Big East Basketball: Best and worst-case scenarios for each team in 2018-19
By Brian Foley
Xavier Musketeers
Last year: 29-6 (15-3), NCAA tournament second round
Key Departures: G Trevon Bluiett, G JP Macura, C Sean O’Mara, F Kerem Kanter, F Kaiser Gates, HC Chris Mack
Best Case
Despite the roster turnover, Xavier still puts together a solid season on the backs of grad transfer Ryan Welage, budding star Naji Marshall, point guard Quentin Goodin, and an improved season from sophomore guard Paul Scruggs. Goodin builds on his impressive assists numbers from a year ago and proves to be a consistent threat from the outside. Scruggs discards his disappointing 2017-18 campaign and shows why he was tabbed as the Big East’s best incoming freshman last summer.
Head coach Travis Steele proves to be the next great Xavier hire, a run that dates back to Pete Gillen in the mid-1980’s. Marshall compiles a full season like his three-game run in mid-February against Seton Hall, Villanova, and Georgetown (17.3 points and 7 rebounds per game), and pushes his name into the All-Big East conversation.
Next. Preseason Big East rankings. dark
Worst Case
Marshall, Goodin, and Scruggs, despite their immense, collective talent, show their youth more often than not. Transfers Welage, Kyle Castlin, and Zach Hankins struggle to find their roles, and Steele disappoints in his first season as a head coach. The Musketeers miss the tournament for the first time since joining the Big East and fall below .500 in conference play for the first time since 1981-82.