Xavier Musketeers Basketball 2026–27 Season Preview: Richard Pitino Looks for a Breakthrough in Year Two

Xavier enters the 2026–27 men’s basketball season with a rebuilt roster and clear priorities: defend better, rebound more consistently and become competitive away from Cintas Center.

Richard Pitino’s second season offers reasons for optimism. Returning forward Jovan Milicevic provides proven Big East scoring, while transfers Mike Nwoko, Chance Westry and Tru Washington bring experience and production to important positions.

The conference’s coaches see potential for improvement. In the preseason poll released October 1, Xavier was picked sixth in the 11-team Big East, with Milicevic and Nwoko earning preseason All-Big East Third Team recognition. Both were also named team captains.

How Did Xavier Do Last Season?

Xavier finished 15–18 overall and 6–14 in Big East play during the 2025–26 season. The Musketeers went 12–6 at home, but their 1–10 road record prevented them from building sustained momentum.

There were memorable victories, including a 79–74 Crosstown Shootout win over Cincinnati and an 89–87 victory over Marquette in the Big East Tournament. The season ended the following day with a 93–68 quarterfinal loss to UConn.

Offensively, Xavier showed promise. The Musketeers averaged 78.4 points and 17.4 assists, made 36.5% of their three-pointers, and committed just 10 turnovers per game.

Defense and rebounding were the larger problems. Opponents averaged 80.6 points, shot 47.7% from the field, and outrebounded Xavier by 3.5 per game. Those numbers explain why improved shooting alone will not be enough this season. Xavier needs to finish defensive possessions and make opponents work harder for quality shots.

Coaching Staff Breakdown

Richard Pitino — Head Coach: Pitino begins his second Xavier season after previously leading New Mexico to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. His final Lobos team finished 27–8, won the Mountain West regular-season championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s second round.

That background offers evidence that Pitino can build a winning team. At Xavier, his immediate challenge is creating a dependable defensive identity while integrating another substantial group of newcomers.

Isaac Chew — Associate Head Coach: Chew enters his sixth season working with Pitino and his second at Xavier. His experience includes coaching in four power conferences and helping several programs reach the postseason. That continuity should be valuable as the staff establishes roles within the rebuilt roster.

Tarvish Felton — Assistant Coach: Felton brings more than 25 years of coaching experience, including stops at New Mexico, Fresno State and Utah State. His background developing successful frontcourt players is relevant for a team seeking stronger interior play.

Kareem Richardson — Assistant Coach: Richardson combines previous Xavier experience with head-coaching experience at UMKC and assistant-coaching stops at programs including NC State and Louisville. He was part of Xavier’s 2012 Sweet 16 staff, giving him firsthand knowledge of the program’s expectations.

Greg Youncofski — Assistant Coach: Youncofski arrives after two seasons at St. John’s, where he worked under Rick Pitino. He also previously spent six seasons on Cincinnati’s staff. His recent Big East experience adds another useful perspective to the bench.

Daniel Walters serves as assistant coach for player development, an important assignment with several freshmen and players competing for expanded responsibilities.

Centers and Interior Play

Mike Nwoko looks positioned to become Xavier’s primary interior scoring option. Although officially listed as a forward, the 6-foot-10, 260-pound LSU transfer projects naturally into significant center minutes.

Nwoko averaged 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds last season while shooting 61.0% from the field and 76.1% at the foul line. He produced those numbers in just 21.8 minutes per game.

His efficient finishing could give Xavier an offensive foundation near the basket. The bigger team question is whether his presence, alongside the other frontcourt additions, produces a meaningful improvement in defensive rebounding.

Nikos Chitikoudis offers a strong résumé in precisely that area. The 6-foot-9 Robert Morris transfer averaged 11.3 points and 7.7 rebounds, recorded 10 double-doubles, and earned Horizon League All-Defensive Team honors.

Chitikoudis could be especially useful when Xavier needs physical defense and rebounding. He gives Pitino an experienced alternative without requiring the offense to revolve around him.

