NCAA Tournament Predictions: 3. Xavier vs. 14. Kennesaw State
3. Xavier (24-8, 15-5/Big East)- Sean Miller arrived as head coach at Xavier prior to this season after exiting Arizona following an FBI investigation into the program and amid NCAA sanctions. It’s been a turbulent ride for the head coach, but now back where he made his coaching name, Miller has picked right up where he left off, pushing this talented Xavier team to the top of the Big East and a place among the nation’s best teams.
This group has a ton of talent, including 6-8 senior forward Zach Freemantle (15.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.9 apg) and Souley Boum (16.8 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.3 rpg). There’s also junior guard Colby Jones (15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.5 apg) and 7-foot center Jack Nunge (14.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg), all of whom can take over a game at any point.
Xavier puts up plenty of points, ranking 10th nationally in scoring offense at 82.1 per game. The Musketeers proved their mettle against a difficult schedule this season and are capable of making a deep tournament run.
14. Kennesaw State (26-8, 15-3/Atlantic Sun)- Making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since becoming a Division I program in 2005, Amir Abdur-Rahim’s Kennesaw State’s Owls held off potential Cinderella Liberty in the A-Sun Finals to punch their ticket.
The Owls are a pesky defensive team, forcing their opponents to commit nearly 15 turnovers per game, while also averaging eight steals per contest. Kennesaw State has a dynamic backcourt in Chris Youngblood (14.7 ppg, 41.5% 3-pt FG), and Terrell Burden (13.5 ppg) that will try to attack Xavier’s perimeter defense.
Kennesaw State will look to slow the pace, get their guards in favorable matchups and force Xavier into silly mistakes defensively. If they can do that, they might have a chance at a first-round upset.
PREDICTION: Xavier
