Cincinnati vs. Xavier: Who wins the position battles?

In one of the most heated basketball rivalries in college basketball, the Xavier Musketeers take on the Cincinnati Bearcats for bragging rights in the city. Who has the edge in from the position match-ups?

Point guard: Justin Jenifer vs. Quentin Goodin

It seems that Cincinnati has settled on their primary point guard for now in junior Jenifer, who came off the bench in the first few games. Known more as distributor, Jenifer’s scoring output has more than tripled from a year ago, now averaging 8.3 ppg. Not only is he a good passer, but he rarely turns the ball over, with his 7.7 turnover percentage ranking in the top 10 of AAC players so far.

Quentin Goodin of Xavier isn’t much of a scorer himself but is a great passer in his own right. He’s played roughly the same minutes from a year ago but averages almost three more assists a night to 6.1 apg, one of the best in the Big East. He currently has a 3/1 turnover ratio, which more than makes up for his 6.6 ppg.

Goodwin is a unique guard, who while shots a fantastic 92% from the three throw line, has yet to make a three-point shot (0-6) this season. That can have an effect on spacing for the offense later down the road, but, for now, his elite passing makes him a big net positive for the team.

As far as who has the edge, these two are very similar players in terms that they’re both pass-first point guards. The one advantage that Goodin has in this scenario is that he’s Xavier’s full-time point guard, different from the split duties that Jenifer currently is going with.

Edge: Goodin