Men's Basketball Heads to Hartford For A Sunday Game Vs. No. 1 UConn

Sunday, January 28

Hartford, Conn.

12:00 p.m.

Xavier University

UConn

Men's Basketball Heads to Hartford For A Sunday Game Vs. No. 1 UConn

01.26.24 | Men's Basketball

GAME NOTES VS. UCONN

Musketeers will break out the gold in conjunction with the Coaches vs. Cancer’s nationwide initiative.

By: Tom Eiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI --- The Xavier University Musketeers, 10-9 overall and 4-4 in the BIG EAST Conference, take on the No. 1 ranked University of Connecticut Huskies, 17-2 overall and 7-1 in the BIG EAST, on Sunday at noon in Hartford, Conn. XU is shooting to bounce back from Tuesday's loss at No. 17 Creighton, while UConn enters this game with a seven-game winning streak.

For the second-straight season, in conjunction with Coaches vs. Cancer's nationwide initiative to raise awareness, Xavier Basketball will break out the gold in honor of the life and memory of Jaxen Kettler for the game at UConn. Jaxen is the son of Xavier Men's Basketball Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Andy Kettler and his wife, Kimbraly. At age two, Jaxen - an energy-filled toddler that loved Disney, toy cars and wrestling with his dad - was diagnosed with Pineoblastoma, a rare form of pediatric brain cancer. After a valiant fight, Jaxen passed away on July 24, 2016, five weeks to the day of the diagnosis.

From the mid-1970's to the early 1980's, a golden shade of yellow served as an accent color in Xavier's Athletics' palate. The color returned during the 2020-21 men's basketball season a part of a throwback uniform introduced to recognize teams of that era. The shade of golden yellow will take on an added meaning for the program in the throwback unforms and the golden shoelaces for the coaches and staff for a game.

Since Jaxen's passing, the Kettler Family has launched Jaxen's Journey – a foundation aimed at raising awareness and funding in the quest for a cure for Pediatric Pineoblastoma. For more information about Jaxen, the Kettler family, Pediatric Pineoblastoma or to make a donation, please go to www.jaxensjourney.com. There is an annual golf tournament that serves as a fundraiser as well. The 7^th annual Jaxen's Journey Golf Tournament will be held on August 3^rd at Legendary Run Golf Course in Cincinnati.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (10-9, 4-4 BIG EAST)
NO. 1 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HUSKIES (17-2, 7-1 BIG EAST)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024 AT NOON ET
XL CENTER IN HARTFORD, CONN.

TV, RADIO AND LIVE STATS

Television: FS1 with play-by-play from Alex Faust and analysis from Tarik Turner.
Xavier Radio: 700 WLW-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.

X FACTORS

• Xavier is playing the AP's No. 1 ranked team for the 19th time in its history. XU has won four of its last seven No. 1 tests with its last win coming over Villanova in 2016.
• 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 sixth in the nation in fast break points at 17.1 ppg.
• Xavier grad. student Quincy Olivari is third in the BIG EAST in scoring at 17.9 ppg., second in 3-point field goals per game (2.84) and third in 3-point percentage (.429).
• Xavier senior Dayvion McKnight leads the BIG EAST and is 18th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.37. He is sixth in the BIG EAST in assists at 4.8 per game. McKnight, who has averaged 19.3 ppg. for the last three games, is third on the team in scoring at 11.1 ppg. after his 20-point game on 8-14 shooting at Creighton
• Xavier sophomore Desmond Claude is second on the team in scoring at 16.2 ppg. (10th in the BIG EAST) and assists at 3.8 apg. (11th in the BIG EAST). Claude earned a spot on the BIG EAST Honor Roll on Jan. 22 for the third time after averaging 22.5 ppg. and 6.5 apg. vs. Butler on Jan. 16 and Georgetown on Jan. 19.
• Xavier senior Abou Ousmane is tied for fourth in the BIG EAST in offensive rebounding (3.1 rpg.), including eight vs. UConn, and is fifth in the BIG EAST in blocks (1.4 bpg.).
• Xavier has 10 newcomers on the 2023-24 roster, including six freshmen who have logged 30 percent of the minutes played this season, the most for XU since 1995-96.
• Xavier freshman Trey Green scored a career-high 23 points at Providence on the strength of five 3-pointers. Green has hit at least two 3-pointers in five BIG EAST games.
• Xavier freshman Dailyn Swain contributed seven points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals vs. Georgetown and had the game-winning drive and dunk. He had nine points, six rebounds and two blocks in his first collegiate start at Creighton.