Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2005
- Class:
- 1964
Joe Geiger used a soft shooting touch and persistence to score over 1,000 points in his XU career. Despite weighing only 198 pounds, the 6-7 Geiger was a force on the boards for Xavier. He pulled down 11.2 rebounds per game in 1964 while pumping in 19.3 points per game.Â
Xavier compiled a 42-38 record during Geiger's three seasons including 16-10 his senior season.
Geiger, who stands tied for 49th on the all-time scoring list at Xavier with 1,073 career points, could have posted even more if he would have been entirely healthy for three years.
There were numerous bright spots during Geiger's career. The memories began in 1961 62, his first season. Geiger helped XU to upset wins over six national powers despite finishing the season at 14-12. XU disposed of Providence, Villanova, Loyola of Chicago,Western Kentucky, Detroit and 1962 NIT Champion Dayton.
As a junior, Geiger helped XU upset Creighton (80-67) and St. Bonaventure (89-75) to capture the 1963 National Catholic Championship at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.
Geiger's best season, though, came as a senior. He helped XU finish 16-10 with a number of fine individual efforts. He hit a lay-up with 14 seconds left to give XU an electric 82-81 win over Dayton, completing XU's first sweep of the XU/UD series in 15 years.
There was one stretch that stood out in Geiger's senior year. He averaged 32.7 points per game for three games. He pumped in 29 points in a 97-85 loss to Miami of Ohio, 33 points and 20 rebounds in an 86-73 win over Catholic, and 36 points in a 114-112 shootout over the Titans at Detroit.
Geiger left his mark as a clutch shooter for the Musketeers, particularly from the free throw line. He led the nation in free throw percentage at 90.2% (74-82) as a sophomore and was seventh in the nation as a senior at 86.9% (119-137). After his graduation, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the eighth round of the NBA Draft.
