If you’re a Xavier men’s basketball fan, the last month has been bliss as the Musketeers returned to the court with a revamped roster under second-year head coach Richard Pitino.
In October, Xavier won all three of its exhibition games in different ways. In November, Xavier has done what a team with NCAA Tournament aspirations should do against its buy-game opponents, winning by an average of 37.7 points after Tuesday’s 100-55 blowout of Detroit Mercy.
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But now, the rubber is about to meet the road. Four of Xavier’s next five games are against another high-major program, beginning with an SEC test against Mississippi State in the Greenbrier Tip-Off in the cozy confines of Colonial Hall in West Virginia.
“We’re gonna really learn a lot about ourselves,” Pitino said.
In an era full of change, Josh Hubbard has been a constant in Starkville. In Monday’s win over Jackson State, Hubbard became the fourth player in program history to score 2,000-plus points. He’s only 142 points away from becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer.
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Last season, Hubbard ranked 10th in the nation in scoring at 22.1 points per game. In three buy games thus far, Hubbard is shooting 56.3% from 3-point range and is averaging 18 points and five assists.
Whether it’s slowing down Hubbard or making sure Mississippi State’s complementary pieces don’t beat you, Xavier will have its hands full against a team that has averaged 95.3 points through three games while shooting 52.4% from the field.
Xavier wants to improve on its shooting percentages from 3-point range and at the charity stripe, but the Musketeers are getting to the rim and finishing at a high percentage.
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Xavier is No. 7 in KenPom in two-point shooting and boasts the seventh-tallest lineup in college basketball. That size can be advantage against a smaller Mississippi State rotation.
We’ll see if Xavier gets Mike Nwoko involved early in the post. The LSU transfer is shooting 73.9% so far this season, helping Xavier rack up 160 points in the paint over three games.
Xavier is off to a stellar defensive start, holding three consecutive opponents under 30% shooting. They’ll try to force misses against Mississippi State, but the Muskies need to make them one-and-done possessions. The Bulldogs haven’t missed a lot, but when they do, they’re creating second-chance opportunities with 48 offensive rebounds thus far. Mississippi State’s offensive rebounding percentage is fourth in the country, per KenPom.
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Xavier has had two great games on the glass, but Eastern Michigan’s size and physicality led to a 39-33 advantage on the glass Nov. 6. Xavier won’t be able to afford those lapses in the rebounding battle.
Tip: 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13 at Colonial Hall at The Greenbrier Resort (1,200)
TV/Radio: FS1/700 WLW
Ratings: Xavier is No. 40 in KenPom and Mississippi State is No. 55.
History: Mississippi State has won four of five all-time matchups. Xavier’s lone win over Mississippi State was in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament in Orlando, Florida.
Record: 3-0
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Head coach: Chris Jans (79-59 at Mississippi State, fifth season)
Offense: 95.3 PPG
Defense: 63 PPG
Overview: Like Xavier, Mississippi State is 3-0 after three buys games. The Bulldogs allowed 88 points in their season-opening win over Tennessee Tech. They responded by giving up a combined 101 points on just 32.7% shooting (35-for-107) in blowout wins over Northwestern State and Jackson State.
(Position, Height, Stats)
Josh Hubbard (G, 6’0″, 18 PPG)
RJ Johnson (G, 6’4″, 8.7 PPG)
Kimani Hamilton (F, 6’8″, 8.7 PPG)
Thomas Bassong (F, 6’8″, 10.7 PPG)
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ND Okafor (C, 6’10”, 2 PPG)
Record: 3-0
Head coach: Richard Pitino (18-18 at Xavier, second season)
Offense: 91 PPG
Defense: 53.3 PPG
(Position, Height, Stats)
Tru Washington (G, 6’4″, 9.7 PPG)
Ruben Dominguez (G, 6’6″, 6.7 PPG)
Filip Borovicanin (F, 6’9″, 7.7 PPG)
Jovan Milicevic (F, 6’10”, 10.3 PPG)
Mike Nwoko (C, 6’10”, 12 PPG)
It’ll be interesting to see what the environment is like in such a small arena. Xavier’s defensive intensity and height advantage carries the Musketeers to a 4-0 start: Xavier 75, Mississippi State 70
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier gets tough early-season test against Mississippi State
