By Bert Leeson
1 16 2024
Musketeers are looking to build off a big road win at Providence.
GAME NOTES VS. BUTLER
https://goxavier.com/documents/2024/1/15/2023-24_NOTES_GAME_17_VS._BUTLER.pdf
CINCINNATI — The Xavier University Musketeers, 8-8 overall and 2-3 in the BIG EAST Conference, host the Butler University Bulldogs, 11-6 overall and 2-4 in the BIG EAST, on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. XU is coming off an impressive 85-65 win at Providence on Saturday, while BU is trying to bounce back from a 78-72 home loss to Seton Hall on Saturday.
Xavier, which is opening a two-game homestand, has played the fifth-toughest schedule in the nation, according to the latest KenPom rankings. XU has 10 newcomers on the 2023-24 roster, including six freshmen who have logged 31 percent of the minutes played this season, the most for XU since 1995-96. One of those freshmen, Trey Green, exploded for a game-high and career-high 23 points in the win at PC.
XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (8-8, 2-3 BIG EAST)
BUTLER UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (11-6, 2-4 BIG EAST)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 AT 6:30 P.M. ET
AT CINTAS CENTER IN CINCINNATI, OHIO
Television: FS1 with play-by-play from Jeff Levering and analysis from LaPhonso Ellis
Xavier Radio: 55KRC AM 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 is also on the Varsity Network and on SXM.
Live Stats: Media stats at Statbroadcast.com and fan stats at GoXavier.com.
• Xavier has played the fifth-toughest schedule in the nation, according to the latest KenPom rankings. XU ranks No. 33 in KenPom and No. 45 in the NCAA NET rankings.
• Xavier head coach Sean Miller was the associate head coach under Thad Matta when the current Butler coach was the XU head coach for three years (2001-04). Miller took over as Xavier head coach for five years (2004-09) after Matta departed.
• Xavier has 10 newcomers on the 2023-24 roster, including six freshmen who have logged 31 percent of the minutes played this season, the most for XU since 1995-96.
• Xavier is second in the BIG EAST and 27th in the nation in assists at 16.8 apg. XU leads the BIG EAST and is 12th in the nation in fast break points at 16.4 ppg.
• Xavier, which is No. 25 in adjusted defensive ranking in the latest KenPom rankings, is ranked third in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage defense at 40.5 percent and second in 3-point percentage defense at 30.5 percent.
• Xavier grad. student Quincy Olivari is fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring at 17.8 ppg., third in 3-point field goals per game (2.69) and second in 3-point percentage (.413).
• Xavier senior Dayvion McKnight leads the BIG EAST and is 12th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.54. He is fourth in the BIG EAST in assists at 5.3 per game.
• Xavier sophomore Desmond Claude is second on the team in scoring at 15.2 ppg. (14th in the BIG EAST) and assists at 3.7 apg. (11th in the BIG EAST).
Xavier freshman Trey Green scored a career-high 23 points at Providence on the strength of five 3-pointers. Green led XU’s big second half with 18 points after halftime.
• Xavier senior Abou Ousmane is fifth in the BIG EAST in offensive rebounding (2.9 rpg.), including eight vs. UConn, and is fourth in the BIG EAST in blocks (1.6 bpg.).
COURTESY XAVIER ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
