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2017–18 Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team

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American college basketball season

2017–18 Xavier Musketeers men's basketball
Big East regular season champions
NCAA tournament, Second Round
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 3
Record29–6 (15–3 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaCintas Center
Seasons← 2016–172018–19 →
2017–18 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 3 Xavier 15 – 3   .833 29 – 6   .829
No. 2 Villanova † 14 – 4   .778 36 – 4   .900
Seton Hall 10 – 8   .556 22 – 12   .647
Creighton 10 – 8   .556 21 – 12   .636
Providence 10 – 8   .556 21 – 14   .600
Butler 9 – 9   .500 21 – 14   .600
Marquette 9 – 9   .500 21 – 14   .600
Georgetown 5 – 13   .278 15 – 15   .500
St. John's 4 – 14   .222 16 – 17   .485
DePaul 4 – 14   .222 11 – 20   .355
† 2018 Big East tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2017–18 Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team represented Xavier University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as a member of the Big East Conference. Led by ninth-year head coach Chris Mack, they played their home games at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. They finished the season 29–6, 15–3 in Big East play to win the Big East championship. In the Big East tournament, they defeated St. John's before losing to Providence in the semifinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed in the West region. In the First Round, they defeated Texas Southern before being upset by Florida State in the Second Round.

On March 27, 2018, Chris Mack was hired as the new head coach of Louisville, leaving Xavier after nine seasons. Four days later, longtime assistant coach Travis Steele was named the new head coach of the Musketeers.

Previous season

The Musketeers finished the 2016–17 season 24–14, 9–9 in Big East play to finish in seventh place. In the Big East tournament, they defeated DePaul and Butler before losing to Creighton in the semifinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a No. 11 seed in the West region where they defeated Maryland, Florida State, and Arizona before losing in the Elite Eight to Gonzaga.

Offseason

Returning players

On March 31, 2017, Trevon Bluiett announced he would declare for the NBA draft, but would not hire an agent. On May 23, he withdrew his name from the draft and announced he would return to Xavier for his senior season.

Incoming recruits

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Elias Harden
SG 		Tyrone, GA Sandy Creek High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jul 27, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN grade: 80
Naji Marshall
SF 		Greenbelt, MD Hargrave Military Academy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jul 29, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN grade: 85
Paul Scruggs
PG 		Indianapolis, IN Prolific Prep 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Oct 14, 2016 
Star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Incoming transfers

Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous
School 		Years
Remaining 		Date
Eligible
Kerem Kanter Forward 6'10" 240 Senior Istanbul, Turkey Green Bay 1 Oct. 1, 2017

Future recruits

2018 recruits

College recruiting information (2018)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jake Walter
C 		Alexandria, KY Covington Catholic High School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Aug 18, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN: N/A
Keonte Kennedy
SG 		Austin, TX Westlake High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Oct 3, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars
Dontarius James
SF 		Kershaw, SC Andrew Jackson High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Nov 12, 2017 
Star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

Preseason

In its annual preseason preview, Blue Ribbon Yearbook ranked the Musketeers No. 21 in the country. Trevon Bluiett was named a third team All-American.

In a poll of Big East coaches at the conference's media day, the Musketeers were picked to finish in third place in the Big East. Senior guard Trevon Bluiett was named to the preseason All-Big East First team while senior guard J.P. Macura was named a preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention.

