By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Xavier University's season, once clouded with uncertainty, is full of new promise after Saturday's 21-point win against Alabama at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers (8-4), who had spent the better part of December searching for a team identity, defeated their first major-conference opponent of the season and head into the Atlantic 10 Conference season Sunday at Rhode Island on a three-game winning streak. Those factors, along with more consistent play from the team's key players, leave a lot less doubt about whether Xavier can compete at a high level.

"We've got a lot more confidence because of the last three games," senior center Anthony Myles said. "I've noticed a change among us with the team and myself. Everybody has come together, and we depend on each other and want more from each other."

Xavier controlled the Alabama game defensively and now seems to be a contender for the Atlantic 10 title and an NCAA Tournament bid.

Just one month ago, after consecutive losses to Ball State and Indiana, Xavier's prospects darkened. XU lost two of three games from Dec. 13-23 and its record fell to 5-4, with all four losses on the road. The Musketeers returned home for a three-game stretch and haven't lost since.

"I really think we learned from (the early-season struggles)," senior guard Lionel Chalmers said. "It's better that it happened early."

Aside from the Alabama win, Xavier still lacks a significant victory. But there is still the Atlantic 10 season ahead, and the Musketeers are better prepared for the league stretch than they were two weeks ago.

Players have accepted coach Thad Matta's message that an intimidating defense will create offensive opportunities, and they're playing a more attacking style. But Xavier has to show an ability to do that away from home.

Three of XU's road losses came during a month-long period when the Musketeers had no home games. Two of the losses were on home courts of major-conference opponents, Mississippi State and Iowa State.

"Iowa State is one of the toughest places to play in the country," Matta said. "I don't think there's a tougher environment that we're going to play in."

Making a run at an NCAA Tournament bid probably will require a solid showing on the road in the Atlantic 10 unless Xavier earns the automatic bid by winning the conference tournament in Dayton.

Xavier's most visible road games in the Atlantic 10 are at Rhode Island Sunday, at George Washington Jan. 28, at Dayton Jan. 31 and at Richmond Feb. 10 before closing the regular season at Temple March 6.

"That's our big thing right now is to be able to carry our intensity and our effort on the road," Myles said. "It's important, because we've got to let everybody know we're not just a home team."

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com

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