Scouting report: No. 16 Xavier hosts DePaul in search of revenge, 20th win
After consecutive losses at Butler and Marquette, Xavier's men's basketball team will attempt to get back on the winning side Saturday at home against DePaul, a group that ended Xavier's 11-game winning streak a month ago.
This is the first time Xavier's lost consecutive games since late November in Portland.
Saturday the Musketeers are searching for their 20th regular-season win, something Xavier hasn't accomplished since the 2017-18 season.
Saturday would be an ideal time to accomplish that. DePaul shocked Xavier at Wintrust Arena and the Blue Demons won a game since that upset.
DePaul's lost seven in a row. Xavier should be eager to correct that performance at home, and considering that Xavier's last two losses have been by a combined three points, the Musketeers will likely be an inspired group.
The biggest question on Xavier's side is the health and availability of freshman Desmond Claude, who missed the trip to Marquette because of a non-COVID illness, and that lack of reliable depth played a role in the outcome.
"Desmond is feeling a lot better, so that's the most important thing," Xavier head coach Sean Miller said Friday during his pre-game press conference. "We're going to know more probably tomorrow game day whether he'll be able to play or not."
Miller said Claude will be more of a game-time decision. Depending on whether Claude can play, Xavier could be in the same situation it was in against Marquette with essentially a five-man starting rotation and then KyKy Tandy and Cesare Edwards filling in as needed.
Xavier already lost to DePaul when the Musketeers were at full strength, and now shorthanded, Xavier can't afford to take DePaul lightly.
In the first meeting on Jan. 18, Xavier wasn't ready to defend. The Musketeers let DePaul's Umoja Gibson and Javan Johnson terrorize them, going a combined 8-for-16 from 3-point range.
It was an odd game from the standpoint that Xavier out-rebounded DePaul 45-34 and only committed 10 turnovers, but the Musketeers got away from what they normally do offensively and Souley Boum, Xavier's leading scorer, scored only four points.
Stuck in a three-way tie for second place in the Big East Conference, Xavier has to win the games it's supposed to win over the final five regular-season games.
More:Thoughts on No. 16 Xavier's loss at No. 11 Marquette
The Game
Tipoff: 4 p.m. on Saturday at Cintas Center
TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network with play-by-play from Andrew Catalon and analysis from Steve Lappas. Byron Larkin and Joe Sunderman will have the radio call on WLW-AM (700).
Series info: Xavier leads the series 17-13.
Scouting report
Xavier Musketeers (19-7, 11-4 Big East)
Coach: Sean Miller, 18th season (441-163 overall)
Offense: 82.6 ppg
Defense: 75.5 ppg
Projected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Adam Kunkel (G, 6'4", 10.0 ppg)
Jerome Hunter (F, 6'8", 6.5 ppg)
Colby Jones (G, 6'6", 15.0 ppg)
Souley Boum (G, 6'3", 16.4 ppg)
Jack Nunge (F, 7'0", 14.5 ppg)
DePaul Blue Demons (9-17, 3-12 Big East)
Coach: Tony Stubblefield, third season (26-44 overall)
Offense: 71.5 ppg
Defense: 76.7 ppgProjected lineup
Player (Position, Height, Key Stat)
Javan Johnson (F, 6'6", 15.0 ppg)
Umoja Gibson (G, 6'1", 16.2 ppg)
Eral Penn (F, 6'6", 9.0 ppg)
Philmon Gebrewhit (G, 6'7", 6.5 ppg)
Yor Anei (F, 6'10", 5.4 ppg)
Players to watch
Umoja Gibson
Five 3-pointers in the first game against Xavier is more than enough to have the Musketeers' attention. If Xavier's not ready to guard Gibson it could be another shaky game for the Musketeers.
Gibson's incredibly important but DePaul got a major lift in its last game when Nick Ongenda, one of its better players, made his season debut against St. John's and recorded eight blocked shots against the Red Storm.
Souley Boum
Xavier needs Boum's offense, especially while Freemantle's out injured, but they're also going to need him to carry his weight defensively. Boum had a hard time staying in front of Gibson in the first meeting at DePaul and it led to a lot of open looks for DePaul's most dangerous player.
Keys to the game
Running efficient offense, doubling down on defense
Xavier got away from its flow offense in the first meeting with DePaul and it showed. The Musketeers only shot 38% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc.
Xavier also had a difficult time doing anything resembling stopping DePaul's best players. The Musketeers better be ready to defend on Saturday.
Rankings
KenPom: Xavier (22), DePaul (146)
NET: Xavier (26), DePaul (175)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Scouting report: No. 16 Xavier hosts DePaul in search of 20th win