Roster

2017–18 Xavier Musketeers men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 0 Tyrique Jones 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 237 lb (108 kg) So Vermont Academy Bloomfield, Connecticut
G 1 Paul Scruggs 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 212 lb (96 kg) Fr Prolific Prep (CA) Indianapolis, Indiana
G 3 Quentin Goodin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 194 lb (88 kg) So Taylor County HS Campbellsville, Kentucky
G 4 Elias Harden 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 183 lb (83 kg) Fr Pebblebrook HS East Point, Georgia
G 5 Trevon Bluiett 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Sr Park Tudor School Indianapolis, Indiana
G 10 Leighton Schrand (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 155 lb (70 kg) So Holy Cross High School Villa Hills, Kentucky
F 11 Kerem Kanter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS Sr Green Bay Istanbul, Turkey
G 12 Nick Vanderpohl (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Harrison Harrison, Ohio
F 13 Naji Marshall 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 214 lb (97 kg) Fr Hargrave Military Academy Atlantic City, New Jersey
F 20 Matt Singleton (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr Garrett HS Garrett, Indiana
F 22 Kaiser Gates 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 228 lb (103 kg) Jr St. Francis HS Alpharetta, Georgia
F/C 54 Sean O'Mara 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 244 lb (111 kg) Sr Benet Academy Glen Ellyn, Illinois
G 55 J. P. Macura 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 203 lb (92 kg) Sr Lakeville North HS Lakeville, Minnesota
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank Opponent Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Nov 4, 2017*
4:00 pm 		No. 17 Thomas More College W 78–38 
 16 – Marshall   10 – Kanter   6 – Scruggs  Cintas Center (10,224)
Cincinnati, OH
Non-conference regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
7:00 pm, FSN 		No. 17 Morehead State W 101–49  1–0
  25 – Bluiett   9 – Jones   7 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,224)
Cincinnati, OH
Nov 13, 2017*
8:30 pm, FS1 		No. 15 Rider
Las Vegas Invitational campus-site game 		W 101–75  2–0
  26 – Bluiett   9 – Bluiett   6 – Tied  Cintas Center (10,224)
Cincinnati, OH
Nov 16, 2017*
8:30 pm, FS1 		No. 15 at Wisconsin
Gavitt Tipoff Games 		W 80–70  3–0
  25 – Bluiett   9 – Bluiett   6 – Goodin  Kohl Center (17,287)
Madison, WI
Nov 20, 2017*
8:30 pm, FS1 		No. 15 Hampton
Las Vegas Invitational campus-site game 		W 96–60  4–0
  21 – Bluiett   9 – Gates   5 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,224)
Cincinnati, OH
Nov 23, 2017*
5:00 pm, FS1 		No. 15 vs. George Washington
Las Vegas Invitational semifinals 		W 83–64  5–0
  20 – Bluiett   11 – Jones   4 – Goodin  Orleans Arena 
Paradise, NV
Nov 24, 2017*
5:30 pm, FOX 		No. 15 vs. Arizona State
Las Vegas Invitational championship 		L 86–102  5–1
  23 – Macura   5 – Tied   6 – Tied  Orleans Arena 
Paradise, NV
Nov 28, 2017*
6:30 pm, FS1 		No. 21 No. 16 Baylor W 76–63  6–1
  19 – Tied   7 – Jones   6 – Tied  Cintas Center (10,503)
Cincinnati, OH
Dec 2, 2017*
12:00 pm, FS1 		No. 21 No. 11 Cincinnati
Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout 		W 89–76  7–1
  28 – Bluiett   10 – Gates   8 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,817)
Cincinnati, OH
Dec 6, 2017*
7:00 pm, FS1 		No. 13 Kent State W 96–70  8–1
  26 – Bluiett   8 – Kanter   6 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,292)
Cincinnati, OH
Dec 9, 2017*
5:00 pm, FS1 		No. 13 Colorado W 96–69  9–1
  25 – Bluiett   7 – Tied   8 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,228)
Cincinnati, OH
Dec 16, 2017*
2:00 pm, FSN 		No. 10 East Tennessee State W 68–66  10–1
  18 – Bluiett   7 – Tied   6 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,432)
Cincinnati, OH
Dec 19, 2017*
6:30 pm, FS1 		No. 9 Marshall W 81–77  11–1
  16 – Kanter   13 – Kanter   4 – Marshall  Cintas Center (10,431)
Cincinnati, OH
Dec 22, 2017*
9:00 pm, CBSSN 		No. 9 at Northern Iowa W 77–67  12–1
  15 – Macura   9 – Gates   5 – Goodin  McLeod Center (6,355)
Cedar Falls, IA
Big East regular season
Dec 27, 2017
8:30 pm, FS1 		No. 6 at Marquette W 91–87  13–1
(1–0) 		 23 – Bluiett   6 – Bluiett   8 – Bluiett  BMO Harris Bradley Center (15,095)
Milwaukee, WI
Dec 30, 2017
2:00 pm, FS1 		No. 6 DePaul W 77–72  14–1
(2–0) 		 19 – Macura   7 – Tied   5 – Macura  Cintas Center (10,436)
Cincinnati, OH
Jan 2, 2018
7:00 pm, FS1 		No. 5 Butler W 86–79  15–1
(3–0) 		 21 – Bluiett   9 – Jones   4 – Macura  Cintas Center (10,609)
Cincinnati, OH
Jan 6, 2018
12:00 pm, FOX 		No. 5 at Providence L 72–81  15–2
(3–1) 		 24 – Kanter   12 – Kanter   4 – Tied  Dunkin' Donuts Center (12,630)
Providence, RI
Jan 10, 2018
8:00 pm, FS1 		No. 10 at No. 1 Villanova L 65–89  15–3
(3–2) 		 16 – Kanter   5 – Kanter   3 – Tied  Wells Fargo Center (12,765)
Philadelphia, PA
Jan 13, 2018
2:00 pm, FOX 		No. 10 No. 25 Creighton W 92–70  16–3
(4–2) 		 22 – Bluiett   8 – Tied   6 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,655)
Cincinnati, OH
Jan 17, 2018
8:30 pm, CBSSN 		No. 11 St. John's W 88–82  17–3
(5–2) 		 23 – Bluiett   13 – Kanter   7 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,224)
Cincinnati, OH
Jan 20, 2018
2:30 pm, FOX 		No. 11 at No. 19 Seton Hall W 73–64  18–3
(6–2) 		 27 – Macura   5 – Tied   5 – Scruggs  Prudential Center (10,481)
Newark, NJ
Jan 24, 2018
6:30 pm, FS1 		No. 8 Marquette W 89–70  19–3
(7–2) 		 15 – Goodin   10 – Bluiett   5 – Tied  Cintas Center (10,493)
Cincinnati, OH
Jan 30, 2018
8:30 pm, CBSSN 		No. 6 at St. John's W 73–68  20–3
(8–2) 		 14 – Bluiett   6 – Gates   5 – Goodin  Carnesecca Arena (5,344)
Queens, NY
Feb 3, 2018
6:10 pm, CBSSN 		No. 6 Georgetown W 96–91  21–3
(9–2) 		 31 – Bluiett   10 – Gates   4 – Gates  Cintas Center (10,758)
Cincinnati, OH
Feb 6, 2018
6:30 pm, FS1 		No. 5 at Butler W 98–93  22–3
(10–2) 		 26 – Bluiett   6 – Tied   3 – Tied  Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100)
Indianapolis, IN
Feb 10, 2018
2:30 pm, FOX 		No. 5 at Creighton W 72–71  23–3
(11–2) 		 17 – Goodin   9 – Macura   4 – Bluiett  CenturyLink Center (18,257)
Omaha, NE
Feb 14, 2018
9:00 pm, FS1 		No. 4 Seton Hall W 102–90  24–3
(12–2) 		 37 – Bluiett   7 – Bluiett   5 – Macura  Cintas Center (10,512)
Cincinnati, OH
Feb 17, 2018
4:30 pm, FOX 		No. 4 No. 3 Villanova L 79–95  24–4
(12–3) 		 26 – Bluiett   8 – Marshall   12 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,777)
Cincinnati, OH
Feb 21, 2018
6:30 pm, FS1 		No. 4 at Georgetown W 89–77  25–4
(13–3) 		 21 – Marshall   7 – Tied   4 – Tied  Capital One Arena (8,012)
Washington, DC
Feb 28, 2018
6:30 pm, FS1 		No. 3 Providence W 84–74  26–4
(14–3) 		 23 – Bluiett   6 – Bluiett   4 – Goodin  Cintas Center (10,715)
Cincinnati, OH
Mar 3, 2018
12:00 pm, FS1 		No. 3 at DePaul W 65–62  27–4
(15–3) 		 22 – Bluiett   11 – Marshall   4 – Macura  Wintrust Arena (7,972)
Chicago, IL
Big East tournament
Mar 8, 2018
12:00 pm, FS1 		(1) No. 3 vs. (9) St. John's
Quarterfinals 		W 88–60  28–4
  27 – Bluiett   7 – Bluiett/Marshall   5 – Macura  Madison Square Garden (17,647)
New York, NY
Mar 9, 2018
6:30 pm, FS1 		(1) No. 3 vs. (5) Providence
Semifinals 		L 72–75  28–5
  18 – Kanter   12 – Marshall   3 – Tied  Madison Square Garden (19,812)
New York, NY
NCAA tournament
Mar 16, 2018*
7:20 pm, TBS 		(1 W) No. 3 vs. (16 W) Texas Southern
First Round 		W 102–83  29–5
  29 – Macura   6 – Tied   7 – Goodin  Bridgestone Arena (17,549)
Nashville, TN
Mar 18, 2018
8:40 pm, TNT 		(1 W) No. 3 vs. (9 W) Florida State
Second Round 		L 70–75  29–6
  17 – Macura   6 – Kanter   2 – 3 tied  Bridgestone Arena (17,552)
Nashville, TN
*Non-conference game. Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=West.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Rankings

