2007-08 ROSTERS Numerical Roster
2007-08 Season Outlook The Three Musketeers. Fourth-year head coach Sean Miller hopes that’s the theme again this season. Xavier rode the leadership of three seniors last season on its way to an Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship and an NCAA Second Round appearance. It marked XU’s second straight NCAA appearance under Miller and the 25-9 record secured XU’s 20th 20-win season in the last 25 years.
Despite the fact that there are only 10 active scholarship players on the 2007-08 roster, this team is not short on talent, depth or leadership. The experts agree as early preseason “Top 25” listings have XU at No. 20 (Jeff Goodman, FOXSports.com), No. 22 (Andy Katz, ESPN.com) and No. 25 (The Sporting News). This year, Xavier will be counting on leadership from a pair of All-Atlantic 10 returning starters in the senior backcourt duo of 5-7 Drew Lavender and 6-3 Stanley Burrell. In addition to that duo, Miller now has a healthy 6-9 senior forward Josh Duncan, who started the first 20 games last season before being forced out of the starting lineup due to injury. Duncan averaged 9.3 ppg. for the season, including an 11.3 ppg. average as a starter.
Drew Lavender
Lavender, a 2006-07 A-10 Second Team selection and 2007-08 preseason A-10 First Team selection, led the Atlantic 10 Conference in assists at 4.8 apg. and assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.88-to-1.00, while scoring 11.2 ppg. He hit 45.0 percent from three-point range, including 57.1 percent in Atlantic 10 games. “The point guard position is an extremely important position in college basketball,” said Miller. “One consistent theme with championship teams and teams that advance in tournament play, is that they have exceptional play from the point guard position. A year ago when Drew Lavender came into his own our entire team benefited because he makes the game easier for his teammates. Drew has had an excellent off season and we are expecting him to have an outstanding senior year. He is a special player.” Lavender’s backcourt partner Burrell, a 2006-07 A-10 Third Team selection and a preseason 2007-08 A-10 Second Team selection, led Xavier in scoring as a freshman and a sophomore and finished second last season as a junior at 12.4 ppg. Burrell enters his senior season with 1,252 career points, which places him 25th in XU history. At his current pace he should finish in the top 10 on Xavier’s all-time scoring chart.
Stanley Burrell 28
“Every winning program has great leadership from their oldest, most experienced players,” said Miller. “In our program we allow our seniors in particular, to play a leading role in all that we do. With this freedom to lead comes great responsibility to set the tone every day. A year ago Justin Doellman, Justin Cage and Brandon Cole set that tone. This year Stan, Drew and Josh are expected to be the heart and soul of our program. As seniors, it is their team. It has become a tradition at Xavier to have a senior class wanting to leave a winning legacy behind. Consistent senior leadership will be a significant factor in how successful our season becomes and how this team will be remembered.” “We lost three important players and leaders from last year’s team,” Miller commented. “Each season begins a new journey and roles change, players change and new circumstances always seem to arise. I am anxious to watch our new senior class emerge as leaders. Basketball
2007-08 Season Outlook is the ultimate team sport. A team that competes, practices hard every day regardless of circumstance, is unselfish, is totally committed to being a great defensive team - all begins with the tone set by its leaders. In our case it falls on Drew, Stanley, and Josh. They have to take total responsibility for our disposition and identity. I am confident that they will do this. Nonetheless, for our team to be the very best we can be our senior class has to be special on and off of the court.” Xavier has a number of talented underclassmen as well. One of the most exciting young players in the Atlantic 10 is 6-8 sophomore forward Derrick Brown, a 2006-07 A-10 All-Rookie Team selection who may be best known for his team-high 41 dunks as a freshman. He opened even more eyes as the season wore on, especially with his 16-rebound game in the NCAA First Round win over BYU. Three other Musketeer role players from last season hope for even bigger parts this season. B.J. Raymond, a 6-6 junior guard/forward, became a key force off the bench on both ends of the court last season, a major reason why he played in all 34 games and averaged 13.3 minutes a game. While 6-4 sophomore guard Adrion Graves saw limited action in his freshman campaign due to injury, 6-9 sophomore forward/center Jason Love battled through a number of injuries to improve steadily as the season progressed. Love will be battling for the center spot left open by the graduation of Brandon Cole. “We like to play nine or 10 players every game,” Miller noted. “Depth is a significant advantage in college basketball. Every player on our team is an important ingredient to our success. Our off-season, pre-season and fall practices will determine a lot when it comes to defining roles on this year’s team. We should have great competition for playing time.”
