After a 17-day layoff due to COVID-19 issues, Xavier's men's basketball team returns to action Friday night (8:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1) at Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse, and one prevailing question will follow the Musketeers.
Will there be rust?
Despite being healthy, Xavier's hasn't played since a Dec. 21 loss at Villanova because its last two scheduled opponents – Connecticut and Georgetown – ran into COVID issues and couldn't play.
As opposed to last season, the difference this time around for Xavier was the team wasn't quarantined and separated from each other. Although the Musketeers were unable to play basketball games, they still had workouts and practices, and they were together, not isolated in different rooms for weeks on end like last season.
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It will likely be hard to fall right back into a rhythm which is why defending and taking care of the basketball are going to be very important against a Butler team that wants to turn the game into a rock fight and slow the pace down.
Xavier has to be patient and can't get flustered if shots aren't falling early. If the Musketeers commit to moving the basketball and get everyone involved in the attack it will help them navigate Friday's return to action.
"We all get in such a rhythm, it's like two days of practice usually lead up to a game, play a game. It's another two days of practice leading up, play a game," Xavier head coach Travis Steele said Thursday during his pre-game press conference. "All of a sudden, you don't play for a few weeks and it's kind of weird, right?
"And you can't lose that edge. I think that's really, really important. Then I think the second thing is you gotta be able to take care of the ball."
Steele went on to say that his team can't force things, they have to take what Butler gives them. The Bulldogs want to play a low-possession game. That means turnovers or bad shots are exactly what Butler wants.
The Game
- Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. on Friday at Hinkle Fieldhouse
- TV/Radio: FS1 with play-by-play from Noah Eagle and analysis from Casey Jacobsen. Byron Larkin and Joe Sunderman will have the radio call on WLW-AM (700). Broadcast is also available on Sirius (84), XM (84) and the SXM App (84).
- Series info: Xavier leads the series 43-24, including a 12-7 advantage since the two teams became conference rivals in the 2013-14 season.
Scouting Report
Xavier Musketeers (11-2, 1-1)
Coach: Travis Steele, fourth season (62-39 overall)
Offense: 75.5 ppg
Defense: 62.0 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Paul Scruggs (G, 6'5", 10.4 ppg)
Jerome Hunter (F, 6'8", 5.2 rpg)
Colby Jones (G, 6'6", 11.5 ppg)
Zach Freemantle (F, 6'9", 8.3 ppg)
Nate Johnson (G, 6'4", 13.2 ppg)
Science of the set play: A look at Xavier's offense through the mind of Travis Steele
Butler Bulldogs (8-5, 1-1)
Coach: LaVall Jordan, fifth season (77-60 overall)
Offense: 62.8 ppg
Defense: 60.8 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Bryce Golden (F, 6'9", 9.7 ppg)
Bryce Nze (F, 6'7", 7.3 ppg)
Aaron Thompson (G, 6'2", 6.9 ppg)
Jair Bolden (G, 6'3", 9.5 ppg)
Jayden Taylor (G, 6'4", 10.5 ppg)
Players to watch
Bryce Nze
The fifth-year senior has missed about half of Butler's games this season due to injury, but Nze's back in the lineup now and Butler's a different team when it has both big men – Nze and Golden – on the floor together. Xavier will have to match Butler's physicality around the rim and keep the Bulldogs off the glass.
Dwon Odom
Odom's been Xavier's best player since Big East play started. His defense has been smothering and his offense has been head-turning. In two conference games, Odom's averaging 16.0 points and he's 14-of-17 shooting. Steele said Thursday that Xavier has to find a way to get him even more playing time going forward.
Keys to the game
Execution, patience
There will likely be some rust that accompanies Xavier's return on Friday. The Musketeers can't get flustered by that or force the issue after a long layoff. Xavier has to execute, play with patience and discipline. As Steele said, the Musketeers need to play with an edge, like a team that's had to sit and think about a poor second-half performance at Villanova nearly three weeks ago.
Rankings
KenPom.com: Xavier (24); Butler (114).
NET: Xavier (22); Butler (139).
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