GAME NOTES
https://goxavier.com/documents/2023/1/9/2022-23_NOTES_GAME_17__CREIGHTON.pdf
CINCINNATI — The Xavier University Musketeers, 13-3 overall and 5-0 in the BIG EAST Conference, take a nine-game winning streak into Wednesday night’s game vs. the Creighton University Bluejays, the team picked by the league coaches as the preseason favorite. Xavier’s nine-game win streak is its longest since the 2017-18 season. The 5-0 start to BIG EAST play marks XU’s best start since joining the league for the 2013-14 season.
Xavier moved up to 12th in this week’s AP Poll and 11th in the USA Today Coaches Poll after checking in at No. 18 in both polls last week.
THE MATCHUP
NO. 12/11 XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (13-3, 5-0 BIG EAST)
RV/– CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY BLUEJAYS (9-7, 3-2 BIG EAST)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11, 2023 AT 7:00 P.M. ET
AT CINTAS CENTER (10,224) IN CINCINNATI, OHIO
TV, RADIO, LIVE STATS
Television: FS1 with play by-play from Jason Benetti and analysis from Bill Raftery. 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 broad- cast also available on Sirius XM channel 109 or 201 and 964 on the SXM App.
Live Stats: Media stats at Statbroadcast.com and fan stats at GoXavier.com.
X FACTORS
Xavier, 13-3 overall, won its ninth-straight game on Saturday, 88-80 at Villanova.
• Xavier is 12th in this week’s AP Poll and 11th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. XU is No. 18 in the NCAA’s NET ranking and No. 18 in the KenPom rankings.
• Xavier, in its 10th BIG EAST season, is off to its best start ever in BIG EAST play at 5-0.
• Xavier is 4-0 in true road games this season, including 3-0 in BIG EAST play.
• Xavier leads the nation in assists per game at 21.1 apg. In addition, XU leads the BIG EAST and is third in the nation in overall field goal percentage (.510) and is first in the BIG EAST and fifth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.408). XU leads the BIG EAST in scoring at 84.1 ppg., which ranks 10th in the nation.
• Xavier senior Zach Freemantle was named BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week after scoring a season-high 29 points to go with 11 rebounds and four assists at Villanova on Jan. 7. Freemantle leads the team in rebounding at 8.0 rpg. (fourth in the BIG EAST) and is second in scoring at 15.3 ppg. (11th in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier graduate student Souley Boum, who has scored in double figures in each of the last 14 games, scored 22 points (10-10 free throws) to go with 10 rebounds and six assists at Villanova. Boum leads XU in scoring (second in the BIG EAST at 17.2 ppg.). He is second on the team in assists (eighth in the BIG EAST at 4.7 apg.).
• Xavier junior Colby Jones leads XU in assists at 5.7 apg. (second in the BIG EAST and 19th in the nation) to go with 14.1 ppg.
• Xavier grad student Jack Nunge is third on the team in scoring at 14.7 ppg. (15th in the BIG EAST) and is second on the team in rebounding at 7.2 rpg. (eighth in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier’s balanced scoring attack boasts four players in the top 20 in the BIG EAST:
Souley Boum (second at 17.2 ppg.), Zach Freemantle (11th at 15.3 ppg.), Jack Nunge (15th at 14.7 ppg.) and Colby Jones (17th at 14.1 ppg.).
COURTESY XAVIER ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
