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All Xavier Student Newspapers Xavier Student Newspapers
2016-11-02
Xavier University Newswire
Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio)
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Published by the students of Xavier University since 1915 Fiat justitia, ruat coelum Volume CII Issue 11 November 2, 2016 6RFFHUÀHOG reopens after ÁRRGLQJ
BY REGINA WRIGHT Campus News Editor After more than four inches of rain swamped the Norwood area and Xavier FDPSXVWKHVRFFHUÀHOGZDVÁRRGHGZLWK FRQWDPLQDWHGZDWHUDQGFORVHG )ODVKÁRRGLQJKLWWKH&LQFLQQDWLDUHD LQ ODWH $XJXVW DQG ZDV QDPHG ´7KH 1RUZRRG )ORRG RI µ 7KH VWRUP ZDV FDWHJRUL]HG E\ WKH 0HWURSROLWDQ 6HZHU'LVWULFWRI *UHDWHU&LQFLQQDWLDV D\HDUVWRUPEHFDXVHRI WKHTXDQWL W\RI UDLQIDOOLQVXFKDVKRUWDPRXQWRI WLPHDSSUR[LPDWHO\LQFKHV $IWHU VHZDJH GUDLQDJH SLSHV RYHU ÁRZHGDQGEDFNHGXSRQWRWKHVRFFHUÀHOG FRPSOH[WKHÀHOGZDVQRORQJHUVDIHIRU Newswire photo by Savin Mattozzi VWXGHQWVDQGVSRUWVWHDPWRSOD\RQ5LVN Tala Ali, Xavier’s Muslim Chaplain, prays the Fajir morning prayer on Oct. 9 at the Oceti camp contesting pipeline construction in North Dakota. RI H[SRVXUH WR XQKHDOWK\ EDFWHULD PDGH WKHÀHOGXQXVDEOHE\KHDOWKVWDQGDUGV 5HSODFHPHQW RI WKH ÀHOG FRVW DERXW Faculty joins pipeline activists DQG ZDV FRYHUHG E\ LQVXUDQFH No further improvements were made BY SAVIN MATTOZZI 3LSHOLQH WHUVXSSO\DQGGHVWUR\WKHHQYL DERXW LQ KLQGVLJKW 6ODYHU\ Staff Writer WR WKH VRFFHU ÀHOG RU WKH VWRUP DQG ´,ZDVUHDGLQJDERXWLWDQG URQPHQWDURXQGLW ZDV EDG :HOO LI VODYHU\ ZDV VHZDJHGUDLQV 7DOD $OL ;DYLHU·V 0XVOLP VDZQHZVDERXWLWRQVRFLDOPH 7KH KHDY\ KDQGHGQHVV RI KDSSHQLQJ QRZ ZKHUH ZRXOG ´%HORZ WKH VWRUP ZDWHU GUDLQ &KDSODLQ SXOOHG D VWUDQG RI GLDµ$OLVDLG´2YHUGLQQHUZLWK WKHORFDODXWKRULWLHVKDVJDLQHG \RX EH" :KHUH ZRXOG DQ\ RI DERXW IHHW GRZQ LV SDUW RI WKH KDLUEDFNXQGHUKHUSLQNKLMDE IULHQGVRQHQLJKW,VDLG¶:K\ attention across the nation this XV EH ULJKW QRZ" :RXOG ZH 0HWURSROLWDQ 6HZHU 'LVWULFW D YHU\ DVVKHORRNHGRXWWKHZLQGRZ GRQ·WZHJRWKLVLVPHVVHGXS SDVW ZHHN DV PRUH WKDQ EH SXWWLQJ RXU ERGLHV RQ WKH ODUJHSLSHDQGLW·VPDGHWRKDQGOHYHU\ RI KHURIÀFHRQWKHWKLUGÁRRU 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QRZDQG LW WRMRLQPRUHWKDQSURWHVW 3URWHFWRUV DUH FRQFHUQHG WKDW SDVWWHQVH,W·VVRPHWKLQJWKDW IXOO\ WR VHH LI WKH FDXVH VKH ORRNV JUHDWµ +DQORQ VDLG ´7KH ROG ers at the Oceti camp to pro LI WKHUH LV D OHDN RU LI D SLSH GRHVQ·W UHTXLUH DQ\ DFWLRQ RU ZKROO\EHOLHYHVLQZLOOVHHMXV RQHZDVRQO\\HDUVROGDQGWKH\W\S WHVWWKHSODQQHG'DNRWD$FFHVV EUHDNVLWZRXOGSROOXWHWKLVZD UHDOVROLGDULW\,W·VHDV\WRWDON WLFHDQ\WLPHVRRQ LFDOO\ODVWDERXW\HDUVµ 7KH PHQ·V DQG ZRPHQ·V VRFFHU WHDPV FHOHEUDWHG WKH RSHQLQJ RI WKH QHZVRFFHUÀHOGZLWKSL]]DIRUWKHÀUVW =5(ZLQVHOHFWLRQVWXGHQWVVSOLWRQWREDFFREDQ VWXGHQWVWRDWWHQGWKHLUJDPHVRQ BY ERICA LAMPERT DQ LQFUHDVH RI VWXGHQWV DQG2ULHQWDWLRQ0ROO\'XJDQVDLG QHHGHGWREHDGGUHVVHGZKLOH 2FWDQG2FW Staff Writer YRWLQJWKLV\HDUZKHQFRPSDUHG 7KH WREDFFRIUHH SROOLQJ YRWHUVGLVDJUHHG ´7KH VRFFHU ÀHOG LV YHU\ LPSRUW Student Government WRWKHQXPEHUVLQODVW\HDU·VHOHF ZDVDQDGGLWLRQWR6*$·VH[HF 0RUHWKDQVWXGHQWVVDLGWKDW DQWWRWKH;DYLHU&RPPXQLW\µ6HQLRU $VVRFLDWLRQ·V 6*$ H[HFXWLYH WLRQ7KHUHZDVDWRWDORI 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GHQWV YRWHG \HV WR WREDFFR XVH SXV $OPRVW YRWHUV VDLG WKH\ JURXSV VXFK DV FDPSV KLJK VFKRROV 7KH%RDUGRI (OHFWLRQVVDZ Assistant Director for Leadership RQFDPSXVEHLQJDSUREOHPWKDW ZRXOGQRWVXSSRUWWKLVDFWLRQ 6RFFHUFOXEVHWFµ 2 Xavier Newswire Edited by: Sara Ringenbach November 2, 2016 Arts&Entertainment [email protected] ‘Jitney’ captures the Black experience
Photo courtesy of Mikki Schaffner Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson’s Jitney opened at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park on Oct. 15 with stars Michael Kevin Darnall (left), Shane Taylor (center) and Dion Graham (right). BY TAYLOR ZACHARY culturally robust community on with the thoughtfulness and seldom challenged. macy, which in turn enhances our BY ISABEL DEMARCO Staff Writer Guest Writer Oct. 15 and honors the work of poise only a Black woman could Additionally, the quick wit capacity to accept the strikingly Five Black men held back director Thomas Douglas. offer. All the while her boyfriend and folly of Fielding, played ef- simple, but often neglected, hu- tears, centering themselves The show is broken into two Youngblood, played by Michael fortlessly by Doug Brown, sheds manity of Blackness. around a question all too familiar acts, centered around both the 'DUQDOOVWUXJJOHVWRÀQGKLPVHOI light onto processes of self-med- What Jitney captures, ultimate- to the Black-American experi- seemingly inevitable destruction as a veteran in a United States era ication and the battle between ly, to great effect, is a re-claiming ence: what now? of the jitney shop and the broken that was paradoxical for Black sobriety and sorrow. In a silently of the Black experience as an ex- A product of the literary ge- relationships among the shop soldiers returning from Vietnam. powerful moment, he shares a perience that is fully human. This nius of August Wilson, Jitney is owner Becker and his adult son. Photo courtesy of sportingnews.com Francisco Lindor has been perhaps the most impressive player of any team throughout the entire postseason. The 22-year-old shortstop is batting .340 with two home runs and six RBIs in the playoffs. BY KYLE TOOLEY $QGUHZ 0LOOHU DFTXLUHG