FanPost

Is this Xavier Team For Real?

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

I for one was very surprised when the associated press poll ranked the Xavier Musketeers 12th on Monday. Everyone with any awareness of college basketball knew that X would move up, but jumping 11 spots is no small feat. That then begs the question: Is it deserved?

Reasons the ranking may be inflated:

1 Early in the season, teams that are undefeated can be overvalued. Being undefeated this early in the season looks very nice, but it does not always mean you are a great team. It might just mean that you got hot early.

2 Xavier has not played any teams of superior quality. Many teams that X has played so far seem like they are hovering around the bubble. Although the Michigan win seemed very impressive at the time, their recent performances have been less than stellar (particularly on defense). Dayton, a mid major program, was missing their best player. Finally, the other five teams on our schedule do not make regular tournament appearances. Credit to USC for some solid performances, but they made a name for themselves by beating severely overrated teams.

3 This team is still partially reliant on young players who may falter down the stretch.

Reasons the ranking may be legit:

1 Depth is everything. Although this team is young in some areas, it has the depth to replace a young player having an off night and not miss a beat. This depth may prove critical in a season with enormously inflated foul numbers and an officiating emphasis on less contact.

2 You can only play the teams put in front of you. Xavier came into Thanksgiving with the chance to knock off some well-respected opponents, and left with a ton of question marks surrounding the quality of opponents they faced. Maybe the teams they faced ARE quality wins, and maybe they are just bubble teams. Either way, Xavier absolutely manhandled every team they have played this season. These dominant wins have been against all competent opponents. Missouri and Alabama aren’t necessarily going to turn any heads come tournament time, but they are still power five teams with solid talent.

3 This team is tough. They hustle all 40 minutes. They rebound, play defense, and bring physicality to every aspect of the game. Tough blue collar basketball teams win games that talented white collar basketball teams do not.