Kason Westphal, a 7-foot, 260-pound redshirt freshman, provides additional size. His minutes will depend on readiness and matchups; Xavier has not announced a definitive rotation.

Forwards Breakdown

Jovan Milicevic is Xavier’s most established returning offensive piece. He averaged 12.4 points last season, scored in double figures 22 times and finished seventh in the Big East with 2.0 three-pointers per game.

At 6-foot-10, his shooting can pull opposing big men away from the basket. Pairing him with Nwoko could create useful spacing, allowing Xavier to threaten defenses both inside and outside. His next step is becoming a more complete contributor through rebounding and defense.

Rolyns Aligbe brings another proven rebounder. At Southern Illinois last season, he averaged 9.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, started all 32 games and earned Missouri Valley Conference Most Improved Team recognition.

His opportunity is straightforward: provide physical possessions, pursue rebounds and contribute without needing a large share of the shots. Those qualities could make him important even on nights when others lead the scoring.

Gabriel Pozzato remains an intriguing roster piece after averaging 14.9 points and 4.4 rebounds at Evansville in 2024–25. However, Xavier’s October 1 announcement described Milicevic as its only returning scholarship player currently eligible. Pozzato’s potential contribution therefore should not be treated as guaranteed until his availability is clarified.

Freshmen Harrison Aligbe and Asher Elson add developmental options at 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-11, respectively. Henry Thole, a Union, Kentucky native and Villa Madonna Academy product, supplies additional frontcourt depth.

Guards Breakdown

Chance Westry could become the player who connects Xavier’s offense. The 6-foot-6 UAB transfer averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 assists last season, leading the American Conference in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

His size and passing should help him find shooters and deliver the ball inside. With several capable finishers around him, Westry has an opportunity to make Xavier more difficult to defend without dominating every possession.

Tru Washington brings familiarity with Pitino after previously playing for him at New Mexico. Last season at Miami, Washington averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals, helping the Hurricanes reach the NCAA Tournament’s second round.

Washington’s defensive activity is particularly valuable. Xavier needs guards who can disrupt opponents before the ball reaches the paint, and his experience gives him a chance to set that standard.

Ruben Dominguez supplies proven perimeter shooting. At Texas A&M, he averaged 10.2 points and made 86 three-pointers at a 40.0% rate.

His shooting could complement Westry’s passing and Nwoko’s interior scoring. Defenders who help too aggressively inside will have to account for Dominguez on the perimeter.

Braden Appelhans provides another shooting option after making 40.0% of his three-pointers at Drake. He previously played under Pitino at New Mexico, adding familiarity with the coach’s expectations.

Kalek House, a four-star freshman guard from AZ Compass Prep, is a prospect to watch. Xavier’s veteran guards should allow him to develop without immediately carrying the offense. Freshman Gedeon Basson and graduate guard Michael Wolf round out the backcourt.

Prediction for the 2026–27 Season

My projection is 20–22 overall victories and a fifth- to sixth-place Big East finish, putting Xavier in the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation.

The roster appears better equipped to address last season’s weaknesses. Nwoko supplies efficient interior scoring, Chitikoudis and Rolyns Aligbe bring rebounding, and Washington adds experienced perimeter defense. Westry’s playmaking and the shooting of Milicevic and Dominguez give the offense several complementary pieces.

The decisive issue will be whether that talent produces reliable stops and road victories. Xavier cannot repeat a 1–10 road season and expect to build a strong NCAA Tournament résumé.

My pick is a narrow NCAA Tournament berth, provided the Musketeers make substantial defensive progress. That is an editorial forecast, separate from the coaches’ sixth-place preseason selection.

Conclusion

Xavier has credible reasons to expect improvement in Pitino’s second season. Its new pieces address identifiable needs, and the combination of interior scoring, passing and outside shooting gives the offense a promising structure.

The Musketeers’ ceiling will depend on their commitment at the other end. If Xavier rebounds consistently, protects the paint and carries that approach onto the road, this team can turn last season’s frustrations into a meaningful push toward March Madness.