2022-23 Non-conference opponent preview: Xavier

Indiana’s 2022-23 non-conference schedule was finalized on July 1 and Contained in the Corridor can have a team-by-team take a look at all 11 opponents. At the moment: Xavier.

Indiana will take part within the annual Gavitt Video games between the Huge Ten and Huge East for the fifth time this upcoming season. This go across the Hoosiers might be taking a visit right down to Cincinnati to tackle the reigning NIT champions the Xavier Musketeers on Friday, Nov. 18.

Regardless of their shut proximity to 1 one other, the 2 applications have solely met 5 instances. Most lately, it was an 80-65 win for the then Sean Miller coached Musketeers within the Chicago Invitational over Thanksgiving break in 2007. A struggling Eric Gordon nonetheless led the Hoosiers in scoring with 20 factors, 12 of which got here from the foul line.

Xavier enters the 2022-23 season with the most important query mark surrounding its head coach. In March, Xavier, a program who hasn’t made the massive dance since Chris Mack left for Louisville in 2018, fired head coach Travis Steele and employed Sean Miller, former Xavier and Arizona head coach.

Miller has been underneath the microscope from media and the NCAA lately.  The NCAA held an investigation into alleged corruption, particularly relating to an alleged supply in money from Miller to the No. 1 general 2018 NBA Draft decide Deandre Ayton to play faculty basketball at Arizona. Miller, who denied all allegations, continued to be head coach at Arizona till he was fired in April 2021.

Now, Miller, who might nonetheless face a suspension, has a second likelihood to rebuild the Xavier program in his second stint with this system.

The Musketeers roster itself received’t want a variety of rebuilding. Xavier is coming off an NIT championship and is projected to be ranked twenty first within the nation based on Bart Torvik. In ESPN’s Means-Too-Early prime 25, Xavier was “subsequent in line” to be positioned within the prime 25.

Final season, Xavier regarded like a lock to earn an at-large bid heading into February, however misplaced seven of its final 9 within the common season. An time beyond regulation loss to Butler within the Huge East match sealed Xavier’s destiny as an NIT crew.

Xavier is returning All-Huge East 7-footer and its main scorer (13.4 ppg), Jack Nunge. Nunge began his profession at Iowa earlier than transferring and has develop into a double-double menace irrespective of the opponent. Nunge was ranked 18th nationally in offense ranking final season based on Kenpom. His skill to stretch the ground makes him actually troublesome for different bigs to protect him out on the perimeter. Nunge shot 36 p.c from past the arc final season.

Indiana might have a tricky time defensively if Nunge is hitting from past the arc and might unfold the ground. Regardless of being a lot smaller than Nunge, Indiana’s Race Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis haven’t confirmed themselves to be above-average perimeter defenders. This sport could possibly be received from Indiana’s skill to modify on screens and defend a number of positions.

On the guard spot, the Musketeers lose Indianapolis native Paul Scruggs who suffered a devastating torn ACL in an NIT sport in opposition to Florida. Scruggs completed his fifth season at Xavier second on the crew in scoring (12 ppg) and main the crew in assists (4.1 apg).

To fill the void at level guard, Sean Miller added Souley Boum, a 6-foot-3 grad switch from UTEP. Boum was named All C-USA second crew after a stellar 2021-22 marketing campaign the place he averaged 19.8 factors whereas capturing 36.8 p.c on 3s. He’s not the facilitator Scruggs was, however his skill to attain ought to open extra alternatives for guys like Jack Nunge and Colby Jones.

Rising junior Colby Jones, who was named the NIT’s most excellent participant, appears to be like to step up into a bigger position. Jones averaged 14.8 factors within the NIT  and scored a career-high 21 factors within the championship sport win over Texas A&M. Jones’ skill to make use of his measurement to seize rebounds and guard a number of positions makes him a beneficial asset. The subsequent step for Jones is to increase his sport to the perimeter. Final season the 6-foot-6 ahead shot a measly 26 p.c from deep with 17 makes on 64 makes an attempt.

Zach Freemantle, a 6-foot-9 ahead, additionally returns after ending because the crew’s fourth main scorer final season. Freemantle averaged 10.4 factors final season and 12.6 factors within the NIT. Former Indiana ahead Jerome Hunter, who began 17 of the crew’s 35 video games final season, might additionally determine into the Musketeer rotation. Fifth-year senior Adam Kunkel, who made nearly 35 p.c of his 3s in Huge East play, returns within the backcourt as does junior KyKy Tandy who performed in simply 5 video games final season attributable to accidents.

It’s all the time troublesome to mission a roster and a rotation after a training change, however Xavier appears to be like able to put themselves again within the NCAA match. Come Nov. 18, the Hoosiers might discover themselves with a chance so as to add their first top-25 win of the season to their resume.

Filed to: Xavier Musketeers