Xavier vs Indiana: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

The Gavitt Games will include on Friday with two highlighted matchups. Indiana going on the road to take on Xavier will be the first.

TV Schedule: Friday, Nov. 18 – 6:00 p.m., FS1

Arena: Cintas Center – Cincinnati, Ohio

Indiana started the season at number 13 in the AP Poll. While not surprising that the Hoosiers were ranked that high, the Hoosiers haven’t gotten as high as 13 in almost six years. It was a sign of hope for the program. A sign that Mike Woodson had this team trending in the right direction. However, the Cintas Center will certainly provide a threat to the Indiana preseason expectations.

The battle of the frontcourts

The question of the game: How will Jack Nunge and Zach Freemantle fare against Trayce Jackson-Davis, Race Thompson, and Malik Reneau? Obviously, everyone knows what Jackson-Davis and Thompson can do. They pose as very good back-to-the-basket threats and Jackson-Davis especially is great in pick & roll situations. Reneau has been the surprise for the Hoosiers. The freshman, who was thought of as a project by some, is averaging 12 points per game and has been efficient thus far. He also has shown that if left alone, he will attempt a three or two. Being able to play two bigs and one of them on the perimeter is really big for Jackson-Davis’ game.

Indiana’s firepower on offense in the front court does have the chance to be upstaged. Nunge and Freemantle are combining for nearly 34 points per game. Nunge, the former Iowa transfer was obviously tremendous last season, but Freemantle had a down year. His numbers in these first couple of games have been really encouraging and Sean Miller might have re-unlocked parts of his game that no one saw last year.

What role can the guards play?

With both teams playing well to start the season, there haven’t been very many negatives to take away from anyone on either team. Xavier’s guards have been playing extremely well as Souley Boum, Colby Jones, KyKy Tandy, and Adam Kunkel are all nationally ranked when it comes to offensive rating. One thing the Musketeers might need is more consistent play out of freshman point guard Desmond Claude. Being a freshman at the point guard position is always tough in college basketball, but committing live ball turnovers and letting Xavier Johnson and Jalen Hood-Schifino out in the open floor is the last thing that Xavier wants to do.

Speaking of Hood-Schifino, he hasn’t been quite as efficient as Hoosier fans would like to start the season, but it hasn’t been a problem. Johnson and Tamar Bates, while in limited roles, have been efficient on the offensive end and Bates has really been active on the defensive end posting a 3.6 steal%. Taking care of the ball will be one of the main keys to victory for Xavier.

For Xavier, this could be a very good tune-up game that gives them momentum or zones in on what they need to fix before the gauntlet in the PK85 next week. Indiana certainly has a lighter non-conference schedule at least over the first couple of weeks, but this is certainly a chance to prove that all their returning players did in fact get better. Xavier playing this game at home and the ability to match up with Indiana’s frontcourt is what could get it done for them.

Score Prediction: Xavier 71, Indiana 69