Preview, keys to victory for Xavier Musketeers opener vs. Marist

Xavier men’s basketball begins a new era under head coach Richard Pitino after Sean Miller’s departure to Texas.The Musketeers, with a completely new roster, will open their season against Marist at Cintas Center.Xavier aims to extend its 35-game winning streak in regular-season openers.

The last time the Xavier men’s basketball played a meaningful game at Cintas Center, the Musketeers wrapped up a seven-game winning streak March 8 against Providence to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Just two weeks after that win over Providence, Sean Miller left for Texas. By April, Xavier was formally introducing Richard Pitino as its next head coach and that new era, with a completely flipped roster, will begin Nov. 3 as the Musketeers open the season against Marist at Cintas Center.

This one counts for Xavier men’s basketball

Xavier didn’t hit the panic button after its exhibition loss to Murray State at Cintas Center Oct. 18.

“The game doesn’t count. I had to remind the guys. The season starts Nov. 3,” Richard Pitino said after the exhibition defeat.

Nov. 3 is here, and this one will count as Xavier tries to win its 36th consecutive regular-season opener. Xavier was picked to finish eighth in the Big East, but the time for offseason fodder for fans and prognosticators is over.

Xavier vs. Marist

Tip: Monday, 7:15 p.m., Cintas Center (10,224)

TV/Radio: ESPN+/55KRC

Ratings: Xavier is No. 62 in KenPom and Marist is No. 217.

History: First-ever meeting.

Note: Xavier has won 35 consecutive regular-season openers.

Marist Red Foxes scouting report

Record: 20-10 (13-7 MAAC) in 2024-25

Head coach: John Dunne (96-110 at Marist, eighth season)

Offense: 66 ppg (last season)

Defense: 64.5 ppg (last season)

Overview: After four losing seasons in five years under Dunne, Marist has combined to go 38-23 over the last two seasons. That includes the program’s fifth career 20-plus win season last year when the Red Foxes went 20-10.

Marist was picked to finish fifth in the 13-team MAAC this season.

“He’s (Dunne) built it from the ground up. It’s taken a little time,” Pitino said of Marist Oct. 29. “They’ve gotten better every single year.”

Opposite of Xavier, there is some familiarity within the Marist lineup as the Red Foxes return six of their eight leading scorers from last season.

That lineup is headlined by guards Elijah Lewis and Jadin Colins-Roberts, who were both named to the All-Metro Atlantic Conference preseason teams. Lewis was a second-team selection and Collins-Roberts was a third-team pick.

Projected lineup

(Pos., Height, Stats last season)

Jadin Collins-Roberts (G, 6’1″, 8.3 ppg)

Martin Kawa (G, 6’4″, 2.2 ppg)

Elijah Lewis (G, 6’5″, 11.6 ppg)

Jaden Daughtry (F, 6’7″, 6 ppg)

Jason Schofield (C, 6’10”, 5.5 ppg)

Watch Xavier basketball coach Richard Pitino at Big East Media Day

First-year Xavier men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino speaks about ties to Big East, expectations for the Musketeers at Big East Media Day.

Xavier Musketeers scouting report

Record: 22-12 (13-7 Big East) in 2024-25

Head coach: Richard Pitino (0-0 at Xavier, first season, 247-186 overall)

Offense: 78.1 ppg last season

Defense: 71.6 ppg last season

Projected lineup

(Pos., Height, Stats last season)

Roddie Anderson III (G, 6’3″, DNP)

Malik Messina-Moore (G, 6’5″, 12.6 ppg at Montana)

Filip Borovicanin (F, 6’9″, 5.9 ppg at New Mexico)

Tre Carroll (F, 6’8″, 12.2 ppg at Florida Atlantic)

Anthony Robinson (F/C, 6’10”, 3.6 ppg at Virginia)

Players to watch

Tre Carroll

Carroll was Xavier’s best player in the exhibition loss to Murray State, finishing with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Carroll led Xavier out of an offensive funk in the first half (28.1%) to shoot 44.8% in the second half with 44 total points in a comeback effort. He did it by effectively attacking the glass. We’ll see early this season if Carroll, the Most Improved Player in the American Athletic Conference last season, will be the go-to guy on Xavier’s offense.

Anthony Robinson

Robinson electrified Cintas Center against Murray State with a few big dunks, including a transition slam. However, the Virginia transfer played just 19 minutes due to foul trouble.

Xavier’s defense needs Robinson’s rim protection to be effective, so he’ll need to stay out of foul trouble in the season opener.

Keys to a Xavier victory over Marist

Xavier must avoid costly turnovers against Marist

Keeping turnovers low is a key in every game, but Xavier committed 19 turnovers in its closed exhibition against Toledo, according to Pitino, which offset a good shooting performance from the Musketeers. Xavier coughed it up 14 times against Murray State.

It’s especially important Nov. 3 against a Marist team that prides itself on defense. Last season, Marist was one of the worst offensive teams in the country but still won 20 games behind a defense that ranked No. 23 in KenPom in effective field goal percentage and No. 18 in offensive rebounds allowed. The Red Foxes were also No. 6 in defending shots from 2-point range.

Will Xavier shoot better against Marist?

Credit the lackluster Murray State performance to first-game jitters inside the Cintas Center. Will Xavier’s offense be more effective with a few exhibition contests under its belt?

Xavier went just 2-of-15 from 3-point range against Murray State. Expect the Musketeers to shoot it at a higher clip this time around as they try to get guys like Malik Messina-Moore and Jovan Milicevic going from the perimeter.

Also, keep an eye out for guard All Wright off the bench. Pitino said he told Wright and Isaiah Walker they should’ve played more against Murray State. Wright shot 38.3% from 3-point range at Valparaiso last season.

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