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By Joel Welser
jwelser@collegehoops.net
2006 NCAA Tournament Capsule:
Xavier
Xavier Musketeers (21-10)
Atlantic-10:
7th(t), 8-8
RPI: 75
AP: na
Big Wins:
at St. Joe’s (62-58), at Charlotte (78-65), Cincinnati (73-71)
Bad Losses:
St. Louis (54-59), La Salle (70-79), at Dayton (62-66)
Last NCAA
Appearance: 2004, Elite Eight
Top Players:
Stanley
Burrell, So, G, 14.1 ppg, 3.2 apg
Justin Doellman,
Jr, F, 11.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg
Justin Cage, Jr,
F, 10.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg
Josh Duncan,
So, F, 9.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg
With the injury
to Brian Thornton and the dismissal of Dedrick Finn,
Xavier is dangerously
thin. However, they still managed to win four games in four days to capture
the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament. The Musketeers defense has been
solid, allowing only 63 points per game on 40% shooting. Xavier has become
a young team with the recent departures, but despite that youth, they took
good care of the basketball. Two freshmen, B.J. Raymond and Johnny Wolf,
might be the key for Xavier in the tournament. Those two have been
developing nicely as the season has progressed and will need to be effective
off of the bench in order to allow the starters to rest.
Seed: 14
First Round:
Gonzaga
Joel's Likely
Finish: First Round
CHN's
Official Prediction: First Round
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