Xavier can end NCAA tournament discussion in Big East tournament
Xavier men's basketball might be rankled by the ongoing national debate regarding their March Madness bona fides, but it now has an opportunity to halt the conversation and silence its critics.
Xavier (19-12, 9-9 Big East) opens Big East Tournament play at New York City's Madison Square Garden Wednesday night against the last-place and 10th-seeded DePaul University Blue Demons (9-22, 2-16). The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinal round game against No. 2-seeded Butler University (23-7, 12-6).
While the only road to the NCAA Tournament for nine-win DePaul would be an improbable run to the Big East Tournament crown, an at-large tournament bid is still available to the Musketeers despite their injury-riddled campaign and a much-discussed six-game losing streak.
Xavier's margin for error in New York City is slim in the eyes of many, although some pundits forecast a win against DePaul might be their at-large bid clincher.
Xavier head coach Chris Mack spent portions of his Monday morning and afternoon laying out Xavier's case for an at-large bid. Most of the metrics and measurables on Xavier's March r?sum? point in the right direction, but the team can take the decision out of the tournament selection committee's hands with a deep run this week.
"Based on the last four, five, six, seven NCAA Tournament fields, if you take our numbers... all those numbers show that over the last four-to-six tournament fields, Xavier's in," Mack said during a Cintas Center press conference in which he elaborated on remarks he made during an earlier teleconference. "Do I feel good? About as good as you can feel. We also know that we want to handle our business and do what we can in the Big East Tournament to cement it more."
Against DePaul, the proposition for the Musketeers is a third win over the Blue Demons in about five weeks. Making the order even taller is that the teams met Saturday in Rosemont, Illinois. There, Xavier fought back from an early double-figure deficit and pulled away late.
Both teams' star players ? Xavier junior guard Trevon Bluiett and DePaul senior guard Billy Garrett Jr. ? led their sides in scoring with 24 and 17 points, respectively.
The Musketeers were tidy in possession of the ball and out-rebounded the hosts, 39-33, although forward Tyrique Jones' status for the game remains in question after he snapped the back of his head against the court Saturday and sustained concussion-like symptoms.
DePaul had 15 turnovers and was outscored in the paint by 10 points.
Both teams would typically try to make adjustments for their rematch, but neither program figures to have enough time to implement substantive changes ahead of the elimination game.
"It helps a little bit with less preparation time, but it's tournament time. I can't get wrapped up in what would be better if we had more time (or) less time," Mack said Monday when asked about the quick turnaround. "It just is what it is and we have to be ready to go against the opponent that's on the slate for Wednesday night.
"I think our guys are well aware of the stakes when you play in March."
PROJECTED STARTERS
DePaul: Joe Hanel (6-7 junior forward, 4.7 points per game), Tre?Darius McCallum (6-7 junior forward, 9.6 ppg), Brandon Cyrus (6-5 freshman guard, 6.2 ppg), Eli Cain (6-6 sophomore guard, 15.6 ppg), Billy Garrett Jr. (6-6 senior guard,14.9 ppg).
XAVIER: Trevon Bluiett (6-6 junior guard, 18 ppg), Quentin Goodin (6-4 freshman guard, 4.5 ppg), J.P. Macura (6-5 junior guard, 14.5 ppg), RaShid Gaston (6-9 senior forward, 8.2 ppg), Malcolm Bernard (6-6 forward (graduate transfer), 6.3 ppg).
Xavier men's basketball might be rankled by the ongoing national debate regarding their March Madness bona fides, but it now has an opportunity to halt the conversation and silence its critics.
Xavier (19-12, 9-9 Big East) opens Big East Tournament play at New York City's Madison Square Garden Wednesday night against the last-place and 10th-seeded DePaul University Blue Demons (9-22, 2-16). The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinal round game against No. 2-seeded Butler University (23-7, 12-6).
While the only road to the NCAA Tournament for nine-win DePaul would be an improbable run to the Big East Tournament crown, an at-large tournament bid is still available to the Musketeers despite their injury-riddled campaign and a much-discussed six-game losing streak.
Xavier's margin for error in New York City is slim in the eyes of many, although some pundits forecast a win against DePaul might be their at-large bid clincher.
Xavier head coach Chris Mack spent portions of his Monday morning and afternoon laying out Xavier's case for an at-large bid. Most of the metrics and measurables on Xavier's March r?sum? point in the right direction, but the team can take the decision out of the tournament selection committee's hands with a deep run this week.
"Based on the last four, five, six, seven NCAA Tournament fields, if you take our numbers... all those numbers show that over the last four-to-six tournament fields, Xavier's in," Mack said during a Cintas Center press conference in which he elaborated on remarks he made during an earlier teleconference. "Do I feel good? About as good as you can feel. We also know that we want to handle our business and do what we can in the Big East Tournament to cement it more."
Against DePaul, the proposition for the Musketeers is a third win over the Blue Demons in about five weeks. Making the order even taller is that the teams met Saturday in Rosemont, Illinois. There, Xavier fought back from an early double-figure deficit and pulled away late.
Both teams' star players ? Xavier junior guard Trevon Bluiett and DePaul senior guard Billy Garrett Jr. ? led their sides in scoring with 24 and 17 points, respectively.
The Musketeers were tidy in possession of the ball and out-rebounded the hosts, 39-33, although forward Tyrique Jones' status for the game remains in question after he snapped the back of his head against the court Saturday and sustained concussion-like symptoms.
DePaul had 15 turnovers and was outscored in the paint by 10 points.
Both teams would typically try to make adjustments for their rematch, but neither program figures to have enough time to implement substantive changes ahead of the elimination game.
"It helps a little bit with less preparation time, but it's tournament time. I can't get wrapped up in what would be better if we had more time (or) less time," Mack said Monday when asked about the quick turnaround. "It just is what it is and we have to be ready to go against the opponent that's on the slate for Wednesday night.
"I think our guys are well aware of the stakes when you play in March."
PROJECTED STARTERS
DePaul: Joe Hanel (6-7 junior forward, 4.7 points per game), Tre?Darius McCallum (6-7 junior forward, 9.6 ppg), Brandon Cyrus (6-5 freshman guard, 6.2 ppg), Eli Cain (6-6 sophomore guard, 15.6 ppg), Billy Garrett Jr. (6-6 senior guard,14.9 ppg).
XAVIER: Trevon Bluiett (6-6 junior guard, 18 ppg), Quentin Goodin (6-4 freshman guard, 4.5 ppg), J.P. Macura (6-5 junior guard, 14.5 ppg), RaShid Gaston (6-9 senior forward, 8.2 ppg), Malcolm Bernard (6-6 forward (graduate transfer), 6.3 ppg).
