2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Xavier Musketeers
The Xavier Musketeers have built up a nice winning tradition in the Atlantic 10. Chris Mack is now in his third year as head coach at Xavier, and expectations are higher this year than they have been in either of his previous two years.
2011- 2012 Xavier Musketeers College Basketball Preview
Xavier 2011-2012 Odds to Win NCAA Championship from Bookmaker: +8,000
Xavier 2011-2012 Seed Odds from BetOnline: Seed #4.5 Over (-120) Under (-110)
This is a program that has made it to the Elite Eight, but they are looking to get that extra step farther and reach the Final Four. Tu Holloway gives them one of the best players in the country. What can we expect out of the Musketeers this season?
Last Year’s Results: 24-8 (Loss in 2nd round of NCAA Tournament)
The Musketeers only lost one game during the regular season in the Atlantic 10. They were upset in their first game of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, and they fell 66-55 to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament’s second round. Holloway did everything for this team last year, and he was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. The Musketeers shot 52% from two-point range, but they hit only 32.9% of their three-point attempts.
Roster Changes
The team will miss Jamel McClean and Dante Jackson from last year’s squad. McClean was great on the glass, so the rest of the team will need to help chip in to make up for those lost rebounds. Jackson was a glue guy who did everything pretty well, and he will be missed as well. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Mack brought in a top 30 recruiting class this year, and there are a couple guys who should get playing time right off the bat. Expect point guard Dee Davis to spell Holloway some this year. Davis is a slasher who should create opportunities for everyone. The team’s top recruit this year is Dezmine Wells. Wells is only 6’4, but he can jump out of the gym, and he will be a major play maker for the Musketeers.
Top Players
Holloway is the man with the ball most of the time, and that is exactly how Xavier wants it. Holloway is a great ball-handler, and he knows when to get his own shot and when to create for his teammates. It will be tough to find a better point guard anyone in the country. Mark Lyons is the team’s shooting guard. Lyons flies under the radar a bit, but he is a superb fit for this team. Kenny Frease will be asked to do even more down low this year, and I expect him to have a good season.
Xavier 2011-2012 College Basketball Prediction: #4 Seed in NCAA Tournament (Loss in Elite Eight in NCAA Tournament)
The Musketeers should dominate the Atlantic 10 this season. There really isn’t another team in the conference that has the talent to keep up with Xavier. Holloway will continue to show the nation why he is one of the best point guards out there. Wells is only going to be a freshman, but the Musketeers really need some solid production out of him.
The question mark is going to be the low post play. Can Xavier get enough scoring down low to keep the opposition honest?
I expect Xavier to make a run to the Elite Eight, but fall just short of a Final Four bid.
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