Each day<\/a>, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Xavier basketball.<\/p>\nOut goes Sean Miller and in comes Richard Pitino, as the former New Mexico coach levels up to Big East basketball. He\u2019s got a totally new roster to deal with, which might not be the worst thing in the world. While Xavier did win 13 games in conference last season, it sort of seems like a breath of fresh air with the Zach Freemantle era over.<\/p>\n
Like most coaches are forced to nowadays, Pitino\u2019s new squad is totally made up of the transfer portal, and only two guys from UNM \u2013 big men Filip Borvicanin and Jovan Milicevic. Borvicanin seems like the starting power forward, considering he started for the Lobos, but nothing really seems set in stone yet. That\u2019s especially true with 6-8 FAU transfer Tre Carroll and 6-7 Evansville transfer Gabriel Pozzato, who both played well at the mid-major level last year and figure to be very important pieces off the bench. They\u2019ll be right on Borvicanin\u2019s coattails looking for more playing time.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s really the thing about this year\u2019s Xavier basketball squad. There just is no telling who will fit into what roles. Roddie Anderson, a Boise State transfer, figures to be the starting point guard after sitting out a year. I\u2019ve got more on him later in the article.<\/p>\n
On the wings, any combination of All Wright, Malik Messina-Moore, Isaiah Walker, and Mier Panoam makes sense. Considering Pitino went ten deep at New Mexico, it makes sense he wants depth at Xavier. He\u2019s not the type to play 6-7 guys, and while minutes won\u2019t be even, this will almost surely be a 9-10 man rotation.<\/p>\n
The starting center spot is a huge question mark \u2013 but it seems to be between Virginia transfer Anthony Robinson and 7-foot Nevada transfer Papa N\u2019Diaye.<\/p>\n
With all of that being said, it\u2019s an intriguing group of talented players, and even more intriguing when Richard Pitino is the coach. While the question marks will keep Xavier toward the bottom of the middle of the pack in Big East previews, this team could make the NCAA Tournament and even win a game with Pitino leading the way. He\u2019s proven it, and it seems like it\u2019ll be a hungry group on the court ready to prove they belong in the big bad Big East.<\/p>\n
Head coach:\u00a0<\/strong>Richard Pitino (1st season at Xavier, 14th season overall)<\/p>\n2024-25 record:\u00a0<\/strong>22-12 (13-7)<\/p>\n2025 postseason finish:\u00a0<\/strong>Lost to Illinois (86-73) in second round of NCAA Tournament<\/p>\nNotable departures:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Zach Freemantle (16.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 51.7 FG%)<\/li>\n
- Ryan Conwell (16.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.3 APG, 41.3 3P%)<\/li>\n
- Dailyn Swain (11.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 53.2 FG%)<\/li>\n
- Dayvion McKnight (9.6 PPG, 4.2 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.4 SPG)<\/li>\n
- Marcus Foster (7.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 40.2 3P%)<\/li>\n
- Dante Maddox (7.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 41.1 3P%)<\/li>\n
- Jerome Hunter (5.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 50.0 FG%, 53.1 3P%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Notable non-conference games:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- vs. Santa Clara (Nov. 10)<\/li>\n
- at Iowa (Nov. 14)<\/li>\n
- vs. Georgia (Nov. 21 \u2013 Charleston Classic)<\/li>\n
- vs. Clemson OR West Virginia (Nov. 21 \u2013 Charleston Classic)<\/li>\n
- vs. Cincinnati (Dec. 5)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Projected Rotation<\/p>\n
PG: Roddie Anderson III (6-3, 195, Sr.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: Sat out with redshirt<\/p>\n
2023-24 stats: 9.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 36.4 FG% (Boise State)<\/p>\n
SG: Malik Messina-Moore (6-5, 200, Sr.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 12.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 40.9 3P% (Montana)<\/p>\n
SF: Isaiah Walker (6-5, 205, Sr.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 10.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG (Belmont)<\/p>\n
PF: Filip Borvicanin (6-9, 227, Sr.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 5.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.1 APG (New Mexico)<\/p>\n
C: Anthony Robinson (6-10, 252, So.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 3.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.1 APG, 72.1 FG% (Virginia)<\/p>\n
6: All Wright (6-3, 190, So.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 15.5 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.2 RPG, 38.3 3P% (Valpo)<\/p>\n
7: Tre Carroll (6-8, 235, Sr.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 12.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 BPG, 52.3 FG%, 38.8 3P% (FAU)<\/p>\n
8: Mier Panoam (6-2, 200, Jr.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 13.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.4 APG (North Dakota)<\/p>\n
9: Gabriel Pozzato (6-7, 200, So.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 14.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.3 SPG (Evansville)<\/p>\n
10: Jovan Milicevic (6-10, 241, So.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 3.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.4 APG, 45.8 3P% (New Mexico)<\/p>\n
11: Papa N\u2019Diaye (7-0, 230, So.)<\/strong><\/p>\n2024-25 stats: 2.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.1 APG, 1.1 BPG, 61.7 FG% (Nevada)<\/p>\n
Xavier Basketball team MVP: Roddie Anderson III<\/p>\n
What will Roddie Anderson\u2019s role be this season? The former Boise State player was more than serviceable in the Mountain West, so taking a developmental role last year seemed a bit surprising. But it also makes you wonder if he\u2019s lost a step \u2013 or gained a step \u2013 by sitting out one year at Xavier.<\/p>\n
Of course, that was also under Sean Miller, so now, he\u2019ll have to learn the Richard Pitino way. But still, a year of being with power conference guys should give Anderson an edge. And there\u2019s virtually no way he would stay with a new coach if he wasn\u2019t promised the starting point guard role by Pitino. It seems like he\u2019ll be the guy with the ball in his hands for the Musketeers.<\/p>\n
Xavier Basketball make-or-break player: All Wright<\/p>\n
All right, all right, I know what you may be thinking \u2013 is that\u00a0really\u00a0this kid\u2019s name? Well, I\u2019ve got news for you. Get used to it, because he could be a college basketball star.<\/p>\n
Wright came onto the scene last year, first for his name, but second for his play. He lit it up as a freshman sensation at Valparaiso and showed his ability to shoot lights out from three, but also plays super confident and with flair.<\/p>\n
It could also be a challenging season for the sophomore. He\u2019s going from the Missouri Valley to the Big East and will likely be counted on in a massive role. He could be called on to score, playmake, and find his way with a lot of other great talent \u2013 something he didn\u2019t necessarily have to do on Valpo last season.<\/p>\n
It will be a learning year \u2013 but one where there will be many expectations \u2013 and as a sophomore, that\u2019s quite the year ahead for All Wright.<\/p>\n
Key analytic: Assists per game<\/p>\n
This has almost zero to do with Xavier or Pitino\u2019s coaching style at New Mexico. It really just has to do with the fact that of all the guys on this roster, the leader in APG from last year was Roddie Anderson III with 2.9. He also happened to sit out last year, but is going through a coaching change, so how will that affect his playing style?<\/p>\n
Still, not having a true point guard (although Anderson is more than capable) is not how you want to be heading into a season. Xavier has a lot going for them with intriguing transfers \u2013 and many who have multiple years of eligibility left. But the point guard situation seems too questionable to ignore.<\/p>\n
Xavier Basketball 2025-26 projections<\/p>\n
Projected conference finish:\u00a0<\/strong>8th in the Big East<\/p>\nProjected postseason ceiling:\u00a0<\/strong>NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Exit<\/p>\nLike this:<\/p>\n
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