Busting Brackets
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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) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 09: Xavier Musketeers mascot performs. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 09: Xavier Musketeers mascot performs. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Key Reserves

In terms of bench production, head coach Travis Steele will need to rely heavily on his newcomers. In fact, sophomore Elias Harden might be the only returning Musketeer who played for the team last season. A 6-foot-5 guard, Harden played very sparingly last season but his role should dramatically increase this year. He was ranked as a top-150 player out of high school but only appeared in 18 games (5.6 mpg) a year ago.

After Harden, though, Coach Steele will turn to experienced transfers and incoming freshmen to impact games off the bench. Most notably, graduate transfers Kyle Castlin and Zach Hankins will likely be the first reserves to see the court in most games. Castlin, a 6-foot-4 hard-nosed defensive guard, is coming off of a season in which he averaged 10.5 points (.496/.349/.884) with Columbia. Hankins, on the other hand, is a 6-foot-11 D-II transfer from Ferris State.

In terms of rounding out this bench unit, Xavier’s underrated recruiting class will have to step up to bat. Even though class as a whole is ranked at No. 65 in the nation, the team will likely need to see immediate contributions from at least one of their two freshmen in order to deploy a strong bench. Forward Dontarius James (No. 222) and guard Keonte Kennedy (No. 241) make up this class.