Xavier gets early litmus test against Wake Forest in Skip Prosser Classic

After some ups and downs in the first two games of the season, Xavier had its best performance of the young season at the right time on Tuesday. Jackson State’s implosion.

Xavier continues a good litmus test against the hosts on Saturday afternoon Wake Forest in the Skip Prosser Classic. Both teams are undefeated and aiming to break into the Associated Press Top 25. Wake Forest was ranked 28th and Xavier was ranked 29th. latest survey.

More: ‘I’ve had my ups and downs.’ Piano expert Ryan Conwell hits the right buttons with Xavier

The event began during the 2009-2010 season and honors former Xavier coach Skip Prosser. Prosser led the Musketeers to four NCAA Tournaments for seven seasons (1994-2001) before leaving to take over at Wake Forest. He went 126-68 with four March Madness trips over six seasons with the Demon Deacons. He died in 2007.

“He transformed this program in so many ways, both as an assistant and head coach,” Xavier head coach Sean Miller said Thursday. “This is the right thing to do on so many levels. I’m happy to mention the Prosser name in two positive ways about the game I know he loves: Wake Forest and Xavier.”

Xavier vs. Wake Forest

Fly: Saturday, noon, Cintas Center (10.224)

TV/Radio: FS1/700 WLW

Ratings: Xavier is ranked 48th KenPom. Wake Forest is No. 74.

History: Xavier is 5-3 all-time against Wake Forest, including a 4-3 mark in the Skip Prosser Classic. Wake Forest got it Last match in December 2019, 80-78in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons scouting report

Record: 4-0

Head coach: Steve Forbes (75-54 at Wake Forest, fifth season)

Attack: 75.2 points

Defense: 65.8 points

Overview: Wake Forest was unscathed entering this matchup, but the Demon Deacons survived a tough matchup on Wednesday night and held on to defeat South Carolina Upstate, 85-80. Prior to this slow performance, Wake Forest had defeated Michigan by a bucket on November 10.

Wake Forest is on a similar path as Xavier. Last season, the two would have faced each other in the NIT if the Musketeers had advanced. Instead, Xavier lost to Georgia, ending Wake Forest’s season in the second round.

The Demon Deacons have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and have not been ranked since the 2009-10 season. Both of those questionable points could change this year as Wake Forest reloads with some key transfers like Appalachian State forward Tre’Von Spillers, who is averaging 11 points and has a double-double so far.

Wake Forest also has several key returning players, including a trio in the starting lineup. Leading the group is Hunter Sallis, who was last season’s AP ACC Newcomer of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection. He averaged 16.3 points in four games and shot 46.8%.

Projected squad

(Location, Altitude, Statistics)

Cameron Hildreth (W, 6’4″, 13 points)

Parker Friedrichsen (W, 6’4″, 4.8 ppg)

Hunter Sallis (W, 6’5″, 16.3 ppg)

Tre’Von Spillers (F, 6’7″, 11 points)

Efton Reid III (W, 7’0″, 9.3 ppg)

Xavier Musketeers scouting report

Record: 3-0

Head coach: Sean Miller (166-75 at Xavier, eighth season)

Attack: 88.7 points

Defense: 68.7 points

Projected squad

(Location, Altitude, Statistics)

Dayvion McKnight (G, 6’0″, 13.7 ppg)

Ryan Conwell (W, 6’4″, 18 points)

Marcus Foster (W, 6’5″, 4.3 ppg)

Dailyn Swain (G/F, 6’8″, 10 points)

Zach Freemantle (F, 6’7″, 19 points)

Players to watch

John Hugley

Hugley is trying to get back to being an all-conference selection in 2022 in Pittsburgh. Hugley, who has lost more than 50 kilos since coming to Xavier, had his best performance against Jackson State with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

In back-to-back games, Xavier has had a frontcourt player make a significant impact off the bench. Before Hugley, Jerome Hunter had 10 points in Xavier’s win over IU Indy on Nov. 8.

More: 4-star recruits Nyk Lewis and Jayden Forsythe signed with Xavier Musketeers for 2025

Now it’s all about consistency. It’s still early in the season, and both Hunter and Hugley are coming off injury-plagued seasons, so there’s no telling what progress they’ll make once the Big East gauntlet arrives. Xavier wants to contribute from the bench, but a poor performance is a must for this matchup with Wake Forest.

Keys to Xavier’s victory over Wake Forest

Can Xavier contain Hunter Sallis?

Sallis has the ability to ruin any game with his shooting ability. He won’t be the last elite scorer Xavier will try to slow down this season, but he will be the first.

It will be interesting to see how Miller plays the 6-foot-4 guard, who is making a final push for the NBA Draft. In the afternoon, the task could be given to Marcus Foster or Dailyn Swain.

Sallis averaged 18 points per game last season and shot over 40% from beyond the arc. Even though his three-pointers aren’t there yet this season (2-for-16), he’s still a player that Xavier’s defenders need to stick with for 40 minutes.

Xavier’s offense needs to stay hot

In the first half of Xavier’s win over IU Indy, there was panic at the Cintas Center as Xavier was only up by five points. In the 60 minutes (three halves) since then, the Musketeers’ offense has been lethal; They shot 61.1% from the field and 56.4% from three (22/39).

It helps some of your shooters come off the bench. That happened Tuesday when Trey Green and Dante Maddox combined for 11 3-pointers. If Xavier’s offense continues at this pace, it can offset a host of other issues should they arise.

This article first appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier will get a big test at Wake Forest on Saturday in the Skip Prosser Classic

If you buy something through a link in this article we may earn a commission.