Richard Pitino kicked off fall practice for Xavier on Monday, September 21, and the second-year head coach is absolutely buzzing with a confidence we didn’t see last year. He’s saying this squad has “maybe the most depth I’ve ever had,” and if that’s true, it means the Musketeers are about to look way different.
The Musketeers Are Reloaded and Ready to Brawl
Last season was Pitino’s first, and it was all about building. Relationships, staff, roster, figuring out what Xavier basketball was gonna be. The Musketeers finished 15-18 overall, tied for last in the Big East. Oof. But now, with practice starting, Pitino isn’t “starting from scratch.” That depth he’s so hyped about? It’s powered by a seven-player incoming transfer class, one of the best in the entire country, no joke. On3Sports ranked them No. 1, and 247Sports and ESPN had them in the top 25. That’s some serious talent walking into the Cintas Center. This portal haul, along with some key returners and a true high school class, has Pitino believing this team will bring a physicality that could define their season.
The Elephant in the Room: Last Year’s Defensive Nightmare
Look, last year’s offense wasn’t the problem. Xavier had a capable, high-powered attack, slinging perimeter shots and even setting a school record with 309 triples. They could score! The real nightmare? When they *didn’t* have the ball. Their defense was straight up dreadful. The Musketeers ranked No. 302 in KenPom for effective field goal percentage as a defense, and they gave up over 80 points per game. That hasn’t happened since 1980! Eighty points a game, man. That’s a huge problem in the Big East. So, addressing those defensive shortcomings became Pitino’s top priority this offseason. They’ve added significant size down low and even some bigger guards. Pitino is banking on it, saying he expects “the defense and the rebounding will significantly improve.” He knows they “had a good offensive team last year. We just didn’t have good defensive rebounding.” He’s promising it “will look different, but I think we’ll be more suited for the rigors of the Big East.”
Can You Have Your Cake and Eat It Too?
This is the million-dollar question heading into the 2026-27 season: Can Xavier get tough on defense without losing that offensive firepower they had last year? Pitino is betting on defensive improvement, but will that mess with their offensive identity, or just change it? Will all that new size cause a sacrifice in spacing and tempo on offense? It’s late September, and Pitino admits he’s not exactly sure yet. He spent all summer experimenting with different combinations and concepts. This new group gives him a chance to “tinker a lot” and “take some chances on some things that maybe you haven’t done before.” With five double-digit scorers added in the portal, the offensive firepower is there. It’s just a matter of whether they’ll still lean as hard on the three-ball, especially with Ruben Dominguez, a high-volume downtown shooter from Texas A&M, coming in as Xavier’s top deep threat.
This season is shaping up to be a wild ride as we watch Pitino try to balance a revamped defense with a proven offense. Keep an eye on Cintas Center, because how they answer this question will define everything for the Musketeers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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