A lot has happened, and not happened, but Xavier hasn’t been involved
It can seem like the world of college basketball spins incredibly quickly. UConn battering everyone is just about the only constant right now. Coaches are changing, the portal has to be almost full, and Xavier, once again, doesn’t have enough guys to field a team. March and early April are busy times for college ball, and not just because of the tournament anymore. Here’s what has happened since X landed Marcus Foster.
UConn repeated as national champs
There was always a chance that Zach Edey and his friends in black and white could overcome the Huskies, but even that proved a short-lived hope for those who don’t like Dan Hurley. Edey nearly scored 40 as UConn decided early in the game to let him get his when he was down low and run quick doubles at him when he caught the ball anywhere else. Edey had to pass, his teammates couldn’t make anything, and UConn won again. There hasn’t been a team this dominant in March since ever.
John Calipari left UK for Arkansas
Remember how hilarious it was when Oakland beat UK in the first round? Part of the reason for that is that John Calipari isn’t a good coach and, now that everyone can pay players, there’s nothing that makes him all that special. Still, he and UK both came out and said he was staying put in the aftermath of that game.
So of course he left. Scandal has followed Calipari everywhere he has gone, and if this wasn’t scandalous it was at least the weasel’s way out. Calipari failed to mention to UK that he was seeking employment elsewhere, a breach not just of good etiquette but also his contract. UK fans, fickle as ever, turned on Cal immediately, a development made all the more humorous for the few hours when it looked like the job at Arkansas would fall through.
All of this will hit peak funny when UK signs either Bob Huggins or Anthony Grant.
The coaching carousel still spins
Chris Mack is back and he’s going to… Charleston? I don’t know why the winningest coach in the history of a Big East program and a guy with an Elite Eight and a top 10 Louisville team would land in the CAA, but here we are. Charleston is a beautiful city, Mack is already rich, and sometimes there is more to life than just the strain of a high-major. Maybe that’s all there is to it.
Mack is there because Pat Kelsey has taken the poisoned chalice at Louisville. He seems a good guy, so it will be a shame to watch the life drain from his eyes on the sidelines of the Yum! Center. Andy Enfield left USC to take the SMU job, probably because he wanted to leave before he got fired, and Eric Musselman took the self-promotion bus west to replace Enfield. That’s hardly all, either. The full list is here.
Sean Miller is staying put
There was some smoke around the OSU job, but the Buckeyes stuck with their interim coach because he had five good games. That’s a dangerous game to play. Miller has been mentioned for the UK job, but only in rumor and not particularly good rumor at that. There’s a feeling amongst the staff here that if Coach Miller was leaving, Coach Mack would have stayed available for the Xavier opening.
And Xavier hasn’t signed anyone yet
X got caught last season having to fill their roster out with what was left after they had a horrid spate of injuries at the worst time. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the Griffin McKenzie signing, but it wasn’t great. This year the Musketeers have the time and opportunity to strike early to cement their roster, but they haven’t. The good news is that hardly any of the truly big names are off the board and the season just ended Monday. The bad news is that X needs a full roster overhaul and has one incoming freshman. It’s by no means panic time, but maybe signing a post player should happen sooner than later.