Xavier was a finish away from beating Gonzaga, Duke and Indiana.
The hallmark of a good team is the ability to put other good teams away. That's how you win big games and build a postseason résumé.
Xavier had not showcased that ability prior to Saturday night's win over West Virginia.
"It's our best win of the season. It was an important game for our team," Xavier head coach Sean Miller said. "We as a group did a great job of fighting to the end."
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It wasn't exactly the performance Xavier needed, but it was close. The Musketeers have to figure out the defensive piece. West Virginia got way too many clean looks and easy points around the basket.
But when it was crunch time and the game hung in the balance, Xavier toughened up, allowed 31 points in the second half, and didn't allow a field goal over the final four and a half minutes.
Finally finishing a game like it did on Saturday gives Xavier "that inner confidence you want to have," said Miller. "And when you've done it and you've passed that test you're more sure of yourself moving forward. I think today's game in a lot of ways kind of sets the tone for our continued future and our path. Because clearly we're going to be in a lot of games like this and you can rely on the lessons that we learned tonight."
The game was tied 70-70. Xavier outscored the Mountaineers 14-4 the rest of the way.
That finishing touch is something Xavier will need this season. It's important that it arrived on Saturday and the Musketeers didn't wait until later in December or January to forge that piece of the puzzle.
Souley Boum hits 2,000 career points
Boum scored 16 of his game-high 23 points in the second half and he did it while playing the entire second half with three fouls. He never picked up a fourth foul despite playing 18 high-intensity minutes in the second half.
Boum, who joined the 2,000-point club on Saturday, leads Xavier in scoring (16.6) and he's shooting 51% from 3-point range and 87% from the foul line. He's tied for seventh in scoring in the Big East Conference.
Boum's on a new team, with a new coaching staff, and a new system, and he's really playing point guard for the first time in his career. Coming over from UTEP, he's facing tougher competition, and at no point through nine games has he looked out of place.
"He's exceeded my expectations because it usually takes the month of November and sometimes even towards Christmas for any new player to settle in. But his attitude is amazing. He's really an unselfish person," said Miller.
The one stat Miller knew would translate is Boum's ability to draw fouls and get to the line.
"If you follow his career, he's always gotten fouled and he shoots an incredible percentage at the line," Miller said. "If you think about what he's done really well for us, that's what he's done. He gets to the line, he draws fouls and he converts. It's a real good weapon for our team because as we get in close games, he has the ball in his hands, both of those things really help you win."
Boum made seven foul shots in the closing minutes to put away West Virginia.
"I wasn't even thinking about it," Boum said about reaching 2,000 points. "I knew it was in the air. I didn't even think I got it tonight. I totally forgot about it. I was really trying to win the game."
Jerome Hunter's role
In the press conference after the game, Jack Nunge was asked what changed defensively for Xavier in the second half.
His answer was Jerome Hunter.
"He came in, he picked us up defensively. That was huge for us," Nunge said.
Hunter, who's in his second season with the Musketeers after transferring from Indiana, has been hit or miss this season. But in the games where he really adheres to his role and executes his job, there's a clear difference for this Xavier team.
On Saturday night, Hunter was committed to defense and rebounding, and because of his effort and the way he battled for positioning, he chipped in six points with five rebounds.
Zach Freemantle was struggling defensively. Every time Freemantle was in the game, West Virginia attacked him with post feeds and ball screens and Freemantle allowed points.
So Miller went with Hunter, who played 13 minutes in the second half to Freemantle's eight.
"Jerome being in the game helped us a lot," Boum said of the second-half effort. "We just locked in and became a more connected group out there."
The development of role players who care about defense and rebounding might be the single most important thing for Xavier. There are going to be nights when Xavier needs its bench to step up. Hunter and freshman Desmond Claude are at the top of that list right now, and both impacted the game in a positive way on Saturday.
If someone's not playing well, Xavier has to be able to rely ‒ with confidence ‒ on their replacement.
Nunge turned it on in the second half
The Jack Nunge who played in the second half against West Virginia was dominant, efficient, and game-changing.
In the closing minutes to help Xavier secure the win, Nunge blocked two shots, hit a massive 3-pointer, and pulled down some important rebounds.
"Jack Nunge in the second half was a completely different player," said Miller. "He impacted the game rebounding.
"... If you would have judged Jack at halftime, he wasn't playing at the same level as he did in the second half. I think he's one of the best big guys in the country and that's what we need from him."
No one else on either team had more than six rebounds. Nunge had 14. He owned the glass. If he continues to take ownership of the boards like that, rebounding won't be as big of a question for the Musketeers.
The Shootout is coming
Over the last two weeks, Xavier's played five games against teams with an average overall ranking of 24th in KenPom. It's been a brutal stretch in terms of competition.
Now, the Crosstown Shootout is up next.
"I think our team needs a week off. I know who we play the next game but we really, the next few days, will benefit tremendously from not having to play a game," Miller said.
Xavier travels to Cincinnati on Saturday at 3 p.m.
"We have to have a great week to prepare," said Miller. "I think the responsibility that we all have is for us to be as prepared as we can be. And be fearless in our approach towards competing."
Miller said with the Shootout they can't afford to regret anything in their effort or preparation.
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