'There was incredible turnover.' How Sean Miller navigates Xavier's new-look roster
When Sean Miller returned to Xavier University as the men's basketball coach nearly 15 months ago, he saw a roster with returning production and overall promise.
"There were three incoming players (from last year), Desmond Claude, Kam Craft and then Souley Boum," Miller said. "The other guys had been here, whether they had played a lot or not, they were already in school and were returning. I thought that really helped in the transition, not only from the experience, but the general feel that they knew Xavier."
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After a run to the Sweet 16, multiple players in the NBA (including a second-round draft pick) and four transfer portal departures, this summer has been a new challenge for Miller and his coaching staff dealing with a roster full of fresh faces.
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Colby Jones, Boum, Adam Kunkel and Jack Nunge were in NBA Summer Leagues last month while KyKy Tandy, Cesare Edwards, Elijah Tucker and Dieonte Miles left via the portal.
"We knew it was coming. There was incredible turnover," Miller said. "In the end you add that up, that's eight guys who left the program. As we went into the spring and summer this year, it was almost like an, 'I just got here' feeling."
The newcomers
Xavier basketball welcomed in four new transfers from the portal in guards Quincy Olivari (Rice) and Dayvion McKnight (Western Kentucky), forward Abou Ousmane (North Texas) and center Logan Duncomb (Indiana).
Xavier's highly ranked 2023 recruiting class landed four-star commits Dailyn Swain, Trey Green and Reid Ducharme, along with three-star center Kachi Nzeh. Xavier also landed international transfer Gytis Nemeiksa, who is not yet with the team.
It's been a fresh start reorganizing the pieces to the puzzle over the last nine weeks with eight new players coming to Cintas Center for the first time.
"Coaching, player development, strength and conditioning, meetings, film, you name it, we're basically dealing with a brand-new beginning," Miller said. "It's challenging, but it's a lot of fun."
On the practice court, Xavier is still without their three key returners from last year's NCAA Tournament run. Jerome Hunter is out with an undisclosed medical issue while Zach Freemantle (foot) and Kam Craft (knee) are still recovering from surgeries. That trio combined for 24.6 points and 14 rebounds per game last season.
"Not one of them are a part of what we're doing on the court," Miller said. "That leaves the lone survivor and that's Dez (Desmond Claude), who is a young sophomore."
Xavier will play in 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League next week
Part of the equation for building that team chemistry with a roster of first-year Musketeers happens off the court. For starters, the team went and played paintball together Wednesday morning for a small slice of team bonding outside of Cintas Center.
"We haven't done a lot of that. Sometimes, I think there are programs that try to do too much of that," Miller said. "I think it's something to get away from the gym, away from the weight room, get outside and have fun. They'll probably all be pointing the gun at me."
The NCAA permits an international trip every four years and Xavier's new-look club gets the chance to play in the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League in Nassau, Bahamas next week along with Penn State University. Xavier will play two exhibition games, against University of Victoria (Aug. 8) and The Bahamas (Aug. 10).
According to Miller, the preseason contents will give the team its first chance to mesh, along with executing the basic terminology that will be used for the entire season.
"The things we're implementing are things that will stand the test of time. It's not like we're experimenting," Miller said. "We're trying to put in the fundamentals of everything we do, so in March we're going to be talking about the same things. Even the trip itself gives us an opportunity.
"In a way, we went through almost a nine- or 10-week program from the beginning of the summer to the end of this trip. I'm grateful we've had the opportunity and I think there's value to go on a trip like this."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's what Sean Miller hopes to accomplish as Xavier heads to Bahamas
