Of the many issues that hamstrung Xavier last season, perhaps none were as debilitating as their inability to extend their own possessions or end those of their opponents by rebounding the basketball. With Jovan Milicevic not well suited to life in the paint in the Big East and Anthony Robinson and Pape N’diaye unable to deliver quality minutes on a consistent basis, Xavier was 311th in the country at getting back their own misses and 138th in preventing opponents from doing so. Combine that with an eye popping 55.3% 2 point shooting from the opposition and it was clear that priority one in the portal in terms of incomings needed to be an established paint presence. It should be unsurprising, then, that Xavier struck early to add Mike Nwoko to the fold and in doing so bring in just the type of player that would address such issues.
Nwoko’s path is one that is becoming familiar to college basketball fans as it has involved four institutions in four years, all of them at the high major level. He garnered quite a bit of attention out of high school as a 4 star recruit, spurning Vanderbilt, Providence, and UCLA among others to end up at Miami (FL). He quickly got to work establishing himself as a dedicated offensive rebounder and shot blocker, although his foul trouble tended to limit him and his shooting efficiency kept him from a larger role than the 8.9 minutes per game he got. His next stop was Mississippi State, where he ranked in the top 20 in the SEC in both offensive and defensive rebound rate as well as shot blocking percentage, although his shooting line of .525/.143/.609 and foul rate of 5.9 per 40 minutes kept his overall efficiency and gametime below what one might expect from a player with as much impact in the paint. Another change of scenery followed as he transferred to LSU where he jumped his scoring average into double figures for the first time due largely to his focus on taking a larger proportion of his shots at the rim, which helped him convert on 8% more of his two point attempts, and raising his free throw percentage by 16%. He also asserted himself more on the offensive glass, jumping into the top 100 nationally and 4th in the SEC. His foul trouble remained an issue, with his fouls committed rate reaching the highest it has in his three years of college, but he was still able to get himself into double figures in the last five games of the season including a 16 point 12 rebound double-double against Kentucky in the SEC tournament.
His ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor as a rebounder as well as being a strong lob threat on offense and a quality shot blocker on defense led the coaches of the Big East to name him to the Preseason All-Big East Third Team alongside Jovan Milicevic. Nwoko fills a massive area of need for the roster Xavier had a season ago and looks to be the main man in the paint, having started both exhibitions so far and leading the way against Dayton with 19 and 11. His ability to keep himself on the floor will be key for Xavier this season because the solidity he provides should give the Musketeers backcourt a solid base to build off on defense and a threat to keep opposing defenses honest on the offensive end.