Busting Brackets
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Xavier Basketball: 3 reasons why the Musketeers will be better than Cincinnati in 2018-19

By Brian Rauf

CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 03: Members of the Xavier Musketeers celebrate after a four point play to tie the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Cintas Center on February 3, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 03: Members of the Xavier Musketeers celebrate after a four point play to tie the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Cintas Center on February 3, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – FEBRUARY 25: Jacob Evans #1 of the Cincinnati Bearcats dribbles with the ball against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at BB&T Arena on February 25, 2018 in Highland Heights, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY – FEBRUARY 25: Jacob Evans #1 of the Cincinnati Bearcats dribbles with the ball against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at BB&T Arena on February 25, 2018 in Highland Heights, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2) How will Cincinnati replace their star trio?

On the flip side, Cincinnati has some major question marks when it comes to how they’re going to replace last season’s stars.

The Bearcats have traditionally struggled to score under head coach Mick Cronin (something that again sunk them in the NCAA Tournament), and their star trio of Jacob Evans, Gary Clark, and Kyle Washington – three of the team’s top four scorers – are all gone with no obvious replacements.

All three were also great defenders but Cronin is one of the country’s premier defensive coaches and will certainly have Cincinnati playing at a high level on that end of the floor in no time.

Jarron Cumberland (11.5 ppg) is the only returning player who averaged at least eight points per game a year ago and only one other (Cane Broome, 7.9) averaged over 4.8 per game. They also figure to struggle to shoot from the perimeter, as their returning players combined to shoot just 33.7 percent from three-point range last season.

Defense will keep Cincinnati relevant in the AAC, but in terms of this rivalry, their offense will keep them a step behind X.