Xavier basketball schedule: Power ranking Musketeers’ non-conference opponents

In just over four months, Xavier’s 2024-25 season will tip off when the Musketeers host Texas Southern.

Xavier’s non-conference schedule was released Friday afternoon with plenty of intrigue behind several marquee matchups from the Skip Prosser Classic, the Fort Myers Tip-Off and the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.

Last season, Xavier’s non-conference woes set the tone for the program’s first losing season in nearly three decades. Can Xavier get off to a better start this fall? Here’s a power ranking of the toughest games on tap for the Musketeers.

More: Report: Former Xavier guard Quincy Olivari agrees to Exhibit-10 deal with LA Lakers

(Note: Xavier will only play two of its three neutral opponents in the Fort Myers Tip-Off)

12. IU Indy (home)

Last season (IUPUI): 6-26 (10th Horizon League, No. 360 KenPom)

Overview: In the final year as IUPUI, the Jaguars were one of the worst teams in the country, finishing just one game out of the basement of the Horizon League. Now IU Indy, Paul Corsaro was named the Jaguars’ next head coach in March after four seasons at the University of Indianapolis (DII).

11. Siena (home)

Last season: 4-28 (11th MAAC, No. 357 KenPom)

Overview: Last season, Siena won its fewest games since 1960 and opted for a change as longtime Syracuse assistant and former national champion Gerry McNamara was named the Saints’ new head coach. Siena’s lone addition via the transfer portal was Reid Ducharme, who appeared in five games as a freshman at Xavier last season.

10. Morgan State (home)

Last season: 11-20 (5th MEAC, No. 334 KenPom)

Overview: Morgan State has had just one winning season since the Kevin Broadus era began in 2019 and went just 4-13 in non-conference play last season. Morgan State is led by guard Will Thomas, who averaged 14 points per game in 2024.

9. Texas Southern (home)

Last season: 16-17 (3rd SWAC, No. 267 KenPom)

Overview: Last season broke a three-year run of NCAA Tournament appearances as a No. 16 seed for Texas Southern under the direction of head coach Johnny Jones, who earned a three-year extension in April.

8. Jackson State (home)

Last season: 15-17 (5th SWAC, No. 309 KenPom)

Overview: Jackson State has had just one winning season since 2016, but the Tigers came close to that in 2024 in the second year under Mo Williams, a 14-year NBA veteran and champion. Jackson State picked up 6-foot-10 center Shannon Grant via the transfer portal. He averaged 10.4 points per game at Florida A&M last season. They also lost leading scorer Ken Evans.

7. South Carolina State (home)

Last season: 14-18 (2nd MEAC, No. 301 KenPom)

Overview: Longtime Bob Huggins’ assistant and former Cincinnati State coach Erik Martin is entering his third season with the Bulldogs. He led a nine-win turnaround last season after going 5-26 in his inaugural year at the helm. Former Woodward head coach Jarelle Redden joined Martin’s staff as an assistant earlier this summer.

6. Virginia Tech (neutral)

Last season: 19-15 (8th ACC, No. 58 KenPom)

Overview: Virginia Tech had seven outgoing transfers after a second-straight 19-15 campaign and added five via the portal, including four-star guard Jaden Schutt from Duke, double-digit scorer Hysier Miller from Temple and Toibu Lawal from VCU.

5. Wake Forest (home)

Last season: 21-14 (5th ACC, No. 28 KenPom)

Overview: Wake Forest and Xavier each had its season ended by Georgia in the NIT, now the two will tango in the Skip Prosser Classic. Like Xavier, Wake Forest is dealing with plenty of turnover via the transfer portal with eight departures, though the Demon Deacons will retain leading scorer Hunter Sallis. Wake Forest added five players in the portal, highlighted by Iowa State forward Omaha Biliew.

4. Michigan (neutral)

Last season: 8-24 (14th Big 10, No. 128 KenPom)

Overview: It’s a new era in Ann Arbor as Dusty May overhauled the roster with the No. 9 transfer portal class in the nation, per 247Sports. Michigan landed Yale star Danny Wolf, Ohio State guard Roddy Gayle Jr. and one of May’s former standouts at Florida Atlantic in Vladislav Goldin. Michigan also got a commitment from Justin Pippen Jr., a four-star combo guard.

3. South Carolina (neutral)

Last season: 26-8 (2nd SEC, No. 54 KenPom, NCAA Tournament 1st round)

Overview: Lamond Paris led South Carolina to its first NCAA Tournament since 2017 and highest AP ranking (No. 11) since 1998. They return eight players, including talented forward Collin Murray-Boyles. South Carolina added three in the portal, including Jamarii Thomas, the MEAC Player of the Year last season at Norfolk State.

2. Cincinnati (away)

Last season: 22-15 (11th Big 12, No. 39 KenPom)

Overview: The Crosstown Shootout is always the biggest regular-season game for Xavier and has been one of the toughest despite the Musketeers’ 5-game winning streak in the rivalry. Four of those wins have come by single digits and Wes Miller’s club is hungry to snap that streak. UC has the No. 26 transfer portal class between Bradley sharpshooter Connor Hickman, Texas starting forward Dillon Mitchell and Arrinten Page from USC. Four of UC’s last five wins in the rivalry have been at Fifth Third Arena.

1. TCU (away)

Last season: 21-13 (7th Big 12, No. 43 KenPom, NCAA Tournament 1st round)

Overview: Head coach Jamie Dixon has built a consistent winner with three consecutive 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament berths. TCU lost three players via the portal and added a half-dozen in a transfer class that ranks 28th in the nation, per 247Sports. TCU’s biggest get was UNC Wilmington’s Trazarien White, a first-team all-conference selection last season (19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds per game). TCU has combined to go 37-12 at home over the last three seasons.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier schedule: Power ranking Musketeers’ non-conference opponents