In the best rivalry game in college basketball, Xavier’s starters scored 27 points. They shot 8-24 from the floor and accounted for more than half of the Musketeers turnovers. None of them had more than five rebounds. Xavier won the game by 20 and led late by 27. Despite the starters never getting fully firing the Musketeers dominated the game and coasted home.
That win came because of Xavier’s bench. Yes, Jack Nunge played starter minutes, but he did it because he was on fire. On any given night someone can come off Xavier’s bench, or a starter can catch fire, and suddenly the offense jumps to another level.