Derrick Brown
All teams hope that the newcomer class will make an impact. Xavier will be counting on it. Miller will be counting on major contributions from 6-6 junior guard/forward C.J. Anderson, a transfer from Manhattan College who averaged 18.8 ppg. and 9.4 rpg. as a sophomore in the 2005-06 season. Charles Bronson, a 6-9 junior college transfer from Redlands Community College, will compete for the starting center job. The third newcomer is decorated freshman Danté Jackson, a 6-5 guard who averaged 26.4 points and 11.5 rebounds a game as a prep senior. Jackson is a preseason 2007-08 A-10 All-Rookie Team selection. Miller said the non-conference schedule is very challenging and should help prepare the team for an improved Atlantic 10 schedule. “We attempt to put a non-conference schedule together that gives our team an opportunity to be tested and prepared for our conference season that begins in January. This season’s home schedule might be the most attractive in the history of our program when you consider that we play Tennessee, Virginia, Creighton, Cincinnati and Kansas State to name a few.” XU, which plays against a Chicago Challenge field that includes the likes of Indiana, also has road games at Auburn and Miami (Ohio). All of those tests for XU come before starting defense of its Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship against a much improved A-10 field. “Simply put, to be considered among the best college basketball programs you have to be willing to compete against them.” Miller wants XU on that list again this season.
Josh Duncan
29
2007-08 ROSTERS Numerical Roster
2006-07 Statistics
No. Name
Yr.
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
Hometown
High School / Last College or Prep
PPG.
RPG. APG.
1
Josh Duncan
Sr.
F
6-9
238
Cincinnati, Ohio
Moeller
9.3
3.4
0.7
2
Adrion Graves
So.
G
6-4
201
Cincinnati, Ohio
Hughes Center
3.2
1.0
0.2
4
Charles Bronson
Jr.
C
6-9
232
Philadelphia, Pa.
Lutheran / Redlands Comm. College (Okla.) 10.1
5.0
2.1
5
Derrick Brown
So.
F
6-8
225
Dayton, Ohio
Chaminade-Julienne
6.3
4.1
0.8
4.1
2.1
0.6
11 B.J. Raymond
Jr.
G/F
6-6
226
Toledo, Ohio
St. John’s Jesuit
13 Stephen Duckett^
Fr.
G
6-4
190
Memphis, Tenn.
Bishop Byrne
15 Andrew Taylor +
So.
F
6-8
205
Toledo, Ohio
St. John’s Jesuit / Hillsdale College (Mich.) 12.0
5.0
2.0
20 C.J. Anderson *
Jr.
G/F
6-6
220
Cincinnati, Ohio
Winton Woods / Manhattan College
9.4
3.9
22 Jamel McLean +
So.
F
6-8
235
Hampton, Va.
Bethel / University of Tulsa
6.0
4.8
0.5
24 Drew Lavender
Sr.
G
5-7
153
Columbus, Ohio
Brookhaven / University of Oklahoma
11.2
2.4
4.8
18.8
25 Danté Jackson
Fr.
G
6-5
205
Greenfield, Ohio
McClain
26.4
11.5
5.2
31 Jason Love
So.
F/C
6-9
255
Philadelphia, Pa.
Abington Friends
1.1
1.1
0.1
12.4
2.0
2.4
33 Joe Hughes^
Fr.
F
6-6
200
Indianapolis, Ind.
Cathedral
34 Stanley Burrell
Sr.
G
6-3
210
Indianapolis, Ind.
Ben Davis / Hargrave Military Academy
Alphabetical Roster 2006-07 Statistics No. Name
Yr.
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
Hometown
High School / Last College or Prep
PPG.
20 C.J. Anderson *
Jr.
G/F
6-6
220
Cincinnati, Ohio
Winton Woods / Manhattan College
18.8
RPG. APG.
9.4
3.9
4
Charles Bronson
Jr.
C
6-9
232
Philadelphia, Pa.
Lutheran / Redlands Comm. College (Okla.) 10.1
5.0
2.1
5
Derrick Brown
So.
F
6-8
225
Dayton, Ohio
Chaminade-Julienne
6.3
4.1
0.8
34 Stanley Burrell
Sr.
G
6-3
210
Indianapolis, Ind.
Ben Davis / Hargrave Military Academy
12.4
2.0
2.4
13 Stephen Duckett^
Fr.
G
6-4
190
Memphis, Tenn.
Bishop Byrne
1
Josh Duncan
Sr.
F
6-9
238
Cincinnati, Ohio
Moeller
9.3
3.4
0.7
2
Adrion Graves
So.
G
6-4
201
Cincinnati, Ohio
Hughes Center
3.2
1.0
0.2 5.2
33 Joe Hughes^
Fr.
F
6-6
200
Indianapolis, Ind.
Cathedral
25 Danté Jackson
Fr.
G
6-5
205
Greenfield, Ohio
McClain
26.4
11.5
24 Drew Lavender
Sr.
G
5-7
153
Columbus, Ohio
Brookhaven / University of Oklahoma
11.2
2.4
4.8
31 Jason Love
So.
F/C
6-9
255
Philadelphia, Pa.
Abington Friends
1.1
1.1
0.1
22 Jamel McLean +
So.
F
6-8
235
Hampton, Va.
Bethel / University of Tulsa
6.0
4.8
0.5
11 B.J. Raymond
Jr.
G/F
6-6
226
Toledo, Ohio
St. John’s Jesuit
4.1
2.1
0.6
15 Andrew Taylor +
So.
F
6-8
205
Toledo, Ohio
St. John’s Jesuit / Hillsdale College (Mich.) 12.0
5.0
2.0
* Statistics are for Anderson’s sophomore year at Manhattan (2005-06) + Transfer who will be eligible in the 2008-09 season; stats are for the 2006-07 season ^ Walk-on
Head Coach: Sean Miller (Pittsburgh ’92) Assistant Coaches: Chris Mack (Xavier ’92), James Whitford (Wisconsin ’94), Emanuel “Book” Richardson (Pittsburgh at Johnstown ‘98) Director of Basketball Operations: Bill Comar (Kenyon ’93) Director of Basketball Administration: Mario Mercurio (Xavier ’03) Athletic Trainer: Mike Mulcahey (Xavier ’96) Associate Athletic Director and Sports Information Director (Men’s BB SID): Tom Eiser (Xavier ’84)
>
30
McLean - Mc-Clean
Danté - DAN-tay
Burrell - Buh-RELL
Despite the fact that there are only 10 active scholarship players on the 2007-08 roster, this team is not short on talent, depth or leadership. The experts agree as early preseason “Top 25” listings have XU at No. 20 (Jeff Goodman, FOXSports.com), No. 22 (Andy Katz, ESPN.com) and No. 25 (The Sporting News). This year, Xavier will be counting on leadership from a pair of All-Atlantic 10 returning starters in the senior backcourt duo of 5-7 Drew Lavender and 6-3 Stanley Burrell. In addition to that duo, Miller now has a healthy 6-9 senior forward Josh Duncan, who started the first 20 games last season before being forced out of the starting lineup due to injury. Duncan averaged 9.3 ppg. for the season, including an 11.3 ppg. average as a starter.
Drew Lavender
Lavender, a 2006-07 A-10 Second Team selection and 2007-08 preseason A-10 First Team selection, led the Atlantic 10 Conference in assists at 4.8 apg. and assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.88-to-1.00, while scoring 11.2 ppg. He hit 45.0 percent from three-point range, including 57.1 percent in Atlantic 10 games. “The point guard position is an extremely important position in college basketball,” said Miller. “One consistent theme with championship teams and teams that advance in tournament play, is that they have exceptional play from the point guard position. A year ago when Drew Lavender came into his own our entire team benefited because he makes the game easier for his teammates. Drew has had an excellent off season and we are expecting him to have an outstanding senior year. He is a special player.” Lavender’s backcourt partner Burrell, a 2006-07 A-10 Third Team selection and a preseason 2007-08 A-10 Second Team selection, led Xavier in scoring as a freshman and a sophomore and finished second last season as a junior at 12.4 ppg. Burrell enters his senior season with 1,252 career points, which places him 25th in XU history. At his current pace he should finish in the top 10 on Xavier’s all-time scoring chart.
Stanley Burrell 28
“Every winning program has great leadership from their oldest, most experienced players,” said Miller. “In our program we allow our seniors in particular, to play a leading role in all that we do. With this freedom to lead comes great responsibility to set the tone every day. A year ago Justin Doellman, Justin Cage and Brandon Cole set that tone. This year Stan, Drew and Josh are expected to be the heart and soul of our program. As seniors, it is their team. It has become a tradition at Xavier to have a senior class wanting to leave a winning legacy behind. Consistent senior leadership will be a significant factor in how successful our season becomes and how this team will be remembered.” “We lost three important players and leaders from last year’s team,” Miller commented. “Each season begins a new journey and roles change, players change and new circumstances always seem to arise. I am anxious to watch our new senior class emerge as leaders. Basketball
2007-08 Season Outlook is the ultimate team sport. A team that competes, practices hard every day regardless of circumstance, is unselfish, is totally committed to being a great defensive team - all begins with the tone set by its leaders. In our case it falls on Drew, Stanley, and Josh. They have to take total responsibility for our disposition and identity. I am confident that they will do this. Nonetheless, for our team to be the very best we can be our senior class has to be special on and off of the court.” Xavier has a number of talented underclassmen as well. One of the most exciting young players in the Atlantic 10 is 6-8 sophomore forward Derrick Brown, a 2006-07 A-10 All-Rookie Team selection who may be best known for his team-high 41 dunks as a freshman. He opened even more eyes as the season wore on, especially with his 16-rebound game in the NCAA First Round win over BYU. Three other Musketeer role players from last season hope for even bigger parts this season. B.J. Raymond, a 6-6 junior guard/forward, became a key force off the bench on both ends of the court last season, a major reason why he played in all 34 games and averaged 13.3 minutes a game. While 6-4 sophomore guard Adrion Graves saw limited action in his freshman campaign due to injury, 6-9 sophomore forward/center Jason Love battled through a number of injuries to improve steadily as the season progressed. Love will be battling for the center spot left open by the graduation of Brandon Cole. “We like to play nine or 10 players every game,” Miller noted. “Depth is a significant advantage in college basketball. Every player on our team is an important ingredient to our success. Our off-season, pre-season and fall practices will determine a lot when it comes to defining roles on this year’s team. We should have great competition for playing time.”
Derrick Brown
All teams hope that the newcomer class will make an impact. Xavier will be counting on it. Miller will be counting on major contributions from 6-6 junior guard/forward C.J. Anderson, a transfer from Manhattan College who averaged 18.8 ppg. and 9.4 rpg. as a sophomore in the 2005-06 season. Charles Bronson, a 6-9 junior college transfer from Redlands Community College, will compete for the starting center job. The third newcomer is decorated freshman Danté Jackson, a 6-5 guard who averaged 26.4 points and 11.5 rebounds a game as a prep senior. Jackson is a preseason 2007-08 A-10 All-Rookie Team selection. Miller said the non-conference schedule is very challenging and should help prepare the team for an improved Atlantic 10 schedule. “We attempt to put a non-conference schedule together that gives our team an opportunity to be tested and prepared for our conference season that begins in January. This season’s home schedule might be the most attractive in the history of our program when you consider that we play Tennessee, Virginia, Creighton, Cincinnati and Kansas State to name a few.” XU, which plays against a Chicago Challenge field that includes the likes of Indiana, also has road games at Auburn and Miami (Ohio). All of those tests for XU come before starting defense of its Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship against a much improved A-10 field. “Simply put, to be considered among the best college basketball programs you have to be willing to compete against them.” Miller wants XU on that list again this season.
Josh Duncan
29
2007-08 ROSTERS Numerical Roster
2006-07 Statistics
No. Name
Yr.
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
Hometown
High School / Last College or Prep
PPG.
RPG. APG.
1
Josh Duncan
Sr.
F
6-9
238
Cincinnati, Ohio
Moeller
9.3
3.4
0.7
2
Adrion Graves
So.
G
6-4
201
Cincinnati, Ohio
Hughes Center
3.2
1.0
0.2
4
Charles Bronson
Jr.
C
6-9
232
Philadelphia, Pa.
Lutheran / Redlands Comm. College (Okla.) 10.1
5.0
2.1
5
Derrick Brown
So.
F
6-8
225
Dayton, Ohio
Chaminade-Julienne
6.3
4.1
0.8
4.1
2.1
0.6
11 B.J. Raymond
Jr.
