Busting Brackets
Fansided

Xavier Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Musketeers

By Lukas Harkins

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 09: Xavier Musketeers fans are seen during a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Cintas Center on December 9, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Xavier won 96-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 09: Xavier Musketeers fans are seen during a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Cintas Center on December 9, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Xavier won 96-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 30: Scruggs #1 of the Xavier Musketeers looks down the court. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 30: Scruggs #1 of the Xavier Musketeers looks down the court. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Starting Lineup

Projected Starters: Goodin, Scruggs, Marshall, Welage, Jones

Heading into this season, Xavier has some major holes to fill in the starting lineup. Both Macura and Bluiett started every game for the team a year ago and they will be extremely difficult to replace. Both players were highly-effective offensive players who were also underrated defenders. So, not only will their spots in the lineup need to be replaced but their high skill level will need to be as well.

Thankfully, though, Xavier has a few solid options to turn to for scoring this year. The most experienced returning roster members for the Musketeers this season will be juniors Quentin Goodin and Tyrique Jones. Goodin, a full-time starter last season, averaged 8.7 points (.445/.302/.791) and 4.9 assists per game. Jones, on the other hand, averaged 7.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

As for Xavier’s rising sophomore class, there are two clear breakout candidates. First, Naji Marshall should be on everyone’s “breakout” list. Even though he averaged on 7.7 points per game last season, Marshall projects as a big-time star in the future for Xavier. He could be an All-Conference level player this year. Additionally, fellow rising sophomore Paul Scruggs could be another breakout candidate. Scruggs saw only limited minutes last season but was a top-50 recruit out of high school in 2017.

Lastly, incoming transfer Ryan Welage is a dark horse contender to lead the Musketeers in scoring last season. A versatile scoring forward, Welage averaged 18.1 points (.461/.429/.877) and 5.4 rebounds per game with San Jose State last season. And even though his competition level will increase this year, Welage should still be a dangerous scorer in the Big East.