UCLA 76 Xavier 57

Xavier's season came to a close today at the hands of top-seeded UCLA. The Bruins did it on the defensive end, forcing Xavier to shoot 34 percent fromt he field, their second lowest to only the Arizona State game in December. As the players entered the locker room they were emotional, with Stanley Burrell reduced to tears, yet it seemed to intensify once the doors closed. Standing outside of the Xavier locker room it was amazing how every man that walked out of the locker room appeared as if they had just left a funeral of a clos friend. Fr. Graham, the assistant coaches, the managers all filed out of the locker room with the same emotionally distant look on their faces. Once inside the locker room the picture was equally as bleak. Dante Jackson was rolled up in a ball in a corner, most players stared blankly at the wall with towels over their heads. It was clear that they were not ready for this ride to come to a halt. Yet the "just played a better team" in the words of coach Miller.
UCLA's defensive pressure on the perimerter was just too much to handle. "Collison is even more impressive in person," Miller said. Beyond that the inside game of Kevin Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute combined for 23 rebounds, 12 of which came on the offensive end.
Miller delivered a rousing oration after the game to the local media, and when asked the all important question of his future he confidently said, "I will be back at Xavier." I have to say he had me convinced, but at the same time I would hold on to the tape of that quote for a few weeks.
Miller, like he has all year praised his seniors for their leadership, and said he hopes Xavier can build on this the next few years.
"We want to be that program that can sustain it, not through five year, but 10. That is much harder to do than a quick hit and go."
Miller also said that he, "hopes to get a couple commitments [from 2009 recruits] here in the next couple weeks."