Big East Basketball: St. John's, Villanova rise in updated 2024-25 WTE power rankings

2. Xavier Musketeers

A case can be made that Xavier’s last season was doomed before it began, not having key forwards, Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter. Both starters missed all of last season with injuries but will be back for an extra year. Fremantle, who averaged 15.2 ppg and 8.1 rpg in the season prior can be a star again in the league if 100% healthy.

The frontcourt for the Musketeers will go from young and unproven a year ago to one of the oldest. John Hugley is a starting center from Oklahoma/Pittsburgh, while Lassina Traore is a 6’9 forward from Long Beach State who averaged a double-double.

The backcourt also is going to look different as well, as leading scorers Quincy Olivari and Desmond Claude are gone. Starting point guard Dayvion McKnight (12.4 ppg and 4.8 apg) is joined by Boise State transfer Roddie Anderson, as well as double-digit scorers, Dante Maddox Jr., Ryan Conwell, and Marcus Foster. Former FSU forward Cam’Ron Fletcher is similar to Hunter and provides needed versatility on the wings.

There’s a ton of scoring depth for Xavier, both inside and out. Health will remain the biggest concern on this roster until opening day and we’ll have to see how the chemistry works overall. But it’s hard not to be excited about the potential of this group.