G/F
6-6
226
Toledo, Ohio
St. John’s Jesuit
13 Stephen Duckett^
Fr.
G
6-4
190
Memphis, Tenn.
Bishop Byrne
15 Andrew Taylor +
So.
F
6-8
205
Toledo, Ohio
St. John’s Jesuit / Hillsdale College (Mich.) 12.0
5.0
2.0
20 C.J. Anderson *
Jr.
G/F
6-6
220
Cincinnati, Ohio
Winton Woods / Manhattan College
9.4
3.9
22 Jamel McLean +
So.
F
6-8
235
Hampton, Va.
Bethel / University of Tulsa
6.0
4.8
0.5
24 Drew Lavender
Sr.
G
5-7
153
Columbus, Ohio
Brookhaven / University of Oklahoma
11.2
2.4
4.8
18.8
25 Danté Jackson
Fr.
G
6-5
205
Greenfield, Ohio
McClain
26.4
11.5
5.2
31 Jason Love
So.
F/C
6-9
255
Philadelphia, Pa.
Abington Friends
1.1
1.1
0.1
12.4
2.0
2.4
33 Joe Hughes^
Fr.
F
6-6
200
Indianapolis, Ind.
Cathedral
34 Stanley Burrell
Sr.
G
6-3
210
Indianapolis, Ind.
Ben Davis / Hargrave Military Academy
Alphabetical Roster 2006-07 Statistics No. Name
Yr.
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
Hometown
High School / Last College or Prep
PPG.
20 C.J. Anderson *
Jr.
G/F
6-6
220
Cincinnati, Ohio
Winton Woods / Manhattan College
18.8
RPG. APG.
9.4
3.9
4
Charles Bronson
Jr.
C
6-9
232
Philadelphia, Pa.
Lutheran / Redlands Comm. College (Okla.) 10.1
5.0
2.1
5
Derrick Brown
So.
F
6-8
225
Dayton, Ohio
Chaminade-Julienne
6.3
4.1
0.8
34 Stanley Burrell
Sr.
G
6-3
210
Indianapolis, Ind.
Ben Davis / Hargrave Military Academy
12.4
2.0
2.4
13 Stephen Duckett^
Fr.
G
6-4
190
Memphis, Tenn.
Bishop Byrne
1
Josh Duncan
Sr.
F
6-9
238
Cincinnati, Ohio
Moeller
9.3
3.4
0.7
2
Adrion Graves
So.
G
6-4
201
Cincinnati, Ohio
Hughes Center
3.2
1.0
0.2 5.2
33 Joe Hughes^
Fr.
F
6-6
200
Indianapolis, Ind.
Cathedral
25 Danté Jackson
Fr.
G
6-5
205
Greenfield, Ohio
McClain
26.4
11.5
24 Drew Lavender
Sr.
G
5-7
153
Columbus, Ohio
Brookhaven / University of Oklahoma
11.2
2.4
4.8
31 Jason Love
So.
F/C
6-9
255
Philadelphia, Pa.
Abington Friends
1.1
1.1
0.1
22 Jamel McLean +
So.
F
6-8
235
Hampton, Va.
Bethel / University of Tulsa
6.0
4.8
0.5
11 B.J. Raymond
Jr.
G/F
6-6
226
Toledo, Ohio
St. John’s Jesuit
4.1
2.1
0.6
15 Andrew Taylor +
So.
F
6-8
205
Toledo, Ohio
St. John’s Jesuit / Hillsdale College (Mich.) 12.0
5.0
2.0
* Statistics are for Anderson’s sophomore year at Manhattan (2005-06) + Transfer who will be eligible in the 2008-09 season; stats are for the 2006-07 season ^ Walk-on
Head Coach: Sean Miller (Pittsburgh ’92) Assistant Coaches: Chris Mack (Xavier ’92), James Whitford (Wisconsin ’94), Emanuel “Book” Richardson (Pittsburgh at Johnstown ‘98) Director of Basketball Operations: Bill Comar (Kenyon ’93) Director of Basketball Administration: Mario Mercurio (Xavier ’03) Athletic Trainer: Mike Mulcahey (Xavier ’96) Associate Athletic Director and Sports Information Director (Men’s BB SID): Tom Eiser (Xavier ’84)
>
30
McLean - Mc-Clean
Danté - DAN-tay
Burrell - Buh-RELL
