By PAUL GOTHAM
At 12-0, Chris Mack’s Xavier Musketeers are off to their best start in school history. This week’s ranking in the AP and USA Today’s polls at number six stands as the program’s high-water mark, and the seventh-year coach knows where his team’s success originates.
“The one thing that has carried our team throughout the entire non-conference part of the slate is we have been a really good practice team,” Mack said during this week’s Big East tele-conference. “That’s hidden from fans. That’s hidden from media. Who we are in practice is really been a product of who we are in the games.”
Mack pointed to the influence of seniors, Remy Abell, Myles Davis and James Farr.
“Those three guys specifically have been sort of our voice, if you will, on the practice floor every day,” Mack commented.
Coming off the bench, Farr leads the Musketeers and is third in the Big East grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game. The 6-10 forward recorded double-doubles in wins over Missouri and Auburn.
“James barely played as a freshman,” Mack noted. “He may have played less than 60 minutes his entire freshman year. If we weren’t such a thin team at the time I would have redshirted him. He’s a guy that just values the process. His approach every day has really been infectious.”
Abell started 34 games a year ago – his first with Xavier after transferring from Indiana University.
“He’s played on three Sweet Sixteens in his three competing seasons,” Mack said referring to the 6-4 guard’s contributions to the Hoosiers.
Davis logged less than 18 minutes per game during 2013-14 season and scored 5.3 per game. He started 12 games a year ago and upped his output to 10.6 per contest. The 6-2 guard has matched that number at 10.9 this season, but Mack points out that Davis’s influence is more.
“Myles was just a shooter as a freshman. He’s grown in so many different ways. He defends. He does a lot more on offense. He’s also developed into a really good leader both on game night and in practices.”
Xavier opens Big East conference play on New Year’s Eve against the No. 17 Villanova Wildcats. Villanova swept Xavier last year downing the Musketeers twice in the regular season and again the conference title game.
“We obviously have tremendous challenges ahead. It starts on Thursday against Villanova who’s the best team in the conference until proven otherwise. I like where we’re at, but a season’s a lifetime.”
A noon tip off is scheduled. The game will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
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