Just over one year ago, Trevon Bluiett was a major coup for the Xavier basketball program, turning in a freshman season stat line of 11 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. But it came at the expense of efficiency, as he struggled from both inside and outside of the arc.
Now a year older and more mature, Bluiett is the key cog for the Musketeers as they’ve raced out to a 9-0 record and a No. 12 ranking in the country. Both of which will be put on the line tonight as they face crosstown rival Cincinnati and the only Top 25 tilt of the day.
Where Bluiett has made the most progress is just where he struggled as a freshman, efficiency. While his usage rate has increased significantly, he’s upped his overall field goal percentage from 42.2-percent to 46.7-percent. From deep, he’s shot up from 32.6-percent to 47.2-percent. He’s not just shooting the ball either, upping his rebounds to 8.1 per game.
It’s become obvious why UCLA wanted the 6’6” wing so badly in their 2015 recruiting class, and why Xavier fans were so elated when he decommitted from the Bruins, opened his recruitment back up, and ultimately chose to stay closer to his hometown of Indianapolis.
There haven’t been many players as productive for as good of a team this year than Bluiett, and with the Big East looking wide open, he has vaulted himself right into the Player of the Year discussion.
