The last time he coached in a Big East game, Richard Pitino was a 29-year-old associate head coach at Louisville under his father, Rick, when the Cardinals beat the UC Bearcats in the 2012 Big East title game at Madison Square Garden.
It was the first time in the history of the tournament there was not an original Big East member in the conference title game. Pitino would begin his head-coaching career at Florida International University (FIU) one month later after Louisville’s season ended with a Final Four loss to Kentucky.
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More: Xavier beats Missouri State, ends non-conference on 5-game winning streak
PHOTOS: Xavier Musketeers winning streak continues vs. Missouri State
Nearly 14 years later, Pitino is back in the league he grew up in between attending Providence College and serving as a student manager with the Friars before two stints at Louisville. It looks a little different, though. When Louisville cut down the nets at MSG, the Big East was a 16-team league.
Eight programs are no longer in the conference as Pitino gets ready for his first Big East season as a head coach with Xavier.
Xavier went 8-3 in non-conference play in Richard Pitino’s first season. Xavier was 8-3 in non-conference play in its last two NCAA Tournament seasons (2023, 2025).
“They know it’s gonna get real now,” Pitino said after the Musketeers’ win over Missouri State Dec. 12.
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Xavier finished the non-conference portion of the regular season at 8-3 and is on a five-game winning streak heading into the Big East opener against Creighton at Cintas Center Dec. 17.
“It’s a new season,” Pitino said Dec. 15. “The level of competition consistently, you’re not gonna get any breaks.”
WATCH: Xavier’s Richard Pitino, Filip Borovicanin, Ian Sabourin on win over Missouri State
Big East games up for grabs as Xavier’s season-long outlook has changed
At Big East Media Day in October, Xavier was picked to finish eighth in the league. Following a 2-2 start to the season, which included a pair of ominous wins in buy games and back-to-back 19-point losses, many would’ve viewed an eighth-place finish in the Big East in a favorable light.
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After winning five straight games and six of seven overall, there’s optimism inside Cintas Center again. When you look around the Big East, that hope spreads. The non-conference showed there are a few contenders in the Big East and several average squads looking to break away from the pack.
Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies went 4-1 in Quad 1 contests during non-conference play. The rest of the Big East went a combined 4-22 in Quad 1 games.
No. 5 UConn (10-1) looks like a national title contender. St. John’s (6-3) is loaded, as well. Both programs played difficult non-conference schedules and all three of St. John’s losses were against ranked teams.
The Big East having a down year has been a hot topic, highlighted by typical perennial powers Marquette (5-6) and Creighton (5-5) struggling in non-conference play.
|
Team |
Non-Conference Strength of Schedule (KenPom) |
|||
|
10-1 |
7 |
8 |
41 |
|
|
6-3 |
16 |
24 |
33 |
|
|
8-2 |
34 |
34 |
204 |
|
|
10-1 |
50 |
38 |
309 |
|
|
8-2 |
51 |
43 |
232 |
|
|
7-5 |
66 |
91 |
170 |
|
|
5-5 |
73 |
112 |
43 |
|
|
8-3 |
85 |
101 |
208 |
|
|
5-6 |
98 |
164 |
122 |
|
|
7-3 |
103 |
126 |
226 |
|
|
8-3 |
121 |
147 |
362 |
Xavier is tied for second in the Big East in wins (8), eighth in the league in KenPom ranking (85) and seventh in NCAA NET (101) and non-conference strength of schedule (208).
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Analytical outlets have the majority of the Big East in a multi-team jumble. There are five first-round byes available in the Big East Tournament. Who will come out of that crowd and threaten for an NCAA Tournament berth? There’s no reason it can’t be Xavier, which would’ve been far-fetched to say a month ago.
“You’re going up in weight class, and it now becomes a true, true grind,” Pitino said.
What is Xavier’s projected record?
KenPom projects Xavier to go 16-15 overall and 8-12 in league play. There’s margin for error for that Big East record to go either way.
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KenPom predicts 16 of Xavier’s 20 conference games will be decided by seven points or less and has the Musketeers going 5-11 in those contests.
Tre Carroll (12) is Xavier’s leading scorer this season at 16.9 points per game. The Florida Atlantic transfer has scored in double figures in every game this season.
3 keys for Xavier’s Big East success
1. Keep spreading the wealth
Ball security and stellar passing will go a long way. Xavier has won games this season, like the Crosstown Shootout, behind its ability to avoid costly turnovers and free up its scorers with good ball movement.
Xavier ranks No. 1 in the nation in turnovers percentage and is assisting on 70% of its baskets, which is No. 3 in the country. That’s a recipe for success in the challenges ahead. The Musketeers have proven they’re not gonna beat themselves.
Xavier guard Malik Messina-Moore (1) is one of five Musketeers averaging at least 2.5 assists per game. He has a team-high 46 assists.
2. Xavier’s defense must improve
Pitino’s last two teams at New Mexico ranked in the top 25 in adjusted defensive efficiency and top 35 in steal percentage. That disruptive, opportunistic defense was a catalyst for back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
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Xavier’s not quite there yet with a defense that is No. 71 in the nation. They have improved in some areas, most notably on the glass with better rebounding numbers recently despite a smaller lineup. Pitino would like better on-ball pressure that leads to disruption and fastbreak opportunities. That would lessen the burden (and number of halfcourt sets) on an offense that doesn’t have many off-the-bounce scoring options.
Xavier forward Filip Borovicanin (4) is the team’s leading rebounder this season. He has three double-doubles over the last six games.
3. Make the winning plays in crunch time, on the road
It goes without saying that Xavier will have to win on the road in the Big East. Xavier is just 1-2 away from Cintas Center and has played just one true road game (81-62 loss to Iowa).
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Xavier is projected to be in a lot of close games over the next three months. Think about the 2023-24 team, which suffered the program’s first losing season in nearly 30 years. How different is that season if Xavier doesn’t go 5-12 in games decided by seven points or less?
The Musketeers are 3-1 this season in games decided by five points or less. Now, we find out if they can do it against tougher competition on a weekly basis where the margin for error is microscopic and the difference between ninth place and fifth is just a handful of plays.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: ‘It’s gonna get real now.’ Keys for Xavier success in Big East play
