David West knows victories over Coastal Carolina, Miami and San Francisco won't wow the Top 25 voters. But the Xavier center said he has seen enough to say his team should be ranked.

        “People aren't fully understanding that we're a lot better than last year,” he said Saturday night after XU's 87-72 victory at San Francisco. “We haven't even started to play our best ball yet. But we feel we'll get that (respect) if we continue to win.”

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        XU had a big week by anyone's standards, winning two road games by an average of 23 points. XU shot 60 percent at Miami and 50 percent at USF, making 10 3-pointers in each game. Romain Sato was the star Saturday, totaling 23 points and nine rebounds, while West added 20 points.

        “We're done with the feeling-out stage (with the new coaching staff),” West said. “We're winning games, playing hard. We're playing as a unit right now.

        “I'm not sure if last year, if we came this far just for one game, that we'd win it.”

        Junior Dave Young said a key has been the team's solid performance in their Nov. 24 loss to Missouri.

        “That gave us confidence, hanging in with them,” he said. “I think this team should be ranked now.”

        Coach Thad Matta downplayed Top 25 talk, saying the team had numerous areas in which it needed improvement.

        “We're getting better,” he said. “I like the way we're playing. But we've got a long way to go.”

        West was named Atlantic 10 player of the week for the second time in three weeks. He averaged 24.5 points in two games.

        CHALMERS AILING: Point guard Lionel Chalmers sprained an ankle early in the second half Saturday and was walking with a pronounced limp Sunday. He felt better Sunday and said he will play Wednesday at Purdue. “I hope I'll be ready,” he said.

        Chalmers landed on it wrong on a drive to the basket. He sat out for 4 1/2 minutes, convinced the coaches he should go back in, then played another 6:43 before sitting down for good with six minutes left in the game.

        YOUNG EMERGES: Young totaled a career-high 19 points, five rebounds (four offensive), two assists and no turnovers Saturday.

        “My shot was there tonight, and I got to the line (7-of-8 on free throws),” he said. “Coach said he wanted me to be active, to get five rebounds, and I'm glad I could.”
       SURPRISE: Senior walk-on James Baronas played 88 seconds midway through the first half. It was the first time in his career he played while a game was still in doubt.

        “He brought some size,” Matta said. “We put him in to guard (7-footer Hondre) Brewer.”

        Matta said not to infer that Baronas had leap-frogged skinnier scholarship player Anthony Coleman, who didn't play Saturday, in the rotation.

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Xavier feels worthy of Top 25

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