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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 26-6;
14-2 in A-10 (1st/West)
Postseason: Lost to Oklahoma 78-65 in the second round of the NCAA West Region.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: West 18.5
Rebs: West 9.8
Assists: Chalmers 4.2
FG: West 53.6%
3pt: Sato 41.5%
FT: West 76.8%
01-02 Stats:
Xavier | A-10
KEY LOSSES
Kevin Frey | 8.5 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | L. Chalmers | Senior
G | Romain Sato | Junior
F | David West| Senior
F | David Young | Senior
C | Will Caudle | Soph
Player to Watch
David West
Senior Forward
Kept NBA waiting, but will be first senior selected in next June's draft.
DATE TO REMEMBER
The Musketeers go to Cincinnati for their annual civil war, a game that means almost as much to both teams as the season's last game, whether it be in the NIT or, as is possible with this Xavier team, the Final Four.
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XAVIER MUSKETEERS
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Oh my goodness, the Musketeers could be even better this season than they were last year. And they were loaded last year, winning 26 games and sweeping the A-10 regular-season and tournament titles. Last year Xavier had David West and a bunch of scoring wings. This season it has West, a bunch of scoring wings -- and improved depth in the interior. Can you say Final Four? Well, how about this four? First is the 6-9 West, the two-time league player of the year and a prime candidate for the national award this season. Then, 6-5 Romain Sato (16.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg), whose exceptional talents might have escaped the general populace but not NBA scouts. Then, 6-0 Lionel Chalmers (12 ppg, 4.2 apg), the scoring point guard. Finally, 6-5 David Young (eight ppg), who handles a lot of the dirty work. Add to them a group of newcomers headlined by 6-9 Will Caudle and 6-10 Randy Holbrook, who will compete to start at center -- allowing West to move to power forward. Mix in some more depth in the backcourt, and you've got maybe the best A-10 team in years.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
West is doing things few players have done in the A-10. He is the first player in 17 years to win the league rebounding title three years in a row, and could become the first ever to make it a four-year sweep. He is the fourth player to win back-to-back player of the year honors, and the seventh to sweep regular-season and tournament MVP honors. He's an NBA player who decided to spend another year in college, is what he is.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
With the loss of starting power forward Kevin Frey (8.5 ppg), either Caudle or Holbrook will have to be ready to provide significant minutes. Both should, since neither newcomer is a green rookie. Caudle spent last season with the team as a partial qualifier, and Holbrook was a 10.6-point scorer in junior college.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Xavier has everything a team needs to compete for the national championship. A lot of things have to go right - health, mainly - but if it does, Xavier will be in that select group of teams that will enter the NCAA Tournament with a legitimate shot at the title.
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