It’s a story that Xavier fans have heard several times over the last few decades as their head coach has left town for a better job. Sean Miller came back home and led the program for three years, including another trip to the Big Dance last season, but he’s off to Texas and a new era begins with Richard Pitino at the helm. Tying for 4th in the Big East and making the NCAA Tournament was a solid finish last season, though Pitino is working basically with a clean slate.
Zach Freemantle and Dayvion McKnight are among the major contributors out of eligibility while Ryan Conwell and his 16 points a night followed Miller to Texas for his senior season. It’s not shocking to see a plethora of outgoing transfers with a coaching change like this, though Pitino and his new staff also stocked the cupboard with ten additions of their own.
Significant talent enters the program all over the ball. Xavier adds shooting guards in All Wright from Valparaiso and Malik Moore from Montana while getting some size as well. A few players followed Pitino from New Mexico, while the Musketeers also added Anthony Robinson, a 6-10 center from Virginia and Pape N’Diaye, a 7-footer fresh from UNLV. Former Florida Atlantic forward Tre Carroll will get plenty of attention this season while Alaska native Mier Panoam comes from North Dakota and might play the point.
In its current condition it’s almost impossible to know where the major minutes will come, but the person we’re keeping a close eye on is surprisingly Gabriel Pozzato. He’s a 6-7 forward from Australia through Italy who began his collegiate career as a freshman at Evansville last season. Pozzato didn’t exactly jump off the page but he caught plenty of eyes by averaging 14.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 24 games last year.
This is a roster with scoring and with size that might lack a true point guard, so why are we singling out Pozzato, just one of several new forwards? His raw potential is outstanding and if he makes the expected leap forward as a sophomore he could become one of the best players at Xavier in the coming years. Pozzato has barely scratched the surface and it’s up to Pitino and his staff to get the best out of him.
Now obviously we had to pick someone and Xavier can still have a good season even if Pozzato doesn’t have an otherworldly campaign. This is clearly an important few months for this new coaching staff figuring out the talent on this roster and putting together lineups that will lead to competing in this Big East. Pozzato proved he could be special as a freshman, and while someone like Carroll or Wright could steal the show, we’re getting the feeling special things could come for Pozzato when the games start in November.