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Xavier Musketeers (0-0; 0-0) vs. IUPUI Jaguars (0-0, 0-0)

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Cintas Center | Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: FS2

Radio: 550 WKRC (link)

Live Chat

Live Stats

GoXavier.com Preview

The Athletic: 5 Burning Questions

Enquirer: Game Preview



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The Setting

Xavier opens the 2018-2019 season playing host to the IUPUI Jaguars at the Cintas Center. Xavier returns just four players with significant game experience in a Musketeers uniform while adding three Graduate Transfers, including the reigning Division II Player of the year, Zach Hankins. Finally, Travis Steele makes his official debut as Head Coach of the Xavier Musketeers (with new Assistants Jonas Hayes, Ben Johnson, and Dante Jackson).

IUPUI enters its 5th Season under the direction of Coach Jason Gardner (former Indiana Mr. Basketball and National Champion Runner-up with Arizona). As a player, Jason Garnder won 107 games in four years. However, his IUPUI teams have never posted a winning record with him as the helm. IUPUI's last winning season was 2010-2011. They were recently predicted to finish 6th in the Horizon League.

Players to Watch

Xavier: Graduate transfers Zach Hankins, Ryan Welage, and Kyle Castlin are expected to make their debuts along with Freshman Keonte Kennedy and Dontarius James. How Goodin's shoulder looks, and how Hankins will adapt to Division I post play figure to be two of the most watched aspects of the game. Naji Marshall and Paul Scruggs return and hope to build on impressive Freshman campaigns. Tyrique Jones will be tasked with providing starters minutes in the paint. Quentin Goodin is not expected to be ready for the opener.

IUPUI: Camron Justice (KY Mr. Basketball 2015) is the Jags primary scorer having transferred from Vanderbilt, while DJ McCall is their best defender. Evan Hall will defend the post with 7-1 Ahmed Ismail. Freshman Forward Brandon Kenyon figures to have major minutes off the bench.

Last Game:

Xavier posted a 98-69 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan on November 1, 2018 (Link)

IUPUI defeated Central State (OH) 86-52 on October 29, 2018 (Link)