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When forward Jalen Reynolds committed to Xavier as a high school senior five years ago, he raised eyebrows by brazenly telling the Cincinnati Enquirer, "I'm going to get Xavier to the Final Four. Make sure you write that down."
There were times when that promise seemed far-fetched. It doesn't anymore.
In a year when college basketball lacks a dominant team, Xavier seems to have as good a chance as anyone to make it to Houston the first week in April. The undefeated Musketeers validated that on Saturday evening against crosstown rival Cincinnati, taking a lead on their opening possession and holding it from start to finish en route to a 65-55 victory.*
Xavier's victory improves its record to 10-0 so far this season and adds to its already impressive collection of quality wins. In addition to the Cincinnati win, the Musketeers have thumped Michigan in Ann Arbor, pulled away from Missouri at the Cintas Center and stormed through Alabama, USC and Atlantic 10 favorite Dayton to win the Advocare Invitational in Orlando.
Saturday's performance might have been the most impressive of all from Xavier considering the intensity of the rivalry and the quality of the opponent.
Cincinnati returns nearly every key player from the defensive juggernaut that made the round of the 32 of the NCAA tournament last season. The 23rd-ranked Bearcats had shown more of a pulse offensively this season in winning eight of their first nine games, but they shot just 7 of 26 from behind the arc against Xavier's 1-3-1 zone and only managed to stay competitive because of their offensive rebounding.
The formula Xavier has employed this season is a bit different than a year ago when the Musketeers won 23 games and pushed Arizona to the final minute in the Sweet 16.*
Last season, Xavier relied heavily on standout big man Matt Stainbrook to generate offense efficiently in the paint and make up for some of the team's other shortcomings. This season, the Musketeers have six players averaging 10 or more points without Stainbrook to lean on and they also don't have nearly as many obvious weaknesses.
Their physical, active front line of Reynolds, Trevon Bluiett and sixth man James Farr scores in a variety of ways, protects the rim and dominates the glass at both ends. Freshman point guard Edmond Sumner is an excellent athlete and emerging pro prospect, while wings Remy Abell, Myles Davis and J.P. Macura are capable role players who knock down open shots and play solid defense.
Xavier entered this season considered one of the top challengers to Villanova in the Big East, but so far the Musketeers have played better than the Wildcats. They'll have the chance to prove that on New Year's Eve when they open league play at Villanova.*
In its gradual rise from humble origins, Xavier has evolved from a losing program in a small conference, to a quality mid-major, to a consistently elite program with a budget, fan base and facilities that rival those of all but college basketball's most tradition-rich programs. The Musketeers have made the Sweet 16 seven times and the Elite Eight twice, falling to Duke in 2004 and UCLA in 2008.*
This year's Xavier team has a chance to make another memorable run. The Musketeers should have a top 10 ranking when the new AP Top 25 is released on Monday and they already have a top-five resume through the first month of the season.
In a year when there is no juggernaut that's a cut above the rest of the field, that makes Xavier a legit threat to make good on Reynolds' promise and reach its first Final Four. **
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There were times when that promise seemed far-fetched. It doesn't anymore.
In a year when college basketball lacks a dominant team, Xavier seems to have as good a chance as anyone to make it to Houston the first week in April. The undefeated Musketeers validated that on Saturday evening against crosstown rival Cincinnati, taking a lead on their opening possession and holding it from start to finish en route to a 65-55 victory.*
Xavier's victory improves its record to 10-0 so far this season and adds to its already impressive collection of quality wins. In addition to the Cincinnati win, the Musketeers have thumped Michigan in Ann Arbor, pulled away from Missouri at the Cintas Center and stormed through Alabama, USC and Atlantic 10 favorite Dayton to win the Advocare Invitational in Orlando.
Saturday's performance might have been the most impressive of all from Xavier considering the intensity of the rivalry and the quality of the opponent.
Cincinnati returns nearly every key player from the defensive juggernaut that made the round of the 32 of the NCAA tournament last season. The 23rd-ranked Bearcats had shown more of a pulse offensively this season in winning eight of their first nine games, but they shot just 7 of 26 from behind the arc against Xavier's 1-3-1 zone and only managed to stay competitive because of their offensive rebounding.
The formula Xavier has employed this season is a bit different than a year ago when the Musketeers won 23 games and pushed Arizona to the final minute in the Sweet 16.*
Last season, Xavier relied heavily on standout big man Matt Stainbrook to generate offense efficiently in the paint and make up for some of the team's other shortcomings. This season, the Musketeers have six players averaging 10 or more points without Stainbrook to lean on and they also don't have nearly as many obvious weaknesses.
Their physical, active front line of Reynolds, Trevon Bluiett and sixth man James Farr scores in a variety of ways, protects the rim and dominates the glass at both ends. Freshman point guard Edmond Sumner is an excellent athlete and emerging pro prospect, while wings Remy Abell, Myles Davis and J.P. Macura are capable role players who knock down open shots and play solid defense.
Xavier entered this season considered one of the top challengers to Villanova in the Big East, but so far the Musketeers have played better than the Wildcats. They'll have the chance to prove that on New Year's Eve when they open league play at Villanova.*
In its gradual rise from humble origins, Xavier has evolved from a losing program in a small conference, to a quality mid-major, to a consistently elite program with a budget, fan base and facilities that rival those of all but college basketball's most tradition-rich programs. The Musketeers have made the Sweet 16 seven times and the Elite Eight twice, falling to Duke in 2004 and UCLA in 2008.*
This year's Xavier team has a chance to make another memorable run. The Musketeers should have a top 10 ranking when the new AP Top 25 is released on Monday and they already have a top-five resume through the first month of the season.
In a year when there is no juggernaut that's a cut above the rest of the field, that makes Xavier a legit threat to make good on Reynolds' promise and reach its first Final Four. **
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!Follow @JeffEisenberg