Back to the start: Trevon, JP, and Sean’s first home game

It was a season that would only end against national power Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen. When Xavier took the floor on the 14th of Novmeber, 2014 they were loaded with experienced talent like seniors Dee Davis and Matt Stainbrook. Backing the four year men was a loaded group with Remy Abell, James Farr, Jalen Reynolds, and Myles Davis all playing significant roles. More pertinent to today though, that game marked the beginning of the Xavier careers of Trevon Bluiett, JP Macura, and Sean O’Mara.

Trevon was an instant starter even on a team loaded with talent. In his very first home game for Xavier, he went for 18/5/2 and didn’t miss a shot from inside the arc or the line. The kid from Indiana was simply butter smooth right out of the gate for Xavier. The one thing the team lacked at that point was a guy who was just born to get buckets. Trevon arrived as that guy, started doing that in his first game, and never looked back.

JP was JP in his first home game. His offensive efficiency was 66 on the game as he went for 7/1/0 on 3-7 from the floor with three turnovers. Did this deter him in his second game? Of course not. He torched LBSU for 17 points in 13 minutes, went 5-9 from the floor, 4-5 from the line, and racked up a 40% usage rate the very second time he stepped on collegiate hardwood. Of his first game Joel said: “He was a little jittery and made some questionable decisions, but his scoring instincts will play at this level.” Remove the jitters and you have JP.

Finally, there comes Sean O’Mara. Something of the forgotten piece of the senior triumvirate at times, O’Mara shone last March and put away Arizona with a beautiful move. Against NAU in his first game, he scored three points on a bucket and a free throw. Since that time, his offensive efficiency has never dipped below 107 for a season. Big Sean may never be the flashiest of players, but he’s been a consistently deft presence in the post for Xavier for the last four years.

These three walk off right now as three keys to some of Xavier’s best teams ever. This is their senior night, a highlight for anyone who has ever played the game. We, and they, hope that the biggest highlights this season are yet to come.