Expectations have never been higher at Xavier University as the basketball season approaches.

        The Musketeers are coming off a 26-6 season that included an Atlantic 10 Conference championship. They're bringing back their two best players, David West and Romain Sato, who just happen to be two of the nation's best at their positions, which brings us to the first question.

        How will XU coach Thad Matta maximize the talents of both West and Sato this season?

        This is harder than it sounds because if West had foregone his senior year for the NBA, Sato would clearly be the primary offensive weapon. As it is, West came back and might be a National Player of the Year candidate while sharing leadership duties with Sato, who is still rapidly improving after first picking up a basketball just seven years ago.

        “First and foremost, we have to get everybody to understand what they can do to help the team,” Matta said. “And with those two, you've got two guys who have capabilities of having big nights.”

        The key will be to balance the big nights. The last thing the Musketeers need is a superstar controversy or one of the two complaining about a lack of touches.

        How much of an impact will Dedrick Finn make?

        Athletically, Finn is the most talented of XU's newcomers. Matta said the 6-foot-1 native of Newburgh, Ind., would see time at point and shooting guard.

        “Dedrick has a very good feel for the game,” he said. “One of the questions is, how quick will he adjust to the college game? We hope that he picks up the game quickly. We base a lot of our deal on defense, so being able to defend will be a key for him.”

        The first thing for Finn, though, is to get healthy before practice starts Saturday. He suffered a thigh bruise two weeks ago and has been rehabbing since.

        How crucial was the loss of Randy Holbrook?

        Holbrook was going to transfer to XU as a junior and start at center when it was determined he didn't have enough academic credits. Having him as a starter in the post would have freed West from having to play there regularly.

        Instead, Matta plans to use sophomore Will Caudle as the starting center and rotate West from power forward to center occasionally. Coincidently, Caudle didn't play last year because he was academically ineligible as a freshman.

        “I think Will comes in with a year under his belt in the system, even though he didn't play in games last year,” Matta said. “He's a guy that got to guard David West every day in practice.”

        Do the preseason rankings mean anything?

        In a word, yes. XU's top-10 ranking in several preseason polls helps primarily with recruiting and securing television deals. It also doesn't hurt to get fans talking early.

        It is hardly an indication of how the Musketeers, or any team, will play in the regular season, however. Remember, Iowa was a consensus top-10 team last October but lost in the first round of the NIT.

        “This team has accomplished nothing,” Matta said. “We have to go out and play basketball and prove we are a top team.”

        What kind of a record should be expected?

        An improvement on 26-6 would be a start and is certainly attainable with this group.

        Advancing deep into the NCAA Tournament is also a likely possibility, and it could be a lot easier with a strong regular season that is rewarded with a low seed in the tournament. Last year, XU earned a No.7 seed and had to face Final Four-bound Oklahoma in the second round.

        “I'm trying to get to 1-0 against St. Peter's,” Matta said. “We did a very good job last year. Now we have to continue that.”

XAVIER

Number Player Position Ht. Class Hometown 53 Ryan Caldwell Forward 6-5 Sr. Cincinnati 52 Will Caudle Forward/Center 6-9 So. Indianapolis 0 Lionel Chalmers Guard 6-0 Sr. Albany, N.Y. 32 K.Christiansen Guard 6-4 Fr. Greenville, Penn. 33 Brandon Cole Forward 6-7 Fr. Richton Park, Ill. 21 Anthony Coleman Forward 6-10 So. Carson, Calif. 54 Tom Compton Forward 6-11 Jr. Cincinnati 12 Dedrick Finn Guard 6-1 Fr. Newburgh, Ind. 25 Keith Jackson Guard/Forward 6-5 So. Cincinnati 24 Anthony Myles Forward 6-9 Jr. Chicago, Ill. 10 Romain Sato Guard 6-5 Jr. Dayton 11 Angelo Smith Forward 6-8 Fr. Indianapolis 30 David West Forward 6-9 Sr. Garner, N.C. 13 David Young Guard 6-5 Sr. New Castle, Penn.

       

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