Xavier University Athletics
Men's Basketball Checks In At No. 19 In Preseason AP Poll
10.21.19 | Men's Basketball
XU last made the preseason poll in the 2017-18 season.
CINCINNATI --- The Xavier University Musketeers checked in at No. 19 in the preseason Associated Press Poll. Xavier returns four starters from last year's team that finished 19-16 and made the second round of the NIT, while finishing tied for third in the BIG EAST Conference at 9-9 in Travis Steele's first season as head coach.
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Xavier's last preseason AP top 25 ranking came in the 2017-18 season at No. 17. XU finished that season with a school-record No. 3 final AP Poll ranking and a No. 1 seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
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Two junior preseason All-BIG EAST honorees are among the returning starters. Naji Marshall, 2019-20 preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, and Paul Scruggs, 2019-20 honorable mention All-BIG EAST, join seniors Quentin Goodin and Tyrique Jones .Â
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Marshall, a 2018-19 Second Team All-BIG EAST selection, led Xavier in scoring at 14.7 ppg. (12th in the BIG EAST) and was second in rebounding at 7.2 rpg. (eighth in the BIG EAST). Scruggs, a 2019 All-BIG EAST Tournament selection, was second on the team in scoring at 12.3 ppg. and was the only Musketeer to start every game in the 2018-19 season. Goodin led Xavier in assists for the third straight season, ranking third in the BIG EAST Conference at 4.8 apg., and Jones led XU in rebounding at 7.7 rpg., which ranked fourth in the BIG EAST.
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In addition to the four returning starters, Xavier boasts a five-member freshman recruiting class that is ranked by most experts among the top 20 in the country. XU also welcomes a pair of graduate transfers, Jason Carter from Ohio and Bryce Moore from Western Michigan, who are expected to play key roles this season.
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The BIG EAST Conference coaches picked Xavier to finish third in the 2019-20 BIG EAST Conference regular season race as part of BIG EAST Basketball Media Day in New York earlier this month.
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Xavier opens the season on Wednesday, Oct. 30 with an exhibition game vs. Indianapolis at 7 p.m. at Cintas Center. Opening Night is Tuesday, Nov. 5 vs. Jacksonville at 7 p.m.
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Xavier's last preseason AP top 25 ranking came in the 2017-18 season at No. 17. XU finished that season with a school-record No. 3 final AP Poll ranking and a No. 1 seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
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Two junior preseason All-BIG EAST honorees are among the returning starters. Naji Marshall, 2019-20 preseason All-BIG EAST First Team, and Paul Scruggs, 2019-20 honorable mention All-BIG EAST, join seniors Quentin Goodin and Tyrique Jones .Â
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Marshall, a 2018-19 Second Team All-BIG EAST selection, led Xavier in scoring at 14.7 ppg. (12th in the BIG EAST) and was second in rebounding at 7.2 rpg. (eighth in the BIG EAST). Scruggs, a 2019 All-BIG EAST Tournament selection, was second on the team in scoring at 12.3 ppg. and was the only Musketeer to start every game in the 2018-19 season. Goodin led Xavier in assists for the third straight season, ranking third in the BIG EAST Conference at 4.8 apg., and Jones led XU in rebounding at 7.7 rpg., which ranked fourth in the BIG EAST.
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In addition to the four returning starters, Xavier boasts a five-member freshman recruiting class that is ranked by most experts among the top 20 in the country. XU also welcomes a pair of graduate transfers, Jason Carter from Ohio and Bryce Moore from Western Michigan, who are expected to play key roles this season.
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The BIG EAST Conference coaches picked Xavier to finish third in the 2019-20 BIG EAST Conference regular season race as part of BIG EAST Basketball Media Day in New York earlier this month.
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Xavier opens the season on Wednesday, Oct. 30 with an exhibition game vs. Indianapolis at 7 p.m. at Cintas Center. Opening Night is Tuesday, Nov. 5 vs. Jacksonville at 7 p.m.
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