Sports
By Ben Dickison, Back Page Editor
On Monday, Xavier men’s basketball dropped out of the AP Top 25 Rankings and was ranked 103rd by the NCAA’s NET Evaluation Tool, a key factor in selecting the field for the NCAA Tournament in March.
At a glance, these relatively low rankings are undeserved by a team whose resumé boasts seven wins, including triumphs against ACC power Wake Forest and South Carolina, and only one loss. However, Xavier turned the ball over 35 times during the course of their last two matchups, one being a blowout loss to Michigan and the other a narrow win over South Carolina State. Before the last two outings, the Musketeers were averaging fewer than 10 turnovers a game.
On the bright side, Xavier still ranks 25th in Division I in assists, averaging 18 assists per game. Starting point guard Dayvion McKnight has provided a steady hand for the Musketeers among shaky performances from sophomore forward Dailyn Swain and junior guard Ryan Conwell. However, head coach Sean Miller took to the podium in the postgame press conference after the South Carolina game to praise sophomore point guard Trey Green.
“The highlight for me tonight was simply Trey Green. I don’t think there’s anything more difficult in sports than going to the (free throw) line with the game on the line and making both,” said Miller.
Green did exactly that. In just eight minutes of play and after sitting for virtually the entire second half, the Charlotte native knocked down four clutch free throws after intentional fouls by South Carolina State in the final minute of the game. He also recorded a plus-minus of 13, meaning the Musketeers scored 13 more points than they gave up in Green’s eight minutes of action.
As the season has progressed, graduate forward Jerome Hunter has continued to excel on the court after spending last season on the bench due to injuries.
Miller also sang the praises of graduate forward Jerome Hunter, who is playing his final season of college basketball.
“We don’t expect his best month of basketball to be November, or even December. We’re really hoping that he’ll hit his stride in January and February,” Miller said.
Miller also hinted that Hunter has stood out among the non-starters for Xavier.
“Maybe we start to look at the possibility of starting him, but he is going to play starter’s minutes,” Miller said. “One of the ways we will get deeper is to sub him in and out of the game for a variety of players and use him as almost that sixth starter.”
After a disappointing runner-up finish in the Fort Myers Tip-Off and a nail biter at home against the Bulldogs on Sunday, the Musketeers will face their first true road test on Friday in Fort Worth against the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs. A few keys to a Musketeer victory will include:
Get Ernest Udeh, Jr. in foul trouble
Ernest Udeh, Jr. is a 6’11’’ sophomore who starts at center for the Horned Frogs. He is leading the team in rebounds per game with nine. However, he also leads the Horned Frogs in fouls per game, averaging 2.6.
While the only post players recording significant minutes for the Musketeers right now, graduate forward Zach Freemantle (6’9’’) and Hunter (6’8”), will be outsized, they should have an advantage in terms of quickness. Freemantle has started at center in each game thus far – he has forced both Wake Forest star center Efton Reid and Michigan center Vladislav Goldin to ask to be subbed out of the game. Perhaps if Freemantle and Hunter can wear down Udeh Jr. and cause him to commit lazy fouls, the Musketeers will be able to open up opportunities in the post.
Hold on to the rock
The Horned Frogs have forced an average of 15.57 turnovers per game so far this season. TCU head coach Jamie Dixon’s teams built a reputation for having physical, team-oriented defense while he was coaching at Pitt, which was then a member of the Big East conference. His defenses are known for intense ball pressure and switching in pick-and-roll situations. When this happens, the big men setting screens for Xavier will get some open looks – if the ball makes it to them.
Against South Carolina State, Conwell and Swain both turned the ball over on errant passes that simply soared out of bounds. If passes are more precise, the Musketeers will have a chance to get the ball down low, collapse the defense and find open three-point shooters – which brings me to my last key.
Activate Green, Maddox, Conwell and Swain from deep
Senior transfer guard Dante Maddox Jr. only recorded 41 seconds of action against South Carolina State on Sunday after shooting just 1-4 from the field in Florida. If Xavier can dice up the TCU defensive regime from the inside out, Maddox and fellow guards will have a chance to get open looks.
Green has perhaps been the most consistent shooter on the roster this year, while Conwell remains the team’s leading scorer. Swain has found a cushion from the defensive due to the threat he poses on the dribble. This quartet cannot be afraid to let it fly on Friday to unlock Xavier’s offense.
