Xavier men’s basketball preview: Musketeers seek March Madness return with reloaded roster

The new era of college basketball with NIL and the transfer portal has allowed teams to rebuild new rosters in a matter of weeks.

The Xavier Musketeers that begin the 2024-25 season with high expectations are nowhere near the team that walked off the court in Athens, Georgia seven months ago after a first-round NIT defeat. 

Xavier, which was ranked No. 28 in the nation in the Associated Press preseason poll and No. 30 in KenPom, was picked to finish third in the Big East. That didn’t happen overnight.

Xavier’s brass got to work through the portal quickly after the program suffered its first losing season in nearly three decades. 

Xavier was picked to finish third in the Big East Conference

More: The ‘All In’ origin, Mike Tomlin and the Xavier puzzle: Sean Miller at Big East Media Day

The result? A revamped roster filled with experienced players from winning programs paired with several key returners has Xavier in a position to make noise in one of the nation’s toughest conferences and return to meaningful March basketball.

Xavier’s 2024-25 schedule breakdown

Nov. 4 vs. Texas Southern (No. 279 KenPom)

Head coach Johnny Jones led Texas Southern to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2021-2023 before going 16-17 last season.

Nov. 8 vs. IU Indy (No. 361 KenPom)

No longer IUPUI, the program went through a name change to IU Indy that became official in July. The Jaguars have not had a winning season since 2011.

Xavier’s Marcus Foster averaged 17 points per game at Furman last season.

Nov. 12 vs. Jackson State (No. 326 KenPom)

Coached by 14-year NBA veteran Mo Williams, the Tigers are searching for just their second winning season 2016. They finished 15-17 in 2024.

Nov. 20 vs. Siena (No. 330 KenPom)

Siena won just four games last season, its fewest since 1960, and named Gerry McNamara its next head coach. They picked up former Xavier guard Reid Ducharme in the portal.

Nov. 25 vs. South Carolina (No. 65 KenPom)

The Gamecocks return eight players from a team that made the…

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Author : The Enquirer

Publish date : 2024-11-01 01:59:00

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