Just one thing here: Xavier Basketball

Some quick news and notes if you haven't been keeping up...
- As was expected last week, Mizzou assistant coach Rick Carter has left the Tigers and joined Chris Mack's staff at Xavier. He has served on Tom Izzo's staff at Michigan State as well as on the Western Michigan staff when current Muskie Matt Stainbrook played at WMU. Carter's big ties in the Michigan area should be helpful for XU's recruiting in that area. Welcome aboard Coach Carter!

- Chris Cantino, who transferred into X last year as apparently transferring out of X now. Rumors have been this is either due to a lack of playing time expected or academic issues. With the influx of talent on the Muskies roster this year, Cantino will get a lot more court time if he's at a smaller program so hopefully all works out well for him this fall. Good luck Chris! This does mean that Xavier now has an open scholarship spot for this fall. While most all high school seniors and would-be transfers are accounted for, there's always a few guys out there that could be picked up. Another alternative is giving this open scholly to Erik Stenger. Stenger started last season as a walk-on and was awarded a scholarship for the spring semester for his hard work and constant hustle.

- If you haven't heard, July 1st is Xavier Day in Cincinnati to celebrate our first day in the Big East! There will be festivities on Fountain Square in the afternoon and it's Xavier Night at the Reds game.

Go Muskies!

GoXavier.com released the full non-conference schedule.

Sat., Nov. 2 vs. Exhibition game TBA
Fri., Nov. 8 vs. Gardner-Webb
Tues., Nov. 12 vs. Tennessee - moved to primetime on Fox1
Fri., Nov. 15 vs. Morehead State
Tues., Nov. 19 vs. Miami (Ohio)
TBD in Nov: Battle 4 Atlantis home game
Thur., Nov. 28 vs. Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas
Fri., Nov. 29 vs. Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas
Sat., Nov. 30 vs. Battle 4 Atlantis in The Bahamas

• Battle for Atlantis Field - Xavier, Kansas, UTEP, Villanova, Wake Forest, Tennessee, USC, and Iowa 

Sat., Dec. 7 vs. Bowling Green
Tues., Dec. 10 vs. Evansville
Sat., Dec. 14 vs. Cincinnati at U.S. Bank Arena, 7PM
Sat., Dec. 21 at Alabama
Sat., Dec. 28 vs. Wake Forest

Additionally, Xavier will play 9 home games and 9 road games in Big East conference play.

Check it out Xavier's article here
http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/060413aad.html
or go to the Schedule page of this site throughout the year for updates/changes to the schedule.


Can't wait to start the season. Go Muskies!

Remy Abell, former Indiana Hooser, announced just hours ago that he will be transferring to Xavier. He'll have to sit out this coming season and then will have 2 years of eligibility.

While you might be asking why Xavier would want a guy who only played 12.5 min/gm last year, don't forget who else was on Remy's roster. The team was loaded with All American candidates and future NBA stars.

So that's the 3rd Musketeer reeled in this week! 2014 Detroit guard Edmond Sumner and 2013 Bulgarian forward Aleksandar Vezenkov committed earlier this week before today's news of Abell.

The Muskies are on a roll! 

Chris Mack's quick trip to Europe between games a few months ago has paid off huge. Aleksander Vezenkov, a 6'8" forward from Bulgaria, committed to Xavier yesterday. AND he will be enrolling this fall and should be eligible immediately.

There has been some debate on his eligibility due to him playing on a pro team in Greece. He has never signed a pro contract or been paid to play for the team so he meets all NCAA guidelines regarding this issue.

Vez (much easier to write and say than his full name) will just be turning 18 this summer but has already played against some very good competition in Europe. Vez is a scorer and can shoot well for being 6'8". He's listed anywhere from 200 to 220 pounds; he'll certainly need to add to that in the weight room in his time at X.

The Xavier staff is looking great as they add one player after another. A guard at Indiana, Remy Abell, will likely make his decision on where he will transfer today. Word is that he is now down to just SLU and XU. He would have to this out this coming year and then would have 2 years of eligiblity at X.

Go MUSKIES!!!

Travis Steele and company reeled in a 2014 commitment from a Detroit-area point guard last night. Edmond "Skinny" Sumner" is a 6'2", 160 pounder who has just recently come up on big schools' radar. As a point guard, he'd be the likely man to fill in the shoes of Semaj Christon, should Semaj leave for the NBA after this coming season or next.

Credit Coach Steele & Xavier for finding Edmond early on and being the first college program to show interest in Skinny.

Sumner joins Melvin Swift as 2014 class is starting to shape up. There will be much more recruiting news this summer. Xavier's staff has been looking at possible transfers in as well as high school players. Expect the Muskies to keep delivering good news on this front!