IURP SLQFKKLW 5%, LQ *DPH PDGH JDPH7KH\·YHKDGWKHOLEHUW\RI ZRQ JDPHV WKLV VHDVRQ ZKLOH Sports Editor 1HZ 2016-17 Men’s Team Roster Number Name Year Position Height Hometown Coaching Staff 12 Cullen Barr Senior Forward 6-7 Libertyville, Ill. 20 Alex Bergen Senior Guard 6-5 Cincinnati, Ohio Head Coach: Chris Mack 11 Malcolm Bernard Senior (RS) Guard 6-6 Miami, Fla. 5 Trevon Bluiett Junior Guard 6-6 Indianapolis, Ind. Associate Head Coach: Travis Steele 15 Myles Davis Senior (RS) Guard 6-2 3ODLQ¿HOG1- 35 RaShid Gaston Senior (RS) Forward 6-9 Warren, Ohio Assistant Coach: Luke Murray 22 Kaiser Gates Sophomore Forward 6-8 Alpharetta, Ga. 3 Quentin Goodin Freshman Guard 6-4 Campbellsville, Ky. Assistant Coach: Mike Pegues 0 Tyrique Jones Freshman Forward 6-9 %ORRP¿HOG&RQQ 55 J.P. Macura Junior Guard 6-5 Lakeville, Minn. Director of Basketball 54 Sean O’Mara Junior Forward/Center 6-10 Glen Ellyn, Ill. Administration: Mario Mercurio 24 Conor Peterson Freshman Guard/Forward 6-6 Libertyville, Ill. 10 Leighton Schrand Freshman Guard 6-0 Villa Hills, Ky. Director of Basketball Operations: 21 Tim Stainbrook Senior Forward 6-6 Bay Village, Ohio Jeremy Growe 4 Edmond Sumner Sophomore (RS) Guard 6-6 Detroit, Mich. 8 Xavier Newswire November 2, 2016 Edited by: Kyle Tooley Women’s Breakdown [email protected] 0XVNHWHHUVH\HVRPHRQHWRÀOOELJVKRHV 2016-17 BY DONNIE MENKE Staff Writer Schedule Women’s basketball lost one Big East opponents in Bold of the top players in program his- tory, Bri Glover, to graduation last Date Opponent offseason. The departure of Glover has Lauren Hill Tipoff Classic left a huge hole, as she was the 11/12 Tennessee State leading scorer and one of the top rebounders on the team last year. 11/18 Southeast Missouri Glover had the second highest State free throw percentage on the team DVZHOODVRQHRI WKHWRSÀHOGJRDO 11/22 North Florida and three point percentages 11/27 Arkansas - Pine The biggest hole Glover left Bluff was her scoring. She scored from all over the court and shot a high 12/1 Delaware State percentage while doing it. 12/5 Michigan The majority of her scoring load will fall to Raeshaun Gaffney, 1HZVZLUHÀOHSKRWR 12/8 at Wake Forest last year’s leading scorer. However, Raeshaun Gaffney will be a big part of Xavier’s success this season, as she is the leading scorer amongst returning players. Maddison Blackwell, the second percentage. to step up and shoulder the load. minutes. 12/11 at Cincinnati highest returning scorer after Kindell Fincher is another All four of these players averaged Partlow, a 6’ 1” redshirt soph- Puerto Rico Classic Gaffney, should also see an in- name to look for. Fincher is com- at least three rebounds a game last omore from Cincinnati, averaged creased role. Blackwell averaged ing off an injury that limited her year, and there’s no reason they 3.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per 12/19 Oklahoma 6.8 points per game last season. to two games last season and should not continue to improve game last year. Blackwell, a 5’11” senior for- forced her to take a medical red- those numbers. Partlow should see a large in- 12/20 Southern Mississippi ward from Gahanna, Ohio, was shirt. She should be a key part of Schaefer, a 6’ 1” senior forward crease in minutes this year, de- 12/21 Kennesaw State the fourth leading scorer on last the squad this coming season, so from Alexandria, Ky., averaged VSLWHRQO\DYHUDJLQJ PLQXWHV year’s team. look for her numbers to climb. SRLQWV DQG UHERXQGV SHU per game last season. 12/28 at Providence She averaged better than an as- In the rebounding area, look game last season. Partlow is largely in the same sist per game, with 1.1. Blackwell for Gaffney and Blackwell, as well With multiple forwards above situation as Schaefer and should 12/30 at Creighton also had 35 steals in 30 games as senior Leah Schaefer and red- her in the rotation last season de- contribute more with increased 1/2 St. John’s DQGÀQLVKHGZLWKDÀHOGJRDO shirt sophomore Imani Partlow, parting, Schaefer should see more playing time. 1/4 Seton Hall Neal building strong track record at Xavier 1/8 Butler 1/13 at Marquette BY ISABEL SMITH as head coach after two seasons as Classic. They’ll face off against offer the team the opportunity to Staff Writer an assistant coach. Prior to that, Oklahoma, Southern Mississippi develop its skills against top teams 1/15 at DePaul As Brian Neal heads into his he was the head coach of Thomas and Kennesaw State. Neal has it wouldn’t normally meet on the fourth season as head coach and More’s women’s basketball team also coached the Musketeers court. 1/20 Georgetown sixth season overall with Xavier for seven years. through tournaments in the U.S. Neal has built a strong foun- 1/22 Villanova women’s basketball, he’s leading Neal’s extensive experience as Virgin Islands and Canada that dation for a successful program. the process of building the wom- a coach has helped him with the Redshirt senior guard Raeshaun 1/27 at Seton Hall en’s basketball team into a suc- turnaround process of Xavier’s Gaffney was named to the cessful program. team and the transition to the Big Preseason All-Big East team. 1/29 at St. John’s During his tenure as the East. Last season, Gaffney led the 2/4 at Butler Musketeers’ head coach, Neal has 1HDO ZLOO OHDG WKH Musketeers in scoring with 11.1 turned Xavier back into a winning Musketeers through a schedule SSJ DQG LQ UHERXQGLQJ ZLWK 2/10 DePaul WHDP,QWKHVHDVRQ1HDO that features matchups against rpg. Senior forward Maddison led the Musketeers to an 18-15 re- top teams like Michigan and Wake Blackwell also returns to the 2/12 Marquette cord, a 10-win improvement from Forest. lineup. 2/17 at Villanova the previous season. In the 2015- Xavier returns to Fifth Third 6KH KDG D ÀHOG JRDO SHU- VHDVRQWKHWHDPÀQLVKHGZLWK Arena on Dec. 11 to face cross- centage, the fourth highest in the 2/19 at Georgetown DUHFRUG+H·VWDNHQ;DYLHU town rival Cincinnati. Under Big East. to a postseason tournament for Neal’s leadership, last year’s gradu- Neal and the Musketeers kick 2/24 Creighton WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ VHYHUDO VHDVRQV DWLQJVHQLRUVÀQLVKHGWKHLUFDUHHUV off the season on Saturday, Nov. 2/26 Providence DQGKHFRDFKHGWKHWHDP·VÀUVW%LJ 3-1 against the Bearcats. 12, against Tennessee State at East honoree, Briana Glover. The Musketeers will also travel Photo courtesy of cincinnati.com Cintas Center in the Lauren Hill Neal is ready for his fourth season at the helm. Neal transitioned into his role to Las Vegas for the Puerto Rico TipOff Classic. 2016-17 Women’s Team Roster Number Name Year Position Height Hometown Coaching Staff 25 Anniina Äijänen Junior Forward 6-2 Tampere, Finland 21 Maddison Blackwell Senior Forward 5-11 Gahanna, Ohio Head Coach: Brian Neal 12 Jada Byrd Junior Guard 5-9 Lithonia, Ga. Assistant Coach: Carla D. Morrow 15 Megan Christopher Freshman Forward 5-8 Cincinnati, Ohio 22 Junior (RS) 5-8 Marietta, Ohio Erica Dawson Guard Assistant Coach: Christian 1 Kindell Fincher Sophomore (RS) Guard 5-9 Fort Wayne, Ind. Stefanopoulos 31 Tierra Floyd Freshman (RS) Forward 6-1 Toledo, Ohio 30 Raeshaun Gaffney Senior (RS) Guard 5-8 )DLU¿HOG2KLR Assistant Coach: Mark Stephens 10 Ashley Gomez Freshman Guard 5-9 Oklahoma City, Okla 20 Na’Teshia Owens Freshman Guard 5-5 Mexia, Texas Director of Basketball Operations: 45 Imani Partlow Sophomore (RS) Forward 6-1 Cincinnati, Ohio Netta Smith 23 Leah Schaefer Senior Forward 6-1 Alexandria, Ky. Director of Basketball 24 Martha Thompson Junior (RS) Guard 5-8 Solon, Ohio Performance: 0 Marquia Turner Junior Guard 5-6 North Canton, Ohio Mark Ehlen Xavier Newswire 9 Edited by: Kyle Tooley [email protected] Basketball Preview November 2, 2016 Opinion: Move to Big East has been monumental with players who have maybe 6ZLWFKLQJRYHUWRWKH%LJ(DVW been overlooked and under re- three and a half years ago has FUXLWHG LH%XWOHULQ·DQG· forever changed Xavier’s recruit- but those teams are anomalies. ing. Not only can Cintas be sold ,WLVQRTXHVWLRQZKDWWKH%LJ as a reason to come to school East brand has done for Xavier here, but the conference Xavier recruiting. Take a look at Xavier’s plays in can too. And that is a big class of 2017 commits, then go deal. back and look at the 2014 re- ,QDGGLWLRQWKH%LJ(DVWDQG cruiting class to see exactly what Fox Sports 1 are entering year it has done. four of a 12-year $500 million When Xavier was in the deal, which puts almost every $WODQWLF $ DQG EHIRUH one of Xavier’s games on na- that the Midwestern Collegiate tional television. Conference, it would be a rare Lastly, the opening of a new occasion when a four-star player strength and conditioning facility would not only commit to play is yet another step in an upward at Xavier but even consider the direction for the program’s abil- team to begin with. ity to snag the best players. The opening of Cintas Center Xavier did not land four-star in 2000 was without question a players routinely, but with the Photo courtesy of foxsports.com huge tool to land potential re- VZLWFKWRWKH%LJ(DVWLWKDVEH- The recruitment of Trevon Bluiett is a prime example of how the transition to the Big East has positively impacted Xavier. cruits. Although Xavier still come routine. BY JOSH BOZZICK many more items in the cup- then the end result should be played in the A-10 while calling It won’t be much longer un- Staff Writer board that can be of use. more wins and deeper runs in Cintas home for the majority of WLO;DYLHUODQGVLWVÀUVWFRQVHQ- A successful coach gets the If a program lands more the postseason. its now 16-year lifetime, the facil- VXV ÀYHVWDU UHFUXLW DQG ZKHQ most out of his or her players, highly touted recruits with other This isn’t to say that coaches ity itself remained a magnet for it does, it will have been a long and highly ranked players have variables remaining constant, cannot go far in the tournament decorated recruits. time in the making. Coaching staff assembling best recruiting class in school history BY LUKE FELICIANO Scruggs played at Southport High cording to Scout.com. Scouts rave line. Harden is also known to be son to the rest of the pack. His Staff Writer School but has now chosen to about Harden’s innate ability to very fundamentally sound, as ex- pure size makes him a tantalizing Xavier fans have a lot to be DWWHQG 3UROLÀF 3UHS %DVNHWEDOO shoot, and his lengthiness at 6’6” perts have praised his high basket- prospect, and his highlight tape excited about moving forward, Academy in Napa, Calif., for his makes him a formidable marks- ball IQ. shows that he moves well for his as the Musketeers’ coaching staff senior season. man from behind the three point -DUHG 5LGGHU ZDV WKH ÀUVW UH- size. KDVSXWWRJHWKHUWKHQDWLRQ·VÀIWK Naji Marshall is another ESPN cruit to commit to Xavier for the If the development of previ- ranked recruiting class in 2017, ac- top recruit for Xavier, ranked class of 2017. A 6’6” wing player ous raw talent big men like Matt cording to ESPN. 85th overall. Hailing from the IURP6SULQJÀHOG0R5LGGHUZDV Stainbrook, Jalen Reynolds and Undoubtedly, Xavier’s top re- Washington, D.C., area, Marshall’s voted First Team All-State while James Farr works to the same cruit is its most recent addition, status as a recruit rose very rapidly averaging 20 points per game last merit with Jones, he can easily four-star point guard Paul Scruggs. in just one year, and he only re- season. He helped lead his team turn into a menace in the paint for The addition of Scruggs marks FHLYHGKLVÀUVWPDMRURIIHULQWKH to the state championship game, opposing teams. Xavier’s highest rated recruit in summer before his junior season. eventually losing to a nationally Overall, this is one of the best program history as Scruggs is the Marshall is known to be a versa- ranked team. recruiting classes Xavier has ever 28th overall player in the ESPN tile player as a 6’6” small forward, Nevertheless, Ridder is a pure had. In total, there are three four- Top 100 recruits of 2017. gaining attention for his hard- sharpshooter proven by his aston- star recruits and two three-star Scruggs is a big bodied point nosed attitude. ishing execution of 55 three-point recruits. guard with a height of 6’4” and According to Scout.com, ÀHOGJRDOVODVW\HDU The 2017 class is very talent- is, according to scouting reports, Marshall excels at getting to the Perhaps Xavier’s most interest- ed and impressive but also well an excellent defender and passer. basket and playmaking. Recruiting ing recruit for the class of 2017 rounded. It has players who each His highlight tape also shows that analysts say that if Marshall can is the 6’10,” 285-pound physi- offer a unique aspect in terms of he excels at getting to the rim, av- develop his jump shot, he will cal specimen, Kentravious Jones. driving to the basket, shooting and eraging nearly 20 points per game reach an elite level. Jones is a three-star center from defending. This strong 2017 class last season. Elias Harden is a four-star Photo courtesy of usatodayhss.com Macon, Ga., and his commitment ensures that Xavier will continue Originally from Indianapolis, shooting guard from Atlanta, ac- Scruggs playing for his AAU team this fall. was more unexpected in compari- to be competitive in the future. Mack moves into upper echelon of coaches BY BRENDAN BURRIS something his predecessors be- Staff Writer came notorious for. Five years ago, a headline such With all the success that Mack as this was most likely only a has brought to the program, the dream for Xavier fans, but as the PRYHWRWKH%LJ(DVWLVFOHDUO\WKH 2016-2017 season approaches, it PRVWVLJQLÀFDQWDFFRPSOLVKPHQW gets closer to becoming a reality. a move that has opened not only Chris Mack, entering his seventh the basketball team but also the season as the Sedler Family Men’s athletic department as a whole to +HDG%DVNHWEDOO&RDFKLVEHFRP- an entirely new level in terms of ing one of college basketball’s best matchups, notoriety and recruit- and putting his name alongside ing. A “mid-major” team suddenly some of the sports heavyweights. found itself, thanks in large part to $IWHUÀYHVHDVRQVDVDQDVVLV- the previous success of Mack and tant to coach Sean Miller, Mack his teams, in the college basketball took the helm in 2009. Two sea- spotlight. sons later, he had already won the As this dramatic shift was tak- %DVNHWEDOO 7LPHV 5RRNLH &RDFK ing place at Xavier, Mack contin- of the Year, followed by the 2010- ued to lead the team with a steady Photo courtesy of sportingnews.com 11 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. hand, putting up wildly success- After following in the direct footsteps of some of the most successful coaches in Xavier history, Mack is paving a path of his own. At this time, Xavier fans were be- ful seasons as the team made the history and highest NCAA pressive resume to say the least. numerous awards. It is clearly safe ginning to recognize just how spe- transition. Tournament seed ever, but he also He has led Xavier to six NCAA to say that Xavier has a special cial Mack could be. This past season was the won multiple Coach of the Year Tournaments in seven seasons, coach in Mack and that everyone With much anxiety, we slowly brightest of all in Cincinnati. Not awards for his leadership of the won almost 70 percent of his at Xavier looks forward to the watched him turn down job after only did Mack lead the Musketeers team. games, reeled in multiple top-10 work he will continue to do at the job to stay with the Musketeers, to their highest ranking in school Mack has put together an im- recruiting classes and garnered helm. 10 Xavier Newswire November 2, 2016 Edited by: Kyle Tooley Conference Preview [email protected] Big East looks strong, winnable for Musketeers Photo courtesy of si.com After topping North Carolina in one of the most thrilling college basketball games of the century, Villanova looks to lead a Big East Conference that seems to be getting better with every year. BY LUKE FELICIANO Villanova returns a star trio of this year. First Team All-Big East Delgado as well as Desi Rodriguez. Providence lost its dynamic Staff Writer Kris Jenkins, Jalen Brunson and guard Maurice Watson Jr. leads Marquette’s biggest returning duo of lottery draft pick guard The Musketeers are heading Josh Hart, who was voted the Big the Blue Jay offense. player is center Luke Fischer, who Kris Dunn and forward Ben into their fourth season in the re- East Preseason Player of the Year. Creighton also secured one earned Second Team All-Big East Bentil, who opted to leave school. envisioned Big East Conference They are the coaches’ favor- of the top transfers in the coun- Preseason honors. The two accounted for a whop- and are primed to face some ite to win the conference and try, Marcus Foster, who averaged The Golden Eagles lost their ping 64.2 percent of the Friars’ tough opponents this year in con- even have the pieces to repeat as 15.5 points per game in his time at best player last year, Henry scoring last year, forcing them to ference play. NCAA champions. Kansas State. (OOHQVRQ ZKR ZDV D ÀUVW rely on players with less experi- Villanova is arguably the tough- Georgetown had a fairly young Seton Hall made an impres- round pick in June’s NBA draft. ence. Look for contributions from est opponent on Xavier’s entire team last season and brings back sive late-season run, ultimately Marquette has also welcomed in Rodney Bullock and Jalen Lindsey. regular season schedule. While a lot of now-experienced players. capturing the 2015-2016 Big East a key transfer, Katin Reinhardt, DePaul and St. John’s didn’t the Wildcats fell short of captur- The team will look different WLWOH7KH3LUDWHVZLOOKDYHWRÀQG from UNLV. He is expected to make too much noise in the con- ing the conference championship without point guard D’Vauntes replacements for key losses of have a big impact this season. ference last season, and this sea- a season ago, they ended up win- Smith-Rivera, but the Hoyas re- Isaiah Whitehead to the NBA Butler graduated two impor- son shouldn’t be any different. ning the NCAA Tournament on a turn some key pieces in L.J. Peak, and the graduation of Derrick tant starters, Roosevelt Jones The Blue Demons are led by Kris Jenkins buzzer beater. Tre Campbell and Isaac Copeland. Gordon. and Kellen Dunham, leaving the their Second Team Preseason The Wildcats lost two of their Georgetown may turn some heads Seton Hall still has some valu- Bulldogs thin at the wing heading All-Big East guard Billy Garrett best players, Ryan Arcidiacono in a winnable Big East. able pieces coming back, how- into this season. Kelan Martin and Jr. while the Red Storm will turn and Daniel Ochefu, to profes- Creighton may very well be in ever, including two Second Team graduate transfer to second year guard Frederico sional basketball, but they still contention with both Villanova All-Big East Preseason players Kethan Savage will lead the Mussini, who led the team in as- have strong players coming back. and Xavier atop the Big East Khadeen Carrington and Angel way for the Bulldogs. sists last season. Creighton, DePaul lead way in top-heavy Big East BY JACK DUNN The team expected to struggle At eighth in the poll, Butler Staff Writer last season after losing All-Big struggled with injuries to post The Xavier women’s basketball East forward Corline Coyer to a 10-21 record overall and went team looks to continue improv- injury, but rookie guard Adrianna 4-10 in Big East play. However, ing, building on the success it had Hahn surprised a lot of people the Bulldogs only had two up- last year when it went 17-13 over- and put up 17.5 points per game SHUFODVVPHQZKRUHFHLYHGVLJQLÀ- all and 8-10 in conference. across the last four contests. The cant playing time and will look to After a promising start to the Wildcats will return three starters build on their experience from last season, the Musketeers struggled from last season. season. with injuries and eventually ended *HRUJHWRZQ FRPHV LQ DW ÀIWK Providence comes in at 10th in their season on a seven-game skid. in the preseason poll after going the preseason poll after struggling “We did a lot of soul search- 16-14 overall and 9-9 in Big East to get wins on its way to a 5-24 ing…I think some good has come play. It had the third best turn- overall record and 1-17 in Big out of it,” head coach Brian Neal around last season in Division East play. New head coach Jim said. “The team is much more en- I. The Hoyas will be returning Crowley is looking to use the re- gaged and much more focused on Photo courtesy of gocreighton.com the No. 2 and 3 Big East return- turning four starters to learn from the basketball aspect.” As an impact freshman, Audrey Faber became the go-to scorer for the Blue Jays last season. ing scorers in Dionna White and their mistakes from last season to The team is returning two Tied for the top spot in the pre- play, which ended in a Sweet 16 Dorothy Adomako. improve. starters in senior guard Reashaun season coaches’ poll are Creighton run. The Blue Devils will return St. John’s captured its third Big Gaffney and senior forward and DePaul. Despite going 17- three of their starters from last East Tournament title last season, Maddison Blackwell. Both were 18 last season, Creighton made season. They also hold preseason going 23-10 overall and 11-7 in in the top 30 in the conference a good run in the Big East Title player of the year winner in Jessica Big East play. It is ranked sixth in scoring. The Musketeers add tournament last year, upsetting January. DePaul will look to con- in the preseason poll. The Red three stellar recruits this sea- second seed Villanova and third tinue its streak of 14 consecutive Storm, however, will be looking son in freshmen guards Ashley seed Seton Hall. tournament appearances. for others to step up as WNBA Gomez and Na’Teshia Owens The team is also returning all Ranked third overall in the poll Draft picks Danaejah Grant and and forward Megan Christopher. ÀYHVWDUWHUVIURPODVWVHDVRQDQG is Marquette after going 14-16 Aliyyah Handford are now play- Despite leading the conference in will get back 2014 Big East Player overall and 9-9 in Big East play. ing professionally. IUHHWKURZSHUFHQWDJH;DYLHUÀQ- of the Year Marissa Janning, who The Golden Eagles are returning Seton Hall posted a 23-9 re- ished in the bottom 10 nationally had to take a medical redshirt due all of their starters from last sea- cord overall on its way to a third in three-point percentage and will to injury. Expect them to be one son and will also host the Big East consecutive 20-win season. The look to improve its number. The of the more experienced teams tournament this year. Pirates will once again look for Musketeers are currently ranked this season. Coming in at fourth in the others to step up as they will be ninth overall in the preseason DePaul is coming off a 27-9 poll is Villanova after going 20-12 only returning one starter for the Photo courtesy of thedepauliaonline.com coaches’ poll. season, going 16-2 in Big East overall and 12-6 in Big East play. second straight season. DePaul is familiar with the top of the conference. Xavier Newswire 11 Edited by: Kyle Tooley [email protected] Basketball Preview November 2, 2016 Former Xavier New faces arrive to both programs standout cracks BY BRENDAN BURRIS Staff Writer Thunder’s roster As the 2016-2017 Xavier bas- BY JOSH BOZZICK ketball season gets underway, Staff Writer there are plenty of fresh, new fac- Former Xavier shooting guard es on both the men’s and women’s Semaj Christon, who played two sides looking to make a quick im- seasons for the Musketeers, made pact for their respective teams. the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Fans will see four new play- opening day roster last week. HUVRQWKHÁRRUIRUWKHZRPHQ·V Christon’s road to the NBA was basketball team, adding depth to comparable to climbing a moun- both the frontcourt and backcourt tain: there were a lot of ups and for coach Brian Neal. Freshmen downs, and there were many div- guards Ashley Gomez from ots on the way. Through it all, he Oklahoma City and Na’Teshia kept pushing until he was awarded Owens from Mexia, Texas, will a spot on an NBA team. look to complement upperclass- Drafted in 2014, Christon men like Erica Thompson and was selected by the Miami Heat Martha Thompson. as the No. 55 pick. Shortly after Forwards Megan Christopher the selection, his draft rights were from Cincinnati and redshirt traded to the Charlotte Hornets, freshman Tierra Floyd from and then for a second time to the Toledo will also shore up the paint Thunder. and partner with junior Anniina Christon spent the 2014-15 sea- Äijänen and senior Leah Schaefer. son as a member of the Thunder’s In addition to the players, Neal NBA Development League af- brings on two new assistants this ÀOLDWH WKH 2NODKRPD &LW\ %OXH season, Christian Stefanopoulos ,Q JDPHV SOD\HG KH ÀQLVKHG and Mark Stephens. the season for the Blue averag- Stefanopoulos brings seven ing 18.6 points, 5.6 assists and 3.7 years of assistant coaching expe- Photo courtesy of spiderhoops.com.com rebounds and was a D-League rience to the Musketeers, coming Xavier will be the third school in Malcolm Bernard’s journey, as he played at Charleston Southern and Florida A&M. All-Star. from the Seton Hall Pirates af- School in Indianapolis, where he -RQHV IURP %ORRPÀHOG &RQQ comes to Cincinnati from Florida In the 2015-16 season, Christon ter coaching at the University of won back-to-back conference will most likely provide the A&M having also previously played for the Consultinvest Kentucky. In addition to coach- titles. Musketeers with some valuable played at Charleston Southern. Pesaro in the Italian Serie A league. ing at Kentucky, Stefanopoulos Chris Mack’s NCAA play off the bench behind the likes Gaston, from Warren, Ohio, Christon averaged 14.3 points, 3.7 played for both Austin Peay and Tournament team from last sea- of redshirt sophomore Edmond comes to Xavier from Norfolk assists and 3.3 rebounds through- Thomas More in her collegiate son brings back some of its core Sumner and junior Trevon Bluiett. State after being allowed to prac- out a 30-game season for the basketball career. pieces but also adds four new Two transfers, Malcolm tice with the Musketeers but Italian club. Stephens, hired in September, faces that are sure to make an Bernard and RaShid Gaston, have forced to sit out games per the This past summer, Christon comes to Xavier after four years as LPPHGLDWH LPSDFW RQ WKH ÁRRU joined the Musketeers as well for NCAA transfer rules. took part in the NBA Summer the head varsity coach of Crispus Freshmen Quentin Goodin from the upcoming season. The coaching staff remains the League for a third consecutive Attucks Medical Magnet High Campbellsville, Ky., and Tyrique Bernard, from Miami, Fla., same. year. Competing in the Orlando Pro Summer League, Christon av- eraged 16.8 points, good for sec- Staff predictions: Xavier men’s basketball ond on the team, and 4.2 assists, which led the team. Xavier makes a Final Four run this having 10 scholarship players does His performance nabbed season. As long as this team can not leave much margin for error. him a two-year contract with the stay healthy and potentially get There may be some rough patches Thunder, and he was invited to Myles Davis back, they have argu- to begin the year, but as long as partake in the Thunder’s training ably the most talented, and deep- the team is clicking by the end of FDPSIRUWKHÀUVWWLPH est, back-courts in the nation and February, we should be good to Since making the cut last week, overall teams. go. Christon has done well. Having Brendan Burris: Obviously, Kyle Tooley: The Musketeers played three games thus far, the #1 concern with the team will need to play with a “next Christon has averaged 3.7 points this year is the depth. If this PDQ XSµ PHQWDOLW\ IRU WKH ÀUVW and 2.0 assists in 15.3 minutes per team struggles with foul trouble, few weeks of the season due to contest. WKH\ PLJKW ÀQG WKHPVHOYHV FKDO- Kaiser Gates’s injury and Myles lenged in games that they prob- Davis’s suspension. If they can ably shouldn’t be. Another thing get production out of their eight I am concerned with is how the core guys out of the gate as well frontcourt will look with such as possibly Tim Stainbrook early high turnover this year. The loss on, this team will be tough to beat. of James Farr and Jalen Reynolds Showcasing their depth will be vi- DQGZKRVWHSVXSZLOOGHÀQLWHO\EH tal during their non-conference the biggest thing I look at during slate, as this is by far the toughest WKHÀUVWIHZJDPHVRI WKHVHDVRQ stretch of games they’ve seen in Sean O’Mara will need to take a my four years. If they can expand 1HZVZLUHÀOHSKRWR big step up this year, everyone their bench, get good production ;DYLHUZLOOQHHGWRUHO\RQWKHSURGXFWLRQRIWKHLUEDFNFRXUWWKLVVHDVRQWRÀQGVXFFHVV should be interested to see how from their newcomers and big of the ball with no elite defend- consistent Gaston will play, and men and take care of lesser oppo- BY NEWSWIRE STAFF ers. However, this team should the power forward slot will abso- nents on a consistent basis, there Luke Feliciano: Xavier uses be an offensive force and score lutely be something to watch to is no reason to believe that this last year’s heartbreaking loss to in bunches. If Xavier is not play- see who takes up the most min- team can’t win the Big East and Wisconsin as a motivator for this ing in the second weekend come utes there. This is obviously still make a deep March Madness run. year and a mix of NBA caliber March, this season will have been one of the best teams Xavier has Lydia Reagan: Sumner will players, seasoned veterans and tal- a disappointment. ever had, and I believe that they GHÀQLWHO\ EH WKH SOD\HU WR ZDWFK ented newcomers will collectively Donnie Menke: I think will be a consistent top-15 team in this season, as he is bound for the help them make a run at the Big Tyrique Jones steps up huge, the country for most, if not all, of NBA Lottery and should improve East title and then deep into the along with RaShid Gaston, to help the season. upon a strong 2015. I worry about March Madness tournament. ÀOOWKHKROHV-DPHV)DUUDQG-DOHQ Paul Fritschner: The over- his health just because of the lack Josh Bozzick: A thin bench Reynolds left. Even though I don’t all depth of the team is the main of depth at the point guard posi- will challenge Xavier in the be- WKLQNWKH\FDQÀOOLWFRPSOHWHO\, concern I have. I don’t think tion and any missed time could be ginning of the season and there think the improved back-court there’s one particular area we will detrimental to the success of the 3KRWRFRXUWHV\RIZHOFRPHWRORXGFLW\FRP are issues on the defensive side helps offset the difference and EHVLJQLÀFDQWO\ZHDNLQEXWRQO\ season. Christon drives through the lane against Memphis. 12 Xavier Newswire Edited by: Kyle Tooley November 2, 2016 Feature [email protected] The road less traveled isn’t always a bad thing Paul Fritschner sat down with Cullen Barr to discuss his journey improve. holding walk-on tryouts. This Suburban Catholic Conference As an underclassman, he was time, after living his college life to All-Conference team. still learning the ropes of college the fullest, Barr did not want to let Team member Sean O’Mara life and becoming acquainted with the chance go. The tryout barely was named to that same elite his new community. scraped a half-hour, and when it group, and the conference’s play- Largely unfamiliar with Xavier was over he had to hope he had er of the year that season was before enrolling, Barr quickly done enough. Kentucky standout Tyler Ulis, grew to love the school. Around one week later, he re- who now plays for the Phoenix “I visited the campus doing an ceived a call informing him that Suns. Ohio road-trip and I fell in love he was to meet with Coach Mack Barr is conscious of the role he with the campus. I felt really at concerning his tryout. plays as a walk-on on an elite col- home, it just felt right,” Barr said. Mack laid out the expectations lege program. Then as a bonus, “Oh, they on the court and off the court and His goal is to help his team- have a sweet Division I basketball offered him a spot on the team. mates grow and progress team I can support. Ever since I He had made the team, and it was “I’m getting better by making sent in my deposit I started fol- a “dream come true.” my teammates better,” Barr said. lowing them and learning about His family knew he tried out “I’m not too worried about my the history.” freshman year and they were ex- personal skill development.” Listed at 6’7” 230 pounds, it’s hard to miss him. Although, his physical features are far from the only reason he is one of the more UHFRJQL]DEOH ÀJXUHV RQ ;DYLHU·V campus. He’s the Chancellor of the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. He was a Manresa leader, donning one of those emphatic t-shirts as KHDVVLVWHGÀUVW\HDUVLQWKHLUWUDQ- sition to college. He is also an in- tramural basketball champion. ,Q FROOHJH ZKLOH WKH UDPLÀFD- tions and implications of intra- mural championships are slim, they are experiences of success nonetheless. When his team won the intra- mural championship, the victory earned them a spot in the cross- town intramural championship: a Photo courtesy of goxavier.com showdown with the Bearcats’ win- Barr has done many things while at Xavier, and he can now add Division I athlete to that list. ning team at Fifth Third Arena. BY PAUL FRITSCHNER Along with working the games, They won that too. Staff Writer he also had the chance to do com- There is little that Barr has not A mascot is one of, if not munity events. experienced as a student at Xavier the most, recognizable corner- “I got to play a broomball University. stones of any sports organization. game in Fountain Square against But, in the recesses of Barr’s However, just like walk-ons on a other mascots.,” Barr said. “The brain, deep down, he knew there college basketball team, those that Bearcat was there, the Reds mas- was one last gap that needed to hold the position, those veiled by cots were there, the Cyclone was EHÀOOHGRQHDFKLHYHPHQWKHKDG the mask, are often unknown. there.” come close to realizing. Photo courtesy of suntimeshighschoolsports.com Their work shines, yet they Concurrently with being the He was left standing at the well Barr was a standout player at Carmel Catholic in Libertyville, Ill., prior to coming to Xavier. rarely, if ever, receive the cred- FKLHI PRUDOH RIÀFHU RI ;DYLHU without water freshman year. With cited for a second opportunity. He knows that going into prac- it they deserve for what they EDVNHWEDOO JDPHV %DUU ZDV ÀQH one year left in his college career, When he made it, “They were tice every day, there’s at least one produce. tuning his basketball skills as a this was his last chance to procure kind of a little bit skeptical at thing he can bring. When senior Cullen Barr came member of the women’s practice one last drop of water from the ÀUVW WKH\ ZHUH OLNH ¶:HOO GRHV “Every day I make sure that to campus for his freshman year in squad. well of a college experience that LWÀWLQZLWK\RXUFODVVHVDQGDUH when I go into practice, I try to 2013-2014, he heard there would After an unforgettable fresh- kept on giving. you going to get enough credits clear my mind and go in there be walk-on tryouts for the men’s man year as the mascot, he “hung This year, the same news cir- to graduate?’” After he reassured with as much energy as possible. basketball team, and he knew he up the suit” and focused his atten- culated campus, that the men’s them that everything would be My main thing is energy.” could not pass up the opportunity. tion on helping the women’s team basketball team was once again ÀQH KH VDLG WKH\ ZHUH ´SXPSHG Barr has studied abroad, led An All-Conference player in and elated.” an orientation group, lived in the high school, Barr felt he had a “The support (friends and fam- student section, attended the Big decent shot at making the team. ily) gave me throughout the tryout East tournament and traveled to However, when his name was not process was second to none,” Barr various away games. called, he moved on to “the next said. “I want to look around and logical thing”: embracing the life He joins a group of four non- enjoy everything, but at the same of D’Artagnan. scholarship players after Tim time I got to buckle down. We Though mascot tryouts weren’t Stainbrook was granted a scholar- have a job to do as a team.” GLIÀFXOW %DUU FHUWDLQO\ UHPHP- ship for this season: fellow senior He is soaking in the experi- bers them. Alex Bergen and freshmen Conor ence and making the most of it, “You just had to run around Peterson and Leighton Schrand. as displayed by the Irish jig he ZLWK WKH ÁDJ DQG DFW RXW VRPH While there are some sizeable performed on stage when he was scenarios. It was awesome, I abso- players that occupy the post on introduced at Musketeer Madness. lutely loved it,” Barr said. Xavier’s team, Barr’s physique and He has seen many a game from As the mascot, Barr was court- his own skills are nothing to be the stands, and now he will be ex- side for the Crosstown Classic, as scoffed at. periencing them in an entirely dif- it was then called. It was played at He received a few Division ferent way. US Bank Arena that year. III offers, but he chose Xavier “How cool would that be to be “One side was UC, and the to focus on his education. His in that position? And now it re- whole other side was Xavier. We Photo courtesy of twitter.com senior year at Carmel Catholic ally is a dream come true. I’m very Barr (third from the right) spent three years honing his skills on the intramural courts. won, so that was fun.” High School, Barr made the East thankful.”