Head coach: Chris Mack, 8th year at Xavier (186-90 overall, 186-90 at Xavier)
Brass tacks: 21-13 overall, 9-9 in Big East
Bona fides: Seventh in Big East
Signature wins: Feb. 4 at Creighton, 82-80; March 9 vs. Butler, 62-57; March 16 vs. Maryland, 76-65; March 18 vs. Florida State, 91-66
Lamentable losses: Dec. 7 at Colorado, 68-66; Feb. 22 at Seton Hall, 71-64; March 1 vs. Marquette, 95-84
Key players: G Trevon Bluiett (18.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.0 apg); G J.P. Macura (14.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 81.0 FT percentage); G Malcolm Bernard (6.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Strengths: The Musketeers are one of the best remaining rebounding teams in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 37.4 boards per game. … Bluiett is one of the best two-way players in college hoops, and he could give the Wildcats fits. … They know Sean Miller inside-out.
Weaknesses: Xavier is not one of the best shooting teams left out there, and none of their two big scorers is particularly effective from the field. … Finishing .500 in conference play is not a particularly stand-out résumé. … The Musketeers dropped six straight late in the season, revealing weaknesses all over the court, particularly after the loss of Edmond Sumner.
The way to San Jose: The Musketeers might have the best two tourney wins so far, with a very good win over Maryland and a huge win over Florida State, a 25-point, second-round beatdown that opened many eyes.
