By Marisol Nicholson

2 7 2024

GAME NOTES

https://goxavier.com/documents/2024/2/6/2023-24_NOTES_GAME_23_VS._VILLANOVA.pdf

CINCINNATI — The Xavier University Musketeers, 12-10 overall and 6-5 in the BIG EAST Conference, open a two-game homestand on Wednesday night against the Villanova University Wildcats, 12-10 overall and 5-6 in the BIG EAST. Xavier enters the contest on a two-game winning streak, while Villanova is coming off a Sunday victory over Providence.

Graduate student Quincy Olivari leads the BIG EAST in scoring (19.1 ppg.), 3-point field goals (3.1 per game) and 3-point field goal percentage (fifth in the nation at .454). He was named Naismith Trophy and BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week after averaging 33.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game in wins over St. John’s and at DePaul.

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (12-10, 6-5 BIG EAST)
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY WILDCATS (12-10, 5-6 BIG EAST)
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7, 2024 AT 7:00 P.M. ET
CINTAS CENTER IN CINCINNATI, OHIO

Television: FS1 with play-by-play from Jeff Levering and analysis from LaPhonso Ellis.
Xavier Radio: 700 WLW-AM with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer

Joe Sunderman (’79) 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 graduate student Quincy Olivari was named Naismith Trophy and BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week after averaging 33.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game in wins over St. John’s and at DePaul. Olivari’s 43 points at DePaul were the most by a player in a BIG EAST game since 2019 and most by an XU player in a game since David West in 2003. He also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in Chicago.
• Xavier’s Quincy Olivari leads the BIG EAST in scoring (19.1 ppg.), 3-point field goals (3.1 per game) and 3-point field goal percentage (fifth in the nation at .454). He holds a streak of 23 straight made free throws and is shooting .846 at the line (eighth in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier senior Dayvion McKnight is first in the BIG EAST and 20th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.09. He is fifth in the BIG EAST in assists at 4.9 per game. McKnight, who has averaged 17.7 ppg. for the last six games, is third on the team at 11.7 ppg.
• Xavier sophomore Desmond Claude is second on the team in scoring at 16.2 ppg. (eighth in the BIG EAST) and assists at 3.5 apg. (12th in the BIG EAST).
• Xavier senior Abou Ousmane is fifth in the BIG EAST in offensive rebounding (3.0 rpg.) and is tied for sixth in the BIG EAST in blocks (1.3 bpg.).
• Xavier leads the BIG EAST and is third in the nation in fast break points at 17.4 ppg. XU is second in the BIG EAST and 28th in the nation in assists at 16.5 apg.

• Xavier has 10 newcomers on the 2023-24 roster, including six freshmen who have logged 30.0 percent of the minutes played this season, the most for XU since 1995-96.
• Xavier freshman Trey Green, who scored a career-high 23 points at Providence on the strength of five 3-pointers, has hit at least two 3-pointers in seven BIG EAST games.

Xavier will use the upcoming homestand to help support literacy in the Greater Cincinnati area. Xavier Athletics, in collaboration with the Queen City Book Bank, will be collecting gently used elementary aged level books (Pre-K through 6th grade reading level) for at the main entrance. More details via the story link on GoXavier.com.

COURTESY XAVIER ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS