Despite a combined 33-point effort from junior guard Quinn Niego and freshman forward Jack Brody, the men of Saint Xavier could not weather Purdue University Northwest’s offensive storm on January 14. The Cougars fell 101-70 in the conference matchup and dropped their record to 10-10 overall on the season.
The loss adds to Saint Xavier’s putrid road record on the year, as the Cougars are a measly 1-8 away from the Shannon Center. Following the defeat, the men are now 7-5 in the CCAC, which is good for third in the North division.
The Cougars have a steep hill to climb if they expect to catch the top two teams in their division, as 14th ranked Robert Morris and 20th ranked Trinity International are asserting their dominance in the NAIA this season. Saint Xavier sits four games behind first place Robert Morris, but a healthy stretch of CCAC contests keep the men in the mix.
The Cougars have time to bolster their rank in the conference. Eight of Saint Xavier’s next 10 games are against CCAC opponents with Robert Morris and Trinity International still on the schedule.
A reason for the men’s relevancy this season relates to the style of basketball they are able to play. Coach Tom O’Malley’s roster has a healthy balance of youth, experience and skill, but above all else, the men play as a team.
Quinn Niego, who leads the Cougars in points, assists, and minutes, is clearly the team’s standout player this season. However, success is in basketball with production from complimentary players. The Cougars have that.
Currently, Saint Xavier owns four players who average 10 points or more per game. Players like Jacob Strong, Jared Jones, and Kyle Huppe contribute valuable minutes on a nightly basis in the backcourt, while Keating Rombach, Niko Cahue, and Mike Kozela are emerging as legitimate pieces in the front court.
The Cougars are comfortable with playing 10-to-12 of their athletes in a game because coach O’Malley has the confidence in his guys to do so. Several times this season the men define their victories as a team effort as opposed to crediting any individual.
Saint Xavier will have to fix some holes in their style of play, as the men play two of their next three conference opponents on the road. Their first test is Cardinal Stritch University on Wednesday, January 18.
Mike Rankin
Senior Sports Editor