Matta juggles lineup for exhibition; Jackson, Caudle inserted as starters
By Dustin Dow The Cincinnati Enquirer
Xavier coach Thad Matta has some options this season as far as his lineup is concerned.
Matta made a surprise move Saturday in Xavier's season-opening exhibition game by starting junior swingman Keith Jackson in place of point guard Dedrick Finn and sophomore Will Caudle, who hadn't started since the first game of last season.
The decision was based on what Matta has observed in practice over the last two weeks, which he described as the most competitive in his three-year tenure at Xavier.
"No question about it," Matta said. "We're competing like crazy in practice, and that has to continue, because we've got some guys who are hungry to play, and that's a great thing to have right now."
Because of all the new players and new roles this season, Matta said he wasn't sure what to expect Saturday, but Xavier pushed the tempo throughout and ended with a 100-63 win against EA Sports in front of 5,249 at Cintas Center. Xavier had its fair share of problems, such as awareness on defense, but for the most part, coaches got to see how this team's veterans and newcomers mixed together.
"Guys are still trying to quote-unquote fill their roles of where we're supposed to be," Matta said. "Guys are overlapping positions, and as many guys as we're playing, it's tough to figure out."
Ten Xavier players logged 16 minutes or more Saturday, and all 10 of them scored, led by Romain Sato, who shot 7-of-11 for 20 points. Anthony Myles scored 15 points, and Finn produced off the bench with 14 points. Lionel Chalmers, who started at point guard, finished with 12 points.
Matta didn't inform the team of who would start until just before players left the locker room for the start of the game.
"I've been really trying to play hard in practice," said Jackson, who had eight points and five rebounds. "On defense especially. Make steals, get rebounds. I guess Coach recognized it and put me in the starting lineup."
SIDELINED: Freshmen Robert Barker and Boubacar Coly probably will take a redshirt year this season, although final decisions haven't been made. Both had offseason knee problems.
