scintillating second half offensively to win 78-70.

The stats, as always, are brought to you by SCACCHoops.com.

• Bryant Crawford had a very up and down game, and that showed in the stats as well. He went for 16 points, 4 rebounds, an assist, but also 5 turnovers, and 5 fouls. He is a freshman and most of his mistakes are fixable with time. I didn't like the three point shot he took late in the game, but it is clear that he wants to be the guy taking it, and I love that. Big questionable call on his charge, but he can't get a technical foul there under any circumstances. Live and learn, he is going to be a great floor general for us for years to come.
• Dinos Mitoglou went 0-7 from the field and finished with just four points on the night. We have discussed this over and over again, but if he isn't scoring then he doesn't need to be in the game. He played good face-up defense against Farr on a couple of possessions early on, but he doesn't have the lateral foot speed to defend most players in the ACC. Rough night.
• I'm still not worried about Codi Miller-McIntyre coming around, but he has a long way to get back to where Wake needs him to be. He is starting to get his aggressiveness back, which is very good to see, but he is still tentative at times, and for a slashing guard like him, that can be a big deterrent to his production.
• Overall, Wake Forest did a very good job on the boards, especially on the offensive side of things. Xavier is probably the best rebounding team in the country, and Wake managed to keep it within four rebounds in a 77 possession game. That's a big positive.
• The first half was really amazing defensively for the Deacs considering how bad it has been this season. The guys had active hands, closed out well, and got after it on the boards. Obviously that all came crashing down in the first five minutes of the second half when it looked like none of them had ever been on the basketball court before.
• Xavier is a very, very talented team, and this game showed that Wake Forest can play with anybody in the country for stretches. The lapses the continue to happen are indicative of a young team that isn't used to playing with a lead, or playing hard for 40 minutes. As frustrating as that is, it will hopefully pay dividends down the road. This loss needs to yield itself to a good week of practice so Wake can go get another win on the road against SEC foe LSU next Tuesday night.