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Xavier Basketball: Can “core four” lead Musketeers to bounce-back season?

By Jacob Zinkula

(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 15: Paul Scruggs #1 of the Xavier Musketeers celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the semifinal round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 15: Paul Scruggs #1 of the Xavier Musketeers celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the semifinal round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Other Contributors/Expectations

6-3 Paul Scruggs was the other headliner of Xavier’s 2017 recruiting class (Scruggs was 32nd and Marshall was 70th in ESPN recruiting rankings). Like Marshall, Scruggs took a good step forward last season, raising his scoring average from 4.9 to 12.3 and turning himself into a solid 3-point shooter, improving from 30.4% to 37.5%. He has plenty of room to improve but he’s been on the right track.

Tyrique Jones and Quentin Goodin are the veterans of the “core four,” both entering their senior seasons. Jones has always been efficient around the basket, averaging a 62.4% field-goal percentage over his career, but his top skill is likely offensive rebounding. He posted the 3rd best offensive rebounding percentage in the nation last season per KenPom.

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Goodin provides a steady presence in the backcourt, leading the team in assists last season. But as Marshall and Scruggs get more and more comfortable with being the lead ball-handler, the fit for Goodin gets a bit tricky.

He can’t provide much shooting off-the-ball, having only shot 29.8% from long-range last season. His overall efficiency is a problem as well (37.0 FG% last season). Ideally, Goodin can provide 3-point shooting in the low 30% range, cut back a bit on his field-goal attempts, continue to create for others and provide quality defense.

Also entering the fold for Xavier are transfers Jason Carter and Bryce Moore. The 6-8 Carter averaged 16.5 points per game last season at Ohio, and the 6-2 Moore averaged 9.8 at Western Michigan. Both are entering their senior seasons, and Carter could very well be starting from day one.

Xavier’s incoming recruiting class includes five four-star prospects, led by guard KyKy Tandy (88th per ESPN). At 6-1, Tandy projects as the future point guard for the Musketeers.

Expectations

There’s a fair amount of disparity over projections for Xavier. Early preseason rankings have the Musketeers anywhere from 15th to unranked, while Barttorvik has them at 39th.

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Next. Ranking top 10 conferences for 2019-20. dark

If Marshall and Scruggs can take another step forward, Carter can slide in as a quality starter, and at least one or two of the freshmen become solid contributors, Xavier should be comfortably a top 15-20 team in the nation.