2011 Xavier Basketball Predictions

2010-11 Results:

Overall: 24-8 (Home 14-1 Road 8-4 Neutral 2-3 Postseason 0-2)
Atlantic 10: 15-1
Conference Tournament: Lost in the quarterfinals to Dayton.
Postseason: Lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Second year head coach Chris Mack led Xavier to their sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Only 12 schools have made six straight tournament appearances. Last year Xavier fans were disappointed with the team’s second round exit in the tournament.

The Musketeers were 3rd in the Atlantic 10 in scoring with 72.1 points per game and fourth in defensive scoring allowing 64.6 points per game. Look for Xavier to once again be one of the top scoring teams in the Atlantic 10.

Xavier was efficient offensively last year ranking 41st according to Ken Pemeroy’s rankings and led the Atlantic 10 in two-point field goal shooting, free throw shooting, scoring efficiency, and effective field goal percentage.

Roster
Returning Starters
Tu Holloway
Mark Lyons
Kenny Frease

Other Returning Players
Jeff Robinson
Andrew Taylor
Griffin McKenzie
Brad Redford

Newcomers
Travis Taylor
Justin Martin
Dee Davis
Dezmine Wells
Andre Wells
Andre Walker

Head Coach
Chris Mack

Key Losses
The Musketeers only lost one major contributor from last year’s team. Jamel McClean is gone after having averaged 10.6 points per game and 8.4 boards. He was an excellent defender and his 6-foot-8, 245 pound frame will be missed. Senior Dante Jackson another starter on last year’s 24 win team departs as well.

Schedule

Date	Opponent / Event
5-Nov	vs. Bellarmine
11-Nov	vs. Morgan State
15-Nov	vs. IPFW
18-Nov	vs. Miami (Ohio)
25-Nov	vs. Georgia
28-Nov	@ Vanderbilt
3-Dec	vs. Purdue
7-Dec	@ Butler
10-Dec	vs. Cincinnati
18-Dec	vs. Oral Roberts
Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic
22-Dec	vs. Long Beach State
23-Dec	Auburn/Hawaii
25-Dec	Clemson/Kansas St./UTEP/Southern Illinois
Regular Season
31-Dec	vs. Gonzaga
4-Jan	@ La Salle
7-Jan	@ Fordham *
11-Jan	vs. Duquesne *
14-Jan	vs. St. Bonaventure *
18-Jan	vs. Saint Joseph’s *
21-Jan	@ Dayton *
25-Jan	vs. Saint Louis *
28-Jan	@ Charlotte
1-Feb	@ George Washington *
4-Feb	@ Memphis
2/8/2012	vs. Rhode Island *
2/11/2012	@ Temple *
2/18/2012	vs. Dayton *
2/21/2012	@ Massachusetts *
2/25/2012	vs. Richmond *
2/28/2012	@ Saint Louis *
3/3/2012	vs. Charlotte *
2012 Atlantic 10 Championship
3/6/2012	2012 Atlantic 10 Championship
*Conference Game

2011-12 Preview

With most of Xavier’s top players from last year returning and the additions of Travis Taylor, Justin Martin, and Dezmine Wells this is a team that has the chance of leading the Musketeers to their first Final Four appearance. Xavier clearly has the talent to make a long run in the NCAA tournament but buying into a team concept will likely be the difference.

Coach Chris Mack will count upon Kenny Frease, Jeff Robinson, and Brad Redford to pass up shots for the greater good of the team. Talent wins games but talent along with team play wins championships. Only with time will we be able to tell whether Xavier can put the two together.

Backcourt

Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons will once again make up one of the top backcourts in the country. Holloway is the reigning Atlantic-10 player of the year having averaged over 19 points per game along with 5 rebounds and 5.4 assist per game. Lyons also earned all conference honors having averaged 13.6 points per game along with 3.1 assist per game.

Freshman guards Dee Davis and Dezmine Wells will also try to earn playing time. Davis is gifted but small and with so much talent in front of him may find it difficult to find playing time despite being a four star recruit. Wells on the other hand is athletic and has a large frame. He will challenge for playing time immediately. If he adjusts to the speed of the college game he could be starting out of the three spot over Jeff Robinson before long.

After missing last season due to a knee injury, Junior guard Brad Redford will be back. He is an excellent threat from beyond the arch and should provide depth behind Holloway and Lyons.

Frontcourt

Junior Travis Taylor brings athleticism to the team and was great in practice last year while sitting out after transferring from Monmouth.

Andre Walker transferred from Vanderbilt and will challenge for playing time. Junior Robinson has continuously improved but he may lose his starting job due to a influx of newcomers that are more talented.

Senior Center Kenny Frease was suspended but has been re-instated by the team. The Musketeers will need the seven-footers inside presence to win the Atlantic 10 and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. He was selected to the preseason Atlantic 10 second-team.

More Atlantic 10 Basketball Predictions

Temple Owls	Saint Louis Billikens	Xavier Musketeers	St. Bonaventure Bonnies
UMass Minutemen	La Salle Explorers	Dayton Flyers	St. Josephs Hawks
Duquesne Dukes	Richmond Spiders	Charlotte 49ers	George Washington Colonials
Rhode Island Rams	Fordham Rams

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