WASHINGTON, D.C. ‒ Friday night marks the start of a new chapter in the Big East Conference for Xavier's men's basketball team.
Sean Miller played in the Big East at Pittsburgh. He followed the conference growing up in Pennsylvania.
Now, Xavier's head coach finally gets to coach in the Big East.
"I just think there's a certain level of toughness that exists in Big East play," said Miller, whose Musketeers open conference play Friday night at Georgetown. "I think that if you love this game you want to play against the best, and I think that this conference offers each of us, coaches, players, that very challenge right there."
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The Hoyas went winless in Big East action last season. Georgetown's 5-6 this season, coming off a loss to Syracuse to wrap up non-conference play.
Xavier's won four straight. The Musketeers are 8-3, and regardless of what happened last season, this is a Georgetown team that Xavier can't afford to overlook.
The Hoyas are essentially playing with an entirely new team, a starting lineup comprised of transfers from LSU, Duquesne, Arizona State, Maryland and UConn.
It's a starting lineup that has four guys averaging in double figures, led by Primo Spears, Brandon Murray, Jay Heath and Qudus Wahab.
Georgetown plays with size, and the Hoyas will press and try to turn Xavier over.
Xavier has to do a good job on the glass, take care of the basketball, and really share it like they've been doing.
Xavier's got some positive momentum right now heading into conference play. The Musketeers need to play with toughness on the road to keep it rolling.
"You talk about getting better as the year goes on. You can't do that in this conference unless you have that will and inner toughness, and I think that's something our guys are getting better at as well," said Miller.
The Game
- Tipoff: 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Capital One Arena
- TV/Radio: FS1 with play-by-play from Scott Grahamand analysis fromTarik Turner. Byron Larkin and Joe Sunderman will have the radio call on WLW-AM (700).
- Series info: Xavier leads the all-time series 17-6.
Scouting report
Xavier Musketeers (8-3)
Coach: Sean Miller, 18th season (430-159 overall)
Offense: 83.2 ppg
Defense: 72.5 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Adam Kunkel (G, 6'4", 10.3 ppg)
Zach Freemantle (F, 6'9", 13.3 ppg)
Colby Jones (G, 6'6", 14.9 ppg)
Souley Boum (G, 6'3", 17.0 ppg)
Jack Nunge (F, 7'0", 15.3 ppg)
Georgetown Hoyas (5-6)
Coach: Patrick Ewing, sixth season (73-89 overall)
Offense: 73.9 ppg
Defense: 74.2 ppgProjected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Primo Spears (G, 6'3", 17.2 ppg)
Brandon Murray (G, 6'5", 15.1 ppg)
Jay Heath (G, 6'3", 14.4 ppg)
Qudus Wahab (C, 6'11", 10.3 ppg)
Akok Akok (F, 6'10", 7.6 rpg)
Players to watch
Primo Spears
It will be important for Xavier to try and make life uncomfortable for Spears, who leads the Hoyas in scoring. Spears draws a lot of fouls and he leads Georgetown in assists. He really makes the offense go.
Adam Kunkel
Kunkel's been relatively quiet in Xavier's last two games. He's a guy who can really thrive on the road, and if he's on his game offensively it usually translates to the Musketeers having a good night.
Key to the game
Sharing
Xavier's one of the best passing teams in the country. The Musketeers rank fourth in the nation in assist rate, assisting on 68% of their made field goals.
If Xavier's ball has energy and the Musketeers are working to find the open man, it should be hard for the Hoyas to stop them.
Rankings
KenPom: Xavier (30), Georgetown (165)
NET: Xavier (40), Georgetown (244)
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