Big East Media Day

[Xudash]

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/xaviersports/2021/10/20/big-east-media-day-brings-renewed-expectations-xavier-basketball/8535650002/

Travis takes a lot of heat, and probably well deserved at this point, but it certainly appears as though his players like him and that he knows how to build a cohesive culture.

Frankly, the stakes haven't been this big on Victory Parkway since Xavier first went about waking Xavier basketball back up with Bob Staak.

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

Frankly, the stakes haven't been this big on Victory Parkway since Xavier first went about waking Xavier basketball back up with Bob Staak.

It’s looking like a good season for Xavier.

Villanova tabbed to win Big East by conference coaches - Associated Press – October 19, 2021

NEW YORK -- The AP fourth-ranked Villanova Wildcats were the unanimous choice to win the conference in a preseason coaches poll released Tuesday.

1. Villanova
2. UConn
3. Xavier
4. St. John's
5. Seton Hall
6. Butler
7. Providence
8. Creighton
9. Marquette
10. Georgetown
11. DePaul

Villanova’s Gillespie Named BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year - BigEast.com - October 19, 2021

The 2021-22 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team includes two players from Xavier. Guard Paul Scruggs is a unanimous choice and is joined by teammate Zach Freemantle. Last season, Scruggs averaged 14.0 points and ranked first in the BIG EAST with a 5.7 assist average. Last year, Freemantle shared the BIG EAST Most Improved Player award with St. John’s Julian Champagnie. Freemantle, a 6-9 forward, emerged as a prime contributor, averaging 16.1 points, which ranked fifth in the league. He led all conference rebounders with an 8.9 mark in all games and had a league-leading 9.5 in BIG EAST play.

Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Nate Watson, Providence, C, Gr., 6-10, 260, Portsmouth, Va.*
Julian Champagnie, St. John’s, G-F, Jr., 6-8, 215, Brooklyn, N.Y.*
Jared Rhoden, Seton Hall, G-F, Sr., 6-6, 210, Baldwin, N.Y.
Paul Scruggs, Xavier, G, Sr., 6-4, 196, Indianapolis, Ind.*
Zach Freemantle, Xavier, F, Jr., 6-9, 216, Teaneck, N.J.

College basketball No. 1-358 rankings: Preseason countdown concludes with top 68 teams for 2021-22 season – Matt Norlander, CBS – October 14, 2021

25. Xavier
The Big East is too well-rounded not to have two schools in the top 25. Given how the Musketeers bring back nine guys, then welcome in C Jack Nunge from Iowa and PF Jerome Hunter from IU, this is a fairly appealing roster with a second-weekend-in-March ceiling. There are eight returnees who put up averages between 10.0 and 32.7 minutes. It should by far be Travis Steele's best team, and he knows it. The success will likely start with shooting guard Paul Scruggs, but I remain a KyKy Tandy fan. Prototypically fun Big East point guard. X has size too; five players between 6-8 and 7-0 will get run. Expect Steele and his staff to roll out a variety of looks to their advantage, and in doing so, reliably use at least 10 players consistently. X hasn't had an NCAA Tournament team since Chris Mack left for Louisville. That changes in 2022.

Xavier Musketeers’ Five-year Scholarship Chart - VerbalCommits.com

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[gtmoBlue]

scruggs...been 30 years in the BE.

[Novachap]

From the Phila Inquirer:

As a younger guy, Collin Gillespie seemed like an older soul, at least in basketball terms. Now officially an old guy, since 22 is practically elderly in college basketball terms, Gillespie elicits groans of respect from opposing Big East coaches as he prepares for his fifth season of college hoops.

“I feel like Gillespie was at my wedding,” said Providence coach Ed Cooley on Tuesday at Big East Media day at Madison Square Garden.

“He could do the scouting reports by now,” said Xavier coach Travis Steele.


.... Of the 10 opposing Big East head coaches, only three even had their current jobs before Gillespie got to Villanova: Cooley at Providence, Greg McDermott at Creighton, and Kevin Willard at Seton Hall. A couple more got there the same year, 2017-18, so they haven’t done their job without Gillespie on their scouting report.

Those are some funny quotes!

[Xudash]

From the Phila Inquirer:

As a younger guy, Collin Gillespie seemed like an older soul, at least in basketball terms. Now officially an old guy, since 22 is practically elderly in college basketball terms, Gillespie elicits groans of respect from opposing Big East coaches as he prepares for his fifth season of college hoops.

“I feel like Gillespie was at my wedding,” said Providence coach Ed Cooley on Tuesday at Big East Media day at Madison Square Garden.

“He could do the scouting reports by now,” said Xavier coach Travis Steele.


.... Of the 10 opposing Big East head coaches, only three even had their current jobs before Gillespie got to Villanova: Cooley at Providence, Greg McDermott at Creighton, and Kevin Willard at Seton Hall. A couple more got there the same year, 2017-18, so they haven’t done their job without Gillespie on their scouting report.

Those are some funny quotes!

Cooley - now that’s funny. Amazing about his tenure versus the coaches.

[Xuperman]

My list of the most pissed off post media day.

1- Easily Butler's PG Thompson.......WTF? Thanks a lot because this guy now has all the motivation needed to make most of us miserable.

2- Whaley. Sanogo gets props over Whaley?

3- Nze. What more does he have to do to get some love?

4- AJ Reeves. This guy is going to explode this year....book it! Next level possibilities.

5- Polley. Another guy poised to put up huge scoring numbers. My 6th man favorite.

6- Justin Lewis. Going to be Shaka's featured guy. Next level good.

7- Nate Johnson......get the popcorn ready.


Any additions?