Xavier’s basketball season ended quickly after a record-studded regular season but if there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Musketeers return most of their players for 2016-17.
The key departures are seniors James Farr and Remy Abell. The fates of their college careers, and Sunday’s NCAA tournament second-round game, by now are well known: Bronson Koenig’s 3-point buzzer beater lifted seventh-seeded Wisconsin to a 66-63 win over second-seeded Xavier in St. Louis.
Farr transformed from a pick-and-pop shooter to a back-to-the-basket player who was a valuable part of Xavier’s frontcourt. Coach Chris Mack spoke glowingly of the forward all year, from his coachable nature to his rebounding impact in the post.