Xavier's X-factor? Health

Good morning! Big 12 presidents heard the UConn pitch on Monday, but according to CBS Sports, nothing’s imminent. Six are in favor, two are against, and eight are undecided. Still plenty of time for UConn fans to decide what miles card would be best for all those trips.

1. It’s not talent, it’s health for Xavier

Sean Miller’s second season at Xavier was littered with injuries that led to offensive and defensive inconsistency. So it was no surprise that a 16-18 record and tying for 8th in the Big East pushed him to overhaul the roster for 2024-25.

The only starter back from last season is guard Dayvion McKnight, a 6-1 senior who was Xavier’s most consistent player last season (12.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.8 apg). He’s got help now.

Bring on guards Ryan Conwell (16.6 ppg and 40.7% on 3s at Indiana State), Marcus Foster (17 ppg at Furman) and Dante Maddox Jr. (15.6 ppg and 40.2% on 3s at Toledo), plus burly big man John Hugley IV (113.7 ORtg at Oklahoma) and it’s a roster that’ll contend for the top half of the league — and will certainly push for an NCAA Tournament berth.

In all, it’s a deep bench with options.

Jeff Goodman and former Xavier star — and new Field of 68 analyst Kenny Frease — discuss how the new additions are essential to the Musketeers thriving this season.

McKnight and the new additions are great. Perhaps even more important is the return of two essential Xavier players who missed all of 2023-24: forward Zach Freemantle and forward Jerome Hunter.

Provided he’s healthy, Freemantle will contend for All-Big East honors. The 6-9 senior is a terrific scorer (15.2 ppg in 2022-23) and rebounder (his 8.1 rpg led the team) who’s a matchup nightmare for most big men because of his shot-making and mobility. He’s expected to be fully healthy for this season.

Hunter, a 6-8 senior who started 15 games once Freemantle got injured in 2022-23, can guard 2-3 positions and does everything else a team might need to win. He also missed all of last season and is recovering from a torn Achilles.

He was cleared for non-contact activities in July. Miller expects him to be ready to fully practice next week.

But wait, there’s more!

Cam’Ron Fletcher, a Florida State transfer who tore his ACL last season, and played just 17 games over the last two seasons, represents one last piece who can add defensive versatility and size. A former 4-star recruit who started his college career at Kentucky, Fletcher is the final piece, and one Miller may not need to add until Xavier really needs him.

"I look at more of October/November where he'll be cleared and be like everyone else. That's probably optimistic," Miller told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "In terms of functionally, he looks the part. He's more and more confident every day, he's worked hard in the weight room and his strength is maybe ahead of where we wanted it to be. We're gonna air on the side of caution so that his best days are ahead of him, even beyond this year."

The upside is there. There will be questions about Xavier’s defense, and which lineups are most effective. But Miller’s track record is superb, especially when he’s got talent. This year certainly qualifies.

2. Bonnies add a pro, Illinois State’s big day + more commits

Somedays, the recruiting news just pours in. And it’s not always around the Power 5 conferences.

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