Xavier 2010 Preview & Predictions

Xavier Musketeers Basketball 2010-2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks & Odds

With the College Basketball 2010-2011 Season just around the corner, we are providing season previews & predictions for all NCAA basketball teams to give you the betting edge this year. Follow the best College Basketball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2010-2011 basketball season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Basketball in our recommend online sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2010-2011 NCAA Basketball Season Previews here.

Xavier Preview Picks, & Odds.

Xavier 2009-2010 Record: 26-9 overall; 14-2 A-10 (Tie/1st)

Xavier Coach: Steve Donahue – At Boston College: first year; overall: 146-138, 10 years

Xavier Players to Watch: Point guard Terrell Holloway will be the man with the ball – and the Musketeers’ fate – in his capable hands. He’ll likely average in the high teens for what should be another high-octane Musketeers’ attack.

Xavier Key Losses: Jordan Crawford, G, 6-4, 195 (20.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Jason Love, F/C, 6-9, 265 (11.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg)

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2010-2011 Xavier Season Preview

Chris Mack is carrying on the tradition of outstanding young Xavier coaches, following in the footsteps of Pete Gillen, the late Skip Prosser, Thad Matta and Sean Miller. Last season, Mack guided the Musketeers to their third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance in his first season as head coach. Mack has some holes to fill as the Musketeers lost 2010 Atlantic 10 scoring champ Jordan Crawford and consistent lane presence Jason Love from that 26-win team that nearly made its third Elite Eight since 2004- So what will Mack do for an encore? Well, three starters return: a pair of battle-tested perimeter players in Terrell Holloway and Dante Jackson and an underrated big man in Jamel McLean. Plenty of additional firepower returns, and Mack welcomes a gifted four-player freshman class, so expect the winning to continue.

Xavier Backcourt

Crawford’s calling card was his offense, but he has now literally gone to greener pastures. Crawford became just the fifth Xavier player to blossom into a first-round NBA Draft choice joining David West (2003), James Posey (1999), Brian Grant (1994) and Tyrone Hill (1990). Crawford’s scoring prowess and swagger will be missed, but they’re not dropping basketball at Xavier. In fact, the Musketeers still have one of the A-10′s best guards in the 6-foot Holloway, a top-shelf scoring point guard entering his junior season. Jackson, a power guard with a knack for making big shots, also returns, along with budding star Mark Lyons and deadly 3-point bomber Brad Redford. Add in highly decorated freshmen wings Justin Martin and Jay Canty and the backcourt is well-stocked, despite the loss of Crawford.

Xavier Frontcourt

Through tireless work, Love became a beacon of consistency in the paint. The 6-9 workhorse led the Musketeers in rebounding with 8.7 boards and also chipped in 11.8 points per game. But, just like in the backcourt, there are candidates aplenty to fill Love’s void. Senior Jamel McLean, Xavier’s unsung hero last season, wants a much bigger role and should blossom into a 12 to ls-point per game scorer. An.d after feeling slow in last season’s epic NCAA 101-96 tourney loss to Kansas State, junior 7-footer Kenny Frease finally dedicated himself this offseason to be the best he can be. How did he do it? Frease, whose weight reached the 29s-pound neighborhood last season, cut out 3 a.m. Big Macs, integrated daily salads into his diet and has dropped more than 20 pounds. There are a number of young pups to watch also, including 6-9 sophomore Jeff Robinson, 6-8 freshman Jordan Latham from Baltimore (many believe he will be the next great power forward from Xavier) and 6-9 freshman Griffin McKenzie from nearby Cincinnati Moeller High.

2010-2011 Xavier Predictions

Xavier is the A-10′s gold standard these days. They call the A-10′s best building, the Cintas Center, home. They play an up-tempo style and take on all comers during their nonconference schedule – both of which attracts big-time recruits. And once they get into the NCAA Tournament field, Xavier (26-9 in 2009-10) does real damage. Just like last season, expect the Musketeers to take some lumps against a brutal non-conference schedule, but those early-season tests will effectively prepare them for a run at the A-10 title, followed by perhaps yet another NCAA Tourney run.

Xavier Finish in the A-10: 2nd

Xavier Betting Odds

Xavier Odds to Win 2010-2011 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +10000

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Xavier Basketball Handicapping Picks

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