Shootaround

College Basketball's Ten Biggest Breakout Stars For 2012-13 SBN College Basketball

Despite playing on a team featuring Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons, the stocky Wells still managed to average 10.2 points per game as a freshman in 2011-12. Expect that number to go up as he becomes Chris Mack's feature attraction this season. Even if he fails to establish himself as a more legitimate outside threat, there are few defenders in the Atlantic 10 - or anywhere, really - capable of keeping Wells from getting to, and finishing around the basket.

SBN's Mike Rutherford basically echos Brad's assertion from yesterday (you did read it, right?) that Dez is very, very good as he is and has a chance to be something special as his game continues to develop. There are a couple of other names on the list that Xavier fans will probably recognize from recent opponents.

Bracket announced for 2012 Anaheim Classic

Tournament highlights:

• ESPNU will air first-round action between Pacific vs. Xavier at 2 p.m. and Rice vs. Georgia Tech at 9 p.m.
• ESPN2 will carry the additional first-round games featuring Drexel vs. Saint Mary’s at 4:30 p.m. and Drake vs. Cal at 11:30 p.m.
• Six of the eight teams advanced to 2012 postseason play, including Cal, Saint Mary’s and Xavier in the NCAA Championship

Additional information, including travel packages, can be found on the Anaheim Classic website

Click through that link to get a look at the whole tournament. A Xavier win would put them in the 3:30pm game on Friday, so plan your post-Thanksgiving shopping accordingly.

The Game Has Not Been The Same Jay Bilas

I have always enjoyed my time in the game, but I have never enjoyed it more than when I was broadcasting games in the Atlantic 10 in the mid to late 1990’s. Every time I had Xavier game, I looked forward to spending time at practice with Musketeer coach Skip Prosser, whom I considered to be one of the true good guys in the game.

I'm not a huge fan of Bilas, but he is one of the many people in basketball who mourned Coach Skip Prosser's passing five years ago today. Most people hesitate to speak ill of the dead, but you couldn't find anyone who had anything bad to say about Prosser while he was still coaching. It's a shame that the series between Xavier and Wake that bore his name is on hiatus. This tribute video from 2010 barely scratches the surface of what Coach Prosser meant to the Xavier program.

And now, for something completely different...

Coach Mack's stone face the whole time really sells it for me, but I also love that the little girl keeps glancing at her ma to make sure she's doing the right thing. Enjoy.