2023-2024 Starting Lineup

[D-West & PO-Z]

One (or even both) may even be a slightly better defender than Boum.

I hope both of them are more than a little better defensively, but I don't know for sure.

I also agree it will be hard for either of them to replicate what Boum did offensively for X, but I will be happy to see it if they do!

[XU_Lou]

Per Rothstein:

Xavier's Zach Freemantle (foot) has been cleared for non-contact work and is on track to be fully cleared for all basketball related activities at some point in July, per Sean Miller. Averaged 15.2 PPG and 8.1 RPG last season prior to injury.

[noteggs]

I think Des will be in the starting lineup. Don’t know about competition from this summer league, but looks like he is poised to take the sophomore jump.

https://twitter.com/jakespegal270/st...shJKowj_nNzfHg

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

I think Des will be in the starting lineup. Don’t know about competition from this summer league, but looks like he is poised to take the sophomore jump.

https://twitter.com/jakespegal270/st...shJKowj_nNzfHg

Much better range than we saw last year. But he didn't just develop that shot in the last couple of months so with the added confidence of a returning veteran and a bigger role in the offense, we should see a huge step forward from Dez.

We seem to have solid, solid backcourt depth. I don't know what we have up front, particularly if Free doesn't return to form or if he is re-injured. That, to me, is an obvious Achilles heel.

[94GRAD]

Much better range than we saw last year. But he didn't just develop that shot in the last couple of months so with the added confidence of a returning veteran and a bigger role in the offense, we should see a huge step forward from Dez.

We seem to have solid, solid backcourt depth. I don't know what we have up front, particularly if Free doesn't return to form or if he is re-injured. That, to me, is an obvious Achilles heel.

I thought it was his ankle?

[UCGRAD4X]

All I got to see was the highlights from the Bahama games which only showed the offense makes. It looked like they have a little more outside shooting than I expected. Of course, I didn't get to see all of the misses. I'm curious how the defense was and how what you saw affects your thought on who the starting five will be and who will be in for major minutes off the bench. Obviously a lot depends on Free and Hunter's availability.

[sirthought]

I honestly think it's too soon to say. We just haven't seen enough of the new guys playing together with the team. I'm guessing Claude will start.

Freemantle if he's healthy. Craft and Hunter are question marks but wouldn't surprise me just because they have experience in the system.

[XUMIOH12]

McKnight/Olivari/Claude will start. Healthy Freemantle and Hunter would seemingly be the other 2 starters (could still see a healthy Hunter as 6th man though too). No Hunter, but healthy Freemantle then I see Ousmane/Freemantle as the starting frontcourt.

[xavierj]

McKnight/Olivari/Claude will start. Healthy Freemantle and Hunter would seemingly be the other 2 starters (could still see a healthy Hunter as 6th man though too). No Hunter, but healthy Freemantle then I see Ousmane/Freemantle as the starting frontcourt.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nzeh start. He was the best big man in the Bahamas and it wasn’t that close. Double double in the last game (10 and 15) and he can shoot and guard the 3 to the 5. He is going to be the next Xavier great big man. Grabs every rebound and rebounds out of his area. He is Sean’s guy as Sean was the one who found him. I think it’s also possible Lazar starts if he is as good as scouts are saying.

[IM4X]

This team certainly appears to be one that’ll have a much deeper bench than last year. It’s not far fetched to think any of the scholarship players on this roster could potentially play significant minutes this coming season. That certainly couldn’t have been said about last season’s roster. Still, the level of competition X faced in the Bahamas was no where near what it will be in the Big East.

More quality players could mean Sean will givie more significant minutes to the 3rd and 4th and 5th player off the bench. Last year, all 5 starters averaged over 28 minutes a game (Boum averaged over 35). I wouldn’t be surprised if only 1 starter this season averaged more than 28 minutes a game.

If all players are healthy at the start of the season, I can’t imagine the starting five to be anything other than Free, McNight, Olivari, Claude and Hunter with the next 5 off the bench all potentially getting significant minutes.