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Xavier Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Musketeers

By Lukas Harkins

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 08: Quentin Goodin #3 and Paul Scruggs #1 of the Xavier Musketeers look on in the second half of the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on December 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati won 62-47. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 08: Quentin Goodin #3 and Paul Scruggs #1 of the Xavier Musketeers look on in the second half of the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on December 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati won 62-47. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 19: The Xavier Musketeers bench celebrates. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 19: The Xavier Musketeers bench celebrates. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

Overall outlook for the Musketeers

On the whole, Xavier basketball looks poised for a big-time season. This is thanks in large part to the tremendous returning pieces in the starting lineup. The Musketeers’ core four of Goodin, Scruggs, Marshall, and Jones is one of the best in the entire nation while Jason Carter is a strong graduate transfer addition as well. Additionally, Xavier’s bench is particularly talented even if it is not very experienced. If the freshmen are able to quickly emerge as major contributors, then we might start talking more seriously about the Musketeers as legitimate threats to the Big East regular-season title.

Of course, there are also some concerns regarding the squad. The most notable of these will be the frontcourt depth. While Freemantle and Ramsey are relatively highly-regarded, it is possible that neither is ready to step into a major role right away. Zach Hankins and Ryan Welage both played significant roles for the Musketeers last season and they will not be easily replaced by a pair of freshmen and Jason Carter.

It is also important to mention that Xavier’s rotation generally lacks size even though there is plenty of physicality as there will not be a single player over 6-foot-9 in the rotation. The frontcourt will need to play bigger than it is.

The last key concern to note is that Travis Steele is only entering his second season as a head coach. While it seemed as though he figured things out down the stretch of last season, he could still be dealing with a learning curve this year. It wouldn’t be the first time that a team takes a minor step back in Year 2 under a promising young coach. Expectations are exceedingly high for the 37-year-old this season and that could be difficult to handle. He will hopefully be up for the challenge and help develop schemes for this very talented roster.

In the end, it feels as though Xavier should finish in the upper half of an exceptionally competitive Big East this season en route to safely making the NCAA Tournament. Our preseason bracketology field pegs the Musketeers as a No. 5 seed. That would be the program’s 27th Big Dance bid in the last 35 years.

Next. Preseason Bracketology field. dark

That concludes this season preview for the Xavier Musketeers. Hope abounds in the Queen City with regards to this coming campaign and it will be intriguing to watch the team strive for their lofty goals. Goodin, Scruggs, Marshall, and Jones is a superb core to lead the way under second-year head coach Travis Steele.