By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The depth 19th-ranked Xavier pointed to as a team strength is suddenly gone because of player departures and Lionel Chalmers' broken right foot, leaving coach Thad Matta to rely heavily upon five starters.

Matta will have to use clever substitution patterns Saturday at top-ranked Alabama because he has just five bench players, three of whom are walk-ons.

Freshmen frontcourt players Angelo Smith and Will Caudle are the only available scholarship athletes not starting. Freshman walk-on Keenan Christiansen is the backup point guard to starting freshman Dedrick Finn. Christiansen didn't play point guard in high school, so if he sees any time Saturday, which Matta said is likely, Christiansen will learn on the job.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," Christiansen said. "It's surprising how it happened. Two months ago, I was the third or fourth man at the position, and after 12 games, I'm the sixth man."

Matta said he hopes to stay in a man defense but that the Musketeers (9-2) will be prepared to play zone if necessary.

"Coach said we'll have to switch it up just to save some guys' legs," said Keith Jackson, now a starter after scoring 17 points in Chalmers' place Tuesday against Creighton.

XU players appear to have recovered emotionally from losing teammates Anthony Coleman and Dave Young in a two-week span because of disagreements about playing time. Coleman voluntarily left the team, and Matta dismissed Young.

"It looked for a minute like we were falling apart," Finn said. "But really, we were coming together as a team, and we are still a team and proving everyone wrong who said we were falling apart."

Alabama (9-1) is coming off a 51-49 loss to Utah on Monday and wants to back up its No. 1 ranking, which it probably will lose when next week's Associated Press Top 25 poll comes out. The Crimson Tide struggled to score against Utah and missed 10 of their first 11 shots.

Alabama shoots 31 percent from 3-point range for the season, another reason Xavier might throw a zone defense. But the Tide have plenty of depth behind star players Maurice Williams (point guard), Erwin Dudley (power forward) and Kenny Walker (center).

"They're going to bang hard and attack the offensive glass," Jackson said. "They've got great players, but we've got great athletes on our team, too."

Finn, suddenly the floor leader in Chalmers' absence, probably will defend Williams, last season's Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year who scores 16.3 points a game.

Matta said he has confidence in Finn and doesn't think of him as a freshman anymore.

"It's a little bit of pressure," Finn said of playing the nation's No. 1 team on the road. "But I like challenges, and I have to step up to the challenge."

Jackson will start for the first time in his career. He admits it was difficult for him to foresee this Musketeers lineup but that he is more prepared now than he was last season.

"Coach (Matta) has just told me to be ready," Jackson said. "And I've worked hard and improved at handling the ball and shooting and on defense."

Jackson won't be expected to bring the ball up the floor against Alabama, but he's capable.

As for Christiansen, he'll take any opportunities he can get but doesn't want to be forced into the game, such as if Finn gets into early foul trouble.

"I never played point guard my entire life until I got to Xavier," Christiansen said. "I hope Dedrick plays the smartest game of his life."

CASUAL OBSERVERS: Chalmers attended Thursday's practice with his right foot wrapped and leg extended onto a chair. He will make the Alabama trip.

Incoming freshman Boubacar Coly from Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep also showed up to watch practice.

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com