Main article: 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415161718Final
AP17151521131096510118654 (5)4333Not released
Coaches1717142014985410128654 (1)44248
  • AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings

References

  1. Greer, Jeff (March 27, 2018). "Louisville hires Chris Mack as new men's basketball coach". Courier Journal. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  2. Borzello, Jeff (March 31, 2018). "Musketeers promote longtime assistant Travis Steele to head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  3. "Xavier Musketeers Basketball 2016–17 Schedule – Musketeers Home and Away – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  4. "2016–17 Xavier Musketeers Schedule and Results | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  5. "Xavier out of Big East tournament with 75–72 Creighton loss". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  6. Staples, Andy. "Trevon Bluiett leads No. 11 Xavier's upset of No. 6 Maryland". SI.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  7. "Xavier dismantles Florida State, headed to Sweet 16". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  8. "Xavier stuns Arizona with late surge, advances to Elite Eight | FOX Sports". FOX Sports. March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  9. "No. 1 Gonzaga dispatches No. 11 Xavier to reach first-ever Final Four". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  10. "Bluiett to test NBA Draft waters again, won't hire agent". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  11. "Trevon Bluiett will stay at Xavier after considering NBA". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  12. Brennan, Patrick (May 22, 2017). "Kanter pulling out of NBA Draft, will play at Xavier". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  13. ^ "Arizona Tops Blue Ribbon's 37th Annual Preseason Rankings". Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  14. "Big East Conference – Villanova Sits Atop Coaches' Preseason Poll Again". www.bigeast.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  15. "Big East Conference – Villanova's Jalen Brunson Selected Preseason Player of the Year". www.bigeast.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
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