12.02.22

XU and WVU have not met since the classic 2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal

GAME NOTES

https://goxavier.com/documents/2022/12/1/2022-23_NOTES_GAME_9__WVU.pdf

CINCINNATI — The Xavier University Musketeers, 5-3, host the West Virginia University Mountaineers, 6-1, on Saturday in a BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle matchup. Xavier holds a 3-0 mark in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle games, including last season’s win at Oklahoma State.

Sean Miller and Bob Huggins were the head coaches of Xavier and West Virginia, respectively, the last time the two teams met on the court. XU won the 2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal 79-75 in overtime.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (5-3, 0-0 BIG EAST)
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS (6-1, 0-0 BIG 12)
SATURDAY, DEC. 3, 2022 AT 6:30 P.M. ET
AT CINTAS CENTER (10,224) IN CINCINNATI, OHIO

RADIO/TV INFO

Television: FS1 with play by-play from Matt Schumacker and analysis from Dickey Simpkins.
Radio: 700 WLW with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer Joe Sunderman (’79) and analysis from XU all-time leading scorer and Hall of Famer Byron Larkin (’88). XU broadcast also available on Sirius XM channel 382 and the SXM App channel 972.

X FACTORS

Xavier, 5-3, is coming off a 95-63 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday. Junior Colby Jones led Xavier in scoring with 16 points to go with seven assists.
• Xavier holds a 3-0 mark in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle games, including last season’s win at Oklahoma State. XU defeated Oklahoma (2020-21) and won at TCU (2019-20).
• Xavier graduate student Souley Boum earned a spot on the Phil Knight Legacy All-Tournament Team after leading XU in scoring at 18.3 ppg. for three games. He leads the team in scoring (11th in BIG EAST at 15.8 ppg.) and is second in assists (3.6 apg.).
• Xavier junior Colby Jones, Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll after averaging 18.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game vs. Florida, Duke and Gonzaga at the Phil Knight Legacy. He leads XU in
assists at 6.0 apg. (third in BIG EAST) to go with 15.7 ppg. (12th in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier graduate student Jack Nunge, who was named Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, is third the team in scoring at 15.0 ppg. (14th in the BIG EAST) and is second on the team in rebounding at 6.8 rpg. (tied for 11th in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier’s balanced scoring attack boasts five players in double figures in scoring:
Souley Boum (15.8 ppg.), Colby Jones (15.7 ppg.), Jack Nunge (15.0 ppg.), Zach
Freemantle (13.6 ppg.) and Adam Kunkel (11.5 ppg.).
• Xavier senior Zach Freemantle, who posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds on Wednesday, became the 58th member of Xavier’s 1,000 Point Club. Freemantle leads XU in rebounding at 7.6 rpg. (tied for sixth in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier head coach Sean Miller, in his sixth season at the helm (also HC from 2004-09), is the fifth-winningest active Div. I head coach (by win percentage) among head coaches with at least 10 years. He is 427-159 (.729) in his 18th year overall.

COURTESY XAVIER ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS