The case of the disappearing big men

Xavier Musketeers forward Anthony Robinson (21) dunks the ball in the second half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Butler Bulldogs, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati. Musketeers won 89-75. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Coach Richard Pitino has a problem on his hands: super tall guys that would stand out anywhere keep going missing on his watch. First it was Anthony Robinson, then it was Pape N’Diaye, then, in a shocking development, it was both. Tune in at 11 to see if either of these two gigantic men can be found in time to help save a season.

So that’s a little overwrought, but Xavier has had an issue with their bench bigs this season and it is starting to have a significantly deleterious effect on the rotation at the end of games. As Tre Carroll, Jovan Milicevic, and Filip Borovicanin tire, their output drops. Borovicanin has struggled in each of the last two games and, frankly, looks more than a little worn out. Carroll’s fatigue seems to manifest itself in late game decision making and execution. All credit to Jovan, he’s managed to find himself rest by simply slapping people periodically.

What Xavier needs is for Anthony Robinson or Pape N’Diaye to be able to provide consistent useful minutes. Both have had their moments this season, both have also been very conspicuous by their absence at times.

Anthony Robinson

Robinson actually started the first three games of this Xavier season and played 20+ minutes in all of them. His line was 12/10/3. No, that’s not his averages or four a single game, that was his output in all three of those games combined. In a harbinger of things to come, he also had seven turnovers.

Robinson then functionally vanished. He came off the bench for 19 minutes against TAMCC and 14 against Saint Francis, but other than that was only playing single digit minutes. His 12 points against TAMCC remain his season high, as do the eight rebounds…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/case-disappearing-big-men-184021908.html

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Publish date : 2026-02-24 18:40:00

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