Scouting report: No. 22 Xavier looks to bounce back at home against South Carolina State

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For this first time this season, No. 22 Xavier will take the floor looking for redemption.

The Musketeers started 6-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season, but got a major wakeup call in Florida Wednesday, falling to the Michigan Wolverines, 78-53, in the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

Xavier now looks for a response when South Carolina State visits Cintas Center Sunday afternoon to open December play.

Xavier vs. South Carolina State

Tip: Sunday, 4:30 p.m., Cintas Center (10,224)

TV/Radio: FS1/55 KRC

Ratings: Xavier slipped to No. 53 in KenPom following Wednesday’s loss. South Carolina State is No. 303.

History: This is the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Erik Martin, shown as an assistant to Bob Huggins at West Virginia, played for Huggins’ Bearcats and is now in his third season as head coach for South Carolina State.

South Carolina State Bulldogs scouting report

Record: 4-4

Head coach: Erik Martin (23-48, third season)

Offense: 78.2 ppg

Defense: 68.6 ppg

Overview: Longtime Bob Huggins’ assistant and former UC Bearcat Erk Martin is in his third season as the Bulldogs head coach. Under Martin, South Carolina State had a nine-win jump last season and is off to a 4-4 start this year, recently losing to Marshall by 29 on the road.

Sophomore forward Drayton Jones is the Bulldogs’ leading scorer at 12 points per game while shooting 63% from the field. The team’s leading rebounder (5.1), Jones has scored in double figures in six of eight games this season with a high of 23.

Jones is the Bulldogs’ only double-digit scorer, but South Carolina State has depth with eight players averaging at least five points per game.

Off the bench, guard Wilson Dubinsky is the Bulldogs’ top perimeter threat. The senior guard is shooting 43.6% from beyond the arc. South Carolina State leads the nation in minutes played off the bench.

South Carolina State has had some schedule similarities with Xavier thus far. The Bulldogs lost to South Carolina, 86-64, Nov. 8 and beat IU Indianapolis, 72-62, Nov….

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/scouting-report-no-22-xavier-135340163.html

Author : Cincinnati.com | The Enquirer

Publish date : 2024-12-01 13:53:00

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