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Xavier's Big East Rebirth: From Cellar to Contender?
1 Oct
Summary
- Xavier aims for Big East contention after a 15-18 season.
- Program optimistic with transfer portal additions and returning players.
- Musketeers picked sixth in the Big East preseason coaches' poll.
The Xavier Musketeers are looking to rebound from a challenging 15-18 season that ended with a significant loss in the Big East Tournament. This past season marked Xavier's fewest wins in a full season since 1996, leaving the program in the conference's lower ranks.
Nearly seven months later, a renewed sense of optimism surrounds the Musketeers. Following an active offseason in the transfer portal and retaining key players, Xavier is now poised to contend near the top of the Big East and aims for a return to the NCAA Tournament.
The team was picked to finish sixth in the Big East preseason coaches' poll. This projection reflects a shift from previous years, especially considering head coach Richard Pitino now has a more established roster with new additions and returning contributors like Jovan Milicevic and Gabriel Pozzato.
This season also sees new coaching faces at Butler, Creighton, and Providence. Meanwhile, St. John's and UConn lead the preseason rankings, with UConn receiving the majority of first-place votes despite St. John's recent successes.
