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NCAA Tournament 2018: 5 reasons Xavier won’t win it all

By Chris Stone

CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 28: Xavier Musketeers players celebrate after winning the Big East Conference regular season title with an 84-74 win over the Providence Friars at Cintas Center on February 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 28: Xavier Musketeers players celebrate after winning the Big East Conference regular season title with an 84-74 win over the Providence Friars at Cintas Center on February 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 08: Michael Porter Jr #13 of the Missouri Tigers watches the action against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second round of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 8, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 08: Michael Porter Jr #13 of the Missouri Tigers watches the action against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second round of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 8, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. A potential matchup with Michael Porter Jr. awaits

Assuming Xavier makes it past Texas Southern on Friday — a fair assumption — a more complicated matchup could await them in the second round on Sunday. No. 8 Missouri has to get past No. 9 Florida State first, but the Tigers have a unique roster for a team seeded so low in the NCAA Tournament.

Future NBA lottery pick Michael Porter Jr. missed the majority of the regular season recovering from back surgery, but he made his return during the SEC tournament in a 62-60 loss to Georgia. Porter’s absence during the season meant Missouri wasn’t an full strength when it was trying to compile wins for its resume and although the 19-year old struggled against the Bulldogs, he’s had an extra week of practice and conditioning time to get ready for what will likely be his only NCAA Tournament.

That should make Xavier fans’ palms a little sweaty. Porter spent most of last season ranked as the top high school recruit in the country only to be unseated late in some places by Arizona’s Deandre Ayton and the end of summer reclassification of Duke’s Marvin Bagley III. At 6-foot-10, Porter is a terrifying individual matchup when he’s healthy. He’s a master of taking and making tough shots, a smooth scorer from all three levels and a pretty versatile defender. His presence changes the ceiling of the Tigers significantly.

Of course, the ever-present question is just how healthy is Porter? The answer just might determine how long the Musketeers remain in the tournament.

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