The Big East may not be what it once was, but the increasing strength of programs like Xavier could help the conference regain some of the respect it lost when prominent programs fled to various conferences.
With a Sweet 16 run this past season, the Musketeers and head coach Chris Mack appear to be the brink of cementing themselves as one of the conference’s top programs.
Key Losses: Matt Stainbrook (graduation), Dee Davis (graduation)
Possible losses: No announcements made
Key Returners: Trevon Bluiett, Myles Davis, Jaylen Reynolds, Remy Abell
Key Newcomers: Kaiser Gates (three-star, power forward)
Breakdown: Flying under the radar and into the Sweet 16, last season’s Musketeers struggled to find consistency leading up the NCAA Tournament. With so many pieces returning next season, Xavier has a chance to turn that around. While Trevon Bluiett didn’t win Rookie of the Year for the Big East, he certainly had an argument. Bluiett averaged 11 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Myles Davis looks like a good bet to take over the point guard duties from Dee Davis, but Larry Austin Jr. recovering from a very disappointing campaign would go a long way for Xavier’s guard depth. Not to mention, the sharp shooting services of Remy Abell will still be available on the wing. Where this team could be most interesting is on the interior, with Jaylen Reynolds and freshman Kaiser Gates. Reynolds is an emotional player–he received nine technical fouls last season–but also an extremely talented one. If Gates can show the ability to either score, pass, or rebound, then that will open up a world of opportunities for Reynolds to do his thing